Simple Plan Tour Bus

Same Night

9:45 Pm

Pat was drained. He sat on the edge of the lounge head bowed, sandy hair lank, dull like that of a dead man. All his emotions had been wrung out of him multiple times that night and he didn’t think he could cope with anymore. Seb sat opposite him a worried expression in bright blue eyes.

The guitarist had never seen Pat like this before and it was troubling.

He leaned forward to attempt to make eye contact with the Werewolf. “Pat? Dude...c’mon...we’ll get through this.”

Pat gave a soft grunt without lifting his head.

Seb sighed shifting his weight. “Look, the others...they’re just shocked...I mean...damn...Pierre and you...what you are...”

The two men were the only ones left awake after Pat had finished telling them about Pierre’s whereabouts and the situation he had gotten himself into. It had not been a pleasant discussion. Half the time Pat had wished that he could just make it all go away, wave a magic wand and make everything go back to normal. But, he didn’t have that luxury; he wasn’t God.

Shaking his head he peered up at his friend through his fringe. “It’s not that, Seb. They...fuck...they took it all pretty damn well.”

That had surprised the Were somewhat. He had expected them to be more shocked than they’d acted. Even David had managed to stay quiet and not react in his usual over-the-top way. Chuck of course had been the calmest about the information, considering he had been the first to be told the truth.

Jeff had remained silent the whole time Pat had been speaking. Then once he’d done they’d just sat silently pondering everything he had said. Then they slowly left and went to bed, leaving Pat and Seb alone.

Pat groaned and lowered his eyes again.

Seb frowned. “Then what’s up?”

“Pierre...” Pat rubbed his hands up and down his thighs staring earnestly at a spot on the floor.

Seb cocked his head to the side. “Pierre?”

Pat clenched his jaw the sound of his teeth grinding together filling the bus. “I don’t...” Pat paused, “I don’t know what to fucking do, Seb.” He kept rubbing his legs squeezing at his kneecaps.

His friend bit at his bottom lip. “You want to go and check on him?”

Pat shook his head. “He’ll probably be pissed at me.”

“How come?”

Pat looked at Seb and answered tightly, “I took his meal away from him.”

The younger male blinked. “What?” he shook his head sharply, “no...that just...sounds...”

“Wrong?” Pat’s voice was harsh. “Yeah, but that’s how it would’ve ended up if I hadn’t intervened.”

Seb shook his head hard, “Lachelle...hey...maybe you should go check on her?”

The Were looked at his friend. “You think?”

“Well, you’re not going to get any sleep tonight, are you?”

Pat pinched at the bridge of his nose, his eyes closing for a moment then snapping open once more. Seb’s eyes widened slightly.

“What?”

“Your...eyes...”

Pat frowned, but then he grinned. Springing to his feet, he squeezed the guitarist’s shoulder. “C’mon. We’ll go see how she is then.”

Before Seb could comment, Pat changed right in front of him, a soft growl emanating from deep in the back of his throat.

He blinked looking down at the large wolf that had transformed in front of him. “Uh...?”

Pat scratched at the floor. Better for me to go this way. Not such a shock for the Brothers. Hang onto my scruff. We’ll go see how Lachelle is.

Seb hesitantly reached out to clutch at the thick fur at the nape of Pat’s neck. Pat yipped then wagged his tail once. There was no time for Seb to react because next he knew they had left the bus and were standing in the middle of a large maze of warehouses.

“Where the hell-”

Pat yipped softly cutting his friend off. Hush...don’t say anything. I don’t usually bring humans down this way...

Seb frowned confusion written all over his face.

Pat nudged at his leg. Go to the left...

The guitarist looked in the direction the Were was indicating. Along one path there was a nondescript grey building with a large steel-grey door. Even though it wasn’t the most appealing of facades it stood out in stark relief to the rest of the surrounding buildings due to a gleam of light that filtered from beneath the heavy barrier.

Seb raised his eyebrows in question at the Were and pointed toward the building. Pat growled and trotted ahead of his friend tail flagging. The guitarist followed the Were keeping quiet as Pat had instructed eyes darting anxiously from side to side.

