Of Vampires And Rock Stars (Ch 5)
Title: Of Vampires And Rock Stars (Ch 5)
Author: seraph05
Rating: PG-13
Fandom: Largely Fall Out Boy with My Chemical Romance and appearances from The Academy Is…’s William Beckett, Gym Class Heroes’ Travis and Panic! At The Disco’s Brendon & Ryan.
Pairing: Peter/ Patrick, Gerard/ Frank,
Warnings: Swearing, Violence, Suggestive behavior
Disclaimer: What? *shuffles the tied up boys into the next room* Define own…
Summary: "Coffee" Patrick said bluntly, flipping the pancakes.
"Mhmm" Pete mumbled with a nod.
"It wasn't really a question, you Starbucks whore" he said curtly turning to the coffee machine though there was no venom in his voice.
Chapter 1 - http://seraph05.livejournal.com/4296.html
Chapter 2 - http://seraph05.livejournal.com/4704.html
Chapter 3 - http://seraph05.livejournal.com/4964.html
Chapter 4 - http://seraph05.livejournal.com/5530.html
Chapter 5 - The Ghost of You Will Always Haunt Me
Patrick was frying up some pancakes for his breakfast/ dinner when he heard someone walk into the room. He looked over his shoulder to see who it was though he already knew. Pete slumped onto the couch groggily, his short hair more out of control than usual and his eyes hazy and unfocused.
"Coffee" Patrick said bluntly, flipping the pancakes.
"Mhmm" Pete mumbled with a nod.
"It wasn't really a question, you Starbucks whore" he said curtly turning to the coffee machine though there was no venom in his voice. It was too early for anger. He switched it on and went to the fridge collecting the toppings for his pancakes.
"Ouch" Pete said several minutes later proving that he was still in that delicate stage between asleep and awake. As Patrick finally slipped the pancakes onto a plate the coffee maker gurgled happily in the background. Patrick faced it pouring out a few cups. He walked across the room holding one of the cups out to Pete as he went by and Pete took it wordlessly. Patrick had reached the door before Pete said anything.
"What about the rest?" his said blearily.
"There's one for me, one for Joe and one for Gerard. Andy's still asleep" Patrick answered "I'm going to eat breakfast in my room today"
"Patrick, wait" Pete said slightly more soberly. Patrick looked back at him.
"What?" he said shortly annoyance now evident in his voice "My pancakes are getting cold."
"It’s about what I said last night" Pete said awkwardly "I'm sorry dude it's just…ah I’m not good at this like you are…I’m better at writing than talking…I make more sense on paper"
"I know" Patrick replied rolling his eyes and waiting to hear the no doubt convoluted and not entirely understandable explanation he would be given.
"Sometimes it's like…it's like being a teenager again. Everything feels like it's moving too fast or people don't care about you and one minute everything’s ok and the next it's not. It's just a bit overwhelming sometimes and I get angry when it gets to be too much. Just being called a monster…what the preacher said and Beckett making me so pissed…I was in a bad state of mind - that's why I didn't come back out. I didn't want to be alone but I didn't want to bring you all down you know and…I’m sorry Patrick, I'm really sorry" Pete said slowly trying to get his head around his own justification.
"I got it. You're sorry for being an ass last night" Patrick summarized perfectly. Pete smiled.
"It’s wrong how well you get me dude - I swear if you were a girl-" Pete began but Patrick cut him off.
"Drink your coffee Pete I told you it's never going to happen" Patrick said walking out of the room Pete's goofy laughter following behind him. He got five paces down the hall before Pete's voice spoke again.
"Are we ok then?"
Patrick looked over his shoulder to see Pete's head peering out from around the gymnasium door.
"I don't know…I’m still a bit mad at you but it's not entirely your fault so yeah, we're ok" Patrick said honestly.
"What can I do to make it up to you?" Pete asked again obviously very upset by Patrick's annoyance.
"You can go find Gerard. He has a habit of disappearing and ending up in some weird part of the school. So far I’ve found him on the Widow's Walk, in the drained swimming pool, on the lawn, in the science labs and the art rooms" Patrick explained walking back and handing Pete the coffee "Don't get lost, don't drink his coffee and don't let it get cold"
"Yes Von Stump!" Pete exclaimed.
"I'll be in my room if you need me" Patrick said his farewells and walked on.
