Avenged Sevenfold Bus

5 PM

Johnny materialised right in the middle of The Rev and Synyster trying to thrash each other at a game of Guitar Hero. The two vampires halted in their match when they sensed the Were’s arrival.

Synyster turned a cold baleful glare toward the smaller male, but said nothing.

The Rev frowned and set his Guitar controller on the seat beside him, unfolding his lanky frame from the chair and walking toward Johnny. “Where’ve you been?”

Johnny shook his head answering with a question of his own. “Has the master returned?”

The Rev bit at his bottom lip and glanced at the brown-eyed vampire. “Brian?”

Syn growled low, fangs showing. “Shadows hasn’t been here. Where the fuck have you been, dog?”

Johnny hesitated before answering. “I was trying to get Pierre to come back here...”

The taller male lifted an eyebrow, eyes flashing from blue to grey. You didn’t...

Johnny looked at The Rev the expression on his face taking on a despairing cast. The vampire studied his look then without a word grabbed the Were by the scruff of his shirt and pulled him off the bus, away from the lieutenant’s disapproving gaze.

Once outside he shoved the smaller male against the side of the bus and leaned in close. “What the hell happened? I sensed Pierre...losing it.”

Johnny trembled, his deep brown eyes shimmering. “The master...he killed Pierre’s brother Jay...”

The Rev stiffened an expression almost of surprise flashing across his features. He had not expected to hear something like that. “Fuck...” He released the Were and moved back several feet and raked fingers through his shaggy black hair. “Fuck,” he repeated incredulously. “What about Serena...did you get her to Pierre?”

The Rev felt his heart tighten as he saw a painful look pass across Johnny’s eyes.

The Lycan squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head a sound akin to a whimper escaping his lips. “No. I fucked that up, Rev...”

Johnny’s head dropped and The Rev could’ve sworn that he saw a tear trickle down the smaller male’s face.

“Johnny?”

Johnny clenched his fists without opening his eyes. “Shadows has her...”

The elder vampire gritted his teeth. “Damn it, Johnny...”

“It wasn’t my fault, Rev. When I took her to Pierre...” He groaned shaking his head. “He didn’t realise who she was and was going to crack onto her...like those other women he attacked...and she vanished on me...” Johnny rubbed at his eyes muttering still. “Shadows must’ve picked her up from somewhere else...”

The Rev pressed a hand to the smaller male’s shoulder. “Stop. I’ve heard enough.”

Johnny nodded sealing his lips and lifting his head, meeting the vampire’s gaze.

The Rev’s eyes flickered slightly. Then he sighed. “Well, not much we can do about that.” He tilted his head back and sucked at his tongue toying with his fangs.

Johnny nodded but then stopped and glanced at him. “My...mother’s here in TO.”

The Rev’s head jerked around and a strange light appeared in his eyes, the blueness overwhelming his stare. “Luna’s here?”

Johnny nodded but then remembered that he couldn’t reveal where she was because then he would risk exposing the whereabouts of the Lycans in the city.

The Rev sensed his sudden hesitation and smirked faintly. “Where?”

Johnny bit at his bottom lip.

The tall vampire sighed. “Is there somewhere I can meet her?”

“Why would you want to see my mother?”

The Rev smeared a hand over his face. “It’s been...a long time.” He rolled his neck. “And...I need to see her...there are things I need to speak of to her...”

The Were frowned. “About Shadows?”

The Rev snorted. “Possibly.”

Johnny slumped against the side of the bus and stared at tuft of grass between him and the vampire. “I’ll...I’ll take you to her. If you want?”

The Rev closed his eyes nodding slowly. “She might be able to do something about...all of this.”

Johnny tilted his head. “You mean all the stuff with Pierre and Serena...?”

The vampire’s lip lifted slightly. “Yeah. Fuck...we should try something...” He mumbled half under his breath, “Shads is not evil...”

Johnny scowled at that wanting to disagree with the vampire but knowing that he was probably not meant to have heard that last comment.

He shrugged his shoulders. “Come on then, we’ll go now. Nothing else to do.”

The Rev stretched his arms out behind him then stepped close once more grabbing the collar of the Were’s shirt. Johnny winced slightly.

Relax, pup...can’t let on to Syn...

Johnny growled in the back of his throat, and then with a soft blink of his eyes made them vanish.

Simple Plan Bus

Later

“So, let me get this straight.” David stared hard at Pierre as the band sat around the lower level of the bus, drinking beer and nibbling on crackers.

“Hmmm?” Pierre lifted an eyebrow as he lifted his bottle to his lips and took a long pull.

The bassist rubbed at his left eye before folding his arms across his chest. “Your real parents are vampires, right?”

Pierre nodded once.

David scratched at his arm. “But...your mom abandoned you?”

Pierre grimaced. “She thought it was the best thing she could do for me.”

David bit his bottom lip then went on. “Your father...”

Jeff interrupted sharply, “I can’t believe that Matt is actually-”

“I know, right?” David snorted in disbelief.

Seb agreed shaking his head. “Crazy.”

“Yeah, real crazy.”

Chuck remained silent just watching on, mouth drawn in a thin line.