Pat looked back once at the man then swung his head back around and gave a low growl that rumbled from deep in his chest. Seconds after, the heavy steel door creaked open. Seb blinked in surprise when he saw the figure standing, framed by the doorway.

“Mr Cunningham?”

Alpha tilted his head and smiled grimly. “Sebastien,” he glanced down at Pat. “Pat...”

Pat grunted and yipped at his father before slipping passed him into the building and disappearing, leaving Seb alone with the elder male.

Alpha met the curious expression of the younger man. “You here to see how Lachelle is?”

Seb rubbed his hands on his pants. “I guess. Did Pat bring her here?”

The elder Were shook his head. “No, some of my men did. C’mon in. I’ll take you to her. How’re the rest of the band?”

Seb followed Alpha as he lead him into a large entrance way and toward one of many hallways. He cleared his throat before answering, keeping pace with the elder male. “Asleep.”

Pat’s father chuckled. “Tour going well?”

Seb grimaced, voice dry, “As much as possible considering all the shit that’s going on.”

Alpha sighed, “True that. Pierre’s completely lost it, I gather.”

“I don’t really know...”

“Humph...well hopefully it will all be set to rights soon,” the elder male commented, grimly. “If Matthew sees fit to see the error of his ways...” The elder Were allowed his words to tail off as he came to a halt outside a small wooden door. “In there. I’ll not go in. Pat’s already there.”

Seb wondered how the elder Cunningham knew that but before he could ask the door opened and Pat’s head poked around the corner. He was back in human form and Seb couldn’t help but notice the bags under his friend’s eyes.

“Seb, come in, but keep quiet. She’s asleep.” He opened the door more letting the younger man into the room. Seb peered passed his friend into the dim room. There wasn’t much in there, a steel night stand and a black steel framed double bed.

Lying on the bed cocooned in brown blankets was Lachelle. She looked so delicate as if she would break apart at the least touch. Seb thought that even in the dark her paleness was obvious, as if all the blood had been drained from her vessels.

That’s almost true.

Seb looked at Pat who had spoken without opening his mouth. The Were’s expression was hard. Seb chewed at his tongue then looked to Lachelle again noting bruising at the side of her neck.

“Pierre did that?” his question came out in a disbelieving whisper.

Pat nodded tightly, answering in a low voice, “Yeah. If I hadn’t shown she might’ve not recovered.”

“Crazy...” Seb breathed out roughly and leaned back against the wall gazing upon Lachelle’s still form. “Will she be okay?”

Pat nodded wearily sitting on a chair by the bed. “Yeah, we got to her in time. My sister’s been in and out keeping an eye on her.” He leaned back against his chair folding his arms an introspective look glossing over his eyes.

Seb shuffled his feet. “So, what about Pierre...has somebody...?”

Pat’s gaze flickered. “Zacky and Jimmy are watching him...Johnny went to help them...all we can do is wait.”

Seb nodded and slid down the wall to sit on the floor wrapping his arms around his knees. Pat looked down at the floor, clasping his hands between his legs and the two friends remained in strangely calm silence as they just allowed the time to pass, their thoughts focusing on how everyone else was faring.

Other side of town

“Matthew, talk to her.”

Shadows, Luna and Serena had found their way to one of the many local parks in the outer city region.

The master vampire had parked his ass on a bench and had his head bowed resting in his hands. His sister sat next to him her forehead resting against the side of his, one hand rubbing slow circles between his shoulder blades. Sherry stood several feet away, just waiting and watching.

To say that she was nervous would be a massive understatement. Considering her relationship with Shadows was so flimsy and based upon fear, on her part, it was no wonder that her stomach felt like it was in her mouth. His shift in attitude was not making it any easier either; after centuries of oppression from the master vampire it was difficult for Sherry to feel at ease around the male.

Minutes passed as Luna continued to murmur soft encouragements to the master vampire. The scene intrigued Sherry a little. This was a side of Shadows she had never been privileged enough to witness, and it was slightly unnerving. She watched on in silence.

Shadows sighed heavily and after what seemed like an age, he lifted his head and looked toward Sherry. His covered stare met her wary one.

He waited for a heartbeat, and then cleared his throat before motioning to her. “Come here, Serena...we need to talk.”

