Toronto Downtown

10:15 AM

Shadows materialised right in the middle of the city mall, Sherry close beside him. He frowned casting his sharp gaze up and down the line of shops.

The female glanced warily at him. “Are you sure they’re here, Matthew?”

The master vampire glanced sharply at her. “I can sense James anywhere...he has to be close.”

Sherry lowered her eyes and mumbled an apology. He just shook his head at her then stiffened as his head snapped toward the left, eyes narrowing on two figures exiting a store mere feet away. Sherry followed his gaze and blinked rapidly.

The Rev and the mahogany-haired female were strolling hand in hand across the mall directly toward them. Twin pained expressions ghosted across their faces as they approached.

“Matthew.” The taller vampire’s distinctive voice carried tonelessly across the rapidly closing distance. Shadows tensed biting at his bottom lip. However, he said nothing, waiting.

The Rev halted in front of him casting a quick guarded look at the much smaller female hiding slightly behind the master vampire. “What the fuck, Matthew?”

Shadows also looked at Sherry then met his friend’s severe glare. “Before you accuse me of anything, James, this isn’t what you think it is.”

The Rev growled low, but before he could respond, Luna stepped between them and pegged her elder brother with a solemn look. “Brother.”

Shadows’ stance stiffened as he met his sister’s serious stare; his lips parted slightly revealing the tips of his fangs. Many different thoughts began to swirl through his mind and collide with each other as he just stood there trying to comprehend the presence of this female who had been gone from his life for so long.

Luna just kept looking him in the eyes, her own expression remaining calm even as an invisible breeze lifted several strands of fiery hair from around her face.

Sherry’s pupils dilated slightly as she felt the tension escalate. She looked up toward the master vampire then at his sister. The younger female kept her gaze fixed upon her brother’s uncertain one.

Shadows swallowed hard passed a lump that had formed in his throat. Then he lifted a hand and rubbed it over his face.

“Fuck...Luna...” His deep voice rasped harshly. She sighed lightly and stepped even closer cocking her head to the side as she tried to look into his eyes. Shadows squeezed his eyelids shut and muttered a low curse.

Luna touched her fingers to his cheek. “Mattie...”

He leaned into her touch and a sound almost like a purr emitted from deep in his chest.

Sherry took several steps back watching the siblings as they stood close together. Even though the master vampire was built, and towered above the redheaded female, she appeared so much bigger than he did. Something in her aura overwhelmed his and dimmed the menace that normally radiated from his being.

The smaller female noted that Luna was much taller than she was, but still only reached Shadows’ chin. She tore her gaze away her eyes involuntarily meeting the other male’s soft blue stare.

The Rev inclined his head toward her a slight smile touching the corners of his mouth. It’s going to be all right, Serena...

Sherry shivered and lifted an eyebrow slightly. Why do you care?

The Rev folded his arms and allowed his gaze to float back to the master vampire and Luna.

Yet, he replied to Sherry’s question in an almost tender manner. I only want what’s best for Matthew. His...wellbeing has always been my number one priority. The tall male glanced sideways at the diminutive female. When we first met you...he had very...different views of life...and then...things got worse...but I always stuck by him.

Sherry’s brow furrowed as she focussed on the elder male’s words. How do you mean?

The Rev rubbed at his neck as he continued to observe Shadows and Luna. The male had an arm hooked around her shoulders, forehead propped against hers as she whispered softly to him. Her long mahogany locks shielded their faces from the rest of the world, brother and sister communing after so long apart from each other.

James? Sherry prompted tentatively.

The Rev glanced at her again, eyes brighter than before. Corruption, female...his soul...was tainted...bad thoughts, bad deeds...I’m just sorry you got caught in the middle of it all.

Sherry breathed out slowly. I never thought that I’d-

Hear such a thing from me? I’m not bad...neither is Matt. Just...bad thoughts, bad deeds. He paused then added wearily almost as an afterthought, I think...he really did love you... The tall male rubbed absently at his biceps not looking to the female to see her reaction.

Sherry looked back toward the master vampire, pondering what The Rev had just said and watching the powerful male as he revealed a side of himself she had never witnessed before.

Shadows was trembling slightly, murmuring low to Luna who was listening intently. Suddenly, his voice rose, and both The Rev and Sherry were able to hear what he was saying.

“I want this to fucking stop, Luna...it has to fucking stop...” His voice caught and he snarled in distress.

