Heart's Price

by Severitus

--Part 4--

The crime scene was still fresh when Frank arrived. His shift hadn't even officially started yet when he'd been called and told of the murder, and that Sonny would meet him there. That in itself was not entirely unusual…but a crime scene was certainly not how Frank had wanted to begin his day.

Sonny was locking his car (a blue Nissan Sentra…nice and nondescript) when Frank pulled up beside him. The park that stretched out beyond the cars, the access routes already cordoned off by yellow tape, was swarming with onlookers, mostly joggers out for an evening run. A TV crew had parked itself near the police tape, the reporters and camera men hurriedly preparing their equipment.

"Heya, Sonny," Frank called, jogging to catch up to the Kindred. The other man gave him a grim smile.

"Hey, Frank. What a way to start a shift, huh?" Sonny said, and then paused, brows crinkling as he stared at something near Frank's neck. "Is that…a hickey?" Sonny asked, nearly snorting with laughter.

"Wha--? Oh, shit!" Frank muttered, hurriedly buttoning the top few buttons of his shirt to hide the bruise-like mark near his collar bone. Though the Prince hadn't yet attempted to bite him (for which Frank was thankful…the idea still made him squeamish), the Kindred had spent a good deal of time with his mouth fixed to Frank's throat. Though neither Frank nor Julian wanted to rush, they had begun a slow, almost worshipful exploration of one another. By the time the Prince had left (only just before dawn, actually) both had shirts un-tucked and hair mussed. The mere memory of Julian's hands on his bare flesh sent heat rushing toward Frank's groin. He hurriedly shook his head free of the thoughts lest Sonny note something even more embarrassing than a love bite.

"Date with Julian went well, I take it?" Sonny asked casually, beginning to walk toward the yellow tape. Eyeing his partner for any sign of teasing, Frank matched his stride to the other man's.

"Yeah, it was good. Made him dinner, and we talked quite a bit," Frank replied cautiously. Ever since Sonny had smelled Julian on Frank, he had taken every opportunity to tease Frank about it. Any time the name Julian or Luna popped up, Sonny would turn to him and very deliberately, wink. He'd also begun prodding Frank for updates, which Frank suspected was Sonny's way of dealing with the unusual situation. For his part, Frank tried to act as cool and casual about it as he could, even though he was alternately jumping up and down like a giddy child, and ducking his head between his legs while screaming in pure frustration.

Though he wasn't having second thoughts (hell no!), he couldn't help but feel as if his own mind and body had betrayed him. For a moment, while his body had been otherwise distracted, his mind had taken a step back from the situation and wondered what the hell he was doing. It was if, in his mind's eye, the image of he and Julian just didn't fit together. Cop and Prince, Kindred and mortal…man and man…there were so many reasons that they shouldn't be together. Frank supposed some of it could be put down to his own feelings of self worth (after all, what would a handsome, powerful, rich, and, yes, seductive man like Julian Luna want with lowly Frank Kahonek, homicide detective?), but the feeling kept nagging at him.

"Just talked?" Sonny prodded, flashing him the teasing grin Frank was really, really beginning to loathe.

"You already saw the evidence. You want a blow by blow or what?" Frank growled.

"Did he…you know…" Sonny asked, baring his teeth briefly in a parody.

"No, Sonny. Said he wants it to be special when he tastes me. What is it with you anyway? Most guys are obsessed with sex; does the whole biting thing do it for you or what?" Frank said, snapping the last. Sonny jerked back, the hue of his dark cheeks suddenly tinged briefly with pink.

"Ah…yeah, you could say that. I mean, of course Kindred still enjoy the sex…but the tasting…it's kind of the cherry on top, you know? The first time you taste a lover…it's like getting to know them anew. It's hard to describe, but…it's like you known every inch of them…every thought, feeling, passion…you'll see what I mean."

