Disclaimer: All situations of this story are fictional. I do not claim to know any of the members of *NSYNC or any other celebrities that may be mentioned. Nor do I know their sexual orientations. Any similarities to actual living people and actual situations are purely coincidental. All fictional characters and fictional situations portrayed in this work remain the property of Drew Thomas, unless otherwise noted. Republishing of this work of fiction is strictly forbidden unless the author has given permission.
Permission granted to Nifty Archives for the sole purpose of posting on the Boy Bands section of the Archives. Permission may be obtained by e-mailing Drew Thomas at drewthomas304@yahoo.com. Constructive Comments and advice are welcome also.
Special note: A special thanks goes out to Dark Writer the Author of the Journal of the Undead. Please do me a favor and drop by his story in this same archives. I am reposting Chapters 3 & 4 with a few changes. They're a bit longer and some editing has been done to fix a few mistakes. I have also written an all new chapter 4 so the old 4 will now be 5. And now, on with the story! Enjoy!
Slayer's Legacy Chapter 3
AN UNEXPECTED TURN
"So lately been wondering. Who will be there to take my place? When I'm gone you will need love. To light the shadows on your face."-The Calling
"Well I'm sorry to have to say it but we need to get home Josh," Karen Chasez saw the look of worry on his son's face and went to him. "I know this is a lot to take in all at once honey. Joss is here to help so let him. Okay?
"Alright mom," JC said softly, allowing his mom to hug him. He reveled in the closeness of his mother for a few seconds.
"And I know you'll do the right thing where James is concerned. Never forget that no matter what, he loves you very much," Karen said with conviction. That was all JC needed to hear and he hugged his parents tightly to him. They said their goodbyes to the others and were gone. JC made his way back to the bedroom to check on Lance. Entering the room he saw that Lance was still unconscious and that his breathing had become very shallow. Sweat was pouring off of him. JC went to get Joss. He seemed to have all the answers. Maybe, just maybe he would know what to do?
"Joss? I need you in here. Its Lance, something is wrong." Joss quickly entered, with the others following close behind. He approached Lance cautiously so not to disturb him and recognized the signs instantly. Lance was going through withdrawls.
"He needs to feed. We need to get some blood into him and quickly," Joss said grimly, as he ignored the looks of disgust on the faces of Lance's best friends.
Chris being the smart ass of the group was the first to speak. "What are we supposed to do, grab a virgin off the street?"
Joss smiled at Chris' comment. "Um, no. We need to find a butcher's shop or blood bank," Joss said shaking his head. "You've seen way too many movies Chris." Chris blushed and Joss smiled at him again. "Why don't you come with me? It will save us a lot of time that way."
"Sure!" Chris beamed. "Let's go!"
Justin snickered under his breath which earned him a jab in the stomach by Joey, and a death glare by Chris. "Ow! What? I think it's cute. Chris has a crush." Chris glared at him again as Justin passed him and in a sing-song voice whispering, "Chris has a crush. Chris has a crush." Earning him another smack by Joey. "Ow! Okay Jeeze" Justin whined.
"Are we ready to go?" Joss asked softly.
"Yea Joss, let's get going. We'll be back soon guys," Chris said as they hurried out.
The whole time JC had sat by Lance's side refusing to move. JC had never really been one for praying but he knew Lance believed strongly in it. He would do anything to save the man that he loved, so that is what he did. He knelt by Lance's bedside and began to pray for strength and for Lance's health and safety. Joey and Justin witnessed this from the other room and looked into each other's eyes, having a silent conversations and doing what they had always done when one of them was in trouble, they too joined JC. Joey pulled out his Rosary he always carried and he and Justin knelt at Lance's bedside. Each reached out and took one of JC's hands. JC, with tearful eyes looked lovingly at his two friends and nodded quietly. Together they sat with Lance in silent vigil.
Later, across town:
Joss and Chris had been driving around now for a few hours without any luck. Neither one being from around there they were just driving around blindly. Finally Chris spotted a sign indicating a hospital just down the road. "They have to have a blood bank right?" Chris asked hopefully.
"We'll see." Joss spoke cautiously, not wanting to get Chris's hopes up. When they pulled into the parking lot they discovered the hospital was very small. Actually it could have been classified as more of a clinic than a hospital. As they entered they spotted a directory and scanned it for a blood bank.
"Here!" Chris spoke in a loud whisper. "It's in the basement next to the...morgue." Joss spotted a gurney parked next to a linen closet. He grabbed Chris's hand and yanked him towards it. "Where are we going?" Chris yelped as Joss drug him along.
"I have an idea!" Joss said. When the finally stopped in front of thelinen closet Chris couldn't help but smile and make a comment.
"As flattered as I am Joss I really don't think this is time and place for that." Joss smiled at him and promptly smacked on the back of the head.
"Come on smart-ass," Joss said as he yanked Chris into the dark room shutting the door behind them. A few minutes later they emerged. Joss in scrubs and Chris looking very uncomfortable in a hospital gown. He was trying his best to keep his backside covered but without much success.
"Tell me again why I have to be the one in this get-up?" Chris asked glaring at Joss.
