Same Night

Palladium Stadium

A7X Gig

9 PM

Moonlight shone down on the alley that lead to the tour bus lot at the back of the arena. A lone figure paced across the asphalt, low to the ground, casting a deep black shadow. A large powerful wolf paced restlessly back and forth across the lot.

It halted for a moment then moved forward, ears twitching slowly. Then it padded forward several feet, dropping its head to the ground and sniffing.

A low growl escaped its jaw permeating thickly into the air.

Then another figure appeared by its side and a deep voice spoke. “Pat? What the hell are you doing?”

The Werewolf lifted his head and sniffed at the other figure. I might ask the same of you, Pierre...you smell of...human blood... Pat’s mind flickered anxiously as he sensed an unfamiliar scent emanating from the vampire’s pores.

Pierre’s lip lifted slightly, fangs gleaming in the moonlight. “I needed to feed.”

Really...? Pat’s tone was suspicious as if he didn’t believe his friend. You could’ve fed from me.

Pierre shrugged and looked toward the back entrance of the stadium. “You going in?”

Oh sure, and they’re gonna let a fucking wolf into the arena.

The vampire frowned glancing down at him. “Change back.”

Pat shook his head and rested back on his haunches, tongue lolling. Can’t. It’s full moon.

Pierre started and stared down at him. “What?”

Pat growled low. The Curse, Pierre...the Curse... He turned in a circle flagging his tail roughly.

Pierre blinked, rubbing at his eyes. “Jesus...I thought...when you said...I mean...”

Pat snarled softly. You thought I was referring to my half-brother, Shamus, right?

“Yeh.” Pierre glanced to the backstage entrance once more. “Look, I’m going inside. You’ll be right out here?”

The Were yipped. I’ll be right, Pierre...I have been for the last 200 years... There was a hint of sadness in Pat’s tone, yet at the same time he was resigned to his place in life. He had no real complaints.

Pierre nodded then turned and stalked away across the parking lot.

The Werewolf watched him go, anxiety shining in his yellow eyes. That whiff of human blood that he had caught coming from Pierre’s body, it bothered him. Something was not right. And he meant to find out exactly what that was.

* * * * *

“Pierre!” Chuck craned his neck to the side just as he saw his friend pushing through the crowd to get to them.

They were all standing in a cordoned off area close to the stage, where they would have a great view of Avenged when they performed.

Pierre lifted a hand and grinned faintly. “Have I missed much, Chuck?”

“Nah...Jason Berry just came on to say they were experiencing some difficulties with the sound...so it might be another ten minutes.”

Pierre nodded and glanced toward the stage. The lights were up and he glanced at the equipment set up. The Rev’s drum kit was on a raised platform and behind that was a large black banner with the Deathbat printed in white across it.

He stared at the image thinking for the first time how appropriate it was for a gang of vampires. Not that vampires actually transformed into bats; that was just another human created myth. However the Avenged crew capitalised on the image. It was how they wanted to be recognised.

He moved his gaze away from the banner and allowed it to drift to the side of the stage. Squinting he caught a flash of movement. He tensed, narrowing his eyes even more, focusing on the motion. Hovering just within the cover of the shadows Pierre could just make out the bulky frame of the master vampire. Shadows was waiting to come on stage.

Even from where he stood, Pierre felt a surge of power leave the larger male’s body. He was pumped, energy flowing through his blood. Pierre growled low feeling his own blood surging through his veins, and then he caught a whiff of the most tantalising aroma somewhere to his left. He whipped his head away from the stage, top lip peeling back a little from his fangs.

As he turned toward the scent a deep, raspy voice filled his mind. Lose the teeth, Bouvier...you don’t want to do that in public...

Pierre grunted, concealing his fangs and looked back toward the stage. Just as he did the girls at the front of the mosh started screaming. Of course he could see exactly what the cause of their cries was.

M Shadows had stalked out onto the centre of the stage. The towering male smiled down at the crowd. He was clothed in long black pants, a tight black muscle shirt and a black leather jacket.

Pierre glowered dangerously. They were the exact same clothes the vampire had been wearing when he’d been fucking...

