Heart's Price

by Severitus

--Part 8--

The hours ticked by, and the thin lines of light from the covered windows moved across the room. Julian remained aware of nothing but the sound of a heartbeat, and the lean body in his arms. It was sometime after dark when there was a change at last. The pattern of Frank's shallow breathing changed, hitching briefly as if in pain, then continued more labored than before. Julian's eyes snapped open, and he could barely believe it when he felt Frank's body twitch, and then begin to shiver.

Sitting up slightly, Julian watched as Frank's eyes rolled beneath their lids, the corners of his mouth twitching as if caught in a dream. His heartbeat sped slightly, but maintained an even rhythm. And then, Frank abruptly woke up.

It wasn't even a slow waking, with much blinking and groaning. Instead, Frank's body jerked and his eyes snapped open, wide and unseeing at first, as if shocked out of a nightmare.

At first Frank was aware of nothing but a pervasive chill that seemed to seep into his very bones. Then, his senses adjusted and he realized he was in a warm bed, with a familiar, muscular body pressed to his side. A jolt of pain that split his body from head to toe snapped his eyes open.

"Frank?" Julian called, and Frank brought his eyes to focus, taking in the welcome sight of his lover leaning over him, expression a mix of concern and relief.

"Ju--Julian," Frank gasped, flinching at the dry pain in his throat. Something was wrapped tightly around his neck, reminding him to think twice about trying to turn his head. Shaking, Frank closed his eyes, struggling to focus past the pain that still throbbed everywhere at once. His stomach abruptly cramped, and Frank groaned, trying to curl in on himself. Gentle hands held him back to the pillows, smoothing his hair back from his face.

"Easy…it's going to be alright," Julian assured.

"Hurts, damnit…" Frank complained, clamping his jaws shut as the pain flared, burning up from his gut and into his bones.

"It is your body beginning the Change, Frank. It will be gone in a few days at most." Frank opened his eyes to glare at the Prince.

Just then, the door to the bedroom creaked open, and Daedalus entered, brown pouch once again at hand. His face lit with a small smile as he saw Frank awake and glaring. If the detective had strength enough for ire, then he had strength enough to live.

"It is good to see you awake, Detective," Daedalus greeted, coming to a stop beside the bed. Holding his hand briefly to the man's forehead, he nodded to himself.

"He is much improved, my Prince, though his strength still flags." Removing a small bottle from the pouch, he urged Frank to drink.

Frank allowed the bitter liquid to seep past his parched lips, grimacing at the noxious aftertaste.

"This will speed your healing, Detective, so that your body can focus on regaining its strength," Daedalus answered his unasked question. Nodding slightly in thanks, Frank grit his teeth as another shudder wracked his body, eliciting bolts of pain from the wound at his neck. Through the pain, he barely noticed as Daedalus began to unwind the gauze at his throat, a fresh roll already waiting on the table.

"It still looks bad," Julian commented as the last of the gauze came away. Frank swallowed, well aware of how terrible the wound at his throat must be. He was sure that something beyond the obvious had been seriously damaged. While making his escape from the warehouse, he had discovered that he could not move his head in certain directions. It wasn't merely because of the pain either, but because some muscle or tendon just wasn't receiving the message. Idly, he wondered if Daedalus' miracle drugs would help with that, or if he was a lost cause.

"It will heal in time," Daedalus said.

Suddenly, thought evaporated as the pain surged anew. Body arcing off the bed, Frank opened his mouth in a silent scream, legs twisting at the horrible, burning pain that surged through every nerve and cell. His body thrashed and shuddered, but gentle hands restrained him, a strong chest pressed to his to hold him down.

"Once I replace the gauze, I would suggest you try feeding him, My Prince," Daedalus said, the roll of fresh gauze in his pale hands. Frank was only dimly aware as his body was gently raised from the bed again, and the brush of the gauze as it was wound around his neck. Feed? His brain questioned feebly. Somewhere in the back of his mind he knew he didn't like the sound of that. Two pairs of hands began to lift him carefully from the bed, and soon he was reclining against a familiar body. He shuddered again as Julian wrapped an arm around his stomach, which had begun to twist uncomfortably in his gut again.

Reaching in front of him, Julian extended a suddenly sharp fingernail and slashed quickly at his opposite wrist. Frank sucked in a startled breath, remembering Katerina performing an identical action. Struggling to turn his head away, Frank's panicked motions were quickly stopped as Julian pulled his head back against his shoulder.

"It's okay, Frank. This will make the pain go away…I promise," Julian soothed, and pressed the bleeding wound gently to his lips. Frank resisted at first, fighting to keep his lips shut despite Julian's insistent pressure. But then the scent hit his nose, and something in it made his mouth open in surprise. The instant it touched his tongue, he was lost.

