Sunday May 25th, 2008

Santa Maria Catholic Cathedral

7 AM

Sometimes life changes for the better, and sometimes life changes for the worse. Patrick knew that this was one of the times where the change was detrimental. When he had woken and lain in his bunk, feeling out for the emotions of his friends he had sensed instantly the change in the band’s singer.

Whatever had happened between the Master Vampire and Pierre the previous night had caused a shift in the singer’s soul. The blackness that had been encroaching there had now completely enveloped the vampire’s being and Pat felt a horrible sense of despair settle over him.

So, that was why he found himself at all hours of the morning kneeling at a pew in a sanctuary he had never thought he would set foot in again. Patrick Langlois had been raised within the Holy Catholic Church; his parents had been devout followers of Jesus Christ and believed that he was Messiah and had died for all the peoples’ sins.

Sure, one could laugh at Lycans believing in God and the Cross; Pat certainly had at times. However, when times became particularly tough he had always gravitated back to the Church. It had been his comfort in the blackest of times. But, the last time he had been in a Church was 80 years ago...the Slaughter years. It had not been needful to go otherwise.

Now after the past few weeks, Pat had a terrible sense of urgency, which was drawing him to the serene peace of the Church. Yet, for the first time he was not there for his own soul. His best friend was ever on his mind. Prayers for Pierre were his priority.

Several paces from where he knelt, a small alcove was positioned where he could see a small statuette placed on a pedestal. It was a figure of the Virgin Mary: The Mother of Jesus. Pat rose and walked into the alcove and sank to his knees in front of it and gazed up at her, tears in his eyes.

“Holy Mother of God...” His voice cracked and he bowed his head and murmured the Hail Mary over the pale pink Rosarie beads he gripped in his right hand.

After what felt like hours the solitude was broken by a soft noise. A soft laugh seemed to echo around him, over him as if it came from the little figurine.

And then a quiet voice spoke. “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you in such a place as this, Patrick.”

Pat’s eyes opened as he lifted his head, twisting around to see who had spoken to him. He blinked as he recognised the long mahogany locks that fell over the vampire’s shoulders, contrasting with the white blouse that she wore.

“Luna?”

Luna inclined her head slightly.

“What are you doing?”

Pat frowned noticing that it wasn’t Luna who had spoken that time. He turned his head a little more, along with his body. The Rev was leaning back against a pew feet crossed at the ankles. A tiny frowned crinkled at his forehead otherwise there was no emotion on the tall vampire’s face.

Pat grimaced and stood his back protesting slightly from the length of time he had been kneeling there. “Praying.”

“Oh?” The Rev quirked an eyebrow. “For Pierre’s soul?”

Pat bit at his bottom lip and averted his gaze.

Luna smiled sadly. “It’s too late for that.”

“No.” Pat growled glaring at her. “Every little bit helps.”

“No. Because my brother sold his soul to the Devil...any soul he corrupts...will be lost forever.” Luna’s voice was tender, yet firm. “It has been the way since the late forties...”

The Were shook his head in denial. “No. Not Pierre. He’s stronger than that...fuck...he has to be...”

The Rev muttered faintly mindful of his location, “He’s Matthew’s son. It was too late for Pierre even before he was born.”

Pat stared at him hard then looked away, jaw clenched. For several seconds none of them spoke but then Pat looked toward The Rev deciding to change the subject. “You know what I am, don’t you?”

The vampire met his gaze, eyes unexpectedly warm. “You know I do, Patrick Langlois. Your clan is almost as old as mine. The ancient Lycanthrope bloodline runs in your veins.”

Pat shivered and looked away. “I’m still a youngling...”

The Rev chortled. “Johnny is a youngling...you...you are Cursed.”

The Were stiffened.

The vampire held up a hand in a placating gesture. “Never fear. Matthew doesn’t know. He doesn’t even know that you’re not fuckin’ human.”

Pat sniffed. “Thank fuck for that.”

Luna cocked her head and glanced at The Rev. “You seem to know so many secrets, Jimmy...”

The tall male smiled sagely. “And I keep them all, Luna.” His eyes glinted wryly. “If I have any faults...that’s not one of them.”

Pat said, diplomatically, “You’ve probably heard a shitload of secrets in 2400 years...”

The Rev laughed. “Yeah, like...I know who you really love.”

Pat blinked. “What? I have a girlfriend...Mare...she’s a Were...like me...”

The Rev sobered. “Yeah, that’s well and good, but you’re not in a Church down on your knees praying to the Virgin Mary for her, are you?”

