Blueblood

Story: Blueblood: Dracula

Chapter 10 Sifting Through The Wreckage

Author: Eric McQueen (mcqueen.richarderic@gmail.com)

Adult Readers, Sexual Situations, Sex

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Iilya is dead, the attacks on the crowd happened and Devon, Colin and the others gather up what's left.

Sifting Through The Wreckage

Lucian looked at my gun pointed at him but turned to Iilya's unmoving body. Lucian's eyes were full of conflict. The sound that came from Lucian was from deep inside his throat, a groan, and whimper. Loss. Did Iilya love Lucian? A little maybe, but Lucian loved Iilya, that much was clear. He slowly lowered himself beside Iilya and let out. "О, моя любимая." My translator, which I almost forgot about said. "Oh, My Beloved." Yes, Lucian loved Iilya. Lucian was a vampire, so without the serum, there would be no tears, but there would have been as he bowed slightly over Iilya.

I supported Colin who was still bleeding from the "flesh wound."

"I'm sorry, Lucian," I said softly. "He shot Colin."

Did Lucian hear me? He touched Iilya gently. "We have been together for over fifty years." He said sadly, touching Iilya more, gently. "He was...obsessed." He said slowly. He shook his head. "I have nothing left. Do what you will with me."

I lowered the gun. "I can tell you really loved him. I can't know how you feel, but I was given no choice. You would have done the same for Iilya. I know that...but I can't trust you can't right now." I looked at the others that had come with Iilya and Lucian. "That goes for you as well."

"What did Iilya tell you about what we are?" Colin asked the other we hadn't met a little tighter as he was hurting. "Why was he doing this?"

"That we would be coming out of darkness," One said quietly. "That would get our true natures from those things held here." He pointed to the cell that had been Repetate's and Iustina's home for decades.

Gaius walked over to them. "He lied to you." He held his arms out. "Look at me." He looked at a couple of them. "You knew me before. Your eyes tell you...you can sense I'm not like I was. He said they lied?" He pointed at Colin and me. "Look at the evidence."

The others that had come with us, Dragon's men stepped up behind these others.

Colin was beginning to shake as I held him. I place my lips against his head near his ear. Loving that he was still here with me. "I got you."

Colin smiled nodding. "I know."

"I need to take a look at that. We may not get sick, but will there be an infection if I don't take care of it?" I said pushing him to a chair and helped him gently to sit down. We had a medical kit brought down before which one of Dragon's men brought to me. I helped Colin get the sweater and shirt off. The bullet had pierced the skin, but just a little making a tear just below his armpit on his left side.

Colin chuckled. "Like with all germs, the venom won't let me become infected." He grimaced again. "It just...hurts."

I got out what I needed. "That would slow you down. I'll take care of that." Getting out the Lidocaine, I stuck the needle in and injected it in the area near the wound. "This should help a little. I'll stitch you up to stop the bleeding."

Colin smiled kissing me. "I trust you like I do no other in this world. I know I'll be fine." He looked up at the roof of the cave. "We need to get back to the town," Colin said as he breathing eased. The Lidocaine was working on the pain he was getting from being shot as well as my future suturing.

"Which you won't be able to help with until I take care of this," I said working as fast as I could but took the time to get him as cleaned up as possible and still do the best job. "This is a battlefield intervention, quick, but thorough."

Gaius and the others put those with Lucian in what had been Repetate's and Iustina's cell.

"We'll deal with them later," Gaius said to me as I worked. "If it takes longer...as in the sun comes up, they'll be fine here." He looked at the two with us. "They aren't to be left unguarded. We..." he pointed to the other two with us, "will stay here." He shrugged. "We'll keep them...company."

I nodded as I finished Colin's stitches. "Whatever they decide...whatever side they choose to remain on...they are all getting the serum. Tomorrow!" I looked at Iilya's body. "Can we move him?" I asked looking at Lucian as he was staring at Iilya with those eyes that could shed no tears. "He doesn't need to see Iilya decay."

Gaius nodded. "We'll move him."

I put the earpiece in. We wouldn't be able to do anything until Iilya showed up, so we didn't listen to the others on our team in the village. I helped Colin put his shirt and sweater back on as we both heard...a party with much conversation and laughter coming over the earpiece.

"There is no Iilya now," I said. "What other side is there?"

"Has there been an attack?" Colin asked in his earpiece.

"Nothing yet." Alex's voice came back. "They are still just...partying. Are you two okay?"

"Colin's been shot, not badly. He'll be fine." I said quickly, knowing Gabriella could hear that, too. I didn't want her to worry too much. "We're heading for you now," I said as Colin and I hurried through the cavern.

On the surface, we hurried toward the sounds we were now hearing without the need of our earpieces. Loud music could be heard. I looked at my watch. It was after midnight now. The problem was the attack could be widespread. Dracula's castle was open and doing tours, while the town was crowded with people enjoying the party and made a better target. On the outskirts, there were a few people, but the closer we got to the square, maneuvering through was a problem. Vampires we now felt. They were here, but I sensed them among the people, not one sensation for anyone specifically. They were in great numbers from what I sensed. The Vampire Death Squad was here as well. I couldn't feel them as they were not vampires and we wouldn't know who they were until they attacked a real vampire...not on the serum. Also, there was nothing to tell about those enjoying the party...as make-believe vampires and their friends that were hunters complete with wooden stakes that threatened their friends with them in play.

Then we heard a scream in the crowd. We both turned to see a girl screaming that was truly horrified at something. Turning to in the direction of the scream, a young woman dressed provocatively as a vampire was watching as a man with her, also a dressed as a vampire was being bitten by a real vampire. The man was grabbing the vampire to get him off him, but...

I reached down and pulled my serum gun and fired at the real vampire's leg. The vampire let out a shriek, startled at the pain that shot through his leg. His mouth open to show his fangs as he hissed angrily. I quickly got a syringe we had all packed, ran to the man who was now falling a little. "I have to do this," I said to the girl that screamed who was still looking in horror and I said it to the man. I jammed the syringe into his heart through his sweater and shirt. I'd worry about any infections later. "You don't know me," I said to the man. "But if I don't do this now, you'll die." It was a simple and untrue statement, but easier than explaining he would become a vampire if I didn't. I watched as the real vampire slinked away into the crowd, but was limping.

