Palladium Arena

5 PM

“Pierre, are you sure you’re alright?”

“Chelle, you know me. Whatever shit’s going on...it gets left behind. I don’t take it on stage with me. I’ll be fine, love.”

“But,” Lachelle paused. The couple were standing by the backstage door talking. The rest of the band was milling around, making last minute checks on their equipment. Pierre leaned against the wall fiddling with the black tie he wore.

He looked at his fiancée with one eyebrow cocked. “But?”

“What if...” She paused again, licking her lips nervously. Then she lowered her voice so only he could hear her. “You’ll be able to smell all that...blood out there. What...what if you suddenly need to feed?”

Pierre chewed at his tongue, realising that his fiancée hadn’t been referring to his emotions regarding the news of his brother’s cancer.

He sighed softly. “Pat will pull me off stage...create some kind of diversion.”

Lachelle peered up into his face. “You’ll feed from Pat?”

Pierre’s dark eyes flickered then stilled as a wry smile formed on the singer’s lips. “Pat’s always willing to do anything to keep a show running smoothly. No matter what it is.”

His fiancée shuddered a little, goose flesh rising on her arms.

He turned and gripped her upper arms gently. “It’s going to be alright, hun...okay.”

Lachelle bit her bottom lip slowly then voiced the niggling anxiety she had ever since she had found out that Pierre was not human. “But, what if you lose control? I mean...you don’t really know if it’s going to be okay, really. Do you? I mean...you can’t know, right?” Her voice quivered.

Pierre grimaced. He could understand her fear; he was just as anxious due to the fact he had not experienced life as a vampire for very long; at least, not knowingly. Still, he didn’t want to think too negatively; all that would do was dampen his mood and that would then lead on to affect the rest of the band.

Shaking his head, he squeezed her arms firmly. “We can’t think like this, Chelle. Gotta be positive, okay?”

Lachelle leaned into his body trembling; he held her close murmuring sweet, reassuring phrases into her ear.

Chuck walked up to them at that moment, tapping his sticks against his left thigh. “We’re about to go on. You ready?”

Pierre lifted his head, nodding slightly.

Lachelle stepped back smoothing her hands over the white cotton skirt she was wearing. “Pierre’s always ready.” Her tone was upbeat, bright, revealing none of the anxiety she was feeling.

The drummer grinned at her. “Yeah, that’s true.” Then he glanced at his friend. “Um, we kept Save You on the set list for tonight. If that’s okay with you?”

Pierre grunted not meeting his friend’s gaze. “I need to sing it tonight. I feel...” He shook his head, straightening his back, squaring his shoulders as if he were about to go into battle. “It’s fine, Chuck. Tonight’s going to go off.”

Chuck squeezed his shoulder several times. “Glad to hear it. The kids are going crazy out there. Frenchie reckons they’re more buzzed than usual.”

Pierre nodded then turned to kiss Lachelle lightly on the lips. “You’ll watch from here?”

She nodded, pressing her fingertips to his cheek. “Pat and I will be here at all times...”

“Good.” He smiled then turned to head out onto the stage, just as Pat joined Lachelle at the doorway a worried smile on his face.

“Pat?”

He shook his head, folding his arms and keeping his eyes fixed firmly on the singer. Lachelle sighed and turned to do the same just as the opening chords to Generation filled the stadium.

* * * * *

“Hell be damned...the kids are insane!” The Rev blinked as someone shoved at him from behind in the moshpit. The darkness afforded the vampire some anonymity as he gazed up at the stage.

Johnny shuffled next to him, smirking faintly. “Pat said it’d be like this. He reckons that Simple Plan fans could rival Avenged fans any day.”

The Rev glanced at the Werewolf with a frown. “You and Pat seem pretty tight...”

Johnny shot him a tense look. “Don’t pretend you don’t know why, Jimmy.”