The Were went very still and stared at the tall vampire feeling a chill race through his body, a sorrow as deep and black as the deepest pits of Hell filling his heart. “James...I’ve lost him, haven’t I?”

Luna sighed answering for the both of them. “Not necessarily.”

The Were glowered at her. “You just said a moment ago-”

The female cut him off, “I know, but I’d like to think that there’s still some kind of hope.”

Pat stared at her then pressed his fists to his eyes and whispered harshly to himself. “I shouldn’t have let him go out there...”

The female stepped toward him and grasped his shoulders firmly. “Look at me.”

Pat lifted his head slowly to meet her steady gaze.

She continued voice strong. “It was his choice, Pat. He is a grown male vampire...and after what Shadows did to his brother...he had every right to confront him.”

“No one was to know that it would make things worse,” The Rev stated emphatically, then after a moment roughly added, “In fact, none of us knew Matt would go at Pierre like that...that was not part of his original plan. Trying to kill Pierre...”

Pat hunched his shoulders and stared at the floor. However, he did ask something that had been nagging at his mind. “How’d you find out what happened?”

The Rev and Luna looked at each other; Pat could see a connection there but did not ponder it.

The Rev met his questioning look. “Johnny had taken me to see Luna...and we sensed it...after the fact. I sent Johnny back to the bus...so Matt wouldn’t have an excuse to piss on him...and Luna and I decided to wait until this morning and come find you.”

Luna giggled lightly. “We weren’t expecting to find you here.”

Pat shrugged a sheepish grin playing across his lips. “I couldn’t think of anywhere else to go.”

“Can’t blame you.” The Rev gazed up into the vaulted ceilings. “I was raised Catholic...”

Luna pursed her lips. “Mattie and I were as well...but then...”

Pat looked at her gently. “Devil worship?”

“Matthew was tricked...but...that’s a whole other tale...” Luna brushed a hand over the black slacks she was wearing and looked at the statuette of the Virgin. “Ironic, isn’t it?”

Pat lifted an eyebrow. “What is?”

“You’re praying to the Virgin Mary...and Pierre’s been attacking virgins...”

The Were shuddered, the hairs on the back of his neck tingling. “An unwelcome irony...”

The Rev purred low. “Right...well...I hate to say this...but can we move this out of here...there’s only so much Church I can handle...”

Pat huffed sharply, but shrugged. “Sure. I’m done here.” He stared unseeingly toward the arched entrance of the cathedral. “Need to get back to the band...Pierre, Chuck and I...we have a Role Model meeting...”

Luna bit her lip and glanced at The Rev.

The tall vampire nodded to the Were. “And Luna and I have things we need to catch up on as well.”

Pat looked hard at The Rev gauging his intentions. “You and Luna...”

A ghost of a smile passed across the vampire’s face. Luna placed a hand lightly against his shoulder, rubbing absently.

Pat watched them a wistful expression in his hazel eyes. “You and Luna.” This time his voice didn’t trail off.

The Rev chuckled low. “Indeed. Well, take care...”

Pat smiled weakly as he replied. “And you.” He nodded to the female. “Both of you.”

They parted ways, Luna and The Rev vanishing without a trace, Pat walking out the arched entrance into the streams of morning sunlight.

He stood at the front of the Cathedral gazing up into the sky watching the little clouds scudding across the stretch of blue. Then he squared his shoulders and strode off, heading back to the bus.

Simple Plan Bus

9 AM

“How many new designs?”

“There’re...six new shirts...a couple of belts and wrist bands.”

Pierre and Chuck were sitting on the lower level of the bus going through a folder of Role Model designs when Pat returned. The Were sank down on the seat opposite Pierre.

The singer glanced up at him, lifting an eyebrow. His eyes were perceptibly darker than they had been the previous day. Shadows shifted in their impenetrable depths.

Pat blinked slowly but forced himself to maintain eye contact with his friend; no matter how unsettling it was he had to remain calm. “How’s it going?”

Pierre raked long fingers through his hair. “Good. Chuck and I think that all the designs are exactly where they need to be.”

Chuck shifted the folder over to Pat so he could examine them. “Yeah, what’s your opinion?”

Pat gave the designs a cursory glance; he already knew that the items had value and would sell. He had no worries there. He was more anxious about the state of his friend’s soul than their clothing company.

“Looks great. Tell management to go ahead with it. I...um need to go get Seb...”

Seb appeared at that moment clutching his laptop and a portable recording set up. “Hey, Pat...let’s go find somewhere to do this...” The young guitarist nodded to the other two men. “Sorry, Chuck...Pierre...but we need to get on air...”

