The Black Rose

2:15 PM

David wrapped his arms around his waist darting nervous eyes around the dark interior of the bar he and the others had just walked into. Seb hovered close to his right shoulder, equally as wary.

The other patrons in the bar all looked shady, most of them wearing leather and looking as if they’d be at home in some bikie gang. All of them looked like criminals of some kind, except for several women who trolled amongst them. Though, even the women looked off, like hookers or something.

David grimaced. “Why did we come here again?”

“Because, I told you that Pierre would be meeting you here.”

David looked at the Avenged Sevenfold bassist, Johnny, and scowled. “You didn’t say that this place was scary as shit. Why would Pierre come here?”

Johnny just shook his head and looked at Chuck and Jeff who appeared equally as anxious. “Go get yourself a drink...you look like you need it.”

“I know I need one.” Synyster Gates waltzed passed at that exact moment. Johnny stiffened as the guitarist gave a nasty smile. It softened at the edges as he nodded to the members of Simple Plan then he made his way to the bar at the far end of the building.

Chuck watched after him then shook his head. “Don’t drink.”

“I’ll have yours then,” Jeff smirked and followed Synyster.

The drummer shook his head raking fingers through his hair and looking at his other friends. “So, I guess we wait for-” He got cut off as Shadows, Zacky and The Rev came hurtling in, the three large males skidding passed them, passed Jeff, catching hold of Synyster and hauling him away from the bar. Jeff blinked hard, Chuck, David and Seb gaped watching as they literally hauled out of a door at the back.

“What the?” David shook his head then looked at Johnny. “What’s up with them?”

The Werewolf just shrugged thinking silently, They’re off to feed...where’re Pat and Pierre...? He looked toward the entrance. David followed his gaze. Lachelle and Pat came racing in and over to them. Pat looked tense, anxious.

“Pat? What is it?” Chuck asked.

Pat just shook his head pushing them back. “Get back...Pierre’s coming.”

The drummer scowled. “Why do we need-” he started to ask, but then stopped when he felt a blast of frosty air come through the doorway. “What the hell?”

Pat didn’t answer just looked back over his shoulder. They all looked as well. Pierre strode through the entrance, jaw clenched so tight that the muscle in his jaw bulged, his eyes narrowed as he moved stiffly. Johnny felt a chill.

He shot a look at Pat and ground out loud, not caring that the others could hear. “He needs to fucking feed, right now.”

“I know!” Pat snapped back. “But,” He paused looking around the bar, “Where the hell are the whores Shads was talking about?”

Johnny pointed to the door the other vampires had exited. “That way.”

Pat growled, turned and yelled out to Pierre. “Oi, Pierre...out that way!” He pointed. Pierre followed where his finger pointed to the door, and with a nod, he stalked toward it, muscles coiling, a burning ache in his fangs. He snarled then wrenched the door open and hurtled through it, slamming it shut behind him, the frozen wind blowing after him.

David stared at the door then shot a look at Pat and Johnny.

Chuck spoke up, voice harsh. “You wanna explain what the fuck is up with Pierre?”

Pat shook his head expression tight. “No can do, Chuck.”

Lachelle whispered, “You don’t really want to know. It’s...not important...he’ll be back...”

David opened his mouth to protest, but Pat shook his head.

“David, don’t ask okay...” He heaved a sigh, smearing a hand over his face as he began to move to the bar. “I need a drink. Come on, guys. Don’t worry about Pierre...like Chelle says, he’ll be back...”

The others sighed and nodded following their friend to the bar.

* * * * *

Pierre stood in what was a smaller private room behind the main bar. He scanned the outer walls. There were huge plush sofas lining them. He saw Shadows lounging on one, a woman snuggled into his side, her head tilted to one side. He was nuzzling his mouth into her neck, and then she gasped as he had obviously pierced her vein.

He noticed the others were also in similar positions sprawled around the room. Zacky saw him and flashed a thumb up in his direction then returned to sucking on his woman.

Pierre breathed in deeply the aroma of fresh blood assaulting his senses. He licked at his fangs, the ache intensifying, his muscles trembling.

