Disclaimer: The following is a work of fiction which will include t/t and m/m relationships, and probably some sex too. If it is illegal in your area to read this, or if you are not old enough to read this (you know who you are), stop here. Otherwise, please enjoy.
Things That Go Bump, Chapter 11
"Rising"
"Consul," one man shouted the rest down, "all due respect, but you can't be serious...."
Sebastian now smiled on the outside, and leaned into his microphone. "I am quite serious.... It would be irresponsible to send a vampire of any less than 500 years to the Oracle, and none of you seem willing.... Shapeshifters, by and large, do not heal so well as we vampires do, so the damage that could be inflicted would be more injurious...." The few werewolves and other shapeshifters present shook their heads in assent to that point. "Wizards and witches have the benefit of being human, so they stand a good chance of escaping the Oracle's notorious dislike of our kinds, and, if not, a powerful wizard could counter most of the Oracle's magic.... And Avery Salazar is the most powerful wizard I've known who is still alive...."
Consul Chang leaned in and interrupted. "We all know of your vocal opposition to the sentence this council imposed against Salazar.... One cannot help but feel that you are taking this opportunity to lift the exile imposed against your friend...."
"What exactly are you accusing me of, Consul Chang?"
"Perhaps it is merely opportunism.... or perhaps something more...."
"That," Sebastian said with a heavy pause, "is very serious double-talk.... And by the laws of this council, I would be within my rights to demand the opportunity to defend my honor...." Quiet whispers broke out, but he shushed them. "However, I will, for the moment, waive that right, if Consul Chang will either support my suggestion or volunteer to undertake the task himself...."
Chang leaned in angrily. "So, if I don't accept Salazar, and presumably a pardon, then...."
"Then you may either face the Oracle, or you may face me in a battle to the death...."
A freezing silence fell over the assembled representatives, as Chang's face reddened. "Recall Salazar, then, if that is the will of the council," he said, as his screen went black.
Musa spoke again, "That's one vote in favor of recalling ex-Consul Salazar from his exile and offering him a pardon in exchange for his seeking out the advice of the Oracle.... Please indicate your approval by pressing the red button...." Lights began to flash as nearly 90% gave their assent to Sebastian's choice. After his encounter with Chang, there was little doubt about his seriousness. Sebastian was given the charge of summoning him and convincing him to undertake the task.
As the meeting concluded with pledges of support for the Egyptian operations, Americ sent Sebastian a private message, "I hope you know what you're doing, Sebastian.... Let me know if you need anything. A."
Pedro Salazar, however, called him into a private video conference and looked at him beaming. "My brother always said you'd never let him down, Sebastian! I can't thank you enough...."
"Well, Avery still has to accept and succeed...."
"You know he will, Sebastian.... You know our family...."
"The strangest in our world, my friend.... One brother a wizard, the other a vampire.... Your brother and I had some interesting adventures in the day...."
"When will you recall him?"
"If he agrees, tonight.... I'll get him in touch with you as soon as he comes home...."
"Thank you, Sebastian, thank you...."
"Goodbye for now, Pedro...." He signed off and sat back in his chair. Zombies in Egypt, strange disappearances, tremors, now Avery Salazar and the Oracle.... All on top of James returning to him.... What a day, and it was still morning.
He hurried back to the hospital to find James up and in good spirits, talking to Richard. "You look terrible," the boy said to him. "Can we go home?"
"Has the doctor cleared you? We need everything to look right on paper...." Richard nodded and tapped his head with three wavy fingers -- he had apparently given the man some guidance. "Let's go," he said. Richard went to bring the car and a nurse wheeled James out to the classic limo. Back at home, the three vampires went to bed and drifted into deep and dreamless sleeps.
Night was coming earlier every day, and they were all up and alert when Pete, Chris and Steve all arrived. "Sheesh, man, you're home early! When will you be back to school," Pete asked.
"I don't know," James said.
Sebastian jumped in and added, "He'll need a lot of therapy and that sort of thing for a while, so probably not before spring...." James nodded, understanding that it would probably be that long before he could stand prolonged exposure to humans he didn't care deeply about, or more dangerously, humans he disliked.
The guys sat around talking to him for a while, and they all said they'd be at his mother's funeral, which had been postponed a few days so he could attend. They shared some tearful conversation about the woman, who had been well liked by the guys on the team. Only Chris did not know here well.
