Somewhere in TO

7 PM

Sherry huddled in the shadows down an alley, head tucked down between her knees, tears trickling from her eyes. Sobbing softly, her heart ached, pain lancing through her soul. What she hoped would never happen had occurred. The master vampire had corrupted her only child.

Pierre was a walking nightmare and the thought that the same evil that resided in the cold black heart of Shadows’ moved in her son’s soul, broke her heart.

Whimpering, she lifted her head the moon reflected in her shimmering sable eyes. The great orb was beginning to wane; however, it held ghostly promises as it hovered in the heavens.

She squeezed her eyes shut once more shivering, smoothing her hands up and down her arms.

After awhile she felt a chill breeze floating down the alley. The blouse she wore was thin and would not afford her much protection from the drop in temperature that was bound to come as the night deepened.

So, she stood and stepped out into the middle of the alley, of the mind to find a warmer place to hide.

However, that was not to be.

Her heart froze in her chest, throat seizing up, as a dark shadow loomed across her field of vision, blocking out all light. Sherry stumbled back as a familiar figure materialised in front of her, huge and menacing.

“Well, well, well...here we are...” The master vampire drawled coldly as he stared down at the female through his ever-present shades. She trembled whilst pressing back against the damp wall, swallowing hard, her eyes wide in fear.

“M-M-Matthew...” she stuttered, terrified.

He chuckled low stepping closer, removing his shades and hooking them at the neck of his muscle shirt. “Serena...did you really think you’d get away from me?”

Sherry lifted her chin slightly but kept her eyes lowered. Biting hard at her bottom lip she figured if she didn’t respond perhaps then he would leave be. Seconds later a strangled cry of pain and fear escaped her lips as Shadows clamped a large hand to her slender throat.

He leaned in close, stroking the pad of his thumb along the pulsating line of her jugular. She whimpered lifting a hand to clutch uselessly at his thick wrist.

He licked his lips and whispered softly in her ear as he traced the tip of his left fang against her cheek. “I should drain you dry, sweet cheeks.” He smiled cruelly, “But, then I guess that’d put me in the shits with Johnny, hmm?”

Sherry blinked meeting Shadows hard gaze.

“Oh, you needn’t think he betrayed you to me. He is still disgustingly loyal to you.”

The female whimpered and mouthed desperately against the master’s harsh grip. “Johnny...loyal to...you...”

Shadows snarled, “Not as much as he is to you, female.”

His fingers tightened around her neck. Sherry dug her nails into his wrist a soft whine issuing from her mouth. Shadows hissed viciously and threw her sideways across the alley.

She cried out as she hit the ground landing on her left shoulder. He stalked toward her fury blazing hot in his eyes.

Sherry whimpered and tried to move away feeling a searing pain shoot down her arm. He had broken something. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes.

Cowering on the ground she tried to shield her body from the master vampire’s rage. “Matthew...please...”

Shadows paused for a moment gaze narrowed on her shivering form. He prowled forward then dropped to his haunches in front of her. “Tell me, female. Should I let you live? Or should I kill you?”

Sherry sobbed softly, tears rolling in large drops down her face. Shaking her head she tucked her chin into her chest. “Please...I don’t want to die, sire.”

Shadows felt a tingle at the back of his neck at the way she addressed him. It had been a long time.

He shifted his weight bracing his hands against his knees. “Well, then perhaps I should find someone else to direct my anger at. Hmm? Want to pick a victim for me?”

Sherry’s head jerked up, pupils dilating, looking like a rabbit caught in the headlights of a car.

Shadows leaned forward ignoring the evident pain in her expression. “You see, this isn’t just about you Serena. Our son is now in the mix.”

“No...”

Her protest went unnoticed as the master vampire continued. “Johnny was s’posed to bring Pierre to me. And you, but he failed on both counts.” Shadows shuffled closer to her grabbing the front of her blouse and pulling her up so her nose was pressed close to his. “Let me tell you, I should kill him for failing me. But, I won’t, but not for your sake.”

Sherry’s eyelids flipped up and she stared hard at him her eyes suddenly clear and focused. “No. You do it because he is family.”