Luna gripped his shoulders firmly and locked eyes with his. “Then stop it, Mattie. Just, let it all go.”

Shadows groaned shaking his head. “But, Pierre...”

Luna shook her head laughing slightly. “James and I caught Pat praying for him at Santa Maria.”

The master vampire’s eyes widened at that revelation. “Does he think that’ll help?”

His sister shrugged delicately. “Can’t hurt.”

Shadows kneaded at his scalp then finally turned his attention to The Rev and Sherry. “Jimmy, what do you think?”

The Rev shifted his weight, favouring his left leg. “I think-”

He was abruptly interrupted, as Johnny appeared as if from nowhere almost colliding with the lanky male; Zachary popped into existence a split second later.

“We have a problem.” The Were panted hard trying to catch his breath.

The green-eyed vampire nodded vigorously in agreement. “A big fucking one.”

The Rev backed up steadying himself before responding sharply. “Yeah, you running into me.”

“Oi, that was Johnny, not me!” The younger vampire whined.

Shadows glowered at him then glanced at the shorter male. “What, Christ?”

Johnny met his master’s questioning gaze, his own squinting slightly as he noted softness in their depths. “It’s Pierre...he’s gone AWOL...and um...his ex...she’s on her way back to TO.”

“Fuck.” Shadows clenched a fist in his hair. Luna’s expression took on an anxious cast. Sherry shivered wrapping her arms around her breasts.

The Rev hissed softly. “You know where Bouvier went?”

Zachary licked at the tips of his fangs before answering, voice heavy. “Chuck said that he went for a walk...to think.”

“Motherfucker...” Shadows smeared a large hand over his face. Then he stared hard at the younger vampire. “Can you sense him?”

Zachary shook his head worry etched on his usually jovial face, emerald green eyes dark.

Sherry spoke up then her tone hesitant. “Perhaps I could try...?”

The four males turned their heads to look at her.

Before any of them could speak though, Luna stepped in. “That might not be wise, Serena. After what Matt did...there’s no knowing what Pierre’s capable of doing.”

Shadows bristled offended by his sibling’s comment.

The redhead felt his temper spike and pegged him with a serene look. “I am not trying to offend you, Matthew. I’m just telling it like it is.” Shadows opened his mouth to argue but his sister cut him off sharply. “I know you didn’t deliberately set out to turn Pierre against you...but...” Luna paused and glanced back at the smaller female. “Pierre is in a bad situation. And he is angry with you. His brother...”

“Not his brother,” Shadows said tightly.

Luna shook her head. “No. Not blood-related...but they were raised together. And you destroyed that relationship.”

Shadows trembled; his sister’s eyes met his and he saw an emotion in their depths that made his stomach twist and his head throb. There was compassion in her eyes, so much of it that he could not maintain eye contact with her.

Looking away, he stared hard at a point in the distance.

Luna observed him for a long moment then looked at the others. “Also...Pierre’s female...Matt took her virginity.”

“What the fuck?” Zachary stared incredulously at the master vampire. Shadows growled defensively in response.

The Rev came to his defence. “He did it on a whim.”

“Still doesn’t make it right,” Zachary snapped, snakebites flashing.

“Of course not,” Shadows bit out coldly, “But, I didn’t particularly give a shit at the time.”

“And now?”

Shadows turned away folding his arms over his chest the motion accentuating the bulge of his biceps. They all watched him as his broad shoulders tensed.

Then he murmured low repeating the words The Rev had spoken to Sherry. “Bad thoughts...bad deeds...” He peered over his shoulder at them mortal anguish shining deep in his hazel stare. “This has to end. Here. Now.”

Zachary narrowed his gaze at the master vampire. Johnny frowned quizzically at the large male wondering at his apparently abrupt change of heart. The Rev hissed in agreement. The two females just observed the big male in silence.

Shadows turned to face them lifting his chin an expression of steely determination fixed in his eyes. “I’m responsible for my actions. I’m responsible for everything that’s happened. I have to fucking deal with it.” He paused casting a long look at his sister. “Luna. You saw this. You saw all of this, decades ago. And like a fool I thought I could do this on my own. But...I was wrong. Fucking stupid of me.”

Shadows swallowed hard Adam’s apple bobbing vigorously. Rubbing at his biceps, he looked away again the overwhelming vulnerability of the situation getting to him.

“I should never have...” He halted abruptly clenching his jaw so hard that they could all hear it crack slightly.