Soon, though, they left so he could get his rest. Once they were gone, Sebastian asked James and Richard to accompany him to the basement. Handing Richard a piece of chalk, he said, "Please draw me a magical circle about 10 feet across, with the directions marked...." While he was doing that, he took candles and placed a different color at each of the cardinal directions. Then he made a thick ring of rock salt outside the chalk. To James, he merely said, "Watch...."
"What are you doing," Sebastian asked.
"I am contacting an old friend," he said. Then he removed all his clothes unabashedly and donned a white robe. "I summon you, guardian wind of the north, come and stand in your place, opening this magical circle.... I summon you, guardian wind of the east, come and stand in your place, opening this magical circle.... I summon you, guardian wind of the south, come and stand in your place, opening this magical circle.... I summon you, guardian wind of the west, come and stand in your place, opening this magical circle.... Guardian winds protect this circle that none may enter and none may exit, that what is in this world remains here, that what is in that world remains there...." The two circles glowed, the inner blue, the outer white, as a gentle breeze filled the basement. "Across the vast expanse of space and time I conjure thee, Avery Salazar, from your place in the ancient prison of Ashaer.... Appear before me, come to me, hear my call...."
A dirty figure appeared curled in the fetal position in the midst of the circle. James started for him but Sebastian grabbed his arm. "Do not cross the circle!"
The figure made no move or noise other than a soft sobbing. "Avery! Avery my friend?" Slowly the figure uncurled and looked at the three men, as if he doubted their reality.
"Where am I? Who are you?"
"You are in my basement.... I am Sebastian, your old friend...."
"Sebastian.... Is it really you? One of the tricks of the jailors at Ashaer is to come to us ... as people from our past to get information...."
"Do you remember when we met? You were just a boy of twelve.... I had come to your father seeking refuge.... I taught you your first bit of magic -- how to addle the mind of the young maidens you chased after?"
The man laughed despite his tears. "And tell me, mirage, given that knowledge, which of those girls gave me my first kiss?"
Sebastian laughed. "I did, of course.... And I was surprised I didn't have to addle your mind, either...."
"It was the eighteenth century.... Most of the girls in my village weren't as pretty as you," the man said, with a laugh, rising to his feet. His body was very dirty and covered with cuts and bruises from instruments of torture, but it was also exquisitely built beneath all that, light brown hair on his long legs and around his beautiful manhood, and he stood nude with noble pride before them. "Sebastian, what's going on?"
"I have gotten the council to agree to pardon and recall you," he said, but Avery cut him off.
"On what condition?"
"We are living in strange times, my friend.... We require the guidance of the Oracle, and," he paused, looking longingly at James, "I cannot go myself...." Avery looked at James with interest, curiosity, and a bit of something else.
"I should leave them all to their own mess...."
"What of the rest of the world, Avery? What of yourself? Your punishment could very well last forever, otherwise...."
"Sebastian...."
"Avery, your brother.... Come back to him ... come back to us, my friend...."
The man looked hard at Sebastian, and nodded, "For ... for my friends, for my brother ... I'll do this thing you ask...."
Sebastian nodded, then sighed and said, "Swear to it, by the ancient code...."
The man extended his palm and said, "I swear by the ancient code that I shall undertake to do as I have promised my friend to the best of my ability, and should I shirk this duty, may I perish in that very hour...."
"It is done," Sebastian said, as static crackled between them. Then he reached out with his foot and broached the two circles. "Four watchmen, I release you this day with thanks," he said with a wave of his hand, stepping into the circle just as Avery collapsed into his arms.
"Richard, help me get him upstairs to the shower...." Together, the older vampires helped the man up to the second floor and into the large shower in Sebastian's room, while James waited downstairs.
He took out the violin and sat practicing in a chair by the window, and time began to pass unnoticed. He jumped a little when Sebastian said, "Wonderful, baby...."
Setting the violin in its case, James turned to Sebastian and looked at him solemnly. "Who is this man, Avery?"
Sebastian took his hand and led him to the couch. Smiling, he said, "As you heard, when I met him, he was just a boy, on the verge of becoming a young man.... I was a worldly older boy to him, though he quickly realized who, or what, I was.... He was always such a prodigy...."
"You kissed...."