* * *
Frank looked up from his laptop to see Mikey walking into the room a slight frown on his face. He seemed to be looking for something.
“What’s up?” Frank asked curiously.
“Oh nothing I was just wondering if Gerard was here, I can’t find him anywhere” Mikey replied.
“I sent him out to the mall. He’s been getting a bit antsy lately and I thought he needed some time to himself. It's been two years but…he still can't let the memory of her go; if anything he seems to be thinking of her more lately…anyway I told him to go buy us some stuff…games, clothes whatever to get his mind of it” Frank said looking back to his computer screen.
“Oh good thinking, shopping might cheer him up a bit” Mikey seemed relieved.
“Why, anything I can help you with?” Frank asked not looking up.
“No it’s just I’ve had a weird feeling over the past few weeks that something bad is going to happen. Today’s the worst it’s been and I just wanted to know where he was,” Mikey said stress in his voice.
“That’s odd, what kind of weird?” Frank asked, cocking one eyebrow and acting cool.
“It doesn’t matter…I think I’ll go for walk around it might chill me out, maybe see Grandma” Mikey said dismissively leaving the room.
Frank didn’t want to alarm Mikey but he had been having similar feelings recently too. Frank tapped his knee for a few minutes and decided he would feel much better if he knew how Gerard was going. He pulled out his mobile and dialed Gerard’s number but he didn’t pick up. Frank called again and still couldn’t get through.
“So stupid” he muttered under his breath throwing his mobile onto the other side of the couch “getting paranoid Frankie, getting paranoid” Frank continued sending e-mails and surfing for an hour before he picked his mobile up again. He waited, phone pressed against his ear getting nothing but a voice mail message. The night was dragging on ever later and Frank wasn’t happy with Gerard’s extended absence after all he’d only sent him out to browse and maybe buy a thing or two. In truth Frank had expected him to get bored and come back an hour later. Finally suspicion got the better of him and he shut down his laptop and set it aside grabbing his keys and mobile. He picked his jacket up off his chair then walked down the stairs to the lobby.
“Going out!” he called reaching for the golden knob of the large mahogany front doors. He turned it and pulled but the door didn’t open. He jiggled it a little then put his keys in checking the lock. It wasn’t locked but it wouldn’t open. Suddenly Frank began to hear strange sounds like windows scratching and things running around on the roof. He could feel his heartbeat speeding up as he looked around.
“Mikey?...” He called into the empty room “Bob? Anyone here?”
All he could hear was the strange banging and scraping noises that were puncturing the silence. Frank put his jacket down and moved to the centre of the lobby. He felt his senses heightening as he grew tenser.
“Ray” he shouted hopefully. Once again no one answered. The noises grew sharper and he heard some windows smashing and the sounds of growing numbers of footsteps stampeding through the mansion.
“The hell…” he swore under his breath stepping backwards and having a quick look around. He dove into the pitch-black room that lead out of the lobby and hid waiting to see who would come. Frank thought the situation insane. Less than ten minutes ago he was sending e-mails and chilling out and now something, many somethings were overtaking the house. He wondered where the others were.
Suddenly two people strolled into the room. One man was quite tall and dressed as an English gentleman. He wore a fur around his shoulders and a bowler hat. His face was set in a superior, almost bored, expression and his sharp eyes were watching the other man who he had by the scruff of the neck. He suddenly and roughly shoved him onto the hard marble floor of the lobby. Frank bit his tongue when he realized it was Mikey. He heard a scream and his wide eyes flicked back to the hall where Mikey and the bastard had come from.
“Get your hands off her” Mikey snarled as Helena was dragged into the room by a man dressed in the same kind of upper society English wear. The man laughed manically seizing her by the hair and forcing her to look up.
“What if I don’t, pretty boy?” the man asked pulling a blade up to her neck “How would you like to see what the inside of her throat looks like?”
“Michael, calm down. We may need them yet,” The vampire told the maniac holding Helena captive as more men with the same clothing filled the large lobby.
"Yes William Beckett" Michael replied dutifully.
The men were all of similar build, fairly skinny but no less strong for it, were elegant in posture and their movements were smooth and relaxed. They were acting almost as if they owned the place. Though none were more relaxed than their apparent leader, the tallest in the room and the one who had walked in first.