“Never have what, Shads?” Zachary lifted an eyebrow. Shadows shook his head and mumbled under his breath before swinging around and vanishing from in front of them.

The others blinked in surprise then glanced at each other anxiety written all over their faces.

The Rev was the first to speak after a moment of stunned silence. “Someone should go after Matt.”

Sherry lifted a hand, as did Johnny. “We will.”

The Were licked his lips. “He needs support...if nothing else.”

“Then Luna should go as well,” Zachary, pointed out.

The lanky male nodded and looked at Shadows’ younger sibling. “Luna?”

Luna nodded. “I’ll go with Johnny and Serena.”

“Right.” The Rev glanced at Zachary. “We’ll go look for Pierre?”

The green-eyed vampire hissed softly. “ASAP.”

The Rev nodded then scowled. “What’s Syn up to?”

“Minding the bus.”

Johnny blinked then quipped, “Don’t you mean, minding his own business?”

Zachary snorted. “Watch it, wolf.”

The Were flinched but only a little and he didn’t apologise for his comment.

The elder vampire shot a warning glance at him but then sighed. “Go. Catch up with Matt. V. Let’s go.”

With that, The Rev vanished; Zachary grunted and disappeared after him. Johnny, Luna and Sherry glanced at each other and then they too vanished following the master vampire’s distinct scent wherever he had disappeared to.

Montreal Bus Station

Noon

Lachelle stood at the bus stop gazing down the street an anxious expression on her face. After receiving David’s emphatic phone call she had begun to wonder if it had been so wise to leave the band just because Pierre had pushed her away. She loved the guys so much, and she always enjoyed helping out.

At the same time, though she was apprehensive about how Pierre would react to having her around. Especially since, she still didn’t remember what had happened between her and Shadows. Of course, she knew he had taken her, but she was confused on whether it had been non-consensual or whether she had gone to him willingly. He had played with her mind, she was sure of it, but she did not understand what had happened.

Shaking her head she watched as the bus finally arrived. The door hissed open and she climbed on board clutching her bag close to her as she swiped her travel card across the automatic ticket machine. Finding her way to a seat by the window, she stared blankly out at the street as the bus pulled away from the stop and trundled on its way toward Toronto.

Half asleep, the hum of the tyres against the bitumen lulling her, she tensed slightly when she heard a voice in her ear. Go back...don’t go to TO...go back...

“What?”

She sat up and jerked her head around to look behind her.

An elderly woman sat behind her and tilted her head, expression gentle. “You okay, sweetie?”

Lachelle shook her head and slumped down on her seat. “No. I’m fine, thanks...”

Fine...? You will be if you turn around and go home...

Lachelle blinked rapidly and pulled her iPod out jamming the ear buds in her ears and cranking up the music.

Chelle...don’t be stupid...

The voice sounded familiar to her, but she just shook it off, thinking, it was her imagination playing tricks on her. Closing her eyes and sinking further down on her seat she allowed the music to swell in her mind and take her away, no other thoughts drawing her attention.

Toronto

2 PM

Pat’s eyes snapped open. “Fuck.”

Seb, who was packing up their equipment, glanced at his friend. “What is it?”

The Were rubbed at his face in frustration. “Nothing. I have to go.” He looked at the guitarist, frowning faintly. Seb just gave him a confused look, so he added softly, “Lachelle is on her way here...”

His friend looked surprised. “How do you know that?”

Pat shook his head. “Don’t ask. I’ll see you back at the bus.”

“Um. Okay then.” Seb blinked as Pat just vanished into thin air. “Shit...” Shaking his head, he grabbed the gear and made his way back to the bus.

Unbeknownst to him, Pierre was heading in the opposite direction on a parallel path, crossing the town to the Main Bus port in the centre of the city. The reason: he had picked up a tantalising and familiar scent; it was becoming stronger every minute. It was causing his salivary glands to work overtime; but at the same time, it was causing a renewed surge of rage and bloodlust to tingle through every cell of his body.

Lachelle...Lachelle is coming...

He growled low as he approached the bus port and slid through the main gates. Stalking across the lot, he went to the point where the Montreal bus would stop to offload its passengers.

Leaning against the wall beneath the ‘Welcome to Toronto’ banner, Pierre folded his arms and waited, knowing that very soon he would be able to satisfy his craving for sex and blood.

Very...very soon...

Notes