"James," he said with a smile. "I've had a long life, and I've kissed a lot of men, and more than kissed, you know that.... But Avery wasn't like that.... We played around like boys.... I taught him to kiss, and to jack off.... But girls were his thing.... It was always just playful between us.... Except for the magic.... Like I say, he was a prodigy, and he learned from me over the course of years.... I'd come and go and every time we met, he was stronger and stronger.... I'd hazard to say that I still know more magic than he does, but the forces he can command are much more powerful.... I remember when he stopped aging, he learned to control the force of time, at least its effects on him. When he couldn't do the same for his brother, he tried to get me to turn his brother.... I refused, but Avery managed to find someone, I still don't know who.... I think Avery was afraid I would kill that vampire.... In any case, his brother is a very powerful member of the shadow council, he holds the same position I do.... Consul, it's called.... Avery used to hold that position as well, before he was exiled to the Ashaer prison in a mystical dimension created to hold the worst offenders...."
"Why was he sent there?"
"Because they were afraid of me," a weak voice called from the door. Avery weakly made his way around, clad in the silk pants and robe that were Sebastian's favorite. He sat opposite James and Sebastian and sat for a moment. "What the council never understood about me was that I am insatiable not for power but for knowledge.... The fact that I am extremely powerful is entirely uninteresting to me except as a side-effect of what I'm really searching for.... But the rest ... oh they were afraid I would ... what, take over?"
"That's not all," Sebastian said, chiding.
"No, that's not all.... There was a woman, she was very special to me.... A werewolf killed her savagely one evening after she left the dance studio where she taught.... I tracked him down and interrogated him...."
"Interrogated him," Sebastian asked with arched eyebrows.
Avery smiled grimly and shrugged, "How does the fellow in the movie put it, 'I'm going to tear your soul apart'? Shall we say I took that like a serious suggestion.... In any case, he was the chief enforcer for the consul for East Asia, and he would not have acted without his master's authorization...."
"So you killed the consul," James asked.
"I like this one," Avery said, smiling. "I did kill the consul.... And his second in command...."
Sebastian leaned back and added, "And his bodyguards, and his best friend, and his mistress...."
"Oh, and don't forget the consul's headquarters in Hong Kong...."
"That was the thing that did it, that really screwed us, Avery.... Avery blew up this compound in downtown Hong Kong in the middle of the afternoon...."
James nodded, raising his eyebrows. "In retrospect," Avery said, "perhaps it was a bit of overkill, but ... I ... I can't say I wouldn't do it again...."
"You loved her," James stated, more than asked.
"More than I thought I could.... I was so angry, consumed with grief and.... But I think you might understand, now, Sebastian...." The ancient vampire stood and walked to the window, as Avery reached out and touched James's elbow, motioning for him to turn to face him. "Let me get a good look at you, James...." James smiled and turned to face him directly. Avery scooted toward him and put a hand on his cheek, not sensually but curiously. He moved his fingers to James's temple and raised his other hand to the other temple.
"Avery!" Sebastian said, turning around. "What are you doing!?"
"I'm reading him.... He doesn't seem to mind," the man said, laughing, not at all noticing that James was leaning in more and more.
"That's because ... your blood, Avery...." In a flash, Sebastian was at James's side, squeezing his hand firmly. "Listen to me, James.... Focus on the sound of my voice.... James.... Control...."
James shook his head, "Sorry.... What were we talking about?"
Sebastian ran his hand through the boy's hair and kissed the side of his head. "Nothing, baby.... Avery wants to try one of his parlor tricks on you, but listen, focus on his face and remember who and what he is.... Don't let the scent of the blood mesmerize you...." Avery got closer and put his hands back on the boy's temples.
"Hmmm.... Something ... what?" Avery sat back and looked at Sebastian, then James, then back at Sebastian. "How old are you?"
James looked at Sebastian, who shrugged. "Seventeen, next month...."
Frustrated, Avery shook his head. "How old are you, since you've turned?"
"Seventeen, next month...."
"That," Avery said, shaking his head resolutely, "is not possible...."
"And yet, it is the case," Sebastian said, with finality.
"Hmmm.... Perhaps.... Still.... But then again, it's nothing like any vampire I've ever met.... Of all the vampires I've come across, and remember, I was a consul, James ... I've never felt a vampire like you.... There's something ... off about your aura.... And it feels so ... old.... Powerful...." Again he shook his head. "James.... Look into my eyes.... Concentrate really hard on something you want me to do, something you don't think I'd do otherwise.... Really concentrate...."
