Chapter 24: Just Give Me a Reason

Frank stood on the dock between the two brutes waiting with Emile for the arrival of Delebon and his people. The night was hot and sticky, the silk pajamas clung to his body and he wished Miguel would stop leering at him. His thigh was throbbing, his ankles and wrists ached and burned and an overall feeling of weakness and feverishness pervaded his being. He recalled Phil skipping days of his vampire blood regimen and he never seemed so weak. Maybe there was something to this iron sensitivity crap the witch had told him about.

Not that it mattered now. Nothing mattered anymore as far as Frank was concerned. Phil was gone. He saw the light leave his eyes and Frank felt like he had died in that basement with him. It seemed so surreal, deep down inside Frank could have sworn that he and Phil had years together. Flashes would appear in the back of his mind from time to time of Phil and him, rings on their fingers and silver in their hair. And lately, just as he would wake in the mornings, he swore he heard the sweet laughter of children fading off in the distance. Daydreams.

Now those daydreams were just that, dreams. Dreams that had evaporated along with Frank's hope and his will to keep going. What did he have to look forward to now, a life of torture, a life of abuse to his body and soul at the hands of strangers? No, he could not live through that. He'd done that before and swore he'd never allow anyone to use him again like that. So long as he knew Phil was alive his life had purpose, he had a reason to carry on. Not now.

He was being selfish, he knew that. What would Joe say? His mom and dad? He could try to find away to survive and hang on for their sakes. If he died, Frank would be robbing his parents of a son, taking away Joe's big brother. Joe and Vanessa were bringing a new life into the family. They had years of promise and growth ahead of them. They could all console themselves in that fact. The niece or nephew he'd never get to know would help fill the whole in their hearts that his absence would leave. It would have to. They would just have to understand…

The hum of a boat motor could be heard in the distance. Then they saw see the boat's lights as it came around the bend. It was a houseboat with two stories. It was sleek and looked like it was meant to handle rougher waters. Where were they going to take him that they planned to get out on open water? Frank vaguely wondered.

Emile turned to Jacques and Miguel and nodded a silent command. Miguel held onto Frank's arm as Jacques walked forward and accepted the rope one of the crew tossed out to tie down the vessel to the dock. Frank began to wonder what kind of people, or beings, these were if they could tolerate wearing such long and hooded cloaks in the muggy August weather this far south. A plank was lowered and affixed to the dock and five very tall, cloaked figures disembarked from the boat.

"Monsieur Delebon, Dolon, friends! Bonsoir et bienvenue en Louisiana!" Emile bowed elegantly before the gathered guests.

"Good Evening Louvel." Dolon stepped forward, and motioned for one of the minions to step up with him. The minion held up an attaché case and released the clasps. Frank guessed there was about a million dollars in U.S. currency in there. Is that how much his life was worth? A million? It certainly was nice to know that if he was going to be sold in to slavery, even in his condition, he drew a high price.

"We are agreed?" Dolon asked as Emile picked up a stack of bills and did a quick count.

"Yes. This is perfect." The minion snapped the case closed and set it on the floor of the dock by his side, guarding the money until the exchange was complete. Miguel led Frank up to stand beside Emile. Emile used the handle of the cane to lift Frank's downcast gaze up to face the small party.

The tallest member of the group stepped forward and lowered his hood. Frank thought he had hit his limit of knowledge for all things supernatural, what with the actual existence of vampires, witches and now werewolves. But he was wrong, so wrong.

The man before him had to be just over seven feet tall. His hair was long and stark white and his skin had a purplish cast to it. Everything about this man seemed to be elongated, from the shape of his face, nose, to his ears which were pointed. Black eyes stared at Frank, and the man's long fingers looked like they were itching to touch him.

"Hello boy, I am Delebon. Dolon tells me your English name is Frank. I understand the name means "Free man". Ironic, yes? Worry not child, we will find a new name for you."

...

"Get out of the car Eric!" Amy seethed at the sight of that wretched collar on her child. Eric rolled down the car window.

"I can't Amy! I was instructed not to leave the car or drive it anywhere! And every time I try…"

"Serves you right for doing something so foolish! Did you retain nothing that I taught you? Honestly Eric…"

Biff was keeping his distance from the exchange between parent and child vampires. If he had his druthers he would rip the door off the car and stake the bastard once and for all. But out of respect for Amy's relationship with the redhead Biff was letting her deal with the dipshit herself.

He saw Minne and Guy running up the gravel path with lightening speed, followed closely behind by a very bruised looking Phil and the blonde Johan. Biff met Phil halfway and tackled the raven haired boy in a fierce embrace.

"Thank G-d you're okay! What happened?" Biff asked his friend.

"Long story." He snapped, "Why the fuck is that bastard still alive?" Phil charged forward before Biff could stop him.

"Phil, no! Stop!" But the fresh dose of vampire blood coursing through Phil's veins made him just a tad quicker than his athletic friend and he reached the black Mercedes first. He pushed Amy out of the way, flung the driver's side door open and yanked Eric out of the car. The vampire tumbled to the dirt path and finally came to a stop at Biff's feet as he caught up to Phil and Amy.

