Chapter 30

The blanket of darkness that has always seemed so comfortable now seems to want to suffocate him. Matt can't shake the feeling of dread and unease that rests in the pit of his stomach, waiting for its chance to break from him. Not that it would though. He knew better than to give Mello reason to think he was not handling things well.

Outside the window of the Taxi, the lights from various establishments, cars, and street lights blend with the lights of the stars above. Something, that on any other night, Matt would have thought to be something worth watching closely just for the heck of watching. Not tonight though. Near was hiding something, and the redhead was sure that no good could come from the young vampire keeping things from Mello.

...Speak of the devil...

"Matt," Cool leather rests lightly atop the redhead's hand. Matt doesn't look away from the window. He's sure that the look in his eyes will tell Mello of all his worries and uncertainties and it will earn him a one way ticket back to the hotel with Near. "Matt, look at me." The words are whispered against his ear so as to not alert the driver of their even having a conversation.

After only seconds of hesitation, Matt is forced to turn his head in Mello's direction. He said nothing, but the expression on his face quite clearly asks; "What?"

Despite the darkness in the cab, Matt can tell that Mello's blue eyes are trying to analyze everything about his posture. He can almost feel it. When at last he feels as if he's going to break under the icy stare, he speaks. "I'm fine, Mello." The words are lower than a whisper, almost mouthed, but Mello hears them and the blond seems to relax in his seat a little more.

"You don't seem 'fine'" He mumbles against the redhead's ear.

Matt rolls his eyes and turns his attention back to the window. "Bite me."

The blond vampire growled low in his throat but he said nothing more. If Matt wants to play the silent game then fine!

- - - -

"Sir, are you sure this is where your party is?" The Taxi driver asked nervously. It was easy to see why. He had come to a stop at an old Church that apparently no one used anymore. It was tall with large iron crosses at the top of its short towers. The wrought iron gate was wide open, welcoming all to walk the narrow strip of cobble stone, up to the wide wooden doors of the church. On either side of the narrow path was row upon row of grave stones. Not the most welcoming sight for a party.

"Maybe you got the directions wrong? I could find out for-"

"This is it." Mello replied curtly. Apparently he was still pissed at Matt. There was silence except for the soft rustling of fabric as Mello pulled money from the inside of his coat. After handing the driver the amount due plus a tip, he slid out of the car and quickly went around to help Matt.

-

"You don't have to be so rude." Matt snapped at him as they watched the driver drive away. He didn't mean to snap, ugh he was just so frustrated about all this!

Yes, he wanted to be here with him so he didn't have to be worrying in the hotel room, but god damn! Now he was worrying about Near! Was Near really okay? How could either he or Mello be sure! Mello himself hadn't been able to pick up on what the little idiot was hiding!

Mello took Matt's hand without a word, but he said everything by the way he was gripping the redhead's hand. And Matt couldn't complain about the pain because he damn well knew he deserved it for being such a drama queen. It was the last thing Mello needed.

-

The wooden doors looked so old and frail, but they didn't so much as groan their protest as Mello pushed them open.

Spider webs and dust clung to most every available surface. Matt couldn't help but notice how beautiful the church looked. Moonlight spilled in through the stain glass windows throwing odd little shadows and shapes across the pews and stone floor. It was like stepping back in time to a place where everything was a lot more simple. A lot less stressful. But...the church was empty...where were all the other vampires?

"Clever trick, right?" Mello asked; eyes looking straight ahead as they walked the aisle up to the back of the church where a replica of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ hung. A perfect portrait of pain, suffering and sacrifice. It made the redhead cringe a little.

"What is?"

The blond led Matt up a few steps, past the altar to stand before the large portrait of the Virgin Mary. "Who would ever expect Vampires to be living under a church." He chuckled, but it wasn't the warm, amused sound that Matt was so use to hearing. It was dark, and sarcastic. "Hell," He continued, but this time he cocked his head to one side so as to better look at Matt. "who would expect vampires to be living, period."