James smiled, but noticed Sebastian had a very curious look. He looked into the man's eyes, and suddenly a very dirty idea came into his head. He smiled and concentrated.... As Sebastian watch wide-eyed, his old friend opened his robe and reached into his silk pajama bottoms, fishing out his ample manhood which was at attention. Slowly, he began to stroke himself with a faraway look in his eyes. Rapidly he work his way to orgasm, and at last shot his load on his chest. James broke his gaze and Avery shook his head, slowly realizing what he had been doing. "Naughty boy," he chastised with a grin, reaching for some tissues to wipe up with. As he tossed the tissue into the trash bin, he asked, "Sebastian?"
"What, aren't vampires supposed to have this mind-control," James asked innocently.
"Usually, it takes years to develop any skill to manipulate normal humans.... And Avery is no normal human.... He honed his skill at resisting over many years as a consul.... Many of his underlings would have loved to take advantage of his human weakness, otherwise.... Now, truth be told, I'm sure he wasn't resisting you very actively...."
"I might have done had I known what your little imp had in mind....
"But still, a vampire only risen two days ago has no business...."
"Another test?" Sebastian nodded and Avery called for Richard. "Richard, if you don't mind, could you stand here and let James look into your eyes?" Richard did as he asked. "Now James, as before, but ... let's keep it rated R...."
James looked at Richard and thought, what to do? Richard began to lean in, putting a hand on the boy's cheek. When he was less than an inch from kissing James, James let his mind clear and Richard stood dazed, withdrawing his hand quickly.
"I ... I'm sorry, I don't know what.... Sebastian, I...."
Sebastian laughed. "Not at all, Richard, not at all.... We were just testing James's powers here and it seems we've got more questions than answers.... It seems that he's developed enough power to exercise mind control on other vampires...."
"What," Richard asked, shocked. "I still couldn't.... That's ... not possible...."
"So I was saying," Avery said, "and nevertheless.... I'm at a loss, my friends...."
"Well, he did feed on me upon waking.... He would have attained some of my...."
"And that is an enormous boost, Sebastian, but in abilities, not so much in power.... He has the power of a very old vampire, and the only thing holding him back is inexperience.... He must be trained immediately...."
Sebastian nodded, "But you, my friend, must rest.... You have an urgent task to undertake as soon as possible."
"Indeed.... I planned to rest for two days, and go see the old hag day after tomorrow...."
Sebastian nodded, and said, "Call your brother.... I promised him...." Avery nodded and walked to a guest room. When Avery was gone, Sebastian gazed into the faraway space.
"Have I done something ... wrong," James asked, looking nervous. Sebastian smiled and put a hand on his cheek.
"No, my beautiful boy," Sebastian said, "only very unusual, and it's been an unusual sort of day...."
"Tell me about it?" James laid his head on Sebastian's chest and curled up on the couch. Sebastian smiled and recounted the events that had occurred since the previous evening.
Meanwhile, across the globe, in a private jet bound for the United States, Consul Chang scurried to his private office. Placing his palm on a scanner, the door opened and he jumped as his chair rotated to reveal that it was occupied. The shadowy figure put his hands together in front of his face, almost as if praying.
"What's going on here," the man demanded angrily, reaching for the button to summon security.
The man said, "Please, don't do that.... You'll be dead before you can press it," he added, leaning in.
Wang gasped and froze before falling to his knee. "My lord...."
"Enough! Sit...." Wang slid into a seat, his knees wobbly. "It has begun...."
"Salazar is back.... They are sending him to the Oracle...."
The man just laughed. "It's too late.... Far too late...."
"Don't underestimate them.... Consul Sebastian and his allies are very powerful...."
The man looked at him, eyebrows raised, amused. "Sebastian is far older than you, but he is nothing to me.... Not anymore...."
"I don't follow...."
"You aren't supposed to, Chang," the man chuckled, sitting back and chuckling to himself. "Leave me.... And send a human in...."
"What do you require?"
"Oh, surprise me.... Then again, make it a boy, 14 to 17, if you've got one," he decided, turning away as Chang retreated hastily. "This is going to be fun," the man laughed when he was alone. He relished the thought that the fight was about to come into the open and the approach of the day when he could kill Chang, the weasel.