Frank stalled. They were near the cluster of cops and flashing bulbs that identified the location of the victim, and he didn't want to finish their conversation where uninitiated ears could hear. "Wait…what do you mean I'll see? It's not just the Kindred that feels all that?"

Sonny grinned. "Nope. It's two way," Sonny said. Frank blinked, raising his hand to the hidden mark on his throat.

"Damn," he said simply as they began to approach the crowd again.

"That about sums it up."

The cops shifted out of the way as Sonny flashed his badge, coming to a stop beside a forensic scientist who crouched snapping pictures. Frank stepped up beside him and froze, eyes locked on the victim's throat. "Shit," Frank muttered. Sonny was already reaching for his cell phone. Someone picked up the line after the first ring.

"It's Sonny. I need to speak to Julian…it's urgent." It took only a moment for whoever had picked up to find him, for Sonny had barely stopped speaking when he began again. "Frank and I are at a crime scene. Yes. This one smells like Malkavian. I'll let him know." Sonny hung up and slid the phone in his pocket, turning to stare at the body apprehensively. Frank stood and waited for him to talk.

"Julian wants you at the meeting this evening, as it concerns this case," he said, sounding worried.

"I'll be there. What's wrong, though? This isn't the first Kindred related crime we've dealt with," Frank said, turning to study the body again as if to discover the reason for his partner's sudden apprehension.

"I don't know, exactly. I just have a very bad feeling about this one."

--

The room in Julian's mansion that served as a meeting place for the Kindred leaders of San Francisco reminded Frank very much of a war room. Dominated by a long, sturdy table, and surrounded by at least a dozen of the most powerful people in the city, Frank imagined his assessment wasn't far off. The table was dominated by the Primogens of the city…he recognized Cash, Sonny, Lillie, Daedalus….even more of the Kindred seated about the perimeter of the room (as he was) were familiar. Frank had received a number of surprised stares when he'd taken his seat near the door (could never be too careful, after all), but only one or two hostile glances. The atmosphere was one of charged expectance. It apparently wasn't often that Julian called a meeting that included more than the Primogens of the clans. The ambient noise died abruptly as Julian swept into the room, all power and grace as he took his place at the head of the table. He did not sit immediately, but rather placed a manila folder on the table in front of him. Frank tried not to focus on the fact that the folder was most likely police property slipped from under some poor file clerk's nose. Before he could begin, a voice from the opposite end of the table spoke up. He recognized the Kindred as Cameron, the Brujah who had taken Eddie Fiori's place as Primogen of the clan.

"What business is it, my Prince, that requires the presence of this kine?" the man asked, his cool blue eyes turned to glare at Frank. Frank merely raised an eyebrow, unconcerned. Julian narrowed his eyes, sending the Brujah such a look that the Kindred couldn't hide his shock at the reaction.

"Detective Kahonek is here, Cameron, because he and Sonny were called to a crime scene this evening, the crime scene which is the reason for which I have called this meeting," Julian said, effectively silencing any further protests.

"Last week, I was contacted by Luviel Gregori, the Prince of Seattle. He warned me of two rogue Kindred who were making their way down the western coast, slaying humans without any regard to secrecy. There were six murders in Seattle before they were able to discover the identities of the Kindred responsible. Unfortunately, by that time, they had already fled the city. Until this morning, it was unknown where they had gone. Now…we must deal with what has landed in our midst." Flipping open the manila folder, Julian removed two photos and passed them down the table.

"These are the two responsible: Hadrian Primus, a three hundred year old Malkavian, and Katerina Novolski, Gangrel, age unknown. Both Kindred are very powerful, and quite possibly insane. Sonny?" Julian said, turning to the dark-skinned Kindred on his left.

Sonny stood, looking nothing like his human guise in his crisp dress shirt and slacks. "Their first kill here was found in Garden View Park. No attempt was made to hide the body, or to disguise signs of their feeding. I met with a member of Seattle's Gangrel clan this afternoon, and he verified that the Kindred responsible were Katerina and Hadrian," Sonny reported, returning to his seat dutifully once his report was made.

