Private Room

Chapter 4

The hours of the night were rolling. Some of the vamps in the nest were out to have fun; others were playing in the game room, watching TV, drinking blood. But there was this group of few vampires who were actually worried for the nest. They were the closest thing to family. They were in the dining room that was supposed to be used by humans to eat in, but vampires didn't need table so the hall was used only for special occasions that vampires were doing and showing on TV. Jo, Krissy, Aiden and Josephine were very close to each other, always trusting and helping each other. Aiden was good looking young guy who had turned 22 20 years ago. Josephine was the same age, black sassy girl who was saved by unknown vampire 15 years ago, when she had been alone, dying in a hospital. Those four were the closest thing to family and to Sam, without counting Ruby in the equation. The rest 10 people were vampires between the ages of 25 and 45 - men, women, gays, lesbians. It wasn't a big difference but all of them have been raised right and they cherished Sam and considered him as a family, leader and father, but of course all of them were secretly crying over the loss of their makers, or that they hadn't even known their makers. And all those 14 vampires were worried for their boss, father, leader – Sam was all of that to them. It was difficult for all of them to follow the lead of a vampire who wasn't their maker. But still in the rough life in New York City, and the truth about vampires, it was better like that, than wandering the streets alone. It was better to have another vampire for a leader than no one at all.

'Something is not very right with him, is it?' Madison, a woman around her 30s, 50 year-old-vampire, asked in concern and all vampires looked at Jo and Krissy.

'He is just a bit stressed recently' Jo tried to cover up.

'Sam… stressed? Seriously' Young man around his 30 humans, named Dan raised eyebrows in disbelief. 'I know Sam for like 75 years. He had never been stressed about anything.'

'You are his progenies; don't you know what is happening?' Madison asked and all eyes stared at Jo and Krissy again.

'Sam is complicated.' Jo shook head 'If you haven't noticed, Sam doesn't really… he is not the talking-and-feels-sharing type vampires.'

'We have tried to talk with him and to make him open up for us… but… even us as progenies couldn't do… much.'

'I love him' Dan shrugs shoulders 'He saved my bacon so many times and he haven't stopped talking about family since I know him. And I still don't get why things don't turn out as he wants with that family part. He does all the things right we are all thankful but… some gears just don't grid in that nest.'

'Some of us have been with Sam for a long time and we have seen him kill but tonight…' Brady, 30-ish year old man, 96 year old vampire, was one of Sam's very first friends and indeed he knew a lot. 'Sam have changed a lot, you all have to believe me, but his thirst for family never disappeared and… we all know that incident 10 years ago when he had to kill Jeremiah, he almost gave out the whole nest, he was part of the family and still Sam killed him. Like he did tonight with Lol, though he didn't do much.'

'He killed Jeremiah to protect the nest' Madison said.

'But he was part of the family' Dan raised voice. 'You can't make family when half of the members hate you, only get use of you, or you kill those who irritate you'

'Everyone shut it' Krissy stood up. 'Times are difficult, Sam has problems; he is old. We can't help for now. Let's just give him time and space.'

'He drank his blood supply for one night' said Josephine quietly 'He is perfectly aware that he can't just do like that'

Everyone silenced. They knew that was something unusual and something was indeed wrong and they didn't need to say anything out loud. There were a lot of small nests in New York and whole USA and every vampire, even lone vampires, were getting month supply of blood which was synthetic animal blood with a lot of other chemicals. It wasn't good at all. Nothing could compare to fresh human blood but if vampires wanted to live in peace with humans there had to be laws. Every vampire, even the biggest, oldest and scariest ones were living by the rules. Else the vampire police and court were taking care of those who step over the laws. The panic in Sam's nest was coming from that he ended his blood supply which he never ever done and there was one whole month before the next delivery. And not that Jo and Krissy wouldn't give him from their part, if he became really hungry, but it was too unusual thing for Sam.

'Should we call Jody?' Aiden asked.

'Probably not' Jo sighed. 'Let's give him time and if things become more serious we will call her.'

'Let's just hope he wouldn't do something reckless meanwhile.' Madison sighed too.

'Damned I be' Jo's eyes widened. 'We totally forgot what is tomorrow and we don't have any preparation.

'Fuck' Krissy put hand on her mouth 'Okay, okay, Aiden, Josephine and Madison, let's go talk with Ruby. I have an idea. Dan, Jo and the rest, make a list together. We have 4 hours till sunrise. We can make half of the preparation tonight. Tomorrow night we do the rest and midnight sharp we gonna blow that house.'

'Do you think he is going to like it?' A young vampire girl asked quietly.

'Well this is year it will be a bit modest, we ain't gonna have cameras and special guests, no stuff to irritate Sam so I guess this year probably he gonna like it. We are family. We must stick together and support him. He will appreciate it even if he doesn't say a thing.' Krissy tried to lift the spirit of all.

'Okay then. Let's get the preparation done, vampires' Dan shouted and everyone cheered rushing for stuff.

Sam emptied a second bottle of alcohol and it was barely catching him. But at least it slowed down his thoughts and he couldn't wait to go to sleep in the morning just to shut down for a moment. So many years of being alive… He couldn't imagine how older vampires were dealing with that. May be they were crueler than Sam, even more emotionless. May be he was doing wrong with that nest and the family thing. He was building something that even he wasn't sure what exactly and what he was going to do after that. He had purpose to live but at the same time he was tired and lost and more confused than ever.

