[The Lost Boys]

As the World Falls Down

Chapter 11

At the Heart of Nostalgia

That evening, Allegra had ridden back with Dwayne, an empty pit taking the place of her stomach as she clung to his waist. They'd left first, David trailing behind them in silent rage after double checking every inch of the area. He was quietly fuming, deliberately keeping everyone out of his head as he tried to sort through things on his own. The boys had never seen him so on edge. Allegra was still confused though as they made their way back to the cave. She didn't understand what had been meant about her turning, the whole Master vs Master thing playing out in her head. Would someone really want her dead now just because David had managed to save her life?

Allegra sat on the bed, pulling at her hair as her stomach growled at her, the offending organ clenching painfully as it tried to eat away at her little by little. She couldn't remember the last time she'd eaten something and felt satisfied. Briefly, she wondered why David had bothered to save her. If he wasn't supposed to, then why? If he knew it was going to cause him some sort of problem, then why had he done it. Fortunately for her, his thoughts were a bit different on the subject.

Outside, David continued to pace, hands clasped behind his back. He'd abandoned his coats in the sand, boots and socks tossed haphazardly to the side. He was trying to calm himself as his brain went into over drive. Over the years, he'd only ever run into another individual of his kind, outside of his Sire. The last time, Max had driven the vampire off, guarding his hunting grounds. Max was rather territorial when it came to his home. Over the years, he'd bounced around a little bit, but he'd always come back to the boardwalk for some reason or another. David on the other hand, he hadn't seen the point in going anywhere else. He'd returned 'home', but a single time, before turning his back on it. The little farm house held too many memories and with his family gone, there had been nothing left for him. Sure, he could've taken over the business after his father died, playing it off that he'd miraculously survived. How was he supposed to keep it up though after a decade when people started to realize that the young man was just that, a young man, unchanging as the years went by. There would have been no point.

He felt a growl tear at the back of his throat, the muscles in his arms tensing almost painfully so as he tried to remain in control of himself. He couldn't get the man's words out of his head though.

"I want to see how long it takes before your Master decides he wants her dead."

It sent a chill down his spine. David knew exactly what he'd done when he'd turned her. Then again, there hadn't been much time to actually think things through. All he knew was that she was dying, drowning in her own blood as it filled her lung, her skin growing colder by the seconds. He knew that feeling all too well, his thoughts drifting back to that fateful day in 1906.

xXx

It was odd for him, being so close to the coast. It was the first time that his family had come out this way in the almost 22 years of his life. Normally, his father tended to stick to the far. He'd never been over worried about taking them anywhere. The trip though, despite wanting to please his mother, had actually been for him. It was something that his father had decided on, believing that it was time for him to see the ocean. It was also a means of putting things into perspective. A life in the country was far different than one in the city. In the city, everything was close, easily accessed. In the countryside, you had to work for what you wanted, growing your own food, making your own clothes. You learned to respect yourself. In the countryside, it was quiet, unlike the noise of the beach.

David wasn't overly bothered by the noise or the people. He found them interesting, spending his first day watching people from the peer. The way they talked, walked, and dressed, it was so different from what he was used to. Their clothing was colorful. It held personality. It was different than his own. Normally, he wore simple jeans or overalls, keeping himself covered while working in the fields. Here, the mean wore shorts, their shirts unbuttoned as they ran toward the water.

The water. The sight was a beautiful, the waves rushing forward and crashing against the shore. Its blue depths reflected the clear sky, the suns radiating warmth staring down at the earth below. He'd never seen anything like it, watching as the water receded each time, before reaching to brush at the sand upon its return. It was a constant series of movements playing out in front of him.

Having come from the country though, he had nothing to swim in. He was sure that if he tried in his underclothes, his father would kill him, scolding him to no end as he pulled at his ear. The mere thought made him cringe as he'd stared out at the waves with a somber expression on his face. Perhaps one day, he'd know what it was like to swim in the open waters, the waves caressing his skin with its cool touch.

"David!"

He turned, a smile on his face as he caught sight of the little mop of blonde that came running toward him, kneeling down before tossing him into the air. The boy let out a squeal in excitement, giggling as his brother caught him, before tickling his belly mercilessly.

"D-David!" he cried out, tears in his little eyes as he laughed.

David smiled affectionately down at him, finally placing him on his hip after a moment.

"Where's Mom?" he asked, ruffling the child's hair.

Again, he laughed, squirming slightly as he pushed his hair from his face. By now, the boy was used to this, shoving his hair out of the way so that he could see. It was growing long, both realizing that their mother would soon take to cutting their hair. It was just passed the middle of April, the air beginning to grow warmer. Each had kept their hair tied back with a piece of twine or occasionally a well provided string from their mother's sewing kit.

"Momma went with Papa," the little blonde said. "They said they had a surprise for us, David," he grinned.

"A surprise, huh?"

David was a little skeptical about this so called surprise. It wasn't often that they were surprised, much less by both of their parents.

