Same Day

Streets of TO

3 PM

Holy shit, Pierre...what the fuck were you thinking?

Pierre strode down the street, jaw clenched tight. Pat was right on his heels expression severe as he spoke harshly to his friend in his mind. The vampire halted, the Were almost running into his back. Pierre hissed menacingly, fangs showing as he swung angrily around to face Pat.

Pat backed off, but Pierre caught hold of his shirt and hauled him down a small alley slamming him up against the wall.

Leaning close, he bared his fangs at the Were. I didn’t fucking know that it was my mother okay, you stupid wolf.

Pat shivered staring in Pierre’s eyes. The irises had changed to a blood red and a scent of pure evil oozed from the vampire’s pores.

“Pierre...”

Pierre’s eyes narrowed coldly and he slowly looked his friend up and down. He licked his lips, fangs beginning to throb. “I need to feed before we go back...”

His fangs lengthened, saliva beading at the tips.

Pat swallowed hard but leaned his head back against the wall, tilting his chin, offering his jugular to the vampire. Pierre hissed savagely then struck fast as a snake, fangs sinking into the Were’s unresisting flesh. Pat groaned but held still closing his eyes trying to ignore the soft sucking sounds that came from Pierre’s mouth as he fed.

Pierre braced his palms against the wall as he drank from the Were’s blood, pure sustenance, and nothing more. It was different to human blood, a spicy aroma to the viscous fluid. He growled as he drew more of the sweet liquid into his mouth, the hot blood flowing down his throat into his stomach, filling him up.

Sighing, he eventually pulled away, wiping the back of his hand across his mouth. Pat panted heavily, pressing fingertips to the puncture wounds in his throat. Pierre turned his head away biting at his bottom lip, the anger all but gone now. Remorse now filled his heart and he stared hard at a point in the distance.

Pat licked at his fingers then rubbed them over his throat, watching the vampire. “Pierre...?”

Pierre breathed out roughly, shoulders slumping. “Lucky she disappeared on me...otherwise...I think I would’ve...”

Pat sighed. “Yeah...”

Pierre turned tired eyes toward his friend. “I would’ve attacked her like those other women...”

Pat nodded, knowing that was probably true. Whilst his friend had fed from him he had felt the violence in his hunger. If Serena had stayed and in her disguise, Pierre would most likely have drained her dry as he had done the others. He at least, being a Lycan, was safe. He was far too strong a being for Pierre to kill by feeding on him.

He did feel a little lightheaded though. Pierre had spent a longer time feeding this time than other times. However, Pat knew all he needed was some sleep and he would be right as rain on the morrow. He had more important things to worry about. This whole issue of Pierre going off attacking innocent humans was something he was going to have to deal with as much discretion as possible.

He glanced at his friend noting one attribute of the young vampire that gave him some hope. He was capable of feeling guilty over the things he had done. Pat could feel the hint of shame emanating from Pierre as he dragged his feet across the pavement. That was not an emotion he had ever sensed coming from Shadows. The master vampire had never had cause to regret any decision he had ever made.

But then again he was just an evil bastard through and through. At least that was what Pat believed. Sighing he rolled his neck and stared straight ahead his mind racing ahead to how the rest of the tour was going to be.

Meanwhile Pierre was wondering whether his mother would come back to find him, or whether he had freaked her out so much that she would remain hidden. He hoped it would be the former, because he really did want to meet with her. If it were the latter though, he knew he would learn to live with it. It weren’t as if she was really a part of his life anyway. It would be just nice to be able to talk to her.

Laughing silently to himself he allowed his mind to wander and he and Pat remained in silence as they made their way back to the bus.

Simple Plan Bus

4 PM

Chuck was sitting in the small lounge on the lower level of the bus when the door hissed open revealing a dishevelled Pierre and a quiet Pat.

The drummer frowned shutting the magazine he had been skimming and sat up. “Hey? Where’ve you been?”

Pat shot a look at Chuck. “I told you where we went, Chuck.”

His friend bit at his bottom lip looking behind him at Pierre. The singer shuffled passed not meeting his gaze disappearing into the tiny cubicle at the back.

Chuck stood nodding after the singer. “What’s up with him?”

Pat just shook his head and flopped down on the long couch grabbing the magazine that Chuck had tossed aside. “AP?”

The drummer nodded and sat again. “Yeah, there’s a review of Avenged’s album in there. Nothing on us though.”

Pat shrugged a little and set it down on the seat next to him.

Chuck picked up his phone and checked his messages then looked up at Pat, speaking absently, just making conversation. “You hear about those murders...was listening to the news before you got back.”

“Murders?” Pat lifted an eyebrow, even though he knew exactly what Chuck was talking about.

The drummer nodded. “The cops found two women...in an alley at the back of one of those bars in town.” He shuddered. “They didn’t say how the women had been killed though.”