Pierre looked at the drummer with a slight frown. “Penny for your thoughts?”

Chuck laughed bitterly. “They’d cost a whole sight more than a penny, Pierre.”

Pierre folded his arms over his chest and waited patiently, the look in his eyes suggesting that he believed his friend’s thoughts worth the cost.

Chuck sighed then glowered at his friend. “Why did Lachelle leave?”

Pierre’s expression froze and he pressed his lips together in a hard line. “I caught her with Matt. He was fucking her in a back room before the Avenged gig.”

“Merde.” The drummer blinked slowly.

David looked liked a stunned fish. “You for real?”

“Yes.” Pierre looked toward the smaller man and spoke angrily. “She was enjoying it, so I dumped her. The engagement, whatever. It’s off. Over.”

Jeff scowled at that statement. “Man, you two were in deep with each other though.”

Pierre growled. “Doesn’t matter.”

“Of course it fucking matters,” Chuck snapped. “You can’t just let one time-”

“Yes, I can. Just drop it, right?” Pierre glared at the drummer, the look in his eyes telling him that the conversation was over.

Chuck sighed again, standing and walking over to the side staring out the window. He paused biting at his bottom lip. The expression on his face darkened, eyes narrowing as he leaned closer to the window.

“Chuck?” Pierre tilted his head to the side, all thoughts of Lachelle forgotten for the moment. The others all looked in the direction of the drummer as well, noticing his stance stiffen.

“What is it, Chuck?”

Jeff stood and joined him at the window. “There’s someone out there...”

David jumped up and scrambled for the door, always eager to solve a mystery. He hit the button by the door, waiting for it to open with its usual rheumatic hiss. Just as he was about to poke his head out a hulking figure materialised in the shadows mere feet away from the door. David jumped back into the bus but squinted toward the shadow.

He called out tentatively, “Hello?”

There was no answer, but then, Pierre felt a chill race up his spine just as a low, menacing growl traversed the space between the figure and the bus. Then a distinct tang of chilli and cinnamon permeated the atmosphere, assaulting his nostrils. He hissed softly, lips peeling back involuntarily, fangs flashing.

Pat, who had been sitting at the front of the bus keeping out of the discussion, fiddling with his camera, appeared suddenly to Pierre’s right a low snarling sound coming from deep in his throat.

David shivered and stared at his best friend an almost fearful cast to his features. “Pierre?”

Pierre ran a tongue over the tip of his fangs and lifted a hand, signalling for the others to remain where they were standing.

He nodded toward the figure and glanced sideways at Pat. Make sure they stay here...I’m going to see...He didn’t finish the thought.

Pat just nodded; jaw clenched tight, worry in his hazel eyes. Go...but be careful.

Pierre rolled his eyes at the Were. Sure...

Pat frowned eyes darkening. I’m serious.

Pierre rumbled in his throat but inclined his head in acknowledgement before stepping out of the bus and slowly approaching the dark figure.

* * * * *

The spicy scent of chilli gave way to steel and leather mingled with the overwhelming aroma of cinnamon as the two vampires approached each other. Pierre’s gaze burned as he stalked across the bitumen closing the gap between him and Shadows.

The Master Vampire stepped out of the darkness revealing his towering figure to all who were watching. His eyes, for once not concealed by shades, gleamed in the dim evening light.

Pierre paused, several feet away and growled low. “Shadows...”

Shadows’ lips curved in a cold smile and he moved closer. Pierre felt a frosty breath of air pass around his body.

He tensed, baring his fangs at the larger male. “What do you want?”

Shadows crossed his arms, the leather of the black jacket he wore creaking faintly, straining across his broad shoulders. Pierre noted that the jacket looked brand new as if the other vampire had only just purchased it. Then he wondered why he had noticed something so irrelevant and shook his head hard glaring furiously at him.

Shadows laughed having sensed Pierre’s thoughts. “This is an old jacket, Pierre.”

Pierre just glowered at him and repeated his question. “What the fuck do you want?”

The master vampire’s expression hardened. “You know what I want, Pierre Bouvier.”

Pierre shivered, his skin beginning to crawl uncomfortably. He crossed his own arms tight across his chest rocking slightly on his feet. “I’ll give you nothing, Matt.”

Shadows sneered flashing his fangs at Pierre. “Your mother would wish otherwise.”

Pierre’s jaw tightened. “My Mom is mourning her son’s death.”

The master vampire threw his head back and laughed icily. “I don’t mean your foster mother...I could care less about Louise and Rèal Bouvier.”

The younger vampire swallowed hard. “You mean...?”

Shadows kept laughing as he answered. “Serena Volaire...my female...my only mate...your true blood...”

The colour faded from Pierre’s face as his eyes deepened to a scarlet hue. “What exactly are you trying to say?” He knew of course, but Shadows didn’t need to know that.

The master vampire met Pierre’s furious stare. “Ah...should I tell you?”

“Tell me what, motherfucker?”

Shadows smirked at Pierre’s choice of words. “You, Pierre Charles, are my son.”