Matt's eyebrows furrowed slightly behind his gold mask. What was with this sudden change in attitude? Mello was acting...well, the way he acted when they first met. Sarcastic and cold, as if he was just some other easy meal. He grit his teeth the tiniest bit and watched as the blonds' eyebrows raised in response.

"What? Is that not the truth?"

Matt was silent.

. . .

"I'm sorry, Matt." The words were said in a sigh. A sigh that said so much more than the three words he had uttered.

Arms wrapped around him, and Matt let them. Cool lips brushed against his neck before traveling up to his cheek. And for some reason, he cried. Hot tears started to run down his cheeks and he couldn't seem to make sense of them. Why was he crying? Was it because he knew that after this little mission there would come the time when Mello would be ripped from his arms and he would never feel his cool embrace, or kisses again? That was it, right? Right?

"Shh," The vampires' leather clad fingers were quick in wiping away the tears. "No, Matt. Don't think that way. I know what's going on in that negative little head of yours. Stop it." He warned. "You hear me?"

Matt had no choice but to nod his understanding. How could Mello be so calm about this? Did he just not care? Was it because he had lived for so long, that he didn't care to live any longer? Not even for his pathetic little human boyfriend.

Oh, great. This was probably just a suicide mission then! Was Near in on it, too? Oh! This is probably why they've been acting so strange! Matt's mind was racing. Maybe he was just over thinking things. Yeah. Mello wouldn't want anything to happen to him, no way. He had said so countless times. But...what if he just-

"Matt,"

The redhead hadn't realized that his breathing was so heavy and labored. His chest was heaving, almost as if he were suffocating under the weight of all the possibilities. All of the things that could happen...That would happen.

"What are you thinking about?" He growled; hands fast on his arms, squeezing. "I told you to stop thinking about whatever it was you were thinking."

But could it be that simple?

The blond waited impatiently for Matt's eyes to really focus on him. And as soon as that happened, there was a low growl, and with a movement too quick for Matt to see coming, Mello wrapped his arms around the young teen's smaller frame, crushing him against himself before lifting him up bridal style. "Close your eyes."

And Matt had no other choice but to do as he was told. He felt himself falling; the smell of old water and dirt surrounded him. There had been no time to scream. It was just a quick fall and a sudden stop. He wanted to open his eyes to see where they had fallen, and more importantly how, but Mello hadn't told him that it was okay yet.

"Okay," Mello said. His voice echoed once, twice, three times before fading into a dull incoherent sound. He shifted Matt, dropping his hold on the redhead's legs so that they were planted firmly on the ground once more. "You can open your eyes. Not that it will do you much good though."

Why? Matt blinked his eyes open, and to his great annoyance, it was pitch black. "Oh..."

A soft chuckle. Mello was back to his warm self again. What had caused the earlier glitch in his personality, Matt was still contemplating. Despite Mello having told him that nothing was up and that they were safe, countless times. Matt just didn't want to believe it. He wasn't use to believing things so easily. Trusting. Even if it was Mello.

Mello laced their fingers together and began to walk. "One foot after the other. It's not far." His voice was sweet, and comforting. It echoed once more around the dark space around them. It made Matt's stomach flutter the tiniest bit. He felt at ease. But only slightly.

"Where are we?"

"Under the church." The blond vampire replied. "This place was dug out under the human's noses in the early 1900's. It's one of the largest living coven in the world...next to Light's of course. But the difference, is that this coven is lead by Aaron and Celestria, two strong believers that we and the humans are both equal despite our differences. They enforce respect to all humans, and the works. Light, does the opposite."

Matt nodded. Okay...so now he felt like a total idiot for thinking ill of these other vampires. Obviously they were a whole world of better than that Light guy. Or...Light vampire. Whatever.

"So...how?"

"How did we get down here? Trap door." Mello answered coolly.

A trap door. Why was he even surprised? Vampires were really freakin' crafty. Matt sighed quietly to himself and just followed one step at a time. The darkness was not that awful, suffocating darkness that he was use to. No, the fresh smell of moisture and dirt made it a bit more bearable. Bearable?...yeah. Comforting almost. More so because he was holding his vampire boyfriends hand.

