9
“Does this belong to you?” asked Dimitri, dropping Sebastian unceremoniously in a heap on the living room floor.
Terry leapt to his feet and crouched over the unconscious form. “Well at least you didn’t kill him,” he said with relief. “The kid’s completely harmless, just someone I picked up along the way.”
“Like a rash?” asked Dimitri with a grin.
“Cut it out,” said Terry, surprised by his need to defend this pathetic excuse for a vampire. “Help me get him onto the couch.”
They lifted Seb off the floor and his eyes opened briefly to survey the room. “He’s fine,” said Dimitri, “I just gave him a little tap on the head.”
As soon as Dimitri turned away, the inert form on the couch sprang to life and hurled itself at Jill, wrapping an arm around her throat and bearing its teeth in a wicked grin.
“Get this fucking leech off me,” cried Jill, struggling to shake Seb from his perch on the back of her chair.
“Sebastian, get down,” commanded Terry. “These are my friends.”
Seb’s face dropped as he let go of Jill and hopped back to the floor. “I’m sorry. I thought they were holding you captive.”
“So your pet can talk,” sneered Jill. “Get him out of my house before I pin his wings to the wall.”
“It’s okay Seb,” said Terry gently. “I know you were just looking out for me. Why don’t you wait outside until I’m finished here?”
Seb headed for the door with obvious reluctance, pausing to shoot Dimitri an angry glare. “I could take you any day. I just let you carry me inside because it was easier than breaking a window.”
Dimitri took a step forward and Seb was gone, slamming the front door behind him.
“New boyfriend?” asked Dimitri teasingly as Terry struggled not to laugh.
“Hardly. I just feel sorry for him. I don’t think he’s got a friend in the world, and he’s actually a pretty nice guy.”
Jill curled her lip in derision. “I guess you really have changed if you’re hanging around with vampires now. Any other new friends you want to tell us about?”
Terry squirmed uncomfortably as Dimitri moved to his side and kissed him softly on the cheek. “I can’t believe you’re back,” he whispered. “It’s going to be just like old times again.”
Jill coughed politely and mumbled something about making dinner, leaving the two men suddenly alone.
“I guess it’s pointless to ask if you missed me,” murmured Dimitri, inches from Terry’s ear, “but are you at least glad to see me again?” He ran his tongue down the nape of Terry’s neck as a hand began to explore his inner thigh.
Terry moved away, hoping Dimitri wouldn’t notice his mounting excitement and feel encouraged to take this any further.
“I need to tell you something,” he gasped as Dimitri moved in for another impassioned kiss.
Dimitri sighed but backed away. “Can’t it wait?”
“No. I mean, I think you need to know that I’ve been seeing someone else. It’s pretty serious.”
Dimitri looked as if he’d just been cold-cocked with a lead pipe. “You cheated on me? With who?”
Terry wondered whether Dimitri had any idea of the absurdity of their situation. He might have an unbroken string of memories of their time together, but Terry’s past was filled only with thoughts of Clyde.
“I know we were in a relationship,” said Terry calmly, “but you have to understand that I’ve lost three years of my life. I only came back a few months ago, and during that time I had no idea you even existed.”
“It was more than just a relationship,” interrupted Dimitri, his deep blue eyes clouded with anger. “We were always in it together, just the two of us. Sure, we’d hook up with other guys for a bit of fun, but never for love. We had more than enough of that between us.”
“I’m sorry,” said Terry helplessly. “I didn’t know.”
“Who is this guy?”
“Uh, he’s a werewolf actually.”
“A werewolf? Are you crazy?” Dimitri looked at Terry in horror and drained the last inch of bourbon from his glass. “What the fuck were you thinking?”
“I guess I wasn’t thinking anything,” answered Terry defensively. “He rescued me from a fire and we hooked up pretty fast after that. I thought I was someone else.”
“What?” asked Dimitri, shaking his head in confusion.
“I was taken from the land between darkness and light by a witch who wanted to get rid of a wolf pack. She filled my mind with lies about who I was and used me to get close to them. Clyde defended me, right from the start. I think he was the one who brought me back from the dead.”
“A werewolf? Not a chance. They don’t have that kind of power.”
“I know,” continued Terry, “but when the witch was killed, I began the journey to join the other souls of the dead. The thought of going back there was truly horrifying and I just focused everything I had on Clyde. It was like I was pushing in one direction, and I could feel him pulling from the other side. Next thing I knew, the heavens split open and I was back.”
“Just like that?” asked Dimitri skeptically.
“Just like that. I don’t really understand it myself, but I know that if it hadn’t been for Clyde, I’d still be awaiting judgment.”
“It’s happened before,” said Dimitri carefully, “but there was always powerful magic involved. A few mighty warlocks have raised the dead, but those who return are changed. They carry a dark force which can’t be broken, an evil that clings to their very bones. I can see you’ve been through something terrible, but you don’t really seem very different to me.”
“I’m not,” said Terry, trying to sound unconcerned. “I think I’d know if I’d been turned into some kind of monster, and I can assure you I’m not even thinking of ripping your head off and sucking out your brains.”
“That’s not funny,” said Dimitri, taking a step back. “Laugh all you want, but telling people you’ve come back from the dead isn’t too smart around here.”
“But it’s true,” protested Terry. “You think I should tell them I’ve been on vacation?”
“Stick to the story,” replied Dimitri seriously. “Tell the elders you went to look for the shapeshifter and somehow Alex got killed along the way. They’ll welcome you back, and that way nobody is going to ask too many questions. Just keep it simple and move on.”