"What's going on!?" The girl shouted in a British accent.

"He was attacked," I said quickly. "You saw it. What I just gave him is to save his life." I said. "He won't be able to get up or go anywhere!" I pointed at her. "If he means something to you, you don't leave him!"

I watched her kneel by...whatever he was to her.

"It's starting!" I heard my mother say in distress. "We'll never catch them all!"

"We knew we couldn't," Willie said equally upset by what was happening. "We'll just have to deal with it." Then I heard the discharge of the serum gun go off through the earpiece.

"Keep track of victims as much as possible!" Colin warned. "They will need help before the sun begins to rise! If it's a fresh bite, use the serum; as we did with Devon when he was bitten the first time preventing him from becoming a vampire."

It was a few minutes before the laughter and merriment changed to screams of terror and horror as more were being attacked. Then there was pandemonium as people started to try to get away, screaming as they began to flee. Then the music suddenly stopped.

"People!" We heard a voice boom over the speakers that had been sending music in the crowded streets. I recognized Dragon's voice and he was putting his natural mesmerizing talent on full as his voice reverberated. "Stop! You know who I'm speaking to." He said in accented English. That was the one language almost everyone in Europe spoke. "You have been lied to by Iilya!" We tried to see him, but the tone of his voice said he even now hesitant to admit the truth about himself. "I am...Vlad Dracul or otherwise thought of as the real...the true one...they call...the real Dracula! And I command and you all to stop!!" That one word seemed to reverberate through the air more than all the others. I watched as most everyone stopped; the people there for the party and the real vampires. We finally got close enough and the rushing crowd slowed so we could see. "You, that I'm addressing, know me as Dragon!" He said on the raised platform. He was now dressed, not as he had been since he started the serum, but dressed like he had been when we first saw him all in the black leather. He looked every bit...a vampire! There were a lot of others here dressed as vampires, but...somehow, he was convincing. "You have known me for a long time. I do not lie! Iilya does! He doesn't want you to create new vampires as much as he wants control! Of you! This attack will probably mean our deaths! I beg you to stop." How he did this, I have no idea, but he said that one word again that just...echoed in my mind!

"Maybe there is some magic being a vampire," I said as I looked at all those here that were listening, even the ones that had been panicked had stopped and were listening.

Colin shook his head but grinned. "I think there's magic in being Dragon, not the vampire thing at all."

"That may be the one thing Bram Stoker got right about him," I muttered. I looked as the cameras that surrounded this party were now facing Dragon.

"Yes." Dragon said sadly. "There are real threats for us, but not vampires, but men like Iilya that prey on us. Use us. There is a way out! Look at me! You know what I am. You can sense it. There is a way back to life. If we can live through this, you could get back to real life again. I am pleading with you. Go back to where you came from. Do not force others...innocents to suffer as we have. Go back. You know where to find me. There are people here to help you, not hurt you and you know who I'm talking about. They helped me. You know it! You sense it! Believe it! Believe me." He shook his head. "I am Dragon. Trust me."

"There's going to be trouble after this," I said to Colin.

All the people were still staring at Dragon. What ability he had was beyond description. No one was running or even discussing amongst themselves about what was happening. They just stared silently.

"But they're listening to him," Colin said looking at all those around us caught up in Dragon's words.

I sighed. "But all those cameras!" I pointed to them out to Colin. "This is one time I wish those movie myths were true; where vampires don't reflect in mirrors and they can't be filmed. I wish that was true." I waved at Dragon. "He can!"

"You're right. We need to get to him." He said hurrying me forward. "Guys! Keep up with any victims! They will need serum! They can't stay out after the sun rises." He said into the microphone on the earpiece.

While everyone was captured by Dragon's words, no one was preventing us from approaching the platform. We climbed up, seeing the various band members were also enraptured in Dragon's words. Colin and I reached Dragon.

"You did it," Colin said to Dragon quickly. "You stopped most of the attacks."

I nodded quickly. "But you've got to get out of here!" I said to Dragon grabbing his arm. "Now!"

"Colin!" We heard Sorin call from below and in our earpieces. "This way!" He motioned for us to come down. We rushed down to join him as the people began to come back to themselves as if becoming awake. "Your people are gathering the victims and taking them to the caverns." He said quickly as we moved through the crowd. "What happened with that one called Iilya? Did you stop him?"

"Yes. He's dead." Colin said.

Sorin didn't even react or stop, but just nodded. "Okay. I was afraid this was going to be a lot worse." He marveled almost excited. "No deaths!"

"Inspector!" A voice called out as a uniformed officer came up through the crowd with a struggling young man about twenty with a heavy coat and knitted cap that covered most of his head, but his face said young. "We caught this guy trying to look at all the vampires in the eyes!"

The young man pulled angrily to free his arms. "I had one!" He spat. "A real vampire! I had him." He said in English with an American accent as looked angrily at the police officer. "You let him get away!"

Colin looked at the young man. "A real vampire." He cocked his head at the young man. "Why the eyes?"

"You can tell by the eyes!" The young man said. "They have this..." he thought of what to say, "dry look like they have no moisture in them." He hurried to explain. "I'm telling you; they are real!"

Colin grinned at him. "Is that a fact?"

"Yes!" The young man declared. "They are real!"

"We know," Colin said.

The young man looked startled. "Then tell him to let me go, I can stop them."

"All of them?" Colin asked. "Do you know how many there are?"

Dragon stepped closer to the young man but had his ability turned on again. "What's your name?" He said pulling the cap off the young man and a lot of blond hair was underneath.

I groaned. "I should have known." I don't need to tell you why anymore. Blondes do nothing for me.

The young man looked at Dragon and then his eyes grew. "Cody." He answered softly but recognized Dragon. "How...but you're..."

Dragon nodded. "That's right." He leaned in closer. "You saw me, on that...what was it....broadcast?"

Cody nodded. "How did...you're not..."

"Not what?" Dragon asked quietly. "A vampire?" The rumble of his voice was just on the safe side of threatening and almost growled.

