A7X Tour Bus

Same Night

9 PM

“Where’d you go, Johnny?”

The Were was slouched in his bunk clutching a pack of smokes close to his chest. The Rev leaned against the toilet door, which was opposite Johnny’s bunk. They had just returned from the Simple Plan concert and were first back on the bus.

“Pup?”

“Huh?”

“Where did you go after Shads talked to you?”

Johnny glanced sideways at the tall vampire. “Why do you want to know?” His tone was cautious.

The Rev braced his hands back against the wall and pushed forward; his eyes were a light dusky blue. “I’m not going to tattle on you.”

Johnny shook his head running a palm over his hair. “Just...to see my contact. He was here in TO for a business trip.”

The vampire moved closer so he was leaning on the Were’s bunk. “Tell me. Do you know that the Montreal Weres’ originated in Huntington?”

Johnny tensed, but tried to remain detached. “Really?”

“Uhuh. And you know that.”

Johnny glanced at The Rev; surprisingly the vampire’s tone was not even mildly accusing. “What if I do?”

The Rev sighed heavily. “Your contact. Is he your blood?”

Johnny looked away, staring out the window. He could see Shadows and Zacky hanging outside the bus taking in the fresh air. He blinked slowly, his gaze fixing on the master vampire thoughts zipping around his mind.

Eventually he turned his head back to the elder vampire and smiled grimly. “His name is Alpha. He heads the Langlois/Cunningham line. One of his daughters’ married into my family...but...she was killed during the Slaughter Years, back in Huntington. The rest of her kin had already fled to Montreal...but she remained with my family.”

The Rev frowned, digesting that piece of information. “Patrick...Simple Plan’s Patrick...he’s your kin?”

“Yeah, in a way.”

The vampire rubbed at his bottom lip. “Matt doesn’t know about this, does he?”

Johnny trembled. “Don’t tell him, Rev. Pat...and Alpha trust me...trust that I won’t-”

“Don’t worry. What’s to tell anyway? He’s too busy worrying about Pierre.”

The Were bit his lip and mumbled, “I told them about what Shads ordered me to do...concerning Serena.”

The Rev’s gaze hardened. “What was that?”

Johnny bit his lip hard. “Jimmy...Serena was my friend...”

“I know. But, Matt doesn’t care about that.”

“He wants me to find her and bring her to him...or lead him to her.” Johnny leaned his head back, tears pricking at the corners of his eyes as a pained ache clenched his heart. “Either way...she loses...”

The Rev leaned down picking at a stitch that had begun to unravel from his jeans. “You’ll have to do it.” His voice muffled as he tucked his chin into his chest.

Johnny huffed. “I know. He’ll kill me if I don’t.”

The Rev bit his lip. That of course was the supposed fate the Were would suffer if he disobeyed the master vampire. However, The Rev knew otherwise. Sure, Shadows could threaten Johnny as much as he wanted; he did own the Were. But, there was one thing the master vampire didn’t realise, and that was the promise The Rev had made to Johnny’s mother almost eighty years ago.

Of course, over the course of the past decades, The Rev had dug deep into his heart and informed Johnny of the oath he had sworn. So, besides the fact that Shadows had a soft spot for his servant, The Rev, the vampire assassin, was the Were’s secret guardian.

Naturally, Johnny did not know or understand the full extent of the vampire’s oath, especially since he still feared for his life if Shadows was angry with him.

He rolled onto his side and stared at The Rev. “Right?”

“Yeah. Right. So, do what you have to do.”

Johnny chewed on his bottom lip. “I hope Pierre’s alright after that little episode.”

“Uh. Yeah. Matt dropped the virgin line on him.” The Rev turned to leave.

Johnny gulped. “He did what?”

“You heard me, Johnny.”

“No...no way. He didn’t do that. That’s all a load of bullshit. Anyway. Fuck...if Pierre tastes virgin blood...”

The Rev’s expression tightened as he swung back round to face the Were. “What do you know?”

Johnny backed up on his bunk sensing the vampire’s mood abruptly shifting. “Nothing...which is the real problem...I mean...” He hesitated, then continued hurriedly. “He’s Shads’ son, his only child...the only son of the master vampire...that’s got to mean something.”

The Rev softened, knowing full well that the Were knew nothing. “Ah...Johnny...go have a fuckin’ smoke.”

He turned, walked away down the aisle just as the door opened on the lower level and Shadows’ heavy footsteps could be heard entering the bus. Johnny shook himself, grabbed his smokes and vanished from his bunk.

The last thing he heard before he completely dematerialised was the master vampire’s raspy voice yelling out angrily. “Johnny Christ, you get your fuckin’ ass back here!”

Simple Plan Tour Bus

9:30 PM

The soft rustling of clothes as two people lay together in a single tiny bunk reached Johnny’s ears as he materialised almost directly on top of the dark haired SP bassist. He froze holding his breath afraid that he would wake David. When the other bassist only rolled over and mumbled into his pillow, Johnny relaxed and sprang silently out of the bunk and peered down the aisle.