Pat scowled thinking that if he hadn’t cleaned up after Pierre the cops would have found a third victim. “Like we’d even want to know...”

Chuck nodded. “True...”

They fell quiet for a moment, but Pat sensed that the drummer was itching to say something else, not just make absentminded conversation.

Chuck fidgeted on his seat, toying with the buckle on his belt and darting glances toward the other end of the bus where Pierre had gone.

Pat groaned softly kneading fingers into the back of his neck. “Chuck, spit it out would you.”

Chuck swivelled his head back around to his friend. “What?”

Pat sighed and pegged him with a sharp look. “Something’s bothering you, pal. Tell me.”

The drummer scrunched up his face in concentration then sighed heavily. “Don’t you think Pierre’s been acting weird lately?” He bit at his bottom lip. “And that...uh...argument you were having with him this morning...”

Pat crossed his left foot across his knee resting a hand on his ankle. “What about it?” He was careful to keep his tone casual.

Chuck stretched his legs out then tucked them back under the seat. “Well...I was wondering...” He sucked in a deep breath, and then glanced toward the toilet again just as Pierre stepped out. The singer met his gaze that time and arched an eyebrow.

Chuck clenched a fist slightly then blurted out harshly the question that had been banging around inside him ever since that morning. “Have you been doing drugs, Pierre?”

Pierre’s eyebrows drew together tight across his eyes, the pupils narrowing. Pat stiffened, hackles bristling slightly, but he said nothing watching the vampire in silence.

Pierre came down the aisle and halted in front of his oldest friend and glowered at him. “What makes you think that I am?”

Chuck snorted. “You’ve been disappearing on us...and the way you’ve been acting during interviews and performances.” He raked fingers through his hair. “Oh...and you just disappeared on us at the Avenged gig...I mean like...poof...”

Pierre’s lip curled slightly. “Sounds like you’re the one on drugs, Comeau. People don’t just disappear.”

Chuck straightened and glared at him. “You did. And, no. I’m not on drugs. You’re the one acting odd...you and Pat both.” He groaned, “And that shit this morning before we went to TRL...what was that about, Pierre? Sounds like you were doing something that would affect the band’s image if it got out to the public. Definitely sounds like you’re getting involved in something illegal like doing drugs.”

Pierre shrugged looking away.

Pat shifted uncomfortably on the seat next to Chuck. “Chuck...”

The drummer turned on him eyes sharp and intelligent. “You were sneaking around too, is there something you two are hiding from us?”

Pat bit at his bottom lip. He hated lying to his friends. He looked at Pierre who had turned his back, broad shoulders tensed. Pierre...?

Pierre clenched his teeth together. What, Pat?

Should we tell him...?

Pierre shivered a little and glanced over his shoulder at the Lycan, shaking his head a little. Pat pressed his hand to his forehead rubbing hard.

Then he looked at Pierre coming to a decision. I’ll do it...you don’t have to stay...I won’t make you say anything...

Pierre sighed, lifting his shoulders then dropping them as he turned and walked away. Chuck tilted his head in confusion as the singer strode up the stairs to the upper level leaving them alone.

He shifted around to face the other man. “Patrick? What’s going on?”

Pat folded his arms gauging his friend’s utterly bewildered expression. “You wouldn’t believe me. It’d be easier for you to handle if I said it was about drugs.”

Chuck ground his teeth together. “What could be worse than doing drugs?”

Pat leaned his head back. “It’s not a matter of being better or worse than drugs, Chuck.”

“Pat, just tell me. Obviously whatever it is is going to have some impact on us as a band, right? So, I think I have the right to know...and the other guys as well.” A thoughtful look came into his hazel eyes. “And Lach...she just upped and left as well...any idea why?”

Pat’s jaw tightened, white lines etching themselves on either side of his nostrils. He knew the real reason why she had left, but that was one thing he would not reveal to the drummer. “You should ask Pierre about that.”

Chuck nodded absently. “Yeah. So. What’s going on, Patrick?”

The Were leaned forward propping his elbows on his knees and smearing his hands over his face. “Ah...Chuck...this...is not going to be easy for you to hear...”

Chuck folded his arms and glared at his friend. “Try me.”

Pat sat up and fixed the drummer with a cool stare. “Pierre is a vampire, Chuck.”

“Bullshit.” Chuck’s response was instant and his voice was filled with anger and disbelief.

Pat sighed and shook his head slowly. “It’s true.”

“No.” Chuck’s voice was tight. “You can’t be serious, Pat. What kind of shit are you trying to pull? Vampires aren’t real. It’s drugs, isn’t it?”

Pat sighed and kept shaking his head. “No...I’m telling the truth.”

“What a fuckin’ joke. You must think I’m stupid, Pat.”

“Chuck. Look at me.” Pierre’s voice came from the aisle.