His grey eyes deepening to a navy blue, the lanky vampire snorted. Of course he knew. The elder vampire had always known the truth about the young Werewolf’s familial connections. He had been around for a very long time, even longer than the master vampire. Therefore, he knew things that no other person would even hazard to guess. Still that didn’t mean he would disclose any of the knowledge he had gained over his centuries of existence.

“Christ, it’s safer to pretend...especially when Matt’s close by.”

Johnny peered over his shoulder, nostrils flaring. “Did they even come? I mean I told them Pat invited all of us...”

The Rev nodded looking up to the stage once more. Pierre was standing atop one of the boxes, holding his microphone out to the masses, beckoning to them.

His deep brown eyes seemed to glow beneath the stage lights and his deep voice came out in a husky growl. “Scream for me!”

The Rev actually felt a chill sweep through his body, a sense of hidden, raw power, rushing from the singer’s presence.

He shook his head and looked at the smaller male beside him. “They’re here. Just...elsewhere in the crowd. Less likely for us to be recognised if we’re split apart.”

Johnny nodded, his own gaze drawn to the Simple Plan vocalist. “Makes sense,” he mumbled. “Damn...he can sing...”

The Rev had to agree there. Pierre Bouvier exuded charisma, style, and dominant power from every pore in his body. And, his voice sounded like pure sex. Not that The Rev went that way; he was just making comparisons to the master vampire. Matthew Sanders was the only other creature on the planet that had that exact same aura about his person, that exact same energy. Of course, that was not surprising since Pierre was the master vampire’s only known living progeny.

Licking his lips, The Rev scanned the crowd: Most of the fans were screaming teenies, with a scattered minority of mature men and women.

The vampire’s eyes narrowed on a bulky hooded figure standing closer to the stage. Matt...

The figure shifted its stance slightly, lifting a hand to tug the hoodie closer around its head. Yeah...?

What do you think?

He’s improved since 2003... The larger male’s mind was coiled, tight.

The Rev shivered rubbing at his arms absently. I thought so too. Anything else though?

Shadows turned his head slightly, his profile thrown in relief by the stage lights. As he did so, both he and The Rev experienced a surge of energy.

He tugged his hood even closer around his face. Such power...can you feel it, Jimmy?

The Rev swallowed hard feeling sweat beading on his forehead. He glanced sideways at Johnny, yet the Were was transfixed upon Pierre.

The vampire shook himself and turned his concentration back to the hooded male. I can feel it. Do you know what it means?

Shadows chuckled low. He’s something else, Rev... He stiffened suddenly, sweeping his gaze away from the stage.

The Rev tensed watching as the hooded figure pressed back into the darkness. Matt?

Stay there...something’s about to happen... Shadows vanished, but no one noticed except for The Rev. He grimaced but forced his mind back to the stage, where Pierre had run out right to the barrier, climbed up and was leaning over, touching the hands of swooning females as he sang...and then The Rev watched as the younger vampire’s eyes began to glow...

* * * * *

Pierre saw red. As he hung over the barrier, Frenchie gripping the back of his pants, one of his hands touched the fingertips of one of the many screaming females; the other clutched his microphone. He saw red, the whole stadium seeming to glow a screaming, unholy crimson shade. It was the colour of his hunger; the colour of the awesome power that was surging through his veins.

The throbbing, pulsing of fresh human blood assaulted his senses, his stomach, his whole being aching for the sudden flush of blood that he could sense. He tightened his grip on his microphone, knowing subconsciously that he was still singing, still hanging on. But, he had to get out of there, before he attacked someone.

He pulled his hand back from the girl hanging onto him and opened his mind practically screaming out into the silence of his subconscious. Get me out of here...I’m gonna hurt someone...

There was a sudden blinding flash of light and then black...

“Bouvier...Bouv...open your eyes...”

Flesh met flesh with a resounding slap. Pierre’s eyes peeled open but he couldn’t see anything.

He brought his hands up, groaning slightly pressing a hand to his left cheek where the slap had connected. Fuck...what...?

“Hold on there, big guy...” A familiar voice then hands at his neck. He tensed, but then felt the tie around his neck loosening and being pulled away, the top few buttons of his shirt being popped open.