He heard a motion beside him and then a soft female voice. “Sir...may I be of some assistance?”

He turned his head a rush of lilac, and some other stranger scent, hitting his nostrils. A lithe woman stood before him, barely dressed, wearing a see through gossamer gown. He growled, lips lifting away from his fangs. She gasped but did not back away. Instead, she moved closer and laid a hand on his inked left arm, stroking slowly.

He let his eyes roam over her shapely form then back up to her face. She had deep brown eyes, and long black hair and the smile on her face almost seemed predatory. He bit at his lip, unsure how to go about this. Sure, he’d attacked Lachelle and had fed from Pat, but this was the first time he’d really thought about feeding.

The woman smiled softly. “You need to feed.”

He blinked wondering how she realised that, or even more surprising, why she wasn’t freaked out.

As if sensing his thoughts the woman flushed slightly and waved her hand around at the women in the room. “Every one of us is here to serve the needs of the vampires in this city...” She paused. Then added, “You may have recognised our scent, sir...we are all Werewolves...” She trembled and lowered her eyes ever so slightly, “and we are not free.”

Pierre’s eyebrows lifted. He glanced toward Shadows again and bit his lip. “Slaves? But, I thought...” He rolled his eyes inwardly, whores, slaves...what’s the difference, Bouvier... He repeated softly, “Slaves?”

The woman nodded, “Blood slaves, and...whatever else a blooded male wants us to be.” She paused, sniffing at Pierre. “You have a female though...”

Pierre mumbled still a little unsure, “She’s human...”

“Ah...so you come here to feed, of course.” The female Were smiled and drew him toward one of the sofas. “Come...feed from my vein.”

Pierre followed her and allowed her to guide him down onto the sofa, on top of her. Leaning her head back, she breathed deeply. He ran his tongue across his lips, bracing his hands on either side of her slender frame. Leaning down he slowly ran the tip of his tongue across her throat. He felt the pulse in her neck jump as the jugular thickened. He hissed his hunger welling in the pit of his stomach.

Her hands fluttered by her sides but she held still waiting. The pulse of her blood in her veins was like an invitation to the vampire propped above her. Pierre snarled and tilting her head back more, bit into the vein and began to pull at the fresh hot, viscous liquid.

As the blood ran down the back of his throat, he felt the ache in his mouth begin to ease. He gulped roughly, shifting his weight so he could pull the woman close to his body as he fed. Just as he did that, he felt a vibration in his back pocket. He growled in frustration and pulled his head away from the woman’s neck, fumbling for his cell phone. He glanced at the caller ID then froze his heart leaping into his mouth, the hunger draining away.

The female frowned as Pierre pulled back and turned sinking onto the sofa flipping the phone open.

“Dad?” His voice strained as he spoke into the mouthpiece. He bit his bottom lip hard as he listened, the atmosphere tightening around his tense body. His brow furrowed and tingles raced up and down his spine. He hunched his shoulders, head dropping.

“No...Dad...has...” He shuddered. “I’ll...I’ll come home...no...I’ll come home, Dad...Dad...” He trembled and began to rock. The woman hesitated before moving closer and resting a hand at the nape of his neck rubbing slowly. He welcomed the contact leaning into her touch as he kept listening.

Then he groaned softly. “Dad...tell...tell Jay I love him...” He clapped the phone shut and shoved it roughly into his back pocket.

The woman drew back, watching Pierre closely. “Sir?”

He squeezed his eyes shut, leaning his head back. Then he opened his eyes and looked at her. She could see a tinge of red in his deep brown eyes.

He forced a smile on his lips, smearing a hand across his mouth, wiping flecks of blood from his lips. “Thank you...”

She shook her head. “No thanks needed. Feeding you is my duty.” She bowed her head.

He smiled a real one this time. “I always say thanks anyway, it’s the right thing to do. What’s your name?”

Her eyes darted up to his and held for a long moment. “Daisy...”

Pierre grinned. “Well, Daisy, maybe I’ll feed from you again...”