"Frank? Did you make any other observations?" Julian asked, and Frank nearly jumped, not having expected to be called upon.

"Yeah, actually. The girl had not been dominated when she was killed. She was taken down kicking and screaming, completely aware as her throat was torn out," Frank said, not having bothered to stand. Frank shrunk back self-consciously as whispers broke out around the room, with many heads turning his way in speculation.

"How do you know this, Frank Kahonek? Domination leaves no evidence," Daedalus said, posing the question that was apparently circling the room.

"Just plain old detective work. I've seen my share of bloodless corpses, you know. The one's who've been dominated have no scratches or bruises, no marks of a struggle. Usually they simply look as if they'd lain down to die with a smile on their face and a hole in their neck. This one though…she was like one of Starkweather's first victims. Bruises on her wrists, skinned knees and palms from falling, bruising over her mouth from the killer stifling her screaming…even the bite wound was jagged, as if her head had been jerking or spasming as the killer fed." Whispers began again after he'd finished, but Frank was too preoccupied with the approving nod Daedalus had given him to hear what was said.

"If this is indeed true, that the rogue Kindred are not only killing indiscriminately, but also doing so without dominating their victim's minds…then the Masquerade is in imminent danger," Julian said, his expression darkening. "I declare Luviel Gregori's blood hunt against Hadrian Primus and Katerina Novolski open in San Francisco. I also urge you all to be careful. Do not attempt to overtake them on your own if you can help it," he said, pausing to cast his eyes about the room.

Frank couldn't help the small smile that touched his lips as he watched. How had he ever mistaken Julian for a cold-hearted killer? He was a Prince in every way…he truly cared about his people. In doing all in his power to defend the laws of the Camarilla, he would do everything possible to keep the Kindred out of danger.

Slowly, the room began to clear. Sonny gave Frank a pat on the shoulder as he left. Once the room was empty save for Julian and him, Frank slid from his chair and approached the other man, who was leaning against the table, staring at the two photos lying there. Neither photo was of very good quality. Both were night shots and taken from a distance, having been later enlarged to show the faces more clearly. Hadrian had been photographed leaning against shop window, his hair an unwashed disarray around his face. His clothing was a mishmash of colors and decades. Katerina, however, was a different story. She looked like something out of a nightmare. Her eyes were the vivid yellow-green of an enraged Kindred, and her eyebrows were too thick to be normal. Her nails tapered into hooked claws, and her hair more resembled the mane of a lion than a woman's tresses.

"My god…if anybody saw her like that…." Frank said, and Julian hummed in agreement beside him.

"That is what worries me. Though she is blatant in her killings and disregard for the Masquerade, she has sanity enough to keep herself out of sight, or to disguise herself effectively enough to hide among humans."

"Wait…you mean she always looks like that? She's not just in a rage?" Frank asked.

"Yes. It is a common fate among the older Gangrel to come to resemble the beast whose form they most commonly take," Julian said, then flipped the folder closed and stood back. Casually, he snaked his hand between them and grasped Frank's hand. Frank took in the worried expression on the Kindred's face and squeezed the hand in his reassuringly.

"Both you and Sonny have seemed very…worried about this mess. More so than other murders," Frank prodded gently. Julian sighed and contemplated the grain of the table.

"Sonny spoke to me of his…unease. I admit that I, too, feel a certain foreboding, though I cannot explain it. It is just a feeling, nothing more," Julian said. Unclasping their hands, he pulled Frank to his chest. Frank shivered as the Kindred buried his nose in his hair, inhaling deeply.

"I hope you'll forgive me," Julian said, still buried in the scent of Frank's hair, "but I find your scent very calming." Frank settled his arms around the other man's waist, smiling.