He was surprised that it didn't taste like blood. Instead, it tasted like Julian, and it was for that reason alone that he was able to keep himself from gagging. It was nearly the same as when Julian had tasted him…images and feelings surged through his brain, and a connection to the other man sprang to life as if it had been lying in wait. He could feel the other man's concern, the fear he'd suffered while Frank had been missing, and the agony as he lay at Frank's side, not knowing if he would live or die. The feelings settled around him like a warm blanket, banishing the chill that invaded his body. He was aware of the pain receding, the horrible, twisting sickness in his gut easing, but his thoughts were all of Julian.

Frank's eyes snapped open when Julian began to tug his wrist away, and he only then realized that he'd been clutching Julian's arm, sucking at the wound like a starved kitten at its mother's tit. Bile threatened the back of his throat as Frank put a hand to his mouth and it came away smeared with blood.

"Oh, god…" he moaned, his breath panicked as he leaned against Julian's shoulder. "Oh god…"

Julian had quickly licked the last of the blood from his wrist and took to running a hand back through Frank's matted hair, sensing the smaller man's distress.

"Frank…listen to me, Frank…you're fine. Everything's going to be fine."

Frank jerked slightly in his arms, shivering with disgust this time. Blood…he could taste it now on his tongue, feel the weight of it in his stomach. The thought made him want to throw up. His mind raced, taunting him through his disgust that he would depend on blood for the rest of his life. He was Kindred now…a blood-drinking monster….

"I…blood…I drank…blood…" Frank gasped. It was Daedalus, however, still waiting in the shadows, who answered this time.

"Yes, Frank Kahonek. It is your nature now to survive on blood. Without it you will die. I can sense your fear and turmoil…but be assured, you are not a monster. The one who Embraced you is the monster. You are Kindred, like Julian, Cash, and I. In time, you will adjust to your new life. You are lucky that unlike most, you already have many friends among us, and we will all be here for you," Daedalus said. Frank stared at him with wide eyes, before lowering his gaze and nodding slowly. Daedalus inclined his head to Julian, and crept silently out the door.

"I guess we don't have to worry about Cameron's ultimatum anymore, huh," Frank said softly, his voice still hoarse and weak. Behind him, Julian sighed and pressed his forehead into his hair, breathing deeply of his scent.

"Frank…what happened to you…it is a terrible thing. No one should begin their life as Kindred the way you have. I swear to you, your sire will pay in blood for this. I will not let this go unavenged." Julian's voice was strained and rough, and Frank was surprised when a blood-tinged tear dropped to his bare shoulder. Frank reached up and took the man's hand, squeezing it gently in his own. With pleased surprise, Frank realized that he could still feel Julian's emotions. They were faint now without the blood linking them together, but it was enough. Julian's feelings of love and protectiveness surrounded him like a cocoon, doing much to ease his fears. Sighing, Frank relaxed back into the body behind him, allowing himself to drift into much needed slumber.

--

When Frank awoke again, it was no less pleasant than the time before. No sooner had his eyes snapped open than pain exploded across his entire world. His head, his eyes, his jaws, arms, hands…even his fingernails hurt. It felt as if his blood were burning, boiling…threatening to erupt out of his veins in a gory, crimson fountain. His abdomen was the worst. Like before, an aching emptiness throbbed from deep within, but that was only the least of it. Everything inside ached like he'd never experienced before, alternately cramping and burning, sending tendrils of a shivery, icy pain up his spine. Opening his jaws wide, he tried to scream, but a sudden, violent cramp cut him off, forcing him to curl into a quivering ball.

A gentle hand began stroking his bare back, fingers trailing soothing lines over his quivering muscles. The distraction was welcome, and Frank struggled to turn his head enough to see who still watched over him. Though it was unsurprising, Frank still felt a surge of relief when he saw it was Julian who sat beside him, rubbing soothing circles between his shoulders.

"I know it hurts, Frank…but it will pass. Your body is dying around you, while your blood is keeping you alive…changing you. In a few hours the worst will be over," Julian said, his smooth voice caressing.

Frank abruptly twitched, his body convulsing as if suffering a seizure. Julian let him ride through it, waiting patiently as the convulsions turned into violent shivers. When it had passed, Frank turned over, grabbing Julian's hand in a powerful grip that bespoke of the changes already occurring.

"D-don't…leave," Frank whispered, holding Julian's hand to his chest as if it were the only thing anchoring him beyond the pain. Frank tried to keep his mind focused on Julian and him alone. If he thought of the pain, it reminded him of what was causing it. He was dying…the ripping, burning, horrible pain in his gut was his organs shutting down, one by one. After all, what did a vampire did them for? Soon, his heart and lungs would stop too…but his body would go on living. Cold, still…a walking corpse just like out of an old horror movie. Groaning, Frank drew his knees toward his chest, savoring the sound of his heart thundering frantically in his ears and the rush of cool air into his lungs. Even now, as painful as it was, he wanted to savor the things that would soon be torn from him forever.

As the hours passed and the pain in his gut numbed, Frank couldn't fight the exhaustion that pulled at his burning eyes. Closing his eyes, the last sensation he had before fading into sleep was of a pair of soft lips pressing a gentle kiss to his temple.