The Were inclined her head. “Perhaps you will, sir.” She paused. “You should go now. Your friends will be waiting for you.”

Pierre didn’t bother asking how she had known his friends were out in the bar. She was probably capable of many odd things, after all, she wasn’t human. Neither was he come to think of it. He smiled faintly at her then stood and moved back toward the door, brushing his hand against his phone, a tightening in his chest.

Jay...fucking damn it... With that thought, he pushed open the door and stepped back out into the main bar, relieved that he at least no longer felt hungry.

“Pierre!”

He jerked his gaze to the source of the voice. Chuck and the others were standing by the bar. He walked over slowly, noticing that Johnny was slouched next to Pat an anxious look in his eyes.

He nodded to them all. “Hey...sorry about that...”

Don’t apologise...

Pierre glanced questioningly at Johnny.

The werewolf stared back at him. Just wipe their memories...

How? He frowned inwardly at the same time as he smiled carefully at the others and leaned against the bar.

Focus on the last image of you they had before you entered the back room...and cleanse it from them as if you were wiping a hard disk...

Pierre tried it out sensing a haziness crossing their minds, then Chuck spoke up frowning a little.

“Where have you been? We’ve been waiting for ages.”

Pierre bit his lip then absently patted at his back pocket remembering that his Dad had called; he could use that as an excuse.

He rubbed at his eyes and motioned to the man at the bar. “Can I get a Jack Daniels? Thanks...” He glanced at his friends. Johnny shifted away a little giving them some space.

“Dad called...” Pierre swallowed passed a lump that had formed in his throat.

Lachelle noticed the glittering of his eyes and leaned forward. “Hun...what about?”

“Bet he was just checking up on you...you never call them enough when we’re on tour,” Jeff quipped.

Pierre shook his head. “No,” his voice was tight. “It was about Jay.”

“Shit,” Chuck muttered. “He isn’t?”

Pierre trembled. “He went to the doctor...for some tests, was supposed to be just routine, right? But...” He paused and leaned his head back not wanting his friends to see the wetness that had sprung to his eyes. “It’s back...the...the cancer...” He choked on his words and halted unable to go on. He tucked his chin against his chest.

Lachelle stepped closer and wrapped her arms around his waist, leaning against him. “Oh...hun...” Her voice was soft.

Pierre closed his eyes and nuzzled into her hair, drawing strength from her closeness. “Fuck...” He pulled his head back and wiped the back of his hand roughly against his eyes.

The others averted their gazes unsure of what to say to the singer. Johnny shifted again and looked at him, then glanced over at Pat; a look passed between them.

Then Pat pushed away from the bar and murmured low. “He gotta go back to hospital, right?”

Pierre nodded hugging Lachelle closer, speaking quietly not meeting his friend’s eyes. “It’s worse than it was before...they’re gonna do everything they can, but...” He stopped and gritted his teeth. Lachelle stroked at the back of his neck murmuring softly.

Pat sighed then looked at Johnny again. The younger Werewolf jerked his head to the side and stared toward the entrance.

Pat moved closer to him and propped back against the bar again. What is it, Seward?

Johnny shivered slightly. No one’s called me that in 82 years, Pat...

Well then, Christ...what’s on your mind?

Pierre’s brother...the cancer...there is a solution...a cure you could say.

Pat bit his bottom lip watching his friends as they crowded around the singer and his fiancée and spoke in hushed tones, comforting him. Yeah? What’s that...

Johnny shook his head. It’s not ideal...

Tell me...maybe I can at least talk to him about it.

Johnny clenched his jaw. I shouldn’t. Shadows will kill me if I even suggest it.

Damn it, I know you’re scared shitless of the bastard...but what harm will it do? He doesn’t need to know.

Fine. But, I don’t know if Pierre would even go for it. He’d have to turn Jay.

What? You mean...as in turn him into a vampire?

Yeah...that’s the solution. Cancer doesn’t affect vampires.

Shit...I doubt Pierre will go for that.

I heard their latest single... ‘Save You’. Obviously, Pierre wishes there was something he could do...