"You…fucking…bastard…where…is…Frank?" Phil yelled as he let blow after blow rain down on Eric's face. Biff ran around behind Phil and pulled the slighter man off. "Let go of me Biff! Let go or I swear to G-d I'll beat the shit out of you too!"

"Scrappy little thing, isn't he?" Johan muttered to Guy.

Amy approached Phil as he continued to struggle in Biff's grasp and laid a calming hand on his shoulder.

"Be still and save your strength for the battle ahead Phil." Phil stopped struggling, but he was still pissed.

"Werewolves!" Minnie hissed. "Guy can smell them, and something else." Guy said something in Minnie's ear so quietly that no one else could hear. "He doesn't know what it is. They're beings he's never encountered before."

"That has to be Delebon and his people. I've never met them, but from what I gathered from Emile, they're scared of vampires." Eric said as he tried to sit up.

It dawned on him just then that despite the pounding he just took from Phil, his head didn't feel like it was about to explode as it had earlier when he had tried to get out of the car or drive away. Amy caught on to his bewildered expression.

"Your will is not your own now, since you were taken out of the car against your will and did not get out on your own accord, you are safe from your master's wrath, for now." Amy gave Eric a hand and helped him to his feet. "Now answer Phil, where is Frank?"

"Emile and the others headed toward the docks to the left, behind the warehouses."

The group of vampires and humans set out quickly and quietly around the warehouses, clinging to the shadows. There they were, Emile, his cronies, people wearing cloaks, and Frank.

"My G-d they smell so good. My mouth is watering." Minnie whispered and Guy nodded.

"Oh my giddy Aunt! Elves! They're bloody elves! I've only ever heard of them, I've never seen one for real! Its like Christmas and my birthday have arrived on the same day!" Johan enthused. His canines had started to drop in reaction to the delicious smell of elven blood.

"Maybe that's why they're scared of you guys, they're on the menu." Biff said quietly.

…..

Delebon touched Frank's face, running his fingers over the brunette's two-day growth of whiskers. He turned Frank's head and ran his fingers over the tops of his ears.

"Brother, I assure you he is a fine specimen, but we should really being leaving." Dolon said in their native language.

"Patience Dolon. When the day arrives that you receive your first vartyo hauthwaid* of your very own, you will want to savor this moment." Delebon said as he continued his inspection of Frank's anatomy.

"But you've had dozens of vartyo hauthwaids." Dolon said petulantly. Delebon smiled.

"And I've always shared my playthings with you Brother. And when I've tired of this one, I promise I'll…"

Frank felt something stir in his chest, a warm, peaceful feeling, a fire, a passion. The kind of feeling he would get when Phil walked into the room, when he would gaze at Frank with those honey and hazel eyes.

"No." Frank didn't even realize he'd said it out loud.

"Quiet boy." Emile hissed, poking Frank in the ribs with the cane.

"No! I'm no one's slave. And I'm not going anywhere with you!" Frank's eyes narrowed and he started to back away from Delebon and Emile.

"Louvel, you said you broke him. Used to have better control of slaves you find for us." Dolon said with a note of condescension. Affronted by the man's comment, Emile raised the cane.

"I'll remedy that right now!"

Emile held the cane by the shaft and brought it down for the blow, but Frank was ready and brought his hands up, letting the chain between his shackles absorb the brunt of the strike. He grabbed the eagle head handle and gave it a sharp twist, then unsheathed the brilliant silver-coated sword. Instinctively the group backed away from Frank as he wielded the sword defensively. But the Weres recovered first.

"Ah, full of surprises aren't you, Monsieur Hardy? But do you really think you can take on all of us, especially in your condition? Your leg is hurting isn't it? Those iron shackles are weakening you by the minute. My Jacques can tackle you and Miguel can take the sword from your hand before you can even blink." Frank smirked and turned the blade toward his self, its tip pressing into the side of his neck.

"But can they get to me before I turn on myself? That would really fuck up your plans, huh Emile? You left Eric in the car, he'll never get to me in time to heal me. So do you think your friends will pay you for a dying slave?"

"No boy! Don't be a fool, put the blade down." Emile tried to gain control of a situation that was growing increasingly out of hand.

Delebon had been watching the drama between Louvel and the boy with amusement, but the unmistakable sense that a predator was near made him snap his head up suddenly and his eyes were filled with panic.

"Agaryulnaerea*!"

"What? What is wrong Monsieur Delebon?" Emile asked. He turned his attention away from Frank and looked around to see what had caused his client such alarm.

"Vampires Delebon senses!"

Sure enough, beneath the harsh glare of a security light, Emile could see five silhouettes approaching.

"Emile Louvel, Delebon! The mortal life of Frank Hardy…" Eric's voice rang out through the shipyard.