For a single heartbeat the two vampires stared at each other; the younger allowing the elder’s words to sink in a confirmation of knowledge already realised; the elder waiting for the burgeoning shock and noticing in seconds that it wasn’t forthcoming. And, wondering at it.

Pierre blinked once and then chuckled low. “Yeah, and that’s news because...?”

Shadows’ dropped his arms to his sides, frown lines etching deep furrows in his forehead. “You...you already knew?”

Pierre nodded slowly, muscles coiled in readiness watching the larger male intently.

The master vampire hissed in surprise. “How?”

Pierre bared his fangs again. “Serena...wrote me a letter.”

Shadows snarled; the temperature of the air dropped several degrees. Pierre shivered glancing back toward the bus. He could see his band mates and Pat staring through the windows toward the two of them. He shook his head and returned his gaze to the other male.

“That bitch.” Shadows’ tone took on a deadly edge. “I suppose she warned you away from me.”

Pierre snorted. “I’d say she was right to. She said that you were a threat to me. That you would destroy her...and use me...”

Shadows gritted out harshly in response, “Oh, she is definitely right about that...I will kill her for all of this...but...I’ll make her suffer first.”

Pierre stiffened. “How?”

“Well, you’ve made it clear you won’t submit...so I’ll have to get rid of you. There isn’t room for two males such as you and me on this planet. And I am the Master Vampire. I can’t let you live.”

The master vampire’s eyes were glowing now; vicious sparks flaring outwards from his cold stare. Rage was a cloak covering his body and Pierre sensed instinctively that Shadows would snap at any moment and that when he did all that anger would be directed at him.

Shifting his weight, Pierre sank into a crouch, lips curling as he felt his fangs elongating as a surge of hunger rushed through his veins. Shadows’ body quivered eyes narrowing into slits, his fangs lengthening, with saliva glistening at the sharp tips. Then the larger male stripped his jacket off, muscles rippling across his broad shoulders as he tossed it aside.

Pierre rumbled deep in his throat sensing the tension ratchet up a notch, so much so that it almost thrummed in the air: a living thing. He braced himself; and then Shadows came at him like a wild animal, teeth bared, eyes gleaming, arms reaching to seize him, tackle him.

Remembering how much stronger Shadows was, the force of his attack was expected so Pierre was able to meet him with his own strong arms outstretched. The palms of his hands met the firm biceps of the bigger male, and he gripped hard straining to hold him back, tucking his head down to protect his neck.

The master vampire snarled grabbing hold of Pierre’s forearms and squeezing down like a vice. Pierre gritted his teeth against the sudden pain that flowered where Shadows’ had seized on. He knew that he would bruise; knew they would heal pretty quickly. He also knew the only way Shadows could hope to kill him was with a stake to the brain.

So, he lifted his head meeting Shadows’ burning stare, flashing his own fangs and clicking them together. The sharp click distracted the both of them, but then the master vampire moved in a blur with a powerful twist of his upper torso.

Pierre gasped in surprise as the larger vampire jerked his body around and brought his fangs close against his throat. The fine deadly tips of Shadows’ canines scored a bloody line across his Adam’s apple. Pierre breathed out roughly sweat beading on his forehead and trickling down his face. He clutched at the bigger vampire’s arms pushing at him; but, Shadows didn’t budge, his breath hot against Pierre’s throat. The blood pulsed irregularly beneath the surface beckoning to the master vampire like a clarion call.

Shadows hissed and then he bit, fangs penetrating the thin barrier separating Pierre’s life force from his savage hunger. He pulled at the fresh spicy blood that filled his mouth; the younger male’s body tensed up and then he groaned out loud as a surge of fury and power rushed through his body.

And then something entirely unexpected occurred. Pierre’s heart stopped for a split second; Shadows’ own heart seized for a moment and then his head jerked back and his eyes met Pierre’s as they snapped open. Something, a spark, neither of them understood, passed between them and then the bigger male pulled away from Pierre, blowing hard, catching his breath.

Pierre sank to the ground pressing his fingertips to the wound in his neck, head bowed, and his body trembling.

“Shadows...” His voice rasped hoarsely.

The master vampire shook his head slowly, kneading at his temples, uncertain of what had just happened.

“Pierre.” His voice was low.

Pierre glanced at him from the corner of his left eye. Then he turned his head away and murmured quietly. “Get out of here...”

Shadows rubbed at his face. “Son...”

Pierre grunted. “Just go.”

Their eyes met once. Then Shadows vanished, a hint of steel and leather lingering in the cool evening air. Pierre stood for a long moment; head tilted back allowing the cool air to evaporate the sweat that covered his body. His shirt clung to his soaked torso and he breathed out roughly.

Shaking his head, droplets of sweat spraying out around him, Pierre tugged his shirt off. Then he turned slowly, returning to the bus, climbing on board and walking passed his friends, ignoring the confused expressions that they wore on their faces.

Exhaustion ached in every fibre of his being, right down to the marrow in his bones. So, going to the top level he crawled into his bunk, pulled his blanket over his head and drifted off to sleep.

Yet even though he was so weary, so mortally tired his slumber was filled with dreams...dreams of the Master Vampire and...Lachelle?

Notes