"You can't be," Cody stated looking in Dragon's eyes, the message was received and fear was in Cody's. "You look...normal." He said incredibly. "That's impossible!"

Dragon smiled. "And yet...here I stand."

Colin chuckled as he mocked the broadcast we all knew he and his...friends sent out. "We know who you are."

I walked up next to Colin looking at this...kid. "Do you?" I asked Cody. "Do you know who we are? Do you know what we are?"

Dragon inched even more toward Cody. "There are dangers in the world." He said again using his talent. "Dangers that are very real. I am not one of them." He looked at me and Colin. "Neither are they. This danger requires a..." he smiled, "more adult approach. An approach that you aren't ready for. Believe me."

"You're part of this Vampire Death Squad, aren't you?" I asked knowing the answer before I asked.

Cody looked at me, his eyes saying he shouldn't answer the question.

"Answer him." Dragon said quietly, but his voice echoing in all our minds, including the officer standing there, transfixed on Dragon.

"Yes," Cody answered.

"How many are you?" I asked.

"Worldwide? About twenty." Cody answered.

"How many of you are here?" Colin asked.

"Including me? Five."

Dragon came even closer to Cody, only an inch from Cody's face. "Go home." He said. "Get your friends and go home. My friends are handling this." He looked at the officer. "Let him go."

Cody took off running.

Colin, Sorin, Dragon and I were now moving again through the crowd.

"Everyone," Colin said to his earpiece. "All the victims need to be brought to the caverns. Now."

"We're on it," Mark said over the earpiece.

"There will be coverage of this," I said looking at the cameras, manned by people that were searching, having been caught up with Dragon's voice, realizing who they focused on was gone.

"Yes." Colin nodded, "But even the best computer can't find you, Dragon. No facial recognition program could find out who you really are, but we need to get you away."

"That voice you used," I commented smiling at Dragon. "That was some talent! Hell, Bela Lugosi had nothing on you."

Dragon looked confused. "Who?"

I chuckled. "I'll show you later."

We headed quickly back to the caverns. We got to the entrance as the others in our group were taking people inside the entrance. The entrance was not a gaping hole, but a crack that was kind of hidden even and would not be found even by accident. There were some of Dragon's men and women watching for any...unexpected arrivals. Some were being carried in as they were going through the change due to the venom.

"It's a good thing the cavern is big," I said to Dragon as people were going in.

Suddenly Gabriella was running over and hugged her father, making him grunt from the impact and touch his left side as it hurt. Not from being shot, but Gabriella's hug and Gabriella didn't let go.

"I heard what you said over the earpiece. I had to see you," Gabriella said smiling with relief as she moved back enough to take her father's face in her hands. "I heard you were fine, but..." she looked at Colin's left side, "you were shot!"

Colin nodded with a chuckle. "I've been shot before. This wasn't any worse than the others," He hugged me to his right side and kissed me on the head. "I have my own personal medic to see me through. I'll heal."

It was the first time I'd seen the cavern crowded. There were well over a hundred people in what had been Dragon's...throne room? There were the ones going through the agony of change and others that had been with them when attacked; friends, lovers or spouses.

I sighed. "This will be a different kind of triage," I muttered. There were real vampires with them and I saw the look they were giving the people that were not vampires on the Disflavor with hunger they were keeping control of. "We need to get those not on the serum away from temptation." I pointed at them, but the others from the VUN were helping to keep some control by standing between regular people and the untreated vampires. "They have to be watched."

Colin nodded as our personnel were moving around getting things under some kind of the beginnings of control.

Then I saw my mother and Willie come over smiling at me. Less urgently than Gabriella had greeted her father. Mom wrapped her arms around me.

"I see you're fine." Mom said smiling. "That's what I needed."

Willie hugged Colin first, then gently pushed mom aside. "Enough, woman." He grinned and hugged me in a bear hug. "I'm so glad things turned out so well...and you're both fine...my sons."

There was general chaos as people were asking over and over what was happening. That's when Dragon did it again. He got up on his raised portion where his chair...throne...whatever was.

"Silence." He said in English, almost quietly, but heard. His talent not turned up as strong as it was in the town square. The others turned to him. "What happened will be explained to you once we get some control. We need to get those who were victims of this attack to get them treated. The ones with them will stay with them to keep them calm. An explanation will be given in more detail."

Colin shook his head. "How does he do that?" He asked almost reverently.

"He's a very good hypnotist." I shrugged logically. "He's been able to do it for centuries...he just got...better at it." I looked at the many new faces mixed with those I knew from VUN from the United States and England.

"What happened in the village will be a determining event," Colin said looking at the now calmer people. "I think Dragon's talent will help. If I understand about hypnosis, he can plant the idea of not talking to others about what happened with these people."

"We'll monitor the televised broadcast of the Transylvanian Halloween." I nodded. "There will be investigations from authorities. It was recorded and broadcasted. Many live from their cameras on their personal phones. It can't be covered up."

"Wildly and wrongfully speculated on by a stupid general public," Colin growled. "Reaching erroneous conclusions."

We separated the real vampires from the victims and kept them separated. It was now past sunrise and everyone was safe down here for now.

"All these people will need food," Colin said. "And bathrooms." He pulled his phone out. "I'll call Stan to see what we can do."

I nodded. "Dragon has bathrooms, but they only pissed ammonia. This is going to possibly get messy."

Going to the holding area where Lucian and the others were. I was not surprised to find Lucian just...staring. Not at anything, no emotions on his face, not moving as he sat. His face completely blank. The others were just...it was sunrise and they weren't going anywhere...most were asleep. I wasn't even sure Lucian even knew I was here, but he didn't look up at me but asked.

"How long do I have?"

I looked at him. "I'm not answering that. Do you think we'll kill you?"

Lucian looked at me then. "I hope you will."

I thought about what I'd feel if I lost Colin. "Fifty years is a long time," I said. "Something I hope Colin and I will have. Something Iilya was going to take away if I let him. You understand I couldn't let him."

Lucian shook his head. "I have nothing now." He said helplessly.