Nostrils flaring he had to quell a sudden bubble of laughter. There was sex in the air and an extremely aroused male vampire was in the middle of something down the other end of the bus. Rolling his eyes, Johnny crept along the aisle, but as he passed a single bunk to his left, a hand shot out and tugged at the back of his shirt.

Johnny. What the fuck are you doing here?

He swung his head around. Pat?

Pat popped his head out of the bunk. Yeah...um. Don’t disturb Pierre. He’s busy...

Johnny’s lip lifted slightly. I could smell it.

Pat nodded then shifted his body around. So, what’s doing?

Johnny slid down by the bunk, wrapping his arms around his knees, propping his chin on top of them.Had to get away... He pressed his face into his knees.

The other Were sat up more, frowning. He said nothing though, feeling that if Johnny wanted to tell him what was going on he would. They sat in silence for a while.

Then they heard a soft thud the sound of more rustling, muffled voices and then feet padding toward them.

“Hey?”

Johnny looked up. Pierre stood there looking at the two of them a quizzical expression on his face.

He raked fingers through his tousled hair. “Johnny?” He adjusted the waist of his black boxers. The silk rustled.

Johnny bit at his bottom lip. “Pierre.”

“What’s doing?”

Pat just asked me that...

“No need to be quiet...everyone else is dead to the world...and um...Chelle...she’ll go back to the back room in a moment...”

“Yeah, but they’ll wonder how I got here...”

Pierre shrugged. “Nah. Don’t worry about it.”

“Okay...”

“So, what’s up?”

Johnny sighed and looked away, fingering a seam on his jeans. Then he slowly lifted his gaze back to Pierre’s curious one. “I’m looking for your mother.”

Pat blinked in surprise.

Pierre’s pupils dilated. He slowly sank to a crouch in front of Johnny and braced his left forearm against the wall, leaning close. “My real mother?” His eyes narrowed. “Why would you be doing that? She’s probably long dead.”

The Were snorted softly. “Why would I be looking for someone who is dead, Bouvier?”

Pierre shrugged. “Who knows? Morbid curiosity?”

Johnny grunted. “No.” He looked down at his hands. “I saw her back in Montreal just last night.”

Pat shivered. “Where did she go, Johnny?”

Pierre growled, “You can’t seriously think that she’s alive?”

His friend glowered at him. “Why would you be thinking she’d be dead, eh? She’d only be fifty something years old...fifty year olds don’t tend to die if they’re healthy.”

Johnny chuckled sourly. “She’s actually 1,982 years old. But, age is not an issue for vampires.” He leaned his head back and stared hard at Pierre. “At any rate...she doesn’t look a day older than when Shads first met her...”

“Which was?”

Johnny wiped a hand over his face. “1947. She...appeared 24.”

Pierre frowned faintly looking a little confused.

Pat spoke up, his voice soft. “She was already 1,921 years old when she met Matt.”

“Merde...so...” The singer shook his head unable to take that information in. “You really see her last night?”

Johnny gave Pierre a scathing look. “Would I make something like that up?”

“No...” Pierre sighed. “I guess not. Where do you think she is?” He shifted back and folded his arms across his bare chest.

“No idea. I just need to find her and...” he paused clearing is throat. “You have to meet her.”

Pat jolted remembering the discussion at his father’s office. He sat up more in his bunk. “Johnny. Tell him why...”

Johnny nodded his face taking on a grey tone. “Shadows wants me to find her. I’m scared that he’ll hurt her. But, if I find her and bring her to you...maybe you’ll be able to protect her.”

Pierre rubbed his chin thoughts passing across his face, brown eyes introspective. “You say she looks 24? That’s going to be a bit weird for me. Since I’m 29...”

Johnny chuckled, “I didn’t think of that...” He stretched his neck slowly. “I’m sure it won’t really matter though. It’s not as if you’d think of her as your mother, anyway. You could just become friends.”

The vampire looked away chewing slowly at his bottom lip. “Maybe...”

“Or maybe not...” Johnny chocked his head to the side, then nodded back down the aisle. “You and Chelle...?”

Pierre smiled softly, eyes going a honeyed colour. However, he said nothing, just ran his palm up and down his bare chest sucking at his bottom lip.

Pat rolled his eyes and looked at Johnny. They haven’t actually...

“Don’t even, Pat...” Pierre growled low the sound rumbling in his chest.

The elder Were lifted his hands in defence. “I said nothing.”

Pierre snorted. “Right. I’m gonna hit the hay...don’t forget to wake me, Pat.” He nodded to Johnny. “I’ll think about that thing...with my mother.”

The younger Were lifted a hand and waved. “Just...call me...”

Pierre smirked and made his way back to his bunk. Johnny and Pat watched as he lifted his body easily into the bunk and disappeared from view. Then they looked at each other.

“So, you’ll keep looking for his mother?”

Johnny eased back onto is feet. “Yeah. And, you’ll be the first to know.”

“What about Matt?”

Johnny drew in a sharp breath, smearing his hands roughly over his face. “Let me worry about my master...”

Pat sighed, “You really gotta break free of him...”

“I can’t...” He fingered the piercing at his left nostril. “Nothing can reverse what’s been done in the past.”