Chuck and Pat both swung their heads around having not even heard the older male coming back down the stairs.

The drummer looked at the singer, pain and disappointment in his eyes. “What am I supposed to be looking at Pierre? Huh? Obviously, you and Pat have cooked up some-”

“Shut up and look, Charles,” Pierre interrupted roughly, upper lip peeling back from his teeth.

The drummer’s eyes widened in shock. As the singer’s lip lifted, his upper canines visibly began to lengthen, the tips curved to needle points.

Chuck looked as if he were about to faint.

Pat gripped his shoulder firmly, supporting him. “Believe me now, Comeau?”

Pierre concealed his fangs and leaned against the small table watching his best friend. The drummer breathed fast holding a hand to his chest. Then he gave a tiny nod of his head as if he were uncertain what he believed. Pat sighed and leaned back against his seat.

“Tabernac...” Chuck groaned tugging at his hair, and then letting his hand drop into his lap. He peeked up at Pierre. “Vampire?”

Pierre smiled sadly. “Yeah. Was born one. But, the fangs and all that didn’t happen until I turned 29.”

Chuck blinked slowly. “Unbelievable...”

The singer chuckled and propped his ass against the table. “I thought so too. But, I have to live this...so it’s believable to me.”

Chuck scrunched up his face. “Your parents...”

“Rèal and Louise...kind of adopted me, I guess.”

“Oh?”

Pierre nodded. “My real parents...are vampires.” He bit at his bottom lip thinking of his mother, and trying not to think of his father. Serena...and...Matthew...

Pat heard the silent voice inside his mind and cast an understanding look at his friend. Pierre heaved a sigh.

“Crap.” Chuck scratched at his right arm. “What do I do with this knowledge?”

Pierre rubbed his knee. “Tell the others?”

“That’s going to be interesting...I mean...I guess I’m open to the idea of vampires and stuff...I’m kinda nerdy like that...but...the others...”

Pat snorted and stood.

Chuck glowered at him. “How come Pierre told you about this?”

Pat halted in mid step and squinted at the drummer. “You really want to know?”

“Yeh. I don’t think anything more could shock me.”

Pierre laughed, rolling his eyes. “Pat’s always known, Chuck. He’s a Werewolf.”

Chuck blinked fast shaking his head. “You’re shitting me.”

“No,” Pierre chuckled low. “I’m not shitting you.”

Pat rolled his eyes and repeated the litany Johnny had stated some time earlier. “Yes, once every month I get shaggy and howl at the moon.”

Chuck looked at the Were and saw the glint in his eyes. “Seriously?”

Pat became serious. “Actually, no. That’s a myth. Lycanthropes are wolves that can change into human form at will.”

Pierre smirked. “And vampires are related to the domestic cat.”

Chuck pressed his lips together. “You two are ridiculous.”

Pierre grinned. “We do good, eh?”

The drummer stared at them then realised that his friends were trying to make light of the matter. He finally allowed himself to relax and laughed.

Through his laughter though, he glanced at them both questioningly. “You’re serious though?”

Pierre and Pat both nodded in the affirmative.

“Wow...” Chuck’s shoulders slumped. “That’s...uh...weird...?”

The singer laughed out right. “Word.”

Pat sat down again next to the drummer. “Truth is stranger than fiction, buddy.”

Chuck rolled his eyes. “This is one of those times where that’s actually true.”

Pierre leaned back against the chair placing his hands behind his head. “Indeed.”

The drummer shivered rubbing his hands against his jeans. “Well...I think...” He shook his head as if to clear his thoughts. “I’m gonna go...lots to think about...”

Pierre nodded in agreement.

Chuck looked at his two friends. “I don’t think we should tell the others just yet. I need to think about how this might...affect them.”

Pat traced the tips of his fingers across his thigh, smiling weakly. “Yeah, wise move.”

Chuck smiled back the expression just as cautious. Standing and pocketing his phone, the drummer headed for the stairs and disappeared up them. Pat sighed and glanced at Pierre.

The vampire sat staring at a spot on the floor. The Were reached over and clapped a hand to his shoulder.

Pierre trembled and lifted his head to stare at his friend. “We shouldn’t tell them about Avenged...”

Pat shook his head, then chewed on his bottom lip. “He asked about Lachelle.”

Pierre stiffened, expression going blank. Pat saw this recognising that his friend was withdrawing back into his base nature. It was a mask hiding his emotions.

Sighing, he stood looking down at the singer. “I’m going to go have a look at those new Role Model designs. Wanna come with?”

Pierre shook his head resting his head back against the wall. “Nah...just going to sit here for a bit.”

“Okay. Well...” Pat paused. “Stay here then, ‘kay?”

Pierre nodded, closing his eyes. His friend turned and walked off the bus again, looking back once before vanishing into thin air.

Notes