"I don't mind at all. Quite the contrary," Frank said. He was half hoping that Julian's mouth would begin a repeat of the previous night's pleasures, and half wishing they could disappear someplace that wasn't swarming with Kindred, when Julian tensed. Frank followed Julian's gaze while the man pulled back, staring with displeasure toward the doorway.

"I admit I doubted the rumors," Cameron said, staring at the two of them without surprise. One corner of his wide mouth was curved in distaste; nose scrunched briefly as if he'd caught a bad scent in the air. "To think, that our Prince would sully himself, and endanger the very laws he has sworn to protect, by consorting with a mortal."

"Is your quarrel with my leadership, or my personal life?" Julian asked, his eyes suddenly cold and dark. His left hand, however, tightened its hold on Frank's waist protectively.

"Both, my Prince. How could such a…dalliance…as this not prove detrimental to your judgment? The laws are clear. He must be killed or embraced. There are those of us who have only tolerated the mortal's presence because of your oath, and because he remained largely ignorant of our world. This has gone too far, Julian. You must make your decision soon, or it will be demanded of you."

"Cameron, you cannot ask such a thing of me. Frank has been nothing but loyal to our secrets, and his input has frequently been proven invaluable…"

"Pardon me, my Prince," Cameron interrupted, then turned to address the shocked and dismayed Frank for the first time. "Frank Kahonek…it is not your character which concerns us. Indeed, were you Kindred, we would happily stand beside you. It is your mortality which concerns us. You are not immune to our powers. Our enemies could rip our secrets from you unwillingly; indeed, they could turn you into a mindless slave and command you to drag our sleeping bodies into the sun. Now that you have become our Prince's lover, the danger is even greater. It is for these reasons that we ask that you become Kindred, or take our secrets to your grave," Cameron finished.

Frank blinked, lowering his gaze to where his hand had found Julian's again. "I…understand," he said finally. "I hadn't realized that anything like that could happen," he said. Cameron nodded shortly, and turned his focus back to the Prince.

"I came only to tell you of our opinions. We realize it is not a decision to be made lightly. Nothing further will be said until the rogue's are captured." With a last look at Frank, the Brujah turned to the prince and bowed, and stepped quietly from the room.

Frank could feel Julian sag, as every one of the muscles of his back relaxed. The Prince had turned his head to the table; dark eyes squeezed shut as if in pain.

"Hey, it's okay, man. It's not like we didn't expect that kind of reaction," Frank said, resting his hand on the Kindred's bent back. Julian shook his head, bowing his head briefly before standing up straight again.

"It was…foolish of me to think that there would be time before someone would approach me with such demand. I fear I have grown too complacent, too accepting of their adjustment to your presence among us. I am sorry, Frank. I never…I did not want this to ever be a decision you were faced with," Julian paused, drawing in a shuddering, unsteady breath. "I…would not wish the Embrace on you, Frank. It is curse I have longed to escape since the day I awoke a Kindred. Nor, however, could I live with myself if you were killed because of me! And for this to come up now, just as I have begun to realize how much I love you…" Julian trailed off, covering his face with his hands for a moment, as if to hide from the world for one, brief instant.

Frank swallowed thickly, his eyes flicking briefly to the doorway where the Brujah Primogen had given his ultimatum. "Julian…I will be honest. I've never wanted to be Kindred. Power, immortality…that stuff means all shit to me. But I don't want to die, either… I've got the best reason in the world to go on living right here," Frank paused, struggling to find the words to convey the tangled mess of thoughts jockeying for position in the front of his brain. "Look…if we can't find a way around it by the time ole' Cameron comes a knocking, I want you to Embrace me. I…I love you too much to give up the ghost without seeing what we can be together. Alright?"

Julian's eyes were troubled as he looked up, and slowly traced Frank's jaw line with his thumb, studying the curves of bone and flesh like the answers to all their quandaries lay there.

"Very well," Julian replied softly, then leaned in for a quick, chaste kiss. "As if I could refuse you anything, now."