No...don’t think about her... Pierre abruptly forced that thought from his mind and stared hard at Shadows.

The master vampire’s head turned slightly and it was as if he felt Pierre’s gaze on him, because those dark shades locked instantly on Pierre’s stare. What’re you looking at, Pierre Charles Bouvier?

Pierre lifted his chin, setting his jaw, but he would not give Shadows the satisfaction of an answer.

The master vampire’s lip curled slightly. You know...I did you a favour, Bouvier...Lachelle was a virgin...imagine if you had lost your cool with her instead of that other bitch in the bar...

Pierre stiffened, pupils dilating. Shadows had seen him, but... What were you doing following me, Shads?

Shadows just smirked then turned toward the back of the stage just as a technician came on to let him know that the sound board had been fixed and they were good to go. The master vampire nodded and headed backstage once more, shooting one last look toward Pierre before he disappeared and the lights went down, signalling that the concert was about to begin.

* * * * *

“Caught up in this madness too blind to see
Woke animal feelings in me
Took over my sense and I lost control
I'll taste your blood tonight

You know I make you wanna scream
You know I make you wanna run from me baby
But know it's too late you've wasted all your time...”

Shadows moved across the stage with an energy that was edged with danger and menace. The lyrics of the song that he was snarling [Pierre wouldn’t call it singing] seared its way into Pierre’s mind. Considering what had just passed, he found the song was bitterly appropriate.

Shaking his head, he pushed closer to the stage, the bass beats pounding in his ears, causing his blood to pump savagely around his body. The scent he had picked up earlier filled his nostrils as he pressed up close against the barrier. Tantalising and pure it permeated all of his senses, impelling him to search it out.

He licked his lips and braced his palms against the barrier squeezing tensely. Shadows was right about one thing, losing control of his senses in public really was not such a great idea. So, he was going to have to force his mind off the myriad scents floating around the arena, tempting as they were.

Turning his gaze to the left of the stage, he focused his attention on the diminutive bassist. Johnny was staring out at the crowd a smirk on his face, but Pierre noticed it didn’t quite reach the Were’s eyes. Something was off. He watched him closely and as the music pounded across the arena he saw Johnny’s enthusiasm waver several times throughout the song.

As he observed him, Pierre could see the bassist casting nervous glances toward Shadows who remained at the front of the stage. The master vampire owned the crowd; he had complete and utter control over them. His aviator covered eyes seemed to glow as he roared out to the kids.

Halfway through the song, Shadows had discarded his leather jacket, the muscles in his upper body now on show. He held his tattooed arms up in the air, inviting the kids to scream. Pierre shivered and looked toward Johnny again and got the distinct impression that the Were was absolutely shit scared up there. Something was definitely going on between him and the master vampire.

He shook his head hard. Not your biz, Bouvier...keep out of it...not your problem.

He pushed back from the barrier that same enticing smell assaulting his nostrils. Groaning he stumbled backwards straight into Seb who had been coming up behind him.

“Whoa...Pierre...careful there.”

Pierre turned his head slightly and forced an apologetic smile on his lips. “Oh, hey...sorry...didn’t see you there.”

Seb clapped a hand to his shoulder. “No problem.” He nodded to the stage. “Syn’s a bloody genius, isn’t he?”

Pierre followed his gaze toward the band’s lead guitarist. He hadn’t really seen much of Synyster Gates. The fedora wearing vampire had kept his distance. There was something sinister about him.

Pierre snorted silently to himself. Goes with the name... He shrugged. “He’s not bad.”

“Not bad?” Jeff’s voice drifted from behind him as the bald guitarist stepped close. “He’s fucking crazy...those solos of his...”

Pierre shrugged again; he couldn’t allow himself to admit that he thought anything of any of the Avenged crew. They were essentially bad news to him. He knew very little about them so he couldn’t trust them, except for Johnny of course. But then again, even he wasn’t entirely trustworthy; he was under Shadows’ control.

The Simple Plan singer ran long fingers through his hair and moved further back into the crowd away from his fellow band members. They didn’t appear to notice, their attention fixed upon the stage.