"Your life is your own," I said. "I know how I feel just thinking about life without Colin. I can only imagine what I'd feel after fifty years with him. I probably would feel like I see you do now." I looked in his dry eyes. "Tomorrow, when the sun goes down...you need to decide whether you live or die. If you decide to live, which I hope you do, but that decision is yours. The serum will hurt for about five to six days. You will have to keep up with it. There is always the sun...you can willingly go out in it. I've known one that did."

Lucian nodded. "You didn't know Iilya." He said softly.

"But you did," I said.

Lucian nodded again. "I did. There was that man you knew...hard and callous...but sometimes...he would let me in. He could be so gentle and kind..." he sat remembering. "He was...haunted. His past and things he did and things done to him...there were things he was told to do, but expected he would do what he was told."

I listened but didn't respond.

Lucian shook his head. "I know he could be overbearing, not that stable," he chuckled at that thought, "and he was obsessed like I said, but I did love him."

I smiled at his words. "I know you did. I could see it."

"Please," Lucian said tearful, with no tears. "Don't think he was all bad."

I gave a grudging nod. "I'll have to take your word on that." I smiled. "Keep those thoughts about him, I don't know if it helps now, but remembering the good things is best."

A few more hours working to get everyone settled so we could tell them more about what was happening. There was another issue. When I had been bitten by Brett, I was flushed with new blood. We didn't have that. I hope the ones we got to immediately would be alright with just the serum. Blood typing and the amount of blood needed...equipment...we simply didn't have that here. I worked quickly. My problem was, I knew what was going to happen.

The thought of Lucian's loss and what I'd feel if it was Colin kept playing on my mind, but I didn't want to think about that if I didn't have to. I also knew that was a hopeless attempt. I was dealing with the victims and their loved ones or friends who wanted to know things about what happened and when they could leave. Dragon's assurance that they would be told seemed to satiate the curiosity for the moment. I was talking with Stan to see that some food would be brought to the cavern. I was busy on purpose. I knew Colin was working, but he was also watching me.

Colin finally came to me and grabbed me, stopping me from going to deal with another issue. "Devon." He said turning me to him. "Stop."

Looking at him, I knew what he was going to say. "I can't."

"What are you doing?" Colin asked, but he was concerned and I saw it in his emerald eyes. "Slow down."

"I can't," I said pleading for him to understand. The adrenaline and quick actions were now playing on my mind. "I can't stop. If I do, I'll think. If I think..." I began to shake as the thought surfaced, "...Colin...I killed a man!" I was almost in tears. I waved in the direction of where Lucian was being held. "I killed a man that meant something to someone! Iilya was crazy, I know that...but Lucian loved him! I killed him!"

"I was there." He said seriously and brought me to him and hugged me tightly. "I remember."

I buried my face against his chest. "I killed a man, Colin," I said. "I've never killed anyone. I was in the military, but my job was to save lives, not kill."

"I know," Colin said hugging me tighter. "I knew you'd have a hard time with this."

I was now beginning to cry more. "I couldn't let him kill you! He would have killed you; I know it. I had to stop him!"

Colin kept the pressure on, holding me. "I am so grateful to you for doing that, Devon."

"You mean everything to me, Colin. I can't tell you in words how much I love you, the thought of someone taking you away from me...I had to! I love you!"

Colin began to cry as well, not because he was hurting physically. "I know you do, Devon. I know that." He pushed me gently away so he could press his lips to mine, tenderly and lovingly. "I love you so much." He smiled as he cried quietly. "As stupid as this may sound...I don't know how I made those two centuries without you. No one means more to me than you. No one! You're my husband...yes...but you're not just a big part of my life, you're part of my very soul. Now that I have you in my life, I would do anything to keep you with me. Even kill. I understand how you feel."

As happy as his words made me...there was still the horror knowing I had killed someone. I hated Iilya for forcing me into that, but I wasn't losing Colin. I wasn't a wimp, but I hated to even kill a bug! Iilya wasn't a bug. He was a human being. A vampire, but human. He had to be stopped and he was crazy. "I had no choice."

Colin pressed his forehead to mine. "I know." He put his arm around me. "Come with me, you need some sleep."

My eyes widened. "How can I sleep!? I can't control things in my sleep."

Colin smiled. "You're tired. So am I. You've been up almost a full day. You need to rest. I'll stay with you."

Dragon had rooms. A lot of the interior of the cavern had wooden walls up with doors, so there was room for everyone, but Colin took me to a secluded part of the cavern to a room with a bed. Once he got me undressed and lying down, he took his clothes off and crawled in this bed beside me. Covering us with a blanket he settled down and spooned up behind me, Colin began caressing me on the head as he quietly said over and over. "It will be alright. I've got you. I've got you. You said it yourself, it wasn't your fault. You did what you had to. Easy now, just let it go."

Perhaps Dragon wasn't the only one who could influence with words. With Colin's quiet reassurances, I did fall asleep. A few hours later, I woke to feel Colin's solid presence behind me. I felt him move slightly. Rolling over, I faced him, seeing his eyes full of concern...and love.

"You live," Colin said smiling at me kissing me gently.

I nodded. "I do." Putting my arms around him. "Did you get any sleep? You were up as long as I was."

Colin nodded continuing to kiss lightly. "I napped." He said with a slight shrug.

"I'm sorry about earli-"

"No." Colin shook his head. "Never apologize for valuing life...even Iilya's life."

I was hugged by him again. "I love you, Devon."

"I love you, Colin."

Without either of us asking, we made love. Quietly and slowly, reconnecting once again.

Food was brought for the many people there and...portable bathrooms. Those blue things you see at special events or construction sites. Everyone just loves those! No doubt you got the sarcasm there, but if you have to go...there were only so many choices to take.

We came back to the great room where we saw Gaius speaking with Dragon, standing close to each other. In light of what Gaius told us, that had a whole new meaning now. Or maybe I just wanted to see love. It made sense. Who else could you relate to other than someone who was at your side for centuries?

Colin followed my gaze and also smiled at Dragon and Gaius. "It makes sense."

My eyebrows rose. "What makes sense?"

Colin shook his head. "Gaius and Dragon." He waved at the two.

I grinned at him. "Oh, my god." I smiled. "Can you read my mind now? I was just thinking about them!"

Colin grinned at me and shrugged. "I can read you, but not your mind...exactly. You can read me."