Things became even more unpredictable.

The phone is Sam's office rang. He waited for a moment wondering should he pick up or not.

'Someone is searching for you' It was Ruby.

'The King?' Sam rubbed eyes

'If it was him I would have redirect the call to you immediately. And as you mentioned the King, we soon have to make a big celebration or something I don't know, about an important occasion, cause we haven't done that for a long time and people must see us on the TV soon or they will get suspicious.'

'Yeah, yeah… you will make up something' Sam wasn't in mood for any such bullshit. Ruby was always the one to take care of everything 'So is it Carmen on the phone?'

'I know how Carmen sounds, you idiot. The voice is a man one.'

'Mike?' Sam made disgusted and surprised face.

'Mike is scared little annoying shit. He never calls here. The man has amazing low voice and says you will recognize him'

Sam stood up from the chair, his heart beating fast, getting speechless for a second.

'Re-direct me' he ordered losing his voice.

'Who is he Sam? Should I worry? You sound strange.'

'Ruby, re-direct me before I rip your head from your shoulders' Sam said fast. Half a second later he heard breathing on the other line which was human one.

'Good evening mister Winchester. Or if I can call you Sam, if it's not inconvenient.'

Sam moved his hand from the desk and just then when he left nail traces on the surface he realized how nervous he was and that he have pinned his nails to the wooden desk. He didn't really paid attention that he was holding his breath but he needed to exhale to start talking. It was a human thing that had left in him after the transformation. It was actually a thing for all vampires.

'Castiel. What a surprise.' Sam was confused. Why he was so nervous? He had to calm down. It was just the man from the private room, the one that did something to Sam. Made him more confused than he was already.

'I hope is not very late calling, but you are a vampire and the night is your day so' he was unsure in his words and his voice didn't even tremble at the word 'vampire' which amazed Sam 'I'm about to go to sleep, and I barely took your number from Carmen, she warned me I may get into trouble for calling here but I don't really care, and I'm very nervous about this and…'

'It's alright, Castiel. I am… I mean it's… thank you for calling. How can I help you?' Even Sam was speaking wrong. His mouth was feeling dry.

'I still don't know what happened earlier, was it my fault, or it was a vamp thing…'

'Don't bother it. It's fine' Sam calmed him. He didn't really want to interrupt the guy talking. He had such an incredible voice.

'I don't know how appropriate that is… but I…' he exhaled and Sam wished he was next to him to inhale his breath 'while doing my job tonight I couldn't… stop thinking about you. I was worried and... all I wanted to say is that you paid for something you didn't get and you are free to come and take it anytime.' Castiel tried to fix his words but it was already obvious that he wanted Sam.

That was the most interesting invitation Sam has ever had and it was a pure temptation. He started feeling and imaging things he never dared to. For the last 40 years there wasn't anything to make him excited and curious and then when he met Castiel and received his call, a vortex of feels hit him in the head and the stomach.

'Yes.' He silent for a moment, his fast vampire thought was calculating what to say or do but in that moment it was like he wasn't a vampire at all 'Thank you. I may have a use of that. Thanks for calling Castiel'

'My pleasure… Sam. Good night' he wished with a slight note of excitement in his quiet voice.

Sam couldn't even wish back something, and just wait for the disconnected signal before hanging up the phone. Then he dropped on his chair and slid fingers through his long silk hair. Castiel was just a human. He wasn't scared of the vampires and he was Madisong to talk to Sam informal though they just met. Sam couldn't hide from himself, but he was damn curious. And he was going to get what he wanted as always.

Ruby tried to talk to him again and Krissy put an ear, but Sam didn't say anything. Ruby did a whole lecture and Sam was just sitting in his arm chair, Castiel's voice echoing in his head.

'Ruby' Sam said at some point and looked at her.

'Did you even listen to what I was talking?' she crossed arms to her chest.

'If you don't shut it, you will search to sleep today somewhere else.' He silenced and looked out the window again.

'God. I'm going to sleep. And you better soon make up what's on your mind because the whole nest is starting to get scared.'

After few more minutes the house was quiet. Everyone was in their beds in the dark rooms. Sam got an idea and went out of his office. The sun was already rising and the rays were streaming from the windows in the house. He was hissing quietly every time the rays were touching and burning his skin, but he was determined in what he wanted to do. He met the main maiden in the lobby just after she had been awakened and going to the kitchen.

'Good morning, Antonia, just for a moment' Sam pulled gently her arm.

'Senior Winchester' she gasped in surprise as she hasn't seen him for years. 'You gonna burn senior. Why you no sleeping. Sun is out.' She was pushing him towards the stairs. Poor old woman was happy to work for Sam and she was worried for him. She wasn't scared of him.

'Antonia' he took out money from his pocket and put them in her hands 'When Nelly wakes up tell her to take these money as a reward. Then she has to go to my office, I left a letter on my desk. She reads it and does as it says, si?'

'Si, senior. Now go sleep senior.'

Sam went to bed in his dark room and tried to calm down. Yes, he wanted to sleep now, only because he couldn't wait to wake up after sunset and hear what Nelly was about to tell him.