This Hunger Lingers Here - Chapter One (Part Two)

And here's part two of the first chapter. This is also about 3k, so yeah. Now you see why I had to split it up. Anyways, enjoy. Crit and comments are welcome! Once again, be nice but not too nice.

Chapter One – Part Two

Once Logan and Amy had headed for the dance floor, drinks in hand, Nich guided Ethan over to one of the booths near the back of the club and released him before he sat down. Ethan waited for a heartbeat before he joined him. Nich settled himself with his back to the wall and sat so he could see the rest of the club. His friend and donor shifted until he sat next to him, setting his drink down on the table beside Nich’s blood-spiked red wine. They didn’t speak for a long moment, just watched the people on the dance floor. Once or twice, one of the older ones of his kind would walk past and nod to Nich. Nich, of course, mostly ignored them. It wasn’t out of spite, but purely to make sure they remembered that he was trying to blend in as a human. They indulged him, but never let him forget what he was, openly displaying their business throughout the club. Nich could only thank the gods most thought it was a quirk the club did nothing to discourage.

“Did you want it now?” Ethan asked, dragging Nich’s gaze off the crowd. He blinked at the boy for a minute before the meaning of the words sank in. He titled his head to one side, considering it. Did he want Ethan’s blood now? Or did he want it later? “I mean...it’s just that, they’re distracted and you look a little...off.” Nich frowned at that.

“Off?” he asked, watching as Ethan took a sip of his drink. The human was blushing, but tried to hide it in his glass. “Off how, Ethan?”

“I don’t know, Nich,” he replied when he’d put his glass down. “Tired, maybe? Tense, too. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you’d seen a ghost...or something.” Nich looked away, biting his lip. Ah, but Ethan did know him well. He had, in fact, ‘seen a ghost’. Or at least, someone he had hoped to never see again.

Nich dragged his gaze back to Ethan. “Yes...well. It was something to that effect.”

“And the past catches up with you,” the boy muttered, taking another sip from his drink. Nich just nodded. Ethan sighed, tilted his head to one side. “Would you...?” he asked, trailing off as he raised his hand to his neck and gently touched his fingers to it.

“Here,” he said, voice gone husky has he watched Ethan touch his neck. It was right over his pulse—where Nich would bite him. Nich patted his lap, giving Ethan an idea of where he wanted him. The human quickly obliged, shifting until he straddled Nich’s lap. “Good...now, lean your head a little further to the right...” He swallowed as Ethan did as he was bid and went still. Nich raised his left hand and wound his fingers into the boy’s hair. Ethan kept his breathing even and steady as Nich held him. After a glance past the human in his lap, Nich guided him forward until the smooth, unmarked skin of Ethan’s neck met his lips. Ethan whimpered at the contact, and he pulled back a little to whisper a “Shh” at him. The whimper died in Ethan’s throat. Nich leaned in again, pressed his lips to the boy’s neck and then sank his fangs into the very willing throat beneath his lips. Ethan exhaled shakily, slumping against him as the sharp pain of being bitten turned into pleasure.

Nich closed his eyes, taking first one draw, and then another. He engrossed himself in feeding for several mouthfuls before someone cleared their throat in front of him. He paused, eyes flying open to look over Ethan’s shoulder. Ashtad stood there, arms crossed as he watched Nich feed. “Nicholae.” At the sound of his name, he went tense. “We need to talk.”

Ethan murmured a protest as Nich withdrew, lapping at the wound until it healed. “Ashtad,” he said curtly, letting Ethan rest his head on his shoulder. “What about? I’m not going back...” He didn’t need to add to him to know Ashtad knew what he meant. He scowled, arms tightened around Ethan’s waist. The human had fallen asleep by now, leaving his blood-spiked drink unnecessary, and Ethan’s now untouched.

“I’m afraid you don’t have a choice, Nicholae. You’ve been running for nearly three millennia. Isn’t it time you faced the consequences?”

Nich scowled at the older man, and then sighed. “Leave. Before I call for Ciaran.”

Ashtad smirked, flicking a glance towards the human. “He’s a little busy right now, Nicholae.” Nich swallowed, gaze flickering past his older ‘brother’ and over the crowd. No one was looking his way. “Being entertained by my sister.”

He swore, cradling Ethan’s head to his shoulder as he shifted slightly. Ashtad’s smirk grew, taking in the way Nich was trying to protect the human he’d just been feeding on and simultaneously look for an escape route. “Give me an hour?” Nich finally forced past his lips. Ashtad’s smirk didn’t shift. “Please?”

“Thirty minutes,” Ashtad conceded with a snarl. “And then we come for you.” He raised an eyebrow at Nich when the younger-looking man fell back against the seat. “Enjoy your freedom while you can. I won’t show any remorse when I drag you back to Micah.”

“That’s not even his real name,” he said, monotone. Ashtad snickered, backing up a step. Nich could only watch as the vampire kept him in his sight at all times. Ethan was beginning to stir again by now, pushing gently at Nich’s shoulder. He would have continued to feed on Ethan, but he had been interrupted, hadn’t he? By none other than his eldest sibling. Nich hated it.