Shadows stiffened and cast her away from him backing up fast slamming back against the wall of the alley staring furiously at her.

He spat out roughly, “How the fuck did you know about that, female?”

Sherry braced her left arm feeling that it had now broken in two places, it would be a bitch to heal, but she would survive.

Lifting her head she met the male’s savage glare. “She told...me...”

“She?” Shadows frowned, confusion appearing on his face.

Sherry breathed deeply. “Luna...your sister.”

Even through her pain, Sherry knew it would not be wise to divulge the knowledge that it was Johnny Luna had told, not her. She had been there, but it was Johnny the younger vampire had been speaking to. Shadows was not easily shocked but this was one thing he had not expected to hear.

“Luna...” He hissed softly, but then shook his head the surprise fading from his face being replaced by an expression so calm, yet so brutal that it sent shockwaves of terror through Sherry’s body.

“Matthew...?”

Shadows spoke over her plaintive voice, as if she wasn’t really there, glossing over what she had just revealed. “Talking of family. Pierre is my son. And, I want him under my control. But, you see...he doesn’t seem to want to belong to me. So, I’m going to have to do something drastic to get him to come running to my open arms.”

He looked down at the only female who had ever attracted his attention enough for him to want to impregnate her. No other female before or after had the same effect on him.

Even what he had done to Pierre’s girl was nothing more than a control thing. He definitely didn’t want a human bearing his offspring.

“So,” he went on, “want me to tell you what I think I should do, my dear?”

Sherry shook her head trembling, her skin was pale and clammy, the pain of her broken limb distracting her from the master vampire’s monologue.

He crouched back down to her level. “You remember the family you left him with, Serena?”

A jolt of horror surged through her veins. “God...no...leave them out of this-”

Shadows continued as if she had never interrupted. “His ‘brother’, Jay...is dying from cancer. Thought perhaps I should put the poor bastard out of his misery.”

“No!” Sherry dragged herself forward and latched onto Shadows’ left foot, staring up at him imploringly. “Nothing good will come of that, my lord...it won’t give you what you want...Pierre will never-”

The master vampire kicked her back with a sneer. “We will see, female. We will see.”

“No...” Sherry cried weakly, more tears forming at the corners of her eyes and spilling over the curves of her cheeks. “No...Matthew...don’t do this...you can’t...”

Shadows snorted. “I told you, this is his destiny...I just need to give him a jumpstart.” He seized strands of her long black hair and lifted her head up sharply. “And you get front row seats to everything that happens from now on.”

Her eyes widened.

He laughed. “Indeed. I think I’ll let you and Johnny alone so you can both watch me turn Pierre into the vampire that he is capable of being...” He dragged her to her feet, preparing to vanish from the alleyway. “First...” He chuckled in her ear, “back to Laval. Have to pay the Bouvier’s a little visit.”

Bouvier Residence

7:59 PM

Louise sat by her middle son’s bed in silence. Jay was curled on his right side, arms tucked into his chest, left hand clasped loosely beneath his cheek. His right hand was curled loosely around his cell phone which was tucked against his left forearm. His black hair fell lank across his damp forehead and he shifted restlessly a light moan escaping his lips every minute or so.

Son...why...why does this have to happen to you? Louise was trying to remain strong for him; however, it was so difficult. Doctor Le Millereux had explained that due to the aggressiveness of the cancer this time round, that all he could suggest was that they make Jay as comfortable as possible.

The good doctor could not say how long he had left, but Louise hoped that Jay would hang on until at least Pierre returned from his tour.

She sighed and glanced at Jay for what felt like the millionth time since he had fallen asleep an hour ago. He was not in a deep sleep, and was obviously in a lot of discomfit, even after all her efforts to make sure his pillow was fluffed up and that he wasn’t covered with too many blankets.

Tears filled her eyes and she wiped at them furiously. She hated feeling this way, helpless, useless to do anything, it was driving her mad.

Sitting their quietly watching as the glowing green numbers flipped over on the digital clock, she stiffened as her mother’s intuition suddenly kicked in. Someone was watching them. She stood from the chair she was sitting in and swung around fast.