"They give you a hint, Gabe?" he asked, laying out on the sand.

It was an odd feeling, laying there with his brother, the tike crawling on top of him. Beneath him the ground was grainy, the damp sand sticking to his back. He could feel it on his arms, watching as it clung before falling off in clumps back to join the rest. Despite how grainy it was, it was oddly soft when wet, easily manipulated in the palm of his hand. He and Gabriel learned quickly how easy it was to play with, packing it together. They made little houses along with a small line for a 'creek', a stable for the 'horses', even a 'well' for the water. It was far better than playing with wood or mud.

"Momma said she wants ta see the sunrise on the water," Gabriel said suddenly, looking up at his brother.

David sat there, eyeing the 'house' that his brother had built, silently inspecting it. Gabe had found a tiny stick to use, attempting to carve a few things out, his unending imagination drawing up a masterpiece of log walls and winding grass that sprung forward against every step of one's feet. In David's eyes, he had made a mess, but he had commended him for trying, even if he couldn't quite appreciate the imagination that the small blonde held. They'd never played with sand before, never had the opportunity to see how it reacted or moved, never got to see just how easily things could be built or how easily everything could come crumbling down upon them.

It was with that recurring thought that David found himself the next morning as the ground shook around him, fear rising inside of him, gripping tightly at his being. The large clock on the wall read 5:12 in the morning, the time keeper falling and crashing to the ground. He lost his footing and before he could correct himself, laying out on the ground splayed on his back, the entire world crashed around in. At the back of his mind, he could hear the sound of screams, panicked voices running for their lives. He laid there, motionless as the ceiling of the entryway pinned him to the ground. He struggled to breath, vision black as he wheezed. Briefly, his mind flickered to his family. He'd been the first one down, waiting on them that morning per his mother's request. She'd wanted to see the sunrise, experience the smell and chill of the early morning air as everything came to life around them. Instead, that world grew darker than the farthest reaches of space.

xXx

Blinking, David stared out at the water, the sky growing ever lighter. He'd lost track of how long he'd been standing there, the bottoms of his pants soaked as they clung to the skin of his ankles. He could feel the mass inside his chest called a heart as it constricted, his nails digging into the skin of his left arm until he drew blood. Not a day went by that he wasn't plagued with the memory of his family. It'd been years though since he'd allowed himself to think of little Gabriel, his eyes drifting to the sand beneath his feet at the painfully bitter sweet memory it gave.

Quietly, he pressed the ball of his foot further into the sand, toes curling as they dug furrows in the ground. It'd been years since he'd bothered to play with it, mouth drawn back into a stiff line. In this moment, he felt a wave of nostalgia wash over him like the fleeting waves. He could still picture it, his brother's smile as he grinned up at him, showing off his misshapen masterpiece. Both boys had held a knack for creation, though David's was more explored with the raw boredom that came with age. With practice, David had found that he could draw just as well as the next person. Many times, he'd sat in the dead of night sketching out the land before him. After his brothers had come, he'd allowed himself to draw them in the wee hours of morning when they'd gone to sleep, unable to attain sleep for himself. Still, nothing could ever top the endless imagination and heart of his brother, his true blood brother.

"David…?"

His features softened at the call of her voice, her tone soft as his eyes continued to stare outwards at the waves before him. Slowly, her feet led her toward him, arms wrapping almost hesitantly around his torso. He could feel it as she buried her face against his back, fingers curling at his waist as one hand pressed at the space above his faintly beating heart.

He stilled then, drawing in what would technically be an unneeded breath of air. Old habits die hard though as he exhaled, closing his eyes to the world around him. He could feel his senses reaching out, all visual cues gone at this point. Behind him, he could feel the warmth of her breath as it soaked through his shirt and into his back. He could hear the sound of her heart beating lowly in her chest. The waves brushed again at his feet, covering his toes in a chilly, but welcomed embrace.

"It's almost dawn," she said quiet, noting the change in the sky.

Overhead, the clouds crept by, slinking their way over the horizon.

Allegra went to open her mouth again, only to stop, a wave of embarrassment flooding her as her stomach let out a hungry protest. She still hadn't fed due to this Thomas that had stepped in.

"You're hungry," he pointed out.

After a moment, David brought his hand to rest atop hers, drawing in another breath of air. Glancing down at his arm he caught the sight of his blood, small crescent shaped cuts staring back at him. Obviously, it wouldn't be ones first option, but his blood could be deemed a temporary substitute if need be.

With that in mind he turned in her arms. He brought his hands to cup her face, staring down at her intensely as she stared openly. He could see the spark in her eyes, the curiosity, the same wonder she held whenever she looked at him. Even now, she didn't see him any differently than she had as a human. Even then, she'd known that he'd meant her no harm. Well, that wasn't completely true. Briefly, David had thought of draining her, but that was when he'd seen her with Mark for the first time. Granted, he hadn't really been hungry that night, but it had been a fleeting thought. He'd found her interesting, a mystery that needed solving before deciding on a further course of action.