Ashtad laughed. “Don’t think I don’t know it, little brother.” And then he was gone, vanished into the crowd. Nich stayed right where he was, tense as hell, as he scanned the crowd. He could feel the eyes on him now. At least two other sets—meaning Ben and Quinn were there, too. He dropped his head to rest against Ethan’s cheek as the boy tried to sit up.

“Nich?” he whispered, frowning. “Why’d you stop?” When the man in question didn’t reply, Ethan placed a hand against his cheek. “Nich? What’s wrong?” Nich placed a hand over Ethan’s, holding it to him. He heard the human swallow and tried to force the renewed terror away. He couldn’t afford to be frightened right now. He had to get Ethan out of there.

“He found me,” Nich said, lifting his head as he tested the words. It was the first time he’d said it out loud. He hoped he didn’t need to say it again. “I knew he would...eventually... but... Argh! Why couldn’t he leave me alone for another century?”

“Nich!” Ethan’s tone was sharp—so sharp that he found he had to focus on the human. He blinked at the expression on Ethan’s face. “Who found---oh. Oh. This bad, isn’t it?” When Nich nodded, Ethan sighed, leaning back. Only Nich’s hands on his lower back kept the human from falling into the table. “Shit. Your sire finally found you?”

“Yeah,” Nich forced out in a shaky voice, looking away. “It’s not good. I have less than half an hour to go to him.” Ethan inhaled sharply. Nich refused to speak for a long minute. “I don’t know what to do.” He met Ethan’s gaze with slightly unfocused eyes. “He’s...he’s calling me. I don’t think I can fight it.”

There was silence for a long minute as Nich closed his eyes, his expression a grimace of pain. He was resisting, and it was costing him. He could feel Ethan watching him, and almost flinched when the boy brushed a stray lock of hair out of his face. Music from the club’s dance floor thudded in the background, the flashing lights dancing colour across his closed eyelids. He exhaled shakily, but otherwise didn’t move.

“Fucking vampires,” Ethan said in a low, annoyed tone. He cast a glance over his shoulder and then slid off Nich’s lap and back onto the seat beside him. “I’ll go with you, Nich.” Before the vampire could protest, Ethan prodded at him. “You trusted me enough to tell me what you where, who you were and what I might have to deal with. I trust you not to let your sire kill me.”

Nich sighed. “Fine.”

Ethan nodded and stood, tugging Nich to his feet as well. He didn’t protest, letting his human lead him out of the club. He could see Ashtad follow him through the crowd, Ben and Quinn in tow. Ben looked nervous—and he probably was, being the youngest. Nich tried not to notice them as the bald bouncer let him out, Ethan now tucked under one arm again. Instead of turning left to head back towards his apartment, Ethan turned them right. Nich felt his three ‘brothers’ follow them. When they were a fair way down the street, Ethan steered him into an alley and shoved him against the brick wall. Nich just sighed and waited. Less than a minute later, Ashtad stepped into the alley.

“Human,” he said with a snort. “That wasn’t very smart.”

Ethan sneered at him. “I wasn’t trying to be smart, dickhead.” He inclined his head towards Nich, who pushed away from the wall. “I’m just sticking with him for the night.” Ashtad raised an eyebrow, laughter in his eyes. Ethan didn’t let that get to him—Nich could see the determination in the boy’s eyes.

“Leave him be, Ash,” Nich said, the sound of the other vampire’s shortened name leaving a foul taste on his tongue. “You know the rules—he’s with me; he can’t be touched.” He stepped forward and made to reach for Ethan, freezing when a few more vampires appeared in the alley. One took hold of Ethan, dragging an arm up behind his back, bent at the elbow. Ethan winced, and Nich was very tempted to go for the vampire holding his human, but Ashtad’s presence prevented him. “Fine,” he choked out, “fine. I’ll go. Just...don’t hurt him.”

“I’m fine, Nich,” Ethan said, sparing the vampire a glance. Then he closed his eyes. “I’m not going to run.” The dark-haired man holding the boy let up a little and Ethan’s expression smoothed out. He leaned back against the man, trying to breathe evenly.

Nich held up his hands, palms facing his older brother. “He can’t be killed or damaged beyond repair, Nicholae,” Ashtad said, moving forward to take one wrist and twist behind his little brother’s back. “A little pain won’t hurt him.” Nich didn’t think he could reply to that without pissing the older vampire off, so he kept his mouth shut. “Now, let’s go see our master, shall we?” Ashtad jerked the other arm up behind his back and Nich hissed, making the older man laugh. He might be close to three-thousand years old, but Ashtad was older than him by at least five centuries. “Behave.” It was a hissed command. One Nich would have to listen to—especially if he wanted Ethan unharmed at the end of this.

A car screeched to a halt at the mouth of the alley and the driver’s window was wound down. Anya, Ashtad’s sister, sat behind the wheel. She peered out of the window, scowling. “Are you finally ready, brother?” she asked, casting a glance over Nich before eyeing Ethan like he was supper. A growl slipped out before he could stop it and Ashtad jerked his arms up higher. “I suppose you are. Get in.”