Pat closed his eyes and leaned his head back. Yeah...but that?

Johnny shrugged. You can only ask...

Pat sighed. Not now...now is not the time.

They both glanced back over to the others. Pierre had his Jack in his hands now, head bowed over it; Lachelle was leaning into his side, stroking his left arm slowly. Chuck was on his cell phone talking to someone. David was dancing about obviously trying to lighten the mood. Seb and Jeff were just standing quietly drinking from their own drinks.

Pat sighed and rolled his neck on his shoulders. You seen my father lately?

Yeah...Not so long ago. He’s in good nick...

I bet...I need to go see him while we’re in town.

Wanna go now?

Pat looked towards his friends again.

Johnny rubbed at an ear. He’s fed now...he should be okay without you for awhile...

Pat nodded. Okay...I’ll just... He pushed away from the bar. “Hey.”

The others turned to look at him.

Pierre lifted an eyebrow. “What is it?”

“I’m going to take off. I’ve got to get some stuff organised for the bus.”

They all nodded, waving him off. Pierre continued to look at him, dark eyes narrowed slightly. Pat shook his head then turned and headed for the entrance.

The singer frowned then glanced at Johnny. You going with him?

Johnny met Pierre’s questioning gaze. No...can’t...I have to wait for Shadows.

Pierre nodded then went back to his drink, finding his gaze drifting back to the door he’d gone through moments before, wondering what the other vampires were doing.

* * * * *

Burrrp... Zacky slumped back on his lounge, satiated. The woman seated next to him moaned languidly. He pushed her away and turned his head toward Shadows. The huge male was propped up watching the others, expression drawn.

“Shads?”

“Uhuh?” Shadows frowned at the green-eyed vampire.

“What’re you going to do about Bouvier?”

Synyster pushed up from his lounge and snarled. “He bears watching. A new vampire is always some kind of threat.”

Shadows shifted, licking at his fangs, cleaning the blood from them. “He will need to be brought under our control.” He folded his arms ignoring the woman who was trying to offer her vein to him again. “We can’t give him free rein, it would be too dangerous...and I sense...” He paused.

“Sense what, Matt?” The Rev unfolded his lean body from his sofa and moved closer to the master vampire.

Shadows looked up at the tall vampire jaw tight. “He has a lot of unleashed power...and he needs to be taught how to control it.”

“You going to do that, master?” Zacky picked at his fangs with a toothpick.

Rubbing at his eyes and sliding his shades back on, Shadows nodded slowly. “It is my responsibility.” He paused looking at them all. “He is my son, and it is a father’s duty to teach the son.”

Synyster’s eyes widened. “Holy hell...” He shook his head, then laughed. “I’d be inclined to disbelieve that except you are older than him.”

“Yeah,” Zacky added with a snort, “Especially since Pierre was born in 1979 and you were ‘officially’ born in 1981...”

Shadows smirked. “Well, I don’t plan to tell Pierre that I’m his father, just yet.”

“Then how are you gonna-”

“I’ll just say I’m going to help him out as a friend.”

“Sounds fair,” The Rev commented.

“More than fair.” Shadows cracked his neck, growling low. “He’s more my son than that female would admit.”

Synyster’s eyes glowed. “Serena...”

“You gonna go look for her?”

Shadows ground his teeth together, as his fangs elongated again. “Johnny says she’s most likely here in MC...”

The Rev shifted on his feet. “Want us to hunt her down?”

The master vampire rose, pushing the bloodslave away from him even as she tried to pull him back. “I do not need to feed,” he snapped at the woman.

She sank down and bowed her head.

He looked to The Rev. “Search for her. But do not go near her if you find her. I will approach her myself.” Shadows’ lip pulled into a cruel sneer. “I think it’s time I reminded her of her place...”

The other three large males hissed in agreement. The females they had fed from shivered at the sound glancing at each other, feeling sorry for whoever this ‘Serena’ was.

They watched as the four large vampires moved as one to the exit and headed out, savage determination cloaking them as if it were an extra layer of clothing, the door clicking shut behind them with a horrible note of finality.

Notes