He took several huge breaths before turning his head toward the voice. Johnny...

“Yeah...open your eyes buddy...”

They are open! What happened???

Another familiar voice, jovial yet tinged with anxiety. “Uh...you fainted on the barrier and fell between it and the stage...”

Patrick?

“Yeah,” the same voice spoke. “You’re okay...”

I...goddamn...I didn’t attack anyone...did I?

“No.” Another voice, lilting yet masculine. “We got you out before that happened.”

Rev?

“Yah. The one and only.”

Pierre shivered and smeared his hands over his face. How many of you are here? And where are we?

“Me, Johnny, Pat...and Shads.” The Rev folded his arms, the motion rustling against the vest he was wearing. “And we’re back in the dressing room.”

A deep, raspy voice spoke then. “You didn’t feed before you went on stage.” Shadows moved to crouch by Pierre’s prone form. His tone was somewhat accusatory, but at the same time, worry tinged the edges of his words.

The Simple Plan singer grunted. I thought I’d be fine...but obviously, I was wrong...damn...how exactly... He trailed off shaking his head in frustration.

Amused snorting from someone, then Shadows growled. “You’d better feed him, Langlois.”

There was shuffling as Pat came to kneel next to his friend. “Pierre...I’m bringing my wrist close to your mouth...all you gotta do is bite.”

Pierre felt a snarl build in the back of his throat. He tilted his head the aroma of fresh blood hitting his nostrils. He reached out with one hand catching hold of Pat’s arm and pulling it closer before sinking his fangs into his wrist, drinking in a steady rush.

As the blood trickled down his throat, he blinked and it was as if black scales fell away from his eyes, his sight returning. He groaned and drank more, feeling his mind and senses coming back to normal. After several more deep sucks, he pulled his head back, licking the wound on his friend’s wrist to hasten the healing process.

Then he scrubbed his hands over his face and focused his attention on the four males who stood around him. “So...” Pierre coughed. “So. How’d I get here?”

The Rev grimaced.

Shadows glared at the taller vampire. “Tell him, James.”

“I...moved you here...knocked you out first...”

Pierre tilted his head, eyes slitted. “That bright flash of light?”

The Rev shrugged. “That was me...it’s something I do.”

“It wipes the memories of the humans.” Shadows commented, then added, “Those with stronger minds will think they dreamed it.”

Pierre sat up rubbing his palms against his legs. “So...you...teleported me here, or something?”

The Rev nodded, “You could call it that. Don’t worry, the others won’t remember it. In fact, right now, Zacky and Syn are back with them telling them that you fell off the barrier, fainted and were carried backstage by security.”

Shadows smirked, “Such is the power of suggestion. They’ll believe that readily.”

Pierre nodded slowly, then grinned. “Pat said he invited you guys...maybe he knew something I didn’t?”

Shadows chuckled folding his arms across his chest. The hoodie he was wearing threatened to tear at the seams.

Pierre’s eyes fell upon the insignia on the navy blue hoodie and he laughed. “Damn, Shads...you still have the hoodie you stole from Chuck.”

The master vampire glanced down then rolled his eyes. Stitched into the front of the hoodie on the left and right sides was the very familiar red and white Role Model (RM) symbol.

He shrugged and brought his stare back to Pierre’s. “It was too big for him.”

“Looks like it’s getting too small for you, big guy,” Pierre countered.

Shadows shrugged again. “I like it too much to give a shit.”

“Fair enough.” The singer stretched and pushed up off the floor. He swayed slightly, frowning. Pat moved to steady him. Pierre shook his head pushing him away. “I’m okay...” Pat bit his bottom lip but backed away, watching as his friend spread his feet, planting his body firmly in place.

The Rev cleared his throat. “You really need some guidance, Pierre.”

Pierre looked at him askance. “How do you mean?”

“Well, I know Pat’s been a huge help and everything, being your friend and all. But, you need some input from vampires who have been around for a while.” The Rev smiled then, revealing his fangs.