Even though he'd managed to start unraveling the mystery that was Allegra Edmund, he found that he was stuck, his heart pounding away in the place behind his ribs. That stagnant question still remained in the air. It was one word. One name. It all boiled down to Max. Max, the same man that had threatened him, telling him to either turn her or kill her. If he hadn't, then Max would have. Now, standing in front of him, she was a living breathing vampire. Well, not so much 'living' per say, but she was one of them. He couldn't help the bead of pride that welled in his chest as he caught her staring at his arm, her lips parted, fangs lightly exposed. She was giving in to her instincts.

"Here," he said, with the offer of his arm, veins risen and waiting.

Like his father, he'd always had rather prominent veins, something Max had commented on years ago. It made it easier to pin point where to bite, the veins like webbing leading to an endless trail of life. They were the same veins that had leaked that very blood on that fateful day so long ago.

"It won't fully satisfy the hunger," he started, running a hand over her face, the leather caressing her skin with its touch. "But it'll help."

For a moment, she stood there, staring at him. She was unsure, biting down at her lower lip as she managed to pull back a bit of skin. He stopped her immediately, his thumb pressing into the tender flesh. She'd drawn blood.

"Trust me, it'll help," he said, pushing lightly at having her feed.

When she still didn't budge, he let out a sigh, bringing his wrist to his mouth. He bit down, tearing at the skin, blood staining his lips. Without hesitation, he grabbed hold of her face, crushing his lips against hers. At first, she startled, eyes wide as her brain tried to catch up to her. Slowly, her lips parted, tongue darting out at the inhale of blood. She could taste it on his lips, the sweet ruby liquid painting her own as he managed to force a small bit into her mouth. The moment it made contact with her tongue, she gave up. Her eyes closed and she groaned. Her hands rose, one quickly tangling in the back of his hair, while the other found purchase at the back of his neck. There was a certain amount of urgency in her pull as her hands gripped at him, a faint smirk pulling at his lips as he held her against him, his own hand reaching out for purchase. Like hers, one of his leather clads buried itself in her hair, his other gripping her hip with his fingers curled over the bone.

They continued this for a few moments, hands gripping and pulling, lips wrestling. They couldn't keep still until she pulled back momentarily for 'air', her eyes glowing brightly like the embers of a fire, its hunger building with each stroke of the wind. She was beautiful, absolutely beautiful, yet he had no clue what to do with her in this fraction of a moment.

"See?" he paused, looking down at her as he carefully trailed his hand up and along her spine. "You're hungry."

Standing still, he watched as her tongue brushed over the edge of her lips, swiping at his blood. Her eyes were still glowing brightly, chest heaving. Her features were sharp, much like his when feeding. He didn't even know if she was aware of it.

"You're beautiful," he stated, his voice low as he once again brushed his lips against hers, listening to the small groan that seeped from her throat.

He brought his lips to the soft shell of her ear a moment later, hand tangling firmly in her hair. He gave her an order, a suggestion as it were, his own words sending a slight thrill through his body as he pulled her closer to the space of his neck.

"Bite me," he breathed out, his words lingering on the early morning air.

With those two words, he felt her lips fall into the space of his neck, fangs sliding down into place. He felt everything as she sunk her teeth into his neck without hesitation. Her hand reached out, fingers curling into his shirt at his shoulder blades. She used the bone almost like a handle, pulling him closer as her other gripped at the base of his neck. She clung to him tightly as she fed, almost giving him a high in doing so.

David had never felt anything like it as Allegra continued to pull blood from his veins. He'd only ever had Max bite into him as a means of putting him in his place, similar to what he'd done to her a handful of times. Still, being bitten had never given him such a rush. It was almost euphoric, erotic even. He wondered if it was because he was her Sire, Master and fledgling connecting on a singular level. Briefly, David's mind wondered what it would feel like to truly be with her as a whole, both mind and body. The thought made him shiver with a certain amount of desire, a particular sense of longing in itself.

He groaned when her teeth clamped down harder, her hands pulling him ever closer. He could feel the pressure of her breasts against his chest, the pounding of her heart reaching out to touch his own. Letting loose a faint growl from the back of his throat, he had to pull away. He couldn't take it anymore. It was just too much and he didn't want to end up forcing anything on her. It wouldn't be right.

"Stop…" he breathed out, hands gripping firmly at her shoulders as he pulled her away.

It seemed as though she were breathing just a heavily as he was, a small fire burning in her eyes as she stared back at him. On the horizon, the sun was finally coming up, a glimmer of gold lining the farthest reaches of the sea.

"It's time to go inside.

What should I do with Thomas and Max?

I'm absolutely loving being able to play with this! Anyway, please let me know what you think? I'm trying to decide what to do with Thomas and Max. Both are potential plot twister and or obstacles to add to the story. The key is weaving it in. Let me know what you'd possibly like to see? Suggestions are ALWAYS helpful.