I chuckled. "Yes, I can." I looked at Gaius and Dragon. "I was just thinking it does make sense. They are just like George. John Burke claimed to like both male and females. George was...straight! I'm thinking that being homosexual is partly a choice."

"What!?" Colin balked. "You chose to find me attractive? I know you do because I've seen your body react to me!"

I shook my head. "And I always will, but...after you lose family and friends for so long, that physical attraction is not as important. Being there is makes that someone more attractive. Gaius did fall in love with Nicolae's mother, but she died. Who knows many have been loved and died. We don't know about Dragon, I know he was married had children with his wife, but she died. After all those losses, who is the one that always remains? Each other. It makes sense for them to come together. It's safe." I brought him closer. "I'm not saying all homosexual relationships are choices, but...like George, Dragon, and Gaius, they do it because they know that other person has a greater chance of always being there. There's comfort in that. It's no longer instinct to keep the species going."

"You're right." Colin agreed.

"Six hundred years and those two have been together." I patted Colin on the chest. "We should be so lucky." I pointed at Gaius and Dragon. "That...is a marriage."

Colin nodded appreciatively. "Yes, it is." He turned to me. "Well, we better tell everyone what happened."

"We'll have everyone meet in the main chamber. We can tell everyone at once. This won't be easy."

Colin nodded. "I know."

The sunset was about to happen again that next night; now we would see if we got to some in time to stop the change. Even if they did, we needed to be sure they had no venom in them to change them later. Going in front of all the others there, Dragon stood on that podium thing again. "Okay," he began softly, "as promised, here's what happened to you." He took a breath. "You know what happened and you even know what was that attacked you." He smiled and pointed to his own head. "Yet, in here it just isn't adding up with what you know is true." He sighed. "What attacked last night, were vampires." His statement was met with murmurs and the many there shaking their heads, but the ones shaking their heads, weren't the ones bitten; they had yet to wake up. "Those shaking your heads...give me another explanation," Dragon asked in a challenge. "Look at the person you're with. You see the wound on the neck that's healing, you saw those things attack and you can see your loved ones are changing. Look in their eyes. They are vampires." He said logically. "The eyes will have dried up and soon they will know the hunger." He frowned and then...whether he meant to or not, his voice now took on that resonance he used to persuade people. "For blood."

"That's ridiculous!" One man said beside a woman who had been bitten and from the accent was from England.

"Then you tell me what you think happened." Dragon demanded as he waved to the woman next to the man. "Deny it all you want, but the fact is...your wife, girlfriend or just friend was attacked and it was a vampire! Look at her! Use your eyes!"

"What do we do now?" A woman asked beside a man also bitten.

Dragon smiled. "There are people here that know what needs to be done." He leaned forward slightly and again. That voice was used. "Listen to them."

As those three words were spoken, they echoed as I shook my head. "How does he do that!?"

Another man groaned beside another man who was attacked and said. "Nu-mi vine să cred. Nu-mi vine să cred."

My translator told me I don't believe this. I don't believe this. I walked over to him. "So?" I asked him. "Your belief about what happened doesn't matter. It did happen." The translator told him what I said in Romanian. I walked up to stand next to Dragon. "It is not fair, but your lives just changed."

"Я �...очу додому." A girl said and my translator to me in English. I want to go home.

"You can't go home," I said and it translated to Ukrainian.

"I have a plane to catch tomorrow!" A man said in English that was American.

"You'll be missing it!" Colin, who was standing with his arms folded across his chest, shot out.

"We're prisoners?" The same American, dark headed in his mid-twenties man asked.

"You're all victims," I said. "You can make choices, but it will take a few days for you to understand and see what those choices are."

"We didn't ask for this!" The man shouted.

"Neither did I!" Colin shouted back. "Nor did any one of those with us, no one asked for this!"

"C'est pas juste!" A man shouted.

"No, it isn't fair." I said and the translator said non, ce n'est pas juste. "But it happened."

"You said you didn't ask for this," the American man said. "You weren't attacked yesterday night."

"I was attacked in the 19th century," Colin told him. "I've been alive two hundred and five years."

"Two hundred and six in a few days." I chuckled putting my arm around Colin's waist. "You now have...or are with someone that's ill." I said. "A child that you find out has cancer or some other disease didn't ask for that disease. Someone who slept with someone that gives them that deadly disease that almost killed everyone that got it...didn't choose to get the disease, but they got it. You didn't choose to become a vampire, but you are."

"You've lived since the 19th century?" The American asked doubtfully. "How can we believe you?"

Colin waved at the cave entrance's direction. "In a few minutes, if you still doubt, go outside when the sun comes back up and see for yourselves. Your friend will know he can't. I don't care if you believe or not whether I've lived as long as I have. Your friend is a vampire." He waved at the man beside him. "You will see it very soon." He looked up at the cave roof. "And you're about to see for yourselves..." he nodded, "now."

The others with the VUN from England and the United States were walking around with bags of blood as the victims of the attacks were beginning to stir as the internal alarm clocks were all going off at the same time. Whatever the others believed or didn't believe when the person that was attacked sat up...looked at who they were with, opened mouths that had the fangs and hissed. Those with them looked at their friends or loved one were startled and were backing away in fear.

Dragon came forward. "Stop!" He said and his words echoing again our minds. "Do not bite anyone! What you need is coming to you. Look." He instructed and the new vampires saw the approaching VUN members and saw the bags of blood which were being handed to each and told how to get the blood out. All the vampires were instantly sucking the ports to get the precious blood in them.

"Are we still not believing?" Colin asked the American man.

"You won't like it; you can deny it, but it's happened," I said again. "From the moment your friend was bitten, your lives have changed."

The American man stood. "Why?" He asked standing beside his friend. "Marty was bitten, not me."

"Your life has changed," I said again. "If he's a boyfriend, husband or just a buddy, I don't care, but...your life has changed. All of you, bitten or not bitten now has a terrible secret. One I pray you keep. The event was planned by someone that's now dead. It was to be televised and was sent out by signal to go around the world. We'll be dealing with that, but if you two remain friends...which I hope you do...you can't just go home like nothing happened."

"I won't say anything," The American swore grasping for a way out.