There looming in the shadows was a large figure, it held still for a moment then stepped out into the dim light of the lamp on the nightstand.

Louise gasped; the figure was a giant of a man, easily over six feet tall and built. His arms, which were heavily tattooed, were thick with muscle and he held his body as if very sure of the power that he wielded.

“What? Who are you? How did you get in here?” Louise spoke forcefully; as a mother she could be extremely protective. The man smirked, lips pulling back from two massive fangs.

Louise shivered. “Vampire...”

“Indeed.” Shadows turned his head to look at Jay’s slumbering form. “So, this your son, Louise Bouvier?”

She tensed grabbing the back of her chair tightly. “How do you know my name?”

The male glanced back at her. “You’re Pierre’s...foster mom.”

Louise quivered, “I am Pierre’s Mom.”

The master vampire heard the capitalisation of the term ‘mom’ in the female’s voice and smirked icily. “No, Louise. This is Pierre’s mother.” He flicked his eyes to the side and a tiny woman with long black hair appeared next to him. Tears were streaming down her face and she was swallowing rapidly; hand pressed to her throat as if she were attempting to work at an obstruction there.

Louise stared at her meeting deep brown eyes that were so much like Pierre’s. “Serena...”

Shadows chuckled making her disappear once more. “Indeed,” he repeated, voice drawling lazily.

He returned his attention back to Jay and walked over to stand by the bed, toying absently with a fang. Louise made to object but found that her voice had locked inside her. Her eyes widened fear gripping her heart.

Whoever this man -- vampire -- was he meant to cause harm to her son. Not just to Jay, but Pierre as well. She fought against the block on her throat, questions railing through her mind.

The vampire looked at her askance. “Ask your questions, female. I can still hear them.”

Louise’s breasts heaved as she clutched tighter at the back of the chair. Even though her mouth and voice weren’t working, her mind rang out clear as a bell. Who are you?

“Your worst nightmare.” He leaned over Jay’s weak, useless body and rested the palm of his hand against his neck, feeling the weak pulsing of his blood.

Leave him alone...

Shadows met Louise’s fearful, yet angry gaze, smirking slightly. “No can do, Louise. You took my son from me. So, I’m just returning the favour.”

Louise’s eyes widened in shock, as an awful realisation dawned on her. What? No...

The vampire turned away from her, freezing her mind and body with a thought before leaning down and without a sound sinking his fangs into Jay’s throat, closing them on his windpipe and spinal cord. Then with a savage twist of his head, he ripped his throat out blood flowing, thick and red.

Moments later, Louise could hear a horrible screaming pounding at her brain. The vampire vanished from the bedroom as the bloodcurdling scream kept on going.

It wasn’t until her eldest son and husband burst through the bedroom door, the former going to the bed, the latter pulling her into his arms, that she realised that it was her voice that was making that terrible sound.

She crumpled into Rèal’s body heaving sobs forced out by her anguished cries.

“Fuck...fuck...” Jon stared at his brother’s ravaged neck then grabbed the blankets and yanked them over so he couldn’t see him anymore. The sight sickened him to his stomach and he was afraid it would make him hurl. Tugging his cell phone from his pocket he made to call 911.

His dad noticed though and groaned. “Call your brother first.”

Jon blinked. “What?”

“There is nothing anyone can do...just call Pierre.”

“But, Dad...”

Rèal’s tone took on a steely edge, “Jon. Do not argue with me, just call him.”

The eldest Bouvier son complied hitting his brother’s number on speed dial. “God, please let him pickup...oh...Pierre? Uh...it’s Jon... Yeah...it’s...um...it’s about Jay...”

Simple Plan Bus

7:17 PM

David and Chuck were on the upper level of the bus playing poker when a sickening sound came from beneath them on the lower level. Jeff bolted out of his bunk as did Seb as a cry that sounded like a mix between a howl and a roar filled the whole bus, causing the hair on the back of their necks to stand out.