He was an idiot for being so paranoid. These vampires are so tame they were almost humans. Yeah, that's what Mello keeps saying. What Near keeps saying. He really needed to start believing it. Alright. He took a slow breath and he felt Mello's hand tighten around his the slightest bit. Yeah, it wouldn't kill him to just relax and trust. A small smile spread across his lips.

"Oh? Warming up to the plan, I see." Mello commented. There was a laugh in his tone that made the redhead laugh as well.

"What makes you say that?"

"Please, young Mail. I saw that smile."

"In the dark?" (1)

"..." Mello laughed. He stopped mid-step and burst into hysterical fits of laughter. "M-matt! Oh, Christ. You make me feel so human!"

And that's when the look of utter confusion slipped from Matt's face, and he too, joined in. Their laughter echoed off the walls and rushed back to them in a symphony of different pitches and clarity. A feeling of relief washed over him and it only served to make him laugh louder. Finally, he felt comfortable in his own skin for the first time since they arrived in New Orleans.

- - -

"How much farther?"

"Not much. See down there? That glow?"

Matt squinted and sure enough, there, among the dark, was a faint glow of golden yellow. Fire? Candles maybe? "What is it?"

"That is our entrance. They keep the door this far in too make sure no humans find it incase they accidentally stumble down the trap door." let go of Matt'sMello hand, instead, he wrapped his arm tightly around the redheads waist and hoisted him up so his feet were off the ground. "No offense, but I refrained from doing this early because I knew how nervous you were. But, now that you're relaxed about it, I'm going to go ahead and do it. Okay?"

Matt rolled his eyes. Why can't vampires just stick to walking at a human pace? They have forever to get to where they want to go. "Alright. But...are you sure that we can trust them?"

"I'm positive. Relax."

"Mkay. Let's just get this over with." He mumbled.

Mello pressed his lips to the side of Matt's neck. The dark hallway suddenly felt a lot colder. Cold air whipped against his skin making him shiver. When the blonds' lips left his neck he opened his eyes -when had he closed them? Seriously- and was surprised at the sight of the white wooden door that greeted them. Two gas lamps hung on each side of it, illuminating it in the gloom.

There was only one thing off about this otherwise beautiful door...it had no door knob.

Hm. Looks like the vampires forgot a little something...

Matt turned to look up at the blond vampires face. He was about to offer turning back, but his words died on his tongue as he watched Mello's fingers trace the intricate lines carved into the wood of the door.

"What are you doing?" Matt whispered. Why he whispered he had no clue, he just felt like he had to. Kind of like when Moses was talking to the burning bush and he had to take off his shoes. Yeah...kind of like that.

He didn't get an answer though. Mello just continued to trace the carvings all the way down to the bottom of the door and back up again.

Matt sighed in annoyance. Vampires...

Then, Mello stood back and took the redheads hand in his. Matt almost squeaked when the door swung open. There was a rush of ice cold air, and the scent of a thousand freshly picked roses. Like standing in a frozen rose garden.

Music and light spilled out into the darkness, and Matt felt his eyes grow a little heavy. It was all so peaceful, so alluring. He didn't know whether to lay down right there and sleep, or ask Mello to dance. It was so beautiful.

The violin, piano and cello's mixed together to form music that the redhead had never heard before. It was fast with just the right amount of sweet low notes to make it slow-danceable. Amazing.

"This is it?" He asked in awe.

Mello chuckled, his arm tightening around the redhead's waist. "In a sense," He cocked his head to look at him. There was a small, reassuring smile on his pale lips. "This is only the first level."

1. If you didn't get the joke...Mello's a vampire. He can see in the dark. DUH.

A/N: I said soon, right? I'm true to my word. Yes, half way the tone changes. Why? Should be obvious. Starts off with frustration, ends a little amused. Right, next chapter will be up soon. Excuse spelling and grammar mistakes I had a time limit and I just type like crazy.

Review please and i'll deliver.

Matt.