"And how can you not say anything?" I asked. "You came here...with him to the Halloween Celebration. People knew you were coming?"

"Sure," The American said.

"How do you explain to them why you come back alone?" I asked. "Someone will ask...family, friends...someone will want to know what happened. What could you possibly give as an explanation to anyone about Marty's disappearance?"

He didn't have a reply.

Another man got up from the woman he was with who was drinking blood quickly and looked at Colin. "You're a vampire?" He asked in accented English from England.

"I am," Colin nodded.

"Why aren't you drinking the blood?" He asked.

"Because I don't have to now," Colin said. "She won't either...in a week. We have treatment. Not a cure, but a treatment."

Then there were the other questions about the serum and how long it would take to work and all those questions we knew would be asked. This went on a while.

A young brown-haired woman from England from her accent came up to me. "I can't get any bars down here." She said holding her phone up. "I need to check on my little girl!"

I didn't know why she didn't, but I hadn't thought of the problem in that some of these people had children. Children they had left at home with grandparents or friends. I suddenly realized...no one had gotten a phone call! Not one! You always hear someone's ring tone going off...or reacting to the vibration in their pocket when it suddenly went off and you knew a call was coming.

I nodded. "You will be able to soon, but right now...who did you leave her with?"

"My sister," She said.

"Soon, but right now, we need to get everyone on the same page." I smiled at her hoping she understood. "You know why, don't you?"

"Yes, but I send Gina a message every day." The woman said. "She'll be worried."

I nodded. "And there is a reason to worry now, but are you ready to tell her what that problem is?"

The woman shook her head. "What am I going to say? Your brother-in-law has been bitten by a vampire? Now, he's a vampire?"

"You love your husband?" I asked.

"Of course," She said.

"If he's to remain with you, there are things we have to do first," I explained. "Understand?"

"I'm just..." she looked at her husband, then back at me and shook her head, "scared."

"You will be." I smiled again and put my hand on her shoulder. "This is a very sudden and drastic change. You need time. Eventually, you will go home." I looked around at the others from the VUN. "As a matter of fact..." I looked at her. "Where are you from?"

"Warwick." She answered. "Just north..."

"Sure!" I nodded smiling more. "Just northwest of London. I've been through there a few times. I love England."

Her eyes grew, but she smiled from my familiarity and relaxed a little. "You've been there?"

"Passed through Warwick I'm afraid, but we had many vampires here from England. Colin and I bought in with Thornwood."

"Thornwood!?" She smiled bigger. "That's very fancy!"

I looked up and saw Sarah. "This young lady is Sarah. She's a vampire from upcountry from Warwick near Thornwood. She can best help you." I gave her my best sympathetic smile. "I don't understand about the children part, but she does and raised two sons as a vampire, which to me was very hard, but she did it," I said ushering the woman toward Sarah. I shook my head as I came to Colin. He looked a little frazzled, but he smiled at me.

"Are you okay?" Colin asked me leaving another man who had unanswered questions, but Colin just walked toward me as he looked at the man. "I'll get back with you." He said to the man, quickly brought me in for a hug. "Again, are you okay?"

I gave a shrug and a nod. "I'm physically fine, but...there are things we need to have handled." I waved at the woman who was now talking with Sarah. "She has a daughter! She communicates with her sister, who is keeping the little girl." I waved at everyone here. "They all have lives...jobs, responsibilities that they need to take care of!"

"And we'll help them deal with them," Colin said simply. "I think Dragon can help with that."

"How?" I asked.

"He can do that...hypnosis thing and make them less likely to tell anyone else." Colin shrugged.

I smiled at him. "Colin, I love you. You are a very, very smart man." I said kissing him.

Colin grinned back. "I thought you loved me for my hairy chest."

"That, too." I ran a finger over his shirt covered chest. I looked at his left side. "I need to change your dressing there," I said touching his side lightly.

"I'm healing," Colin said. "I've been shot twice here...I'm sort of starting to think they don't want me here."

There was a commotion as some other people came in; some of Dragon's men along with Sorin and Stan. Sorin and Stan put down a cooler they had carried in together. The men with them also were carrying coolers.

"Stan!" Mark shouted coming rushing over and kissed Stan, unashamed and with all the affection he could. Stan returned it with as much feeling as he did a physical assessment of Mark by rubbing his hands over Mark and Mark did the same with Stan...in appropriate places for now.

Walking over to them as Stan and Mark were breaking up a little now that they knew and saw the other was alright. Once Stan was free a little, I brought Stan in for a tight hug. "My god, Stan. I am so happy to see you."

Stan hugged me back just as hard. "Why? I wasn't in danger...you were."

"You played such an important role these past weeks...months!" I said sincerely as I let him go a little. "We wouldn't have been able to do even half of what we have, without you."

Stan's fair complexion didn't hide the blush. "I'm just doing what I was hired to do."

Colin brought him in a hug himself. "No, you aren't." He kissed Stan on the cheek. "You've done above and beyond your job."

"Colin's right. You work with Buddy, but you added the Delkenzie program and got it to work. You got it to work on those portable devices. You keep tabs on where we are...all the time. You tracked me down when I was kidnapped...now you've arranged for food and basic toilet needs..." I shook my head. "Please, know...none of us would make it if it hadn't been for you."

Now Stan was beet red. He wrapped his arm around Mark. "I wouldn't have Mark if you hadn't pointed out what was in front of my face. I'd do anything for you two."

Colin grinned. "You know Mark and you aren't our employees, right?"

"We work for the FBI," Stan said.

"I mean..." Colin said touching Mark as he spoke to Stan, "...we don't see you as just someone that works with us. You two are family. I really mean that. You, Mark, Shelly, and Chuck are with the FBI, I know, we did it for your credentials, but you're all become valued human beings we consider closer than siblings. You're part of us." Then he leaned in between Stan and Mark. "Especially you two." He stage whispered.

I nodded. "And why is it...we communicate readily down here before, but now there are no bars for cell phones?"

Stan looked surprised. "Do you want them to?"

Mark grinned at Stan. "What did you do?"

Stan shook his head. "It wasn't hard. I used the same thing I used when we got Devon out of Germany. I sort of...scattered the signal." He said simply as he shrugged. "That's all."