"Because of the two of us you are the most recognizable so you have to be the one under the sheet," Joss explained as Chris continued to fidget.
"That still doesn't explain this outfit Joss," Chris grumbled as he climbed onto the gurney making sure no one spotted them. He laid down and Joss covered him from head to toe with a sheet making him appear to be a corpse headed for the morgue.
"Oh, well that's just a bonus for me," Joss giggled causing Chris to bolt upright. "Let's just call it payback for the earlier comment. Now lay down," Joss said forcing Chris back down. "Corpses are not supposed to be able to sit up."
"I'll get you for this later," Chris mumbled through the sheet.
"No talking either," Joss smiled as they made their way to the elevators and down to the basement.
Later at the hotel:
There was no change in Lance and JC was beginning to panic. "Where the hell are Joss and Chris," JC muttered. JC, Joey and Justin were in the living room of the suite and JC was frantically pacing back and forth. Joey and Justin watched for as long as they could.
"Hey JC, do you want--?" Joey started.
"No!" JC said flatly.
"Maybe we could--," Justin interjected.
"No!" JC muttered again. They continued to watch him pace until Joey had finally had enough."
"JC! Sit down!" Joey yelled. JC jumped to a stop and looked shocked at Joey. Joey pointed to a chair and JC stomped over to it and sat down in a huff. He knew not to argue with Joey when he used that tone of voice. Joey slowly rose from his seat and kneeled in front of JC. "I know you're worried about Lance. We all are. We have to believe things will be ok. Chris and Joss will be back soon, you'll see."
As if on cue Chris and Joss walked into the hotel suite carrying a small cooler that contained Lance's much needed nourishment.
"What took you so long?" Justin demanded.
"Long story Justin. We'll tell you later. I'll give this to Lance." Joss spoke.
"Why can't I give it to him?" JC asked.
"He is very volatile right now JC. There is no telling how he'll react when I go in there. I have experience dealing with such things where as you don't," Joss said softly
"Will he be all right?" JC asked, continuing to worry.
"We should know in a little while. I need to get this in him first," Joss insisted.
"All right go," JC sighed and sat back down to wait with the others.
A few minutes later Joss returned with a broad smile on his face. "He's asking for you JC. We got back just in time." They all let out a huge sigh of relief as JC stood and embraced Joss in a crushing hug. "Can't...breathe...JC," Joss gasped causing the others to laugh and JC to blush slightly as a small smile playing on his lips. He patted Joss's shoulder and made his way back to the bedroom. He was not prepared for what he found there.
The sheets on the bed had been thrown back and Lance was no where to be found. Maybe he's in the bathroom? JC went to the door and lightly rapped on it. "Lance?" he called out. "James? It's me, Josh sweetie." JC opened the door and peeked in. Lance was no where to be seen. "Guys!" JC called out to the others. Joey was the first one to enter.
"What's up? Where's Lance?" Joey demanded.
"I don't know, he's gone." JC said as a cool breeze drifted across his face. Turning he now saw the open window. He moved quickly towards it, trying to catch a glimpse of Lance. But he was nowhere in sight.
"Jayce?" Justin voice broke through the shocked haze that threatened to overwhelm JC. JC turned to his friend and saw that he was holding out an envelope to him. He took it and immediately recognized Lance's handwriting on the outside. He carefully opened it and removed the folded note inside. Slowly he began to read:
Dear Josh,
I wish we could've spoken to each other one more time. But I knew if I did see you my resolve to leave would have faltered. I never in my life wantto be the one to cause you pain and I am truly sorry. I can feel JB in my head. He can read my thoughts and feelings and can sense when you and the others are around. I can't risk him coming after you all, so I have to leave. I am going to find JB and try to find a way for him to change me back so we can have a normal life again. Our lives are on different paths now, but I hope someday they will lead back to each other. Until then, always know that I love you.
James
JC handed the note back to Justin and sat down on the edge of the bed dejected. Justin finished reading and handed it to Joey. He saw the pain expression on his friend's face and went to him, wrapping his arms around Josh's slim shoulders. He placed a chaste kiss on JC's forehead. "We'll find him JC." Justin promised him.
"But how?" JC pleaded as tears flowed down his face. Justin fingers gently wiped the tears free. "We have no idea where he went! He could be anywhere by now." JC had a hopeless look on his face and Justin wanted anything in the world to trade places with Lance at that moment. JC had fought so hard to overcome his sexuality and come to grips with it. He deserved to be happy with Lance.
"I have an idea," Joss spoke. "It's a longshot, but we could try JB's ancestral home outside of Paris."
"It will take hours for us to get there though,"Joey complained.
"But it's the best lead we have. I'm with Joss on this one." Chris said. "What do you say JC?"
"What choice do we have? It's better than sitting around here waiting. Let's go," JC said with conviction.
"Alright, you guys go pack and I'll call the airlines. We'll meet back here in twenty minutes. Okay?" Joss asked. The others agreed and quickly left to pack leaving Joss and JC alone. JC still sat with a worried expression on his face. "Come on JC, stop worrying. Listen, Justin is right. We will find him."