Sherry licked at her lips, approaching the bench cautiously. Luna stood and moved to lean against the back of the bench.

Shadows pressed his lips together. “I’m not gonna bite.”

She flushed a little and sat as far away from the large male as was physically possible. Shadows could sense her uneasiness so remained still so as not to startle her unnecessarily, but not before removing his shades and hooking them on his shirt.

For a moment they sat in silence both contemplating the situation they had found themselves in.

It wasn’t until Luna let out a deep almost exasperated sigh that the male vampire turned the smaller female and started speaking. “When you left Huntington...how did you decide where you were going to go?”

Sherry met Shadows’ curious gaze deciding how to answer the question knowing that it would either make him mad or surprise him. “Johnny. He said he had...friends in Montreal.”

Shadows’ lifted an eyebrow then nodded. “Yeah, guess they were Pat’s family.”

“Guess so.” Sherry looked down at the ground watching as a moth alighted on a blade of grass.

Shadows shifted his weight, the bench creaking. “So...what about the Bouvier’s? How?”

Sherry squeezed her hands against the seat of the bench. “Pat’s father...knew Rèal, said that they were the perfect family for our son...”

She peered up at the master vampire.

His face was impassive. “So, you left him on their doorstep?”

“It was the hardest thing I’d ever done...but I knew you’d come looking for us. And I was...afraid...”

Shadows tilted his head back and clenched his fists before allowing them to relax. “You were right to be scared. I really wanted to find you and kill you for taking my son from me.”

Sherry trembled and wrapped her arms around her breasts in a protective gesture.

The master vampire grimaced and rubbed wearily at his face. “I would’ve done it. Y’know? I would’ve killed you.”

The female bit at her bottom lip the tip of her left fang piercing the skin lightly. Shadows stiffened at the blooming scent of fresh blood; vampire blood was much more potent than human blood. Sherry noted the expression on the male’s face and tensed a little. He gritted his teeth then looked away.

Sherry shuffled her feet in the grass then cast a sidelong look at the large male. “What about now?”

Luna who had remained silent throughout the exchange so far leaned over the back of the bench and nudged Shadows gently. “Yes. What about now, Matt?”

Shadows turned to look at his sister then swivelled his head to look at Sherry. She was the only female that the master vampire had ever mated. Once a male vampire mated it was for life. Yet, he hadn’t been a very good mate to her. In fact he’d hardly been a mate to her at all. He had never even told her that he...

He abruptly let that particular thought disappear and bared his fangs slightly. “Gates wants me to kill you.”

Sherry cringed into herself.

Shadows groaned a little. “But, I don’t...not anymore,” he said tiredly, adding, “things changed.”

“Changed?” Sherry sounded sceptical.

The master vampire frowned. “The other night...when I bit Pierre.”

Sherry’s eyes widened. “You never said...”

“I know. That changed everything. Fuck...I don’t know how...but it did.” He stretched his arms out along the back of the bench and looked earnestly at her. “I fucked up, Serena.”

Sherry pursed her lips at him uncertain how to respond to his declaration. Considering Shadows had wanted control of their son, she wondered exactly how he had messed up. Prior to all of these happenings it would have seemed the outcome would have been exactly what he wanted. She was not sure whether to trust what he was saying now.

Luna had no such compunctions though. Shadows’ sister moved to sit between them glancing sharply at each of them.

Then she focused her eyes upon the elder female. “Serena. I can tell you don’t trust what Matt’s saying.”

Sherry rolled her eyes. With the fiery redhead sitting between them she felt braver than if she had been alone with the master vampire. “Can you blame me, after everything he’s done to me?”

“No. There’s no blame there,” Luna acknowledged. “But, you shouldn’t judge him for his past.”

Sherry struggled with her thoughts for a moment then inquired, “How do you know that I can trust him?”

Luna met her anxious gaze directly as she responded, “I know my brother. But I also know what the future will hold.” She glanced at Shadows who was staring at the ground chewing hard at his bottom lip. She looked back at Sherry. “Things will get better. But...only if something is done for Pierre,” she took a deep breath before ploughing onwards. “You two have to reconcile before anything can be done...and I know that’s not an easy ask.”

Sherry trembled. “I don’t think I could forgive...”