Pierre tensed, brow furrowing. “How old are you, Rev? Pat told me that Shads is 2000 years old, right?” He peeked at the master vampire who nodded slowly. His hazel eyes were bright, yet the rest of his face was now impassive giving nothing away.

Pierre turned back to The Rev. “Pat said you’re much older.”

The lanky vampire licked his lips slowly before answering. “I’m 2400 years old. I’ve seen a lot. Been through many ages.” He lifted his lean shoulders in a casual motion. “If you have questions...”

Pierre shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans and rocked slowly, sucking at his teeth. “I do have some...” He paused then glanced sharply toward Johnny and Pat.

The latter sensed that Pierre didn’t want either Were in the room when he asked his questions; he wondered why that was, but he would not question his instincts.

He nodded to his friend then jerked his head at the younger Werewolf. “Come on, Johnny...let’s go check on the others. See what they’re doing to entertain the crowd.”

Johnny hesitated for a moment then nodded joining Pat as he exited the dressing room.

Pierre turned back to Shadows and The Rev. The bigger male stretched languidly, yawning slightly, his fangs glinting, reminding Pierre vaguely of a satiated tiger after a hunt. He shook his head to clear that image from his mind, getting the distinct almost uncomfortable feeling that the master vampire was a much more dangerous predator than a tiger. Shadows probably made a tiger seem like a harmless kitten in comparison.

“So, you had a question, Pierre?” Shadows pinned the younger vampire with a penetrating stare.

Pierre took several deep breaths, gathering his thoughts to him. The words of his mother’s letter and the subsequent discussion with Patrick came to the fore as he attempted to find the words he needed to frame his question. He had to be cautious because he did not want Shadows to know that he knew they were connected by blood. That he in fact knew that the master vampire was his father. He wanted to keep that under wraps for now.

“Yes. Two actually,” He finally said into the quiet of the dressing room. “First off...I’m a new vampire, right? And Pat mentioned that meant that you had some claim over me?”

Shadows growled softly, “What did he say exactly?” The muscles in his neck tightened visibly.

Pierre swallowed hard as the temperature in the room dropped suddenly. “He said,” he cleared his throat roughly, “he said that you have the power to call all vampires into your control...that I would...belong to you.” He coughed on the last few words, cringing on the inside and hoping that Shadows would laugh it off or something.

He didn’t. The master vampire just stared at Pierre.

Then he turned away, shoulders tensing. “Your friend should learn to keep his mouth shut.” Shadows tone took on a deadly edge.

Pierre felt a surge of protectiveness flush through his body. The muscles in his limbs quivered in anticipation. “Why?”

The master vampire looked back at him. “No need to get defensive. Pat told you the truth. In part. He got one thing wrong though.”

Pierre frowned, “What was that?”

“You already belong to me. You were mine as soon as you were born.” A cold smile flashed across his lips. “Much to your mother’s disappointment.”

Pierre shuddered taking several steps back. “What do you mean?”

“I’m sure you know. She abandoned you in hopes that she could keep you away from me. But, the world is a strange place and fate likes to play tricks on us.” Shadows shrugged powerful shoulders. “At any rate, she knew she couldn’t really protect you.”

Pierre clenched his teeth, rubbing at his jaw. He still didn’t want the other vampire to realise that he knew he was his son. “Why would she need to protect me from you?”

Shadows just smirked cruelly. “It doesn’t matter now. It didn’t work. Because, here we are.”

Pierre grimaced.

The master vampire stalked close to him and leaned forward, hazel eyes flashing red. “By the way...if you’re wondering how to control your hunger...your best bet would be virgin blood...but remember...they don’t come willingly.” Shadows winked then without another word vanished from right in front of him.

Pierre blinked then glanced at The Rev. “What...?”

The older vampire chuckled. “Can you stomach the things you need to do to survive, Bouvier? That is the question.”

The Rev gave a small wave and disappeared after his master leaving Pierre alone to ponder what the hell just happened, and with the realisation that he never got to ask his second question.

Notes