"That's all," I repeated as I grinned. "You think of everything! I love you, Stan!!" I said hugging him again.

"You guys sure do a lot of hugging," Sorin smiled as he scratched his ear looking a little sheepish. "Can I get one or two?"

"Absolutely!" Colin grabbed him in a hug which surprised Sorin, but he laughed as he hugged back. "We love you, too, Sorin!"

"How are things out there?" I thumbed toward the outside world.

Sorin shook his head a little. "Well," he released Colin a little. "There were some deaths." He admitted. "Three that left bodies, but they were stupid deaths due to arguments and being drunk. There were five at the castle. The problem with those are...the bodies disappeared this morning."

Colin nodded. "They were bitten and the sun came up."

"That's right," Sorin nodded.

"That's one advantage with the venom," I said. "If the transformation happened, like with Colin...if they didn't get to shelter there would be no bodies are left. No ash?"

Sorin shook his head. "Nothing identifiable. The bodies were left where they were as the investigation proceeded and the sun came up and well...they just began to...burn. There's nothing left. Those doing the investigation are completely baffled." He shrugged. "But the ones from here locally, they know what happen...even if they won't admit it."

I frowned. "This is ridiculous." I groused. "Everyone here knows what happen and still won't talk about it!?"

Stan's eyebrows rose a little. "Well, they might have to after this." He pulled up his laptop and opened it.

"I thought the signal was scattered," Colin said.

Stan nodded. "It is. I can turn it off, but I recorded this a few hours ago." He tapped a few icons and the screen filled with a nice-looking man in his forties...the typical news anchor type of man. It was interesting as the man spoke in Romanian, but Buddy and the Delkenzie program's voice overspoke.

"Investigations continue into the deaths and mysterious disappearances that occurred at the greatly anticipated Halloween Transylvania Celebration." The man said as the screen suddenly showed from a camera above on one of those platforms as the partying was suddenly became more chaotic as people were screaming and trying to get away from some people coming in their midst and...they were small and the screen did not show it, but we all knew they were biting...whomever.

"Look at this." Stan hit another button and it fast forwarded to another image, which Stan stopped. I mean stilled. It was a clear picture of Dragon.

"Damn it!" Mark groused. "They will know who it is!"

"How?" Stan asked Mark. "No one's seen him that isn't a vampire or knows a vampire personally in centuries. He won't be known." He said logically, "but these two will be." He said fast forwarding again and stopped. There was a clear image of Colin and me right beside Dragon as we came up to pulled Dragon to safety.

"Oh, shit." Colin, who rarely ever cussed, other than the occasional damn, said as his eyes widened. "We've endangered everyone."

I nodded. "We knew this could happen," I said to Colin as I rubbed his back to give him...I don't know...encouragement? Support? Stability? We did it together!

"They'll be coming for us," Colin said as he began pacing in his circle as he thought.

Stan nodded. "And ask you who this man is." He pointed at Dragon.

"And therefore, all of you!" Colin said worriedly now. "All they have to know that you all came with us...Devon and me...they will think you know who he is."

Stan waved at his laptop. "But the report went on to say that he...Dragon...stopped the attackers by addressing the crowd." He looked at me. "And believe me...Dragon's abilities came through strong even on the recording." He grinned.

"Did it?" I asked smiling, I wasn't surprised. It did on the other broadcasts he sent out.

Stan nodded. "Oh, yeah." He raised his hand cautioning us. "I don't know what you want to do with this. There is no way for anyone can connect Dragon with the attacks. Only that he stopped the attack from getting worse." He sighed and then smiled as he said pointedly. "It's too bad we don't know anyone...say in Congress or the Senate that could help us."

I laughed at him. "One more time..." I hugged him again. "You are definitely part of us. Don't ever doubt you are."

Stan was turning pink again. "You would have figured it out, but thanks."

"We may need a lawyer," Colin said. "Someone familiar with International law?"

"Don't they have to be board certified or something?" I asked.

Colin shrugged. "A man can represent himself...can't we use someone who knows the law even if they're not...certified?"

Stan nodded. "Sure. The reason a man passes the bar is to certify them to work in a state...and they have to know the law. It shows he or she can do the job. If you want, you can represent yourself...even here. I checked. You could choose someone else...even if they don't have the bar exam or certification. The bar and board are to make sure they can do the job and know the rules." He looked at Sorin. "Right?"

Sorin nodded. "It happens occasionally. Sure."

Colin nodded. "Well, once we get this situation sort of settled..." he waved at all the people, "I'll send a message to all the others and ask them for help."

"A vampire." I nodded.

"Remember that lawyer when the IRS came after me?" Colin reminded. "He was a lawyer before he became a vampire. The courts contested my using him, but he knew the law backward and forwards, remember? They couldn't argue with that. We won."

"I remember." I nodded. "All the vampires we know or want to know, I'm sure there's another vampire lawyer that would love this!"

We brainstormed about a possible cover. It was suggested about a medical emergency, but we all knew...we might be exposed, so we had to come up with a way to get these people out of Romania. We made sure no one left and the only way out was guarded. We even spoke to Dragon about planting the suggestion on those that would leave not to talk about what happened, but there were the questions about what they'd say about those they traveled with that didn't come back right away. It was about sunrise when the new vampires were getting groggy and had to go down for the day. We gave them places to do it more comfortably. If the person with them wanted to stay with them, they had to be prepared for sunset and bring blood.

"How much blood do we have?" I asked Sorin. "With all these new vampires, are we going to run out?"

"We have plenty." Sorin smiled. "A lot of cow, goat and pig blood, but blood."

I nodded. "Okay. That works." I admitted and realized it was almost noon and yawned.

Colin smiled and came over. "Okay, Mr. Wonderful." He turned me around. "It's nighty night for you and me."

"I thought you were talking to Sorin." I grinned.

Colin chuckled. "I'm not female or chubby enough." He whispered to my ear. "We'll see you later, Sorin. You'll be here tomorrow?"

"If I can," Sorin nodded.

"Dragon has room here," I said.

Sorin smiled and shook his head. "No, I have a nice bed at home that misses me. It's not that far."