Shadows cut in roughly, “I don’t ever expect forgiveness from you, Serena. I don’t deserve it. And I don’t expect it. Hate me...if it’ll make it easier.”

Sherry looked passed Luna to look at the male, interrupting his spiel. “I don’t hate you, Matthew.”

“No?”

“No. Never hated you. Scared shitless of you...but never hated you.”

Shadows cocked an eyebrow at her disbelieving. “Never?”

Sherry gave him a tiny smile. “Crazy, I know.”

Shadows nodded in agreement. “Absolutely. If I were you I’d hate me.”

Luna snorted. “You’re too hard to hate.”

Shadows flushed looking at his sister. “Thanks...I guess.” He took several deep breaths before standing and looking out over the park. “Still, I meant what I said. I don’t expect forgiveness.”

Sherry hesitated before getting to her own feet and moving to stand next to the master vampire. He looked down at her his expression guarded.

She looked back at him her own expression just as uncertain. “Matthew?”

“Mhm?”

Sherry paused, really wanting to say something along the lines of how even though she couldn’t forgive him; she was willing to work on their future relationship. However she couldn’t find the words so instead she asked, “What’re we going to do about Pierre?”

The master vampire lifted his eyes back toward the horizon, squaring his shoulders. “We’re going to raise Hell. And destroy the fucker within.”

Sherry felt a tremor race through her body. “What do you mean?”

Shadows brought his gaze to hers; his eyes were bright, burning with a flame of determination. “You’ll see.”

He readjusted his ball cap, unhooked his shades slipping them onto his face then grasped Sherry’s hand lightly. She recoiled involuntarily.

Shadows relaxed his grip. “You do want to help Pierre?”

She nodded emphatically and tightened her grasp on his hand.

He blinked at her then looked over to Luna. “Back to the bus first.”

His sister nodded and disappeared.

He looked back at Sherry. “Ready, Serena?”

Sherry lifted her chin meeting his covered gaze with determination that almost matched his. “Ready as I’ll ever be...considering...”

Nodding at her response, Shadows set his jaw and squeezed her hand gently before vanishing them from the park.

Somewhere else

“Fuck you, Jimmy...untie me you fucking bastard!” Pierre snarled, baring his fangs at the lanky vampire who was leaning back against the wall an amused expression on his face.

The Rev wasn’t taking any chances. The younger vampire was chained to the end of the very bed he’d been using to rape his ex-fiancée on.

When The Rev and Zacky had forced their way into the room and Lachelle had been removed the two elder vampires had tackled Pierre onto the bed. Then using a bicycle chain they had found under the bed they chained him to the iron bed head. For their safety and his own.

“No can do, Bouvier. Don’t want you attacking us.”

Zacky sat on the windowsill sucking on a chicken bone. He had slipped out earlier, returning with a bucket of KFC chicken, leaving The Rev to try and calm Pierre down.

He was yanking at the bike chain, ice cold fury burning in his eyes. “Fucker. I haven’t done anything to you. Fucking untie me.”

“No,” The Rev frowned at him. “You’re a danger to all of us, and yourself so just shut up and sit tight.”

Pierre hissed savagely before slumping back against the bed head grumbling to himself. “Should break these chains...”

Zacky’s brow furrowed. “You can’t, Bouvier. Rev did something to them so you can’t.”

“Fuck you, Baker,” Pierre spat viciously.

“No, I’d rather you didn’t. You fucking raped someone with that thing.”

The Rev interrupted, “Shut up both of you. We just gotta wait for someone to get here and tell us what we’re gonna do about all this.”

“Humph, what can we do? I mean, seriously...what?” Zacky shot an angry look at the vampire chained to the bed.

Pierre sneered, blood-stained fangs flashing. The green-eyed vampire shook his head and looked out the window. The Rev just sighed; he had no answers and bearing in mind that he was the eldest vampire of the lot that was a worry. All he could do was wait; in fact, that was all any of them could do. It definitely wasn’t going to be an easy wait though.

With an enraged vampire in the room and the only thing preventing him from attacking him or Zacky being a bicycle chain, it was going to be a very intense, nerve-wracking wait. The Rev just hoped that whoever decided to help was on their way, or they were all royally screwed.

Notes