The car was a little bigger than it had appeared. The back seat was big enough for Ashtad, Nich and the other vampire to sit along. The other vampire—the one who held Ethan—had taken the front seat, Ethan kneeling on the floor between his legs. The seat had been moved back, as if they’d known Nich might have company. He tried to breathe past the terror that was now creeping up on him—fast. Ashtad held one arm as he sat in the middle, between his older brother and the stranger. He hadn’t felt or seen Ben and Quinn since he’d left the club with Ethan, and he really didn’t know where they’d gone. Hopefully, they’d left Logan and Amy alone.

Ethan bit back a yelp as the car turned a corner, making Nich lean forwards to try and see him, to see if he was okay. Apparently he was, because the next thing Nich knew, Ashtad had a hand wrapped around his throat, pinning him to the backseat. The older man’s face was in his, and he was snarling. It was a clear warning to behave—a warning Nich had already been given. He collapsed back against the seat, slumping in place. When Ashtad didn’t move, he closed his eyes, pained again. His sire was still calling, stronger now.

Ashtad snickered as he pulled back, leaving his hand on Nich’s upper arm—the grip was tight enough that he knew it would bruise. At the edge of his awareness, he heard Anya say something about Ethan, but could only growl before someone slapped him, shutting him up. Ashtad told his sister to keep her mouth shut. Nich bit his lip to stop himself from reacting to anything. He knew Ethan wasn’t in pain or hurt—he would have felt it.

The car turned another corner and Nich slid into Ashtad’s side. He hissed at the older man, fighting past the call of his sire to open his eyes and glare at him. Ashtad’s grip tightened, making Nich whimper, biting his lip again. They went around another corner, but Nich didn’t move. He was pretty much pinned to Ashtad’s side by now. But he didn’t protest. That would only mean more pain, and most likely at Ashtad’s hands, too, instead of their sire’s. The car turned left, then right, then left again. Eventually, Nich lost track of how many times they’d turned. He grimaced, digging his fingernails into the seat and closing his eyes. The closer they got, the harder it was to resist. At some point, the sensation stopped, leaving Nich trembling as the car came to a halt. His eyes flew open and he looked around, startled.

Ashtad waited until everyone else was out of the car before he dragged Nich out with him. The one holding Ethan glanced towards Ashtad as Anya joined him. Nich knew it was an extra precaution just in case he decided to risk doing something incredibly stupid. He wasn’t planning on doing that, not with Ethan there. If it had just been him, he would probably have made a run for it. But as usual, luck was not with him and it had ended up the way it was. Nich glanced up at his eldest brother’s face. The older vampire was frowning, and then he shook his head—obviously answering a silent question.

“Let’s move,” Ashtad announced, “he’s waiting.” The words sent dread slinking down into the pit of his stomach, and Nich went stiff. His terror was still growing, along with the mind-fogging effect of his sire’s call; it was of a far milder strength then before, but he found he wasn’t sure if he was glad of it or not. He barely felt when Ashtad tugged at him, dragging him away from the car and towards the mansion they’d parked in front of.

Large, grand and gothic, it crouched on a slight rise and seemed to be waiting for them. Nich scanned the windows, and then cast his gaze towards the lawn. A young woman stood there, but he could tell she wasn’t alive--at least, not anymore—and she definitely wasn’t a vampire; she was partially see-through. Nich tore his gaze away when she spoke, despite not being able to hear the words and let himself be dragged inside. She followed, though. He could tell.

The inside of the mansion was just as large, grand and gothic as the outside, but the lights were off, except for a few that were dimmed. There were candles set here and there on countertops, tables and the like. Nich would’ve snorted if he wasn’t so afraid. It was just so typical of his sire, the lack of electric lighting. The vampire didn’t mind new technology, but sometimes he liked to just turn everything off and relax. Nich could understand; he knew the feeling. He sometimes preferred the silence and lack of low thrumming that came with turning everything off.

Somewhere to his left and behind, Ethan was making very small pained noises; little grunts or the occasional gasp. Nich so desperately wanted to look at him, but he could feel his sire, and he could feel her. The spirit. She was inside now, just lingering on the edges, watching them. Watching him.

"Where is he?"

"He's in the formal lounge."

The words cut through his distraction like a hot knife through butter, drawing his attention back to the other vampires. Nich's gaze flittered about, his forehead furrowing. Couldn't they sense him? The bastard’s power was leaking out all over the place! It was oh, so easy to pin-point the ancient's exact location. Nich could've done it in his sleep. Blindfolded (which was kind of ridiculous if you thought about it). He'd never forget that scent, or that unique power signature.

Suddenly they were in another room. Nich realised he must have lost track of his surroundings at one point, for them to suddenly be still. And for him to be facing down his sire so suddenly. He froze up, body tense in Ashtad's grip. His sire stared back, expression curiously, strangely blank.

And then he spoke, "Hello Nicholae."  Nich would've fainted, but it was the fury in his sire's voice that had his hackles raised and his own inner monster sitting up and taking notice. "It's been a while."