“I’ll think about it,” said Terry, “but now I have to take care of Sebastian and find us somewhere to stay.”
“You can stay here,” protested Dimitri.
“Yes, but I’m not leaving Seb out in the cold and I can’t see Jill letting him back into the house.”
“He can sleep in the shed,” suggested Dimitri. “He’ll be fine there.”
“No,” said Terry firmly. “I’m not going to have him treated like an animal for trying to protect me. We’ll find somewhere to stay and I’ll come back and see you tomorrow.”
Dimitri smiled and stroked Terry’s cheek. “I don’t think anyone with evil intent would go to such pains for a stranger,” he said. “You’re still the soft-hearted fool I fell in love with.”
Although Dimitri was clearly unhappy with Terry’s plan, he accompanied him to the door. Bending his head, he gave Terry a long kiss and sighed as he released him to the cold.
“You’ll remember,” promised Dimitri as he closed the door. “And when you do, you’ll be ready to make up for wasted time.”
*
Terry found Seb huddled in a corner of the garden, looking like a small black rock beneath the cloak he had used to shroud himself. He gave the bundle a gentle kick and Seb’s head emerged, a sheen of sweat beading his face.
“You don’t look so good,” said Terry with concern. “What’s the matter?”
“I need to eat,” mumbled Seb. He opened his fist and a small mouse scurried off into the underbrush. “I just couldn’t do it.”
“For fuck’s sake,” cried Terry, “couldn’t you just swallow it whole?”
Seb made a gagging sound and Terry threw up his hands in surrender. “Just stay here.”
Terry made his way silently to the back of the house. He could see the silhouette of Jill and Dimitri talking animatedly before the fire. Easing open the back door, he crept into the kitchen and opened the freezer. Inside, he found what he hoped were steaks wrapped in brown paper. He grabbed the package and hurried out before Jill could return.
“Here,” he said, thrusting the meat into Seb’s trembling hands. “Eat this. It’s not as good for you as a fresh kill but the blood will keep you going for a couple days. Maybe we can catch you a sheep or something.”
“Thanks,” said Seb gratefully, tearing open the package. Inside were three frozen steaks which he proceeded to crunch with obscene pleasure.
“Now you have to do something for me.”
“Anything,” replied Seb. A piece of bone had caught between his front teeth, giving him the appearance of a vampire with three fangs. “I am completely at your service.”
They walked to the shed which stood to the north of the house and Terry emerged with a couple of shovels. “There’s something I need to see,” he said quietly. “Don’t ask.”
Making their way back around the lake, Terry and Seb stopped beneath a huge oak that stood several feet from the shoreline. It commanded the precise point where north met south, neutral and sacred ground for both the witches’ coven and that of their brother warlocks. The moon had risen and now spread her soft light over the eerie scene. After searching among the stones littering the ground, Terry finally raised his hand to summon Seb.
“This is it,” he whispered. “Start digging.”
In his hand, Terry held a small white rock on which was carved the symbol of his people. It was a peace stone. Beside it he had found another with the ancient markings of Alex’s clan.
“What am I looking for?” asked Seb, already sweating with exertion after turning less than a foot of rock-hard earth.
“Probably nothing,” said Terry. “Just keep digging.”
Terry looked furtively around and, seeing no one, sent a bolt of heat coursing through the frozen ground. “That should help,” he said, smiling at Sebastian’s gratitude.
Terry bent his back over Alex’s grave and dug steadily until he felt the shovel hit something that yielded to pressure. Climbing into the hole, he pushed back the soft soil with his hands and uncovered the sacred red cloth used to wrap a body in preparation for burial. Lifting it carefully to the lip of the grave, he slowly unwrapped the bundle and laid bare the remains of what had once been his closest friend.
“Who’s that?” asked Seb, eyes round with wonder.
“A boy named Alex. I killed him, a long time ago.” Terry’s voice caught and he coughed painfully. “I’ll finish the other one while you cover this hole back up.”
Terry returned Alex’s body gently to its resting place and Seb went swiftly to work covering it up. As he continued to dig deeper into the second hole, Terry was overwhelmed by a consuming sense of emptiness. Tears coursed down his face and it was as if all joy had been forever leached from his heart. He had to stop then and ask Seb to finish the job.
When Seb emerged with the familiar red cloth, he looked puzzled. “I don’t think there’s anyone in here,” he said hesitantly.
“I didn’t expect there to be, but I just had to make sure.” Terry unwrapped the cloth and laid it across the snow like an ugly red wound.
“Who was buried there?” asked Seb.
“I was,” said Terry heavily. “I was hoping that maybe Alex had been spared as well, but as you can see I’m the only freak in town.”
Sebastian reached a tentative hand to Terry’s shoulder and gave it a light squeeze. “I don’t know what happened here, but I do know that you’re a good man. I didn’t want to be a vampire any more than you asked for resurrection, but here we are. You can play the hand you’re dealt, or spend a lifetime trying to turn spades into hearts.”
Terry looked at his new friend in surprise. “Those are wise words from a kid with funny teeth. You might turn out to be useful after all.”
Seb beamed with pleasure and set about filling the second hole. Terry pushed the shroud into his backpack, somehow unwilling to return it to the ground. Replacing the peace stones, he ran his hand over Alex’s grave and murmured a few words of comfort.
Neither vampire nor warlock looked back as they continued to the head of the lake, oblivious to the eyes that watched from behind the sacred oak.