"How is it nighty night when the sun's coming up?" As Colin and I walked toward the room we had used, it hit me what Colin had said. "Wait a minute!" I stopped and held my hand against Colin's chest. "You asked Sorin about his preference!?"

Colin nodded. "I did." He grinned. "Say what you will, but I was jealous! You're a great looking guy and I wanted to know, so I asked."

"And you're a great looking guy, should I worry?" I asked, not quite demanding.

"No," Colin shook his head. "You know you're the only one for me." He said kissing me.

"The next time someone shows more than a little interest in you, I might."

What happened next, I was not prepared for. We got to the room we had the previous night...I opened the door and...there was Wayne and Amasis...together...kissing...in bed in dim light, but it was them!! At first, all I did was quickly move to shut the door back with an apology for interrupting, but then it hit me what I'd seen. I pushed it back open to check if I'd seen correctly. I was shocked! Okay? Yep. Amasis and Wayne were naked in bed...at least the top halves were, I assumed that what was under the covers was like that, too. "Sorry," I said holding my hand up. "Sorry," I said closing the door.

"Were they just...?" Colin asked shocked pointing as we went to find another room.

"It looked that way," I muttered as we heard the door come open and a very naked Wayne came hurrying to us.

"Wait, wait, wait!" Wayne said in a hurry as he caught up with us. "I can explain." He said quickly.

I grinned at him. "You don't have to Wayne. You're both way over twenty-one." I shook his shoulder and I grinned, looking down at his naked form. "Aren't you cold?"

Wayne looked down. "No. I'm fine and you've both seen everything already."

Colin grinned. "We have..." he pointed behind Wayne down the corridor. "She hasn't." He pointed as Shelly was about to enter a room she was using, but smiling at what she saw.

She smiled at us. "Nice ass, Wayne! Very nice." She gave a whistle as she entered a room.

Wayne blushed a little, but hurried us to another room, checking, it was empty and pushed us in. "It wasn't planned," He began quickly. "I'd never...well...I've never..."

Colin looked in Wayne's eyes. "Easy, Wayne. It's okay. You know we do it." He waved at me and Colin. "Is there a problem?"

"I just want you to understand," Wayne began. "I never thought before, in the sixties when I...maybe being a vampire does make us gay."

"You've never had sex with a man," I said to clarify. "Do you think it's wrong?"

"No," He admitted. "Well..." he grinned, "there was that one guy when I was sixteen, but..." he shook his head. "Am I gay now?"

"You got an erection with Amasis?" Colin asked.

"Sure," Wayne nodded. "He's a good-looking man."

"But he's a man," I said pulling Wayne to the bed and sat down with him. "As time goes on...I begin to see less...homosexual and heterosexuals. I see humans." I took a deep breath. "What led to..." I pointed toward the other room, "whatever you two were doing in there?"

Wayne smiled. "Well...we were working together and...we were about to call it a day...and...we hugged." Now he was turning red. "I was just...lonely." He said helplessly. "I sort of...kissed him." He shrugged.

"You wanted him," I said making him look me in the eyes. "You know he had many wives and husbands in his life."

Wayne nodded. "I think that was why I dared to do what I did. He had those others..."

I smiled. "You both felt lonely and of course you knew the other could meet that need." I nodded. "That's great, but every man and women he's loved has died on him. He's guarding his heart. Are you?"

"What do you mean?" Wayne asked.

"I'm not a parent, Wayne and in spite of the age thing we have, I'm not your parent...we are family. You're both were lonely." I said. "You both decided the other can meet that need, but feelings become involved. Even if you claim you're not homosexual...but if you do this...you are."

Wayne started to protest.

"What's wrong with that!?" I asked. "We are." I pointed at Colin and me. "But if you do this...you will have a connection with Amasis unlike anyone else. You could fall in love. Can you do that?"

"I suppose so," Wayne said.

"My problem is...if you do...you two have got to tell each other everything!" I said. "How you feel and what you want. Don't expect him to just know. Tell him and ask him to do the same. Demand he tell you what he expects from you." I hugged him. "We dearly love you, Wayne. You know that. We love Amasis, you know that, too. I don't want problems to arise between you two for some...miscommunication. I tell Colin everything!"

"And I tell Devon everything." Colin nodded. "He knows how I felt about Debra, my wife, Josiah, even the guys I'd been with before. I know about his past boyfriends; for this to progress...and I hope it does...I think you two will be great together; if that's what you want and are willing to do it."

"If he feels that way," Wayne said nodding.

"And how are you going to know that if you don't ask?" I smiled. "Now, you know we have sex, right?"

Wayne nodded. "I've never done it, but...Amasis was willing to take it slow with me. We were just...touching for now."

"Touching is good!" Colin said happily. "I love touching. I love to touch Devon and be touched by Devon."

"It will bind you together. Everyone he's touched before is dead. You're not." I said. "I don't believe you will walk into the sun and burn to get out of this life."

"No," Wayne chuckled. "I won't do that."

"Tell him that when you're ready. You're offering him something he's never had." I said to Wayne. "When its love; tell him. Don't worry about the gay or straight part, but love, if you mean it. Just be careful. I'm not losing either of you!" I said firmly with a smile.

Wayne hugged us both, as in both of us squeezed together in his embrace. "You're not losing either of us. I promise." He got up and walked to the door. "I need to get back before he worries." He opened the door to see if someone else was in the corridor.

"Shelly is right," I said to him. "You do have a very nice ass."

Wayne looked down at his own naked ass and grinned. "Thanks."

"You know, Devon and I had sex before we went to work this evening; on those very sheets?" Colin said smiling.

"We thought the room was unused, sorry about that." He shrugged. "And they're not stained, so..." he looked again in the corridor. "See you later. I love you two." He darted out, closing the door.

"But you..." I said pulling Colin forward to me as I kissed him deeply, consuming as he let me in willingly and kissed back just as much, "have the most beautiful ass and cock I have even seen or heard about."

Colin chuckled. "Both of them and my heart belong to you. I love you, Devon."

I nodded as my arms came around his solid form, hand probing his back and yes...over his well-formed ass. "I know. I love you, Colin."

"I know." Colin smiled. "Now let me see that gorgeous ass and cock of yours!"