Chuck shrugged. Pierre’s lip curled as he stared hard at Pat; the Were looked at him then stood and hurried after the younger man.

Pierre watched him go then shook his head standing. “Well, I’m gonna go for a walk.”

Chuck shut the folder and nodded. “How long will you be?”

Pierre shook his head again and stared out the window. “I...need to think.”

The drummer frowned. “About last night?”

Pierre paused for a moment considering whether to respond; then he pegged his friend with a serious expression. “I dreamed about Lachelle...”

Chuck’s eyes widened. “Yeah? What exactly?”

Pierre rubbed at the stubble that was growing on his jaw. “I can’t really remember.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah.” He looked away, his bottom jaw tightening slightly.

He detested liars, could not stand them; but, here he was telling a big one to his best friend. The fact was that he could remember his dream vividly. It had been so real that he had a feeling it hadn’t been a dream, but a premonition of some kind or another.

He had no idea how he knew that but it probably had something to do with the spark that had passed between he and Shadows the night before.

Shaking his head he turned and went to the door. Punching in the code he waited for the door to slide open then stepped out of the bus into the bright morning sunlight. He blinked hard shielding his eyes from the intense rays, wondering vaguely why the light was stinging his eyes.

Brushing the thought aside he walked across the parking area, shoving his hands in the pockets of his jeans and scanning the area, his senses on high alert. As he stood there he felt a swell of hunger surge through his body, and he had to swallow hard as his salivary glands began to tingle.

“Fuck...” He muttered quietly to himself.

Glancing back toward the bus for a moment, then at his watch, he calculated how long he would need before Pat came back from wherever he went with Seb. Then tilting his head back he took a deep breath allowing the many myriad morning scents fill his nostrils. Catching hold of one he growled softly and vanished after it, fangs elongating as he readied to feed.

A7X Bus

Same Time

“What have you done, Matthew?” Sherry sat huddled at the back of the bus staring up at Shadows where he leaned against the wall a straw clenched between his teeth.

She could sense a change in the large male, a tension that seemed to fill his whole being; an all pervading sense of uncertainty that she had never in all the time she had known him sensed before.

The master vampire shook his head at her and looked down the aisle to where Johnny was crouched next to Syn attempting to figure out a new chord progression. It was times like these that made everyone forget how much the vampire hated the young Were. A time when all they were, were men in a band who wanted to do the best for their fans.

“Matthew?”

He shot a hard look at her. “Shut it, female.”

Sherry flinched and bowed her head curling her legs beneath her. Shadows sighed, removed the straw from his mouth, and moved to sit next to her. She tensed, he didn’t appear to notice but then he mumbled softly beneath his breath. Sherry tilted her head toward him.

He met her questioning gaze and spoke a little louder. “I’m...sorry.”

The female blinked, surprise in her deep brown eyes. “You...what?”

Zacky who came down the stairs at that moment snorted, not unkindly though, as he walked passed them and headed for the toilet at the other end. “He said he was sorry, Serena.”

Sherry just stared incomprehendingly at the elder male. “Why...why are you apologising?” A sour expression twisted her lips. “You never apologise.”

An almost sad expression ghosted across Shadows’ face. But he didn’t answer he just looked down, twirling the frayed plastic of the straw between his thumb and index finger, and repeated his words softly. “I’m sorry, Serena.”

Sherry’s gaze narrowed. “What did you do?”

The master vampire’s face changed, lip curling. “Yeah. Like I’m going to tell you that?”

She winced at the abrupt change in tone and shifted her weight. Shadows frowned biting at his bottom lip.

Then he swore harshly, tossed the straw aside, and stood looking down at her. “Fuck...Serena...”

Sherry peeked up at him. “My lord?”

The big male raked his fingers through his hair, muscles bunching in his tattooed arms. “I got into a fight with our son.”

Sherry blinked body trembling a little. “Is he alright?”

Shadows slumped next to her again. “Y’know...before last night I wouldn’t have given a fuck either way...but...something happened...and I’m not sure. I kinda hope so.”

Sherry shuddered.

The master vampire sensed her anxiety spike and grimaced. “He’s still alive and walking on his feet and shit...but...his soul...”

“Why the fuck are you telling her all this shit, Shads?”

They both turned their heads; Synyster had finished helping Johnny with the new music and was propped against the wall glowering at them.

“Huh?” Shadows’ brow drew down over his eyes. Honestly, he had no idea why he was telling Sherry any of what had happened; yet, something inside him was compelling him to do so. A weight pressed down on his heart and he had an eerie feeling that if he did just that everything would be okay. He didn’t mention any of this to his lieutenant though. None of it was the other vampire’s business.