“Holy shit...” The bassist was the first to scramble for the stairs. The others followed him to the lower level and peered down the aisle to the end of the bus where Chuck had left Pierre and Pat couple of hours earlier.

Four pairs of eyes widened in shock. Pierre was on his knees in the middle of the aisle; his cell phone was on the floor in front of him.

However, that was not what the four men were staring at. No, what had caused their stunned mullet expressions was the fact that the singer’s whole body was glowing feverishly. A deep red light was spilling from his eyes and enveloping his whole frame.

He looked as if he were in pain; his body was quaking like he was being shaken by something on the inside, and a low snarling sound was coming from his throat.

“Tabernac...what the hell?” David blinked rapidly, “What the fuck is that?”

They all looked at each other then at Chuck who they obviously thought might have some idea. The drummer shrugged; even though he had an odd feeling it had something to do with his friend being a vampire. Still it didn’t explain why Pierre seemed so upset. Something must have set him off.

He lifted his head at that moment as if sensing they were watching him. His eyes flared as they met Chuck’s for an instant then he vanished right in front of the others’ shocked faces, a blast of energy the only thing left as he faded from sight.

“Holy fuck!” David stumbled toward the spot their friend had been kneeling. “Where’d he go? He just...?”

The bassist bent down to pick up Pierre’s phone and all four men recognised Jon’s voice yelling at the other end of the line. “Pierre! Pierre! Pierre?? Are you still there...? Don’t do anything stupid...Pierre???”

David glanced frantically at Chuck.

The drummer took the phone from him and spoke into it. “Jon, it’s Chuck...”

“Oh, God...Chuck...where’d Pierre go?”

“Um...he just...disappeared...we’ll go look for him though.”

Jon breathed heavily on the other end. “Yeah, do that...um...he needs to come home as soon as he can...Jay...well...ugh fuck...just tell him to come home.”

Chuck kneaded at his forehead. “Will do, Jon. Take care, ‘kay?” He hung up and looked at his friends. They all stared back at him expectantly. The drummer groaned, rubbing at his temples. “Look, I think we’d better split up-”

He was cut off by Pat who had just entered the bus. “Don’t bother. I know where Pierre’s gone to, and I think you’d better leave him alone.”

David turned on him and glared angrily at him. “Why? He’s obviously in a bad way...something’s happened to Jay, or so Jon said, right, Chuck?”

Chuck nodded and glowered at Pat. “He shouldn’t be out there by himself.”

Pat met his friend’s stare and folded his arms. “He’s an adult, Chuck; he can take care of himself.”

The drummer opened his mouth to make a retort. Pat fixed him with a cold look, eyes narrowing slightly before speaking silently. Pierre is angry...and you do not want to get in the way of an angry vampire, Charles.

That shut Chuck up. He took a step back dragging his fingers through his hair. “Right...guys...early night...we need to be up for an early start tomorrow.”

Jeff grimaced, “What about Pierre?”

The drummer sighed. “Pat’s right. Pierre can look out for himself. He’ll be back.”

David started to argue, Pat looked over at him, manipulating his mind in silence. The bassist got a confused look on his face as if he had suddenly forgotten what he was talking about.

Seb, who had kept out of the whole thing, keeping relatively quiet, just gave Chuck a quizzical look, then complied and went back up the stairs.

Jeff sighed shaking his head anxiety evident in his eyes. He looked hard at Pat. “He shouldn’t be out there.”

Pat gritted his teeth. “Go to bed...I’ll go after him if that’ll make you feel better.”

“It’s not even eight yet.”

The Were pinched the bridge of his nose feeling a migraine coming on. “Jeff...just go play your guitar or something. I’ll go after Pierre, bring him back.”

The bald guitarist relented, nodding and walked away to the back lounge shutting himself away. Moments later, the soft strains of an acoustic refrain filled the bus, the lilting melody easing the men’s minds.

Pat stood for a moment allowing the music to calm his soul before he set off to find Pierre before the other male completely lost it. He could only hope he wasn’t too late to divert a disaster. Because, as he had told Chuck, an angry vampire was a creature you never wanted to cross.

Ever.

Notes