Author's notes: Hope this whole 'shadow/spirit' thing isn't too confusing for you guys. I'm going to try and clarify it in the next few chapters.
Michael and David sat together at Hudson's bluff, dangling their feet over the cliff edge. They didn't talk much. And as much as Michael liked to entertain the idea that maybe David didn't give a shit anymore that he'd been talking to Sam earlier, he knew it was just wishful thinking.
"Why do you hate me, Michael?" David whispered in his ear, as he tucked a lock of Michael's hair behind it with one long claw, causing the younger vampire to jump. Startled.
"What kinda question is that?" Michael turned to him, glaring and batting David's hand away. But there wasn't as much fire behind his eyes as there normally might have been. He was tired. Too tired to play this game.
David snorted. "Just a question. Answer it." There was a hint of warning in his tone, which in Michael's mind only really served to illustrate a very good reason why Michael was inclined to dislike him. Constant threats, implied or bluntly stated, didn't tend to foster good will.
Michael watched the water crash against the rocks below, and kicked his feet up when a spray of water coated the toes. He needed to get a new pair of shoes pretty soon. Maybe he'd trade these rotten sneakers for some decent boots...or maybe he'd just get more sneakers. It didn't really matter.
Why would David even ask him something like that, though? He had a million and one reasons to hate the bastard, routine rape sessions being one of the major ones. So what did he honestly expect Michael to say to him? Was he just looking for a reason to get pissed off, an excuse to be an asshole?
"I don't hate you, David." Saying it aloud was almost a shock, even to himself. Michael was pretty sure he despised his maker. So why didn't he just say it?
"You said you did the other night." David raised his eyebrows, surprise etched on his face.
"Did I?" Now it was Michael's turn to be surprised. "I don't remember saying that."
David stared at him, incredulous. "You don't remember? Seriously?"
Michael frowned, thinking back to their most recent fight. He'd said a few things. There'd definitely been some bloodshed. Mostly his. Actually, only his. He looked back down at his shoes and desperately tried to recall every detail. Yes...yeah...he'd said something about hate. Wow. How could he forget?
"Okay, maybe sometimes I do hate you. Most of the time. Pretty much whenever you're talking or near me. We kill people, David. You won't let me even have contact with my family. And believe it or not, I like to actively have a say in who, what, and when I'm going to fuck or get fucked." Michael ran a hand through his hair, scratching his head. This heart-to-heart thing was...weird. Maybe not as weird as sleeping in a cave with his toes around a rusty pipe used to be. But definitely close.
David remained quiet, watching him, while digging a pack of matches from his coat and pulling the cigarette out from behind his ear. "...What about where?"
"...What?"
"No, where." David smirked as he tucked his lit cigarette into his mouth. Already sporting that stupid smug look he had when he was about to do something to piss Michael off.
Michael snorted, and pulled his feet away from the edge of the cliff so he could stand. He picked at the grass on his pants and dusted off his rear, refusing to meet David's gaze. "Yeah, that too." He paused, and looked down at David with a suspicious scowl. "Are you going to do anything to Sam? Or are the others going to?" He knew he couldn't take David in a fight, experience had proven that several times over. But he'd be damned if he didn't try, if Sam or the rest of his family were in danger.
Smoke mingled with the fog and salt air around them, blending in until it disappeared entirely. David's laughter echoed around them, leaving Michael's question unanswered.
"If you do try anything with them, David, I will definitely kill you. It may take me a decade if it has to, but the minute I get a chance...I'll take you all out," Michael growled, turning on his heel and heading towards his bike. He wasn't really too surprised that he didn't make it very far before he was tackled to the ground.
"Is that right?" David purred in his ear, nipping at it and causing an involuntary shudder to run down Michael's spine. God how he missed when he only got feelings like this around chicks. At least only David could pull this shit on him, or he might not have managed to survive this long. One maniacal bloodsucking asshole dominating him on an almost nightly basis was enough. He'd have staked himself if Marko could've done it too.