"No! Eric I command you to…" He never finished the sentence as Guy charged forward and pinned Emile to the wooden boards of the dock. The elves scrambled for the gangplank, Delebon shouting orders and Dolon grabbed the attaché. The houseboat's engines roared to life and the river water began to froth as the boat was put into reverse.

"…is under my…"

Jacques roared savagely, effectively cutting off Eric's words and before Frank's eyes the man hunched over, his limbs elongated and fur shot out all over his skin. His tattered clothes and shoes ripped and clung to his body in shreds. The werewolf charged Eric, teeth bared and snapping for his neck.

Miguel had done the same and launched himself at the smallest target, Minnie. The vampire dodged him easily, but Miguel turned agilely on the pads of his feet and snagged her leg. The girl shrieked and Guy released Emile to rush to her aid. A melee ensued as Guy and Johan pounced on Miguel to release Minnie. Amy wrapped her arm around Jacques neck in a choke-hold to get the Were off of Eric. Biff and Phil stayed in the shadows, guns trained on the elves and Louvel.

A desperate Emile hopped up and ran to the end of the dock, waving his hands to halt his client's retreat.

"No! Monsieur Delebon! Please come back! Come back!" But the houseboat was too far away now. They weren't coming back. Outraged, Emile turned around and faced Frank.

"You…worthless…" He backhanded Frank, causing the brunette to lose his footing and his grip on the sword. "You've…ruined…everything!" His voice rose in volume and ferocity as the man began his metamorphosis to his second nature. The bridge of his nose lengthened and broadened, his jaw line grew and narrowed and razor sharp teeth joined the ones he bore out menacingly.

Frank scrambled for the sword and just as his hand wrapped around the handle, a strong, clawed hand-paw tore into his left side and he was flipped onto his back. Fire ripped through Frank's flank and he was not able to hold back the scream of pain that consumed him. A weight was suddenly on his chest and his hands were pinned above his head.

"You have been the source of much …trouble for me, Monsieur Hardyyyy." The huge grey werewolf growled. "I will take much pleasure in reaping the fruits of my laborsss!" His enormous maw opened and Frank could see the saliva dripping off of those teeth just before the monster went for his neck.

Before those teeth could tear his flesh, Frank heard a crack of gunfire and Emile jerked back, howling painfully. Frank saw blood pouring out of the werewolf's shoulder and the monster released his wrists as it clamped a paw over the wound. Frank took the opportunity for what it was and thrust the sword in his hand into the closest part of Emile he could reach, his groin. The brunette drove the blade in as far as he could. Emile shuffled and stumbled back, releasing his shoulder and reached for the blade. Before he could pull it out, another shot clipped his other shoulder and the werewolf fell back.

Frank could hear his heart beating in his ears and he tried to roll over and crawl away, but the pain in his side was too much and his energy was spent. The left side of his face was so swollen that his couldn't see out of that eye. The blood loss from the lacerations in his side was taking its toll on his strength and all he could do was lay there, relieved that it was almost over. What "it" was he wasn't sure, things were getting foggy and darkness was encroaching on his vision. His ears could pick up on the sounds of sirens, fighting, grunts and curses. He heard feet pounding on the wooden dock, getting closer. Arms went under his shoulders and knees and he could feel himself being lifted and moved away from the howling animal just a few feet away.

"…Protection!" Emile had finally wrenched the small sword from his groin, blood continued to flow from his shoulder where the bullet was lodged, but it had slowed where it had only grazed him. He ignored the final word that Eric uttered and charged Frank at full speed. When Emile got within three feet of Frank and his rescuer he was suddenly thrown back with an equal amount of force.

"No! Noooo!" Emile bolted past Frank straight for Eric, who had finally made it onto the docks.

Eric ran to meet the werewolf halfway, not noticing the blade still curled in Emile's paw.

"Eric, Stop!" Amy jumped up from where she had finally subdued Jacques, who was unconscious and morphing back into his human form, and began to run after Eric. Biff grabbed her around her waist and held her back.

"No Amy, this is his fight. He got himself into it. He has to finish it to be free." Amy knew he was right, but her instinct to protect her child was overwhelming. She watched helplessly as Eric tackled Emile and they rolled along the dock.

"I…command…you…to…" Eric brought his fist up and silenced Emile in a jaw-breaking uppercut. But he exposed his right flank and Emile jabbed the blade into his side.

"No! Eric!" Amy tried to wrench herself out of Biff's grasp but Eric rebounded and threw Emile off of him. He staggered to his feet, the sword still sticking out of his side, and with a feral roar he rushed Emile. Both vampire and werewolf tumbled off of the pier and into the murky waters of the Mississippi River.

…..

Author's Note:

*Vartyo hauthwaid – Tolkien-esque words mean servent bedmate.

*Agaryulnaerea – Tolkien-esque word for "bloodsucker"

Wow, this chapter took longer than I thought. Action scenes, arghh! Give me a good ole smut scene any day. Oh, and hey, elves, did you see that coming?

Thanks for your patience dear readers.