"I hope you're right," JC sighed heavily.
"Hey in all the time we've known each other have I ever lead you astray?" Joss asked. JC couldn't help but smile because they both knew that they had only met a few hours ago.
"Thanks Joss," JC said softly.
"No problem," Joss smiled. "Now get packed. We have a plane to catch."
In another city up north:
Lance stood on a hill top overlooking the city. He closed his eyes and concentrated. JB had definitely been here at some point, along with others like him. It seemed they had attempted to turn another but the man escaped before he could complete the transformation process. How he knew all of this he wasn't sure but there it was in his mind, clear as day. Somehow Lance and JB had been psychically linked to one another. Suddenly Lance became very dizzy. He sat down to rest and contemplate his next move. He needed to feed again soon. The blood he had gotten earlier had given him enough strength to get here, but if he was going to be out searching for much longer he would need to more. Using his new abilities was also verydraining on him.
Suddenly Lance sensed a presence near him. Slowly he turned around to see a deer enter the clearing. Lance was a avid animal lover and could never dream of harming a beautiful creature such as this. But these were desperate times. If he didn't feed soon he would most likely not survive. He slowly stood and psychally reached out to the animal, coaxing it closer.
"Forgive me," he sobbed just before he pounced on it. The young deer put up a struggle but Lance's enhanced physical strength was no match for the animal. Lance finally sank his teeth into the animal's flesh, draining it dry.
A little while later Lance had finally made his way down into the city. He followed JB's trail into the downtown area and was surprised to find thathe had entered a very trendy area of town where he was surrounded by coffee shops, book stores and a very small yet attractive art gallery. Maybe JB was inside? As he entered he was soon entranced by the quality of the art work that graced the walls. Lance soon forgot his troubles and found himself enjoying one of his passions. Lance blushed shamefully at one particular piece. It was a picture of two naked young men in the act of making love.
"Can I show you something?" a soft voice sounded to his left. He looked down and saw a very attractive young man.
"No, thank you." Lance said still blushing. "Just looking."
"Well let me know if I can help you. My name's Ben." the young man said as he turned and glided over to a young woman.
Lance turned to continue his own private tour when he was struck with a feeling of familiarity. He jerked his head towards the woman that the young man was talking too. Lance tried to remember where he had seen her but failed to place her. Shrugging his shoulders as he continued to look at the artwork and mentally logged his favorite pieces. He and Josh would be coming here again when this was all over. Finally he walked from the gallery, satisfied that JB wasn't there. As he walked down the street he was struck with a vision. He jerked his head back and saw flames shooting up in the air. After a few seconds the vision was gone. Shaking his head in confusion he continued on with his quest.
Later, somewhere over the ocean:
JC was getting antsy. When were they going to land the damn plane? Joey and Chris had been sitting on either side of him throughout the entire flight and he was driving them crazy. he was full of nervous energy and had been constantly up and down and pacing the aisles the whole flight. He finally had to be told by the flight attendant to sit down and remain seated. Finally, the announcement they had all been waiting for. They were making their final descent into Paris. Just a few hours outside the city they would arrive at JB's Chateau hoping they would find Lance. Not knowing that he was now thousands of miles away from them.
Early the next morning:
It had been a long night. The guys, in their hurry to get to JB's, decided to drive all night. Each taking a turn behind the wheel. As the sun rose up over the horizon they finally arrived at the village of JB's birth, L'Isle sur la Sorgue. "We're just about there guys," Justin spoke loud enough to wake everyone.
Joss, who had been riding shotgun for the last couple of hours opened his eyes, stretching his stiff body. "I'll take over from here now Justin. It's pretty easy to get lost around here. Lots of little back roads." They quickly pulled over and switched seats.
"How did you find out about his place Joss?" Justin asked.
"Oh I've kept track of Jean-Baptiste over the years since JC's biological mother died. I promised her I'd watch out for him so that meant making sure JB never found him. There hadn't been any sign of him in years so I began to let my guard down. Tried to get on with my life, began writing and then I got the idea for 'Buffy'." Joss fell silent for a few moments. "If only I'd paid better attention to him, we wouldn't be here now."
"I don't blame you for any of this Joss. If you'd known about that prophesy then you could've done something maybe, but how could you? You said yourself it was just uncovered recently," JC said softly.
"I appreciate you saying that JC but I still feel responsible. Like I let your mother down." The rest of the ride was spent in silence as they madetheir way through the French Countryside. They traveled for another twenty minutes before Joss pulled over next to a lake.
"Why are we stopping?" Justin asked looking confused.
"That's why," Joss said pointing across the water. "JB's ancestral home."
Looking in the direction Joss indicated, they sat and stared in awe. On the other side a grand estate was laid out. Its center piece, a three story stone castle. It was enormous, but what was even more impressive was that it looked as if it had been just been erected. The gardens were still as beautiful as ever too. It was if it were suspended in time.
"Well there must be someone there to keep it looking that way. A caretaker at least. Right?" Justin finally asked.
"We'll see in a bit," Joss spoke, as he pulled back onto the road and headed toward their uncertain fate.
TBC- Chapter 4 coming soon!