“Bullshit.”

Johnny ground his teeth together, tugging at the piercing. “Don’t, Pat.” He looked down the aisle. “I have to go.”

Pat slumped back in his bunk with a groan. “Go then.” He rolled over, a dismissal.

The younger Were blinked twice then vanished without another thought.

Thursday May 22nd, 2008

9 AM

“One interview...one small acoustic set. What do you think?”

The next morning, Pierre and Chuck lounged on the lower level of the bus, munching their way through a box of cereal that Pat had bought half an hour earlier. Pierre poured milk over his and shovelled a spoonful into his mouth whilst he thought about what his friend just said.

“Well?” Chuck held the itinerary out in front of him like a fan.

Pierre swallowed, wiping the back of his hand across his mouth. “Sounds good. Not too bad. Not today though?”

“No. Today we can do whatever. That’s all for tomorrow.”

Pierre nodded. “Great, because Avenged have their show tonight. Johnny invited us along.”

“Cool. Haven’t seen them in a while.” Chuck rubbed at the back of his neck. “Haven’t been to a decent rock concert in ages, either.”

The singer snorted. “Been too busy going to all those hip-hop gigs, eh?”

“Shut up...” Chuck mumbled going a light shade of pink.

Pierre laughed low. “I’m sorry, I can hardly talk anyway. I went to most of them with you.”

“Exactly. So, shut up.”

Pierre smiled and went back to his cereal.

David joined them, moments later, balancing a bowl of fruit. “Hey guys, want some banana?”

“No thanks,” Pierre muttered around a mouthful of cereal. Chuck shook his head as he kicked his legs out in front of him.

David shrugged and plopped down next to Pierre. “Chelle took Delilah out to pee.”

“Yeah, we know...she was up way early.” The singer drained the milk from his bowl and stood. “Hey, Chuck?”

“Yeah?” Chuck looked up at his friend.

“Are we going to stay in the bus? Or find a hotel?” Pierre lifted an eyebrow.

The drummer tapped his fingers against his thigh. “We’ll stay on the bus. That’s the whole point.”

“Fair enough.” Pierre turned and walked over to the small sink putting the bowl under the tap, rinsing it out. Then he placed it upside down in the sink and wandered off the bus.

Lachelle was standing on the grassy verge, Delilah was on her leash wandering around, sniffing at every single blade of grass. Pierre smiled and walked over to stand behind his fiancée, winding his arms around her waist and linking his hands together.

She looked up at him, resting her hands over his larger ones. “Hey there, lover...”

Pierre nuzzled into the back of her neck lightly.

She shivered, her breath catching slightly. “Pierre...”

He smirked mumbling into her hair. “Can’t wait...”

Lachelle peeked back at him squeezing his hands. “Until what?”

Pierre just shook his head drawing in a slow breath, enjoying the aromas that he could pick up from her essence.

She smiled faintly then glanced down toward Delilah who was sitting now looking up at them head cocked to the side. “Look, P...Delilah’s wondering what we’re doing.”

Pierre looked down at the little dog and smiled softly. “Hey there, girlie. You done your thing?”

“I’m sure she has,” Lachelle turned in his arms and met his gaze with her own. “You wanna go do our thing, Mr Vamp?”

Pierre chuckled, nuzzling the tip of his nose against hers. “Sure thing...just touchy feely, right?”

“Yes, that’s got to wait until we’re married.”

“Fair enough.” Pierre released his hold around her waist and bent down to lift Delilah into his arms. “I guess D can be our only child for a little while longer.”

Lachelle laughed then turned to walk back to the bus, tossing strands of hair back over her shoulder. Pierre grinned, carrying their little dog in his arms as he followed.

Stepping back onto the bus, it was obvious that the rest of the band were now ready. David had finished his fruit and was absently tossing his fedora up and down into the air, mumbling to himself. Chuck was on his phone talking to someone important, judging by the conciliatory tone of voice he was using. Jeff was sitting tailor-style on a chair playing on his acoustic. Seb was sitting next to him pointing out a couple of different chords.

And, Pat...well Pat wasn’t there.

Pierre’s nostrils flared slightly as he smirked inwardly. The Were was probably off feeding somewhere, or organising shit for the band, or taking a piss, or whatever it was he did when he wasn’t around the band.

Setting Delilah down on the floor, Pierre glanced at his band mates, the light scent that each one of them gave off flickering toward his nostrils and making his salivary glands work a little.

Biting at his lip, he walked further onto the bus before announcing to the bus in general. “Guys...I gotta disappear for a few...” He glanced at Chuck. “I’ll meet you guys at the radio station?”

Luckily, Chuck wasn’t in the mood to ask his friend where he was disappearing to and so just waved a hand at him and mouthed in reply. “Ten thirty...don’t be late.”

Pierre nodded, then turned to Lachelle touching her cheek lightly. “I'm sorry but I gotta...y'know? So, I’ll see you then...okay?”

She nodded an anxious light shining in her eyes. He dropped a light kiss to her lips then swung around and left the bus again. Lachelle watched him go then sighed, sitting down next to Chuck to wait until it was time to go.

Notes