They struggled a bit on the ground until Michael managed to at least position himself so his back was pressed up against the sand and patches of grass, and he was facing David above him. There was none of the oppressive air between them that had made their last fight as intense as it had been. Michael only glared up at him, a little irritated, expectant.
"Are you trying to keep me out here for a reason?" He demanded. There was obviously something going on, beyond the heart-to-heart bullshit they'd just exchanged. If David was really mad at him for some imaginary slight, or even upset about him talking to his brother, he'd have done something about it by now.
"What makes you think that?" David asked, distracted as he tried to pluck at Michael's jacket and shove it down on his shoulders.
The shadow watched the Lost Boys in the cave, whispering and hissing among each other. She was frustrated. At first, it had been easy jumping into them, but she'd struggled to remain inside Paul's body for too long. She needed to wait until they slept, so she could gather more energy. It wasn't something she knew from experience, but just a nagging feeling. An instinct. Slipping inside Michael's mind had been natural enough, playing on his guilt and the lingering feelings of 'love' he'd professed to have for her in his dreams.
This thing. This shadow. She wasn't Star anymore. She was the last remaining scrap of Star, the anger and the bitterness. The only part that could remain, attached to the living world by an invisible chord to the shell of her former self that dwelt in the pit below. And she wasn't going to be free until she dealt with every last one of them.
"So we got about thirty minutes before they come back and we have to turn in. That leaves you with maybe...twenty minutes to get your groove on with the sex kitten, Paulie. Think you can manage?" Marko crossed his arms and smirked as he leaned against the cave wall.
"I only need five," Paul held up a hand to illustrate his point, a goofy grin on his face.
"You only need two," Dwayne interrupted from his position at the fountain, dodging a pillow aimed in his direction.
"C'mon, Dwayne. That's not fair. I saw him go a whole three when we had those twins on the beach," Marko snickered, gesturing with his hands on his chest as a reminder of just how impressive the girls' endowments were.
"Shut up!" Paul snapped, standing up from the couch and straightening his jacket as he rotated his head from side to side and popped his back. "You know what? I'm gonna make it ten. You just watch. I'm gonna teach her how to scream my name!" He insisted, confidently marching out of the lobby with long strides.
Marko pushed himself away from the wall, crossing towards the fountain and keeping his arms crossed in front of him.
"Somethin' wrong?" He leaned forward and tilted his head.
"Hm?" Dwayne looked up at Marko as he shifted on the fountain and got to his feet.
"You've got that 'I'm thinking about some crazy shit and gonna keep my mouth shut until something happens' look on your face. So c'mon, man. Spill," Marko poked Dwayne in the chest.
Dwayne shook his head and passed Marko to go after Paul. "I got a theory...but I'm gonna wait on it," he shrugged.
Marko threw his hands in the air, shaking his head. "Alright, but if you get your ass fried on a stereo again, don't come crying to me!"
A loud shriek followed by a string of expletives, and then insane laughter interrupted their little conversation, and Marko shoved past Dwayne, scrambling out of the lobby. "Don't start without us, Paulie!" He shouted, hair flying behind him as he chuckled.
Slowing to a stop, Dwayne watched Marko disappear through a curtain that separated the lobby from a small corridor, and spun around. He could swear he saw a shadow flitting into the bed...the moth-eaten canopy was even shifting as if it had just been lowered. He frowned, and turned back to follow Marko. If Thorn wasn't growling, he didn't have anything to worry about just yet.
"That was...different," Michael remarked mentally, as they drove their bikes back towards the cave. He had an amused smirk plastered on his face to contrast with David's moody scowl. Quite the reverse of their usual moods together.
"Shut up. Just because I'm a vampire doesn't mean I'm not a man. It happens to everyone!" David's snippy reply.
Michael laughed, speeding up and passing David. "Not me. You must be getting old!" He taunted...though he'd probably regret that remark later. Just knowing Sammy was probably safe for now was enough to keep him happy.
And as mad as David tried to be...it really was nice once in awhile to see Michael smile.