Licking his lips, Pierre turned his head allowing that sweet tantalising aroma to fill his nostrils once more. Moving back even more he didn’t see Chuck standing to his left watching him with a curious expression on his face. Rolling his head on his shoulder and parting his lips slightly, Pierre drew in a deep breath the scents swirling in his head, then without bothering to look around he vanished from the spot he was standing.

Chuck’s eyes widened and he stepped toward where his friend had been standing, but the crowd surged and the space was filled by a gaggle of fan girls. The drummer shook his head and rubbed at his eyes deciding he must have been imagining things. There was no way his friend had just vanished into thin air; Pierre must have just been swallowed by the crowd.

Shaking his head, Chuck pushed back toward where the others were standing and let his eyes wander to the raised platform where Jimmy was attacking his drums with drive and power. Now there was a drummer who knew exactly what he was about. Chuck sighed pushing thoughts of what he had just seen from his mind and concentrating on the performance going on in front of him.

* * * * *

Pierre appeared in the same alleyway he’d been in earlier and tilted his head, lips peeling back from his fangs. The scent of the woman he had drained still permeated the area and teased at the hairs in his nostrils. He snarled softly and slid close to the wall and peeked along the alleyway.

He saw shadows hovering by the dumpster. One of them flashed on a torch and trained it on the woman’s body. Pierre’s eyes narrowed seeing in the reflection of the light that the shadow was a police officer, one of Toronto’s finest.

He drew back close to the wall, pressing his back up against the slimy brick wall. Propping a foot up against the wall, he waited in silence as the two officers mumbled to each other over the woman’s body. More voices joined them and Pierre growled low; he wasn’t sticking around to see what they did with the body and so he dematerialised reappearing further along the street.

Stepping out onto the footpath and scanning the street, he caught a sweet scent. Smirking, he recognised the aroma. It was the same that had come from his first victim.

Leaning his head back, drawing the scent into his lungs he sighed deeply. Sweet honey...sweet virgin...

Pierre traced the tips of his fangs with his tongue and turned his head toward the scent and followed it down the street. As he went he did not notice two shadows materialising behind him and trailing him from a careful distance.

He crossed the street focused on the wafting fragrance that was beckoning him onward; the two shadows darted after him keeping close. Then as he paused before the open door of a bar they vanished leaving him alone once more. Not for an instant did he feel their presence and he definitely did not sense them leaving him.

Hissing lightly Pierre stepped into the bar, scanning the space until his eyes fell upon the source of the perfume he had been following. His lip curled into a cruel sneer as he narrowed his gaze on a diminutive dark haired woman standing against the wall along the right hand side of the bar.

She stood with her profile thrown in casual relief, a tall cocktail glass clutched close to her breasts. Licking his lips he moved to the bar, keeping one eye on the woman as he ordered two drinks, a beer for himself, and another cocktail for the woman.

As the bartender poured the drinks Pierre turned slightly to observe the woman. She was slowly brushing fingertips across the hollow of her throat, wiping away some sweat.

Pierre growled low, the sound of human blood rushing through hollow vessels reaching his ears. The beating of hearts caused his own blood to surge and hunger began to gnaw at his senses, his fangs tingling.

“Here ya go.” Pierre turned his head as the bartender pushed two glasses toward him. He took hold of the beer and downed half of it in one gulp, growling softly. Then, taking hold of the cocktail as well, he stood and made his way toward the woman.

Locking his gaze on her slight figure he chuckled low. Her head came up, bright blue eyes meeting his hot stare. Allowing his lip to curl slightly, he stopped in front of her and placed the drink down on the table before her. She blinked at it.

He grinned more, sliding into the only other seat at the table, leaning forward and speaking softly. “Saw you by your lonesome...thought I’d buy you a drink...”

The woman just stared at him, pupils dilating and he shivered in anticipation as the sweet scent of her virginity filled his nostrils.

Oh...he was so ready to take what he needed from her. The night was looking way better than before. Pierre Bouvier, son of the master vampire, was more than ready for whatever the next few hours would bring him.

More than ready.

Notes