Syn sneered at the master vampire’s silence, taking it as a sign that he’d caught his ‘boss’ losing a semblance of control. “Gone soft, Shads?”

Shadows gave a low guttural snarl. “I’m telling her, because it’s fucking pissing me off. I don’t know what the fuck happened last night alright? I wanna figure it out.”

“Oh, by being all soft and caring and talking shit to the female? Shit, you should’ve killed her before you went after Pierre.”

Sherry trembled and pressed back into the wall, eyes flicking between the two males. She knew that Syn was probably right in suggesting that to the master vampire; she also knew that Shadows would have no problem with killing her if he deemed it necessary. So, she watched the two males anxiously waiting to see who would come out on top.

Shadows’ jaw tightened but he didn’t move from his seat next to her. “Brian, keep out of it. None of this concerns you.”

“No?”

“No. So. Fuck off.”

Syn’s gaze narrowed, then he sneered icily, “You’re only saying that because of Johnny.”

“What?” Johnny joined them then brow furrowed in confusion.

The brown-eyed vampire glared at him. “Shads won’t kill the female because he knows you’d fuckin’ freak out.”

The Were stiffened but made no comment, darting a quick look toward Sherry. She met his gaze then looked away staring fixedly at the floor, not wanting to be drawn into the ever escalating situation.

Shadows stood and stared hard at the other vampire. “Back the fuck off, alright? Go tune your fucking guitars; we have one last gig here tomorrow night.” He hesitated, eyes narrowing slightly. “And, I have to go find The Rev.” He looked to Sherry. “You’re coming with me.”

The female gracefully inclined her head in acquiesce. A hint of a smile flickered deep in Shadows’ hazel eyes. Sherry flushed and lowered her head even more. The master vampire growled softly, took hold of her arm then gave a curt nod to Syn and Johnny before disappearing from the bus.

Cafe Au Lait

10 AM

“I do not have a fuckin’ short attention span...shut up, Chelle...oh...look some guy with one of them Shitzalot dogs or whatever- oh...sorry...yeah. Okay...Okay...so maybe it’s less than long.” David sat at the back of a coffee shop sipping from a hot mocha and randomly watching people walk passed whilst talking on his cell phone.

He had woken up first that morning which was highly unusual since he was the one who usually made the band late for everything.

That morning his mind had been buzzing with all the knowledge that had been crammed into it the day before. Finding out that his best friend for ‘x’ amount of years was a blood-sucking vampire was definitely something that needed to be thought about. Also, finding out the reason for why Pierre’s fiancée just upped and left...it made his head ache.

For purely selfish reasons, he missed having Lachelle around so without conferring with anyone else, the bassist decided he would call her, convince her to come back to Toronto and...well that’s as far as he got with his planning.

“Look...I miss you. Do you miss me?” David scrunched up his face. “Awww...we all love you, Chelle...I mean...I know even Pierre-” He abruptly cut off when he heard a soft sobbing from the other end of the line. “Chelle...Chelle?”

He clucked his tongue lightly in as reassuring a manner he could manage.

The sniffling at the other end subsided and he leaned his chin against his palm and murmured gently. “You should come back to TO and join us for the rest of the tour...oh, come on...I’m sure it’ll be fine...look...you could always stay at a hotel or something, that way you don’t have to be near Pierre...please...we miss you...and I think Pierre does too...”

David wasn’t really so sure of that last point, but judging by the past that Pierre had had with Lachelle the bassist was holding out hope. He fell silent as he listened to Lachelle attempting to come up with excuses as to why she should come back.

He laughed lightly. “Oh, come on...it’ll be good for you...maybe you should help with Merch or makeup or something...”

David drained the rest of his Mocha. “Think about it okay? We’ll be in TO for a couple more days before we head off over the country.”

He grinned broadly even though he knew she couldn’t see him. “Okay...well, see you...think about it, okay...you too...”

David clicked off his phone and sat staring absently around the cafe. Then he jumped up and walked out, feeling light of heart and that he had done all that he could. Now all there was for him to do was go back to the bus and wait and see what happened. And for the first time ever the bassist felt that he had accomplished something great.

What would be even better, of course, would be if the wheels he had set in motion resulted in his best friend getting back with his fiancée. However, that would take quite a few steps in time, so David knew he would just have to be content with Lachelle rejoining the band on tour.

If that hurdle was cleared...well then who knew what could happen?

Notes