“Spread out, bring the members of My Chemical Romance here. Kill everyone else you come across,” he said coldly “Brendon, watch these two”
Frank only had time to see one of the men step foreword before he had to draw further into the shadows as all the others spread out running down every corridor, up the two staircases and even into the servants wing. His mind was racing desperately trying to think of a way to prevent the slaughter that was about to happen.
Mikey glared up at Brendon who was simply watching him with calm interest. Mikey ran forward taking Helena into his arms and carrying her back towards the front door.
“Don’t bother, it’s barred from the outside” Brendon sighed sitting down on a chair and crossed one leg over the other. Mikey continued to walk towards it and at the last minute kicked it hard. It creaked and shook but didn’t open. Brendon smiled as Mikey snarled kicking it again harder. Splinters broke from the mighty doors but they wouldn’t budge. He turned back around to face Brendon his usually soft expression replaced by a harsh glare. He set Helena down, icy resolve in his eyes. She grabbed his arm.
“Mikey” she whispered, though Frank heard it perfectly “Don’t, please” He took the shaking hand and slowly pulled it from his arm.
“I’ll take care of this bastard” Mikey replied standing and rushing at Brendon full pelt. He drew his hand back putting his whole body into the punch. Frank closed his eyes tight as he heard the sickening sound of fist smacking into cheekbone and another screech. He looked back shocked to see Mikey fall, his body slapping against the unforgiving floor.
“Tch” Brendon snorted shaking his hand before kicking Mikey so he slid back over to Helena “You got blood on my gloves, you little fuck”
Mikey curled up coughing from the kick to his chest. Ribs might have been broken but Frank couldn’t tell, he was too busy trying to see through the red that was blinding him. He had never felt a rage such as this filling him so completely. Every inch of him wanted to run over and kill that pretentious creature.
“Don’t try anything lady” Brendon said relaxing back into his chair as Helena glared at him “I’ll hit you just as hard. Dandies don’t discriminate and besides” he paused as if he was taking the moment in and savoring it “You’re not going to see the night through anyway. Might as well spend your last few hours un-injured before the grand finale”
* * *
Travis ran down the path that lead to Clandestine’s school ignoring the fast coming sunrise. This information was more important than the sunrise and even more important Beckett, who was no doubt furious about his abrupt exit from the mansion without explanation. What he had been told was bigger than him, his clan and the other clans of New Chicago. This secret was key to the future. If used correctly it could save them all. If abused it would mean the end, perhaps of all human kind.
“Yo!” Travis shouted bashing against the front door not bothering with secret codes or even attempting to make his presence hidden “Patrick! Open the door! Pete! Pete! Andy! Joe! Anyone!” After a few minutes he heard someone messing with the many locks that kept them safe inside.
“Alright, alright” came Joe’s voice as he opened the door and Travis swept past “What the hell is up with you, anyone could be watching or listening”
“I have something really important to tell you all” Travis said quickly as Joe re-padlocked the door “Come on” They both jogged down the hall to the gymnasium. Other than Gerard who was sitting on the couch reading a comic of Andy’s the room was empty. He reluctantly looked up when he heard them enter, wanting to finish the comic without interruption.
“What do you want?” Gerard asked as Travis stared at him.
“The Dandy mansion is yours” Travis said pointing at him “I knew I had seen you somewhere before and then I saw your portrait up in one of the halls there along with several other photographs of your band”
“What!?” Joe exclaimed.
“It wasn’t always the Dandy mansion it was The Way Estate” Travis continued “One of the vampires told me all about what happened to you and your family”
Gerard looked down.
“It’s in the past. I don’t want to talk about it” Gerard said softly.
“You’re not dodging this Gerard Way we are going to talk about it all right now” Travis shouted just as Patrick rounded the doorway.
“What’s going on why is everyone shouting?” Patrick asked but Travis ignored him.
“Like when we’re you going to tell us that you’re a vampire huh?” Travis questioned raising his voice again as Joe and Patrick’s heads snapped back to look at Gerard “Or did that little detail slip your mind?!”
“I never said I wasn’t” Gerard replied putting the comic down but not looking up.
Patrick couldn’t hide his shock as he stared at Gerard and wondered how he could have possibly missed it. Patrick hadn’t even thought about the fact that his pale makeup would have worn off long ago revealing the true pallor beneath. Since most people lived in the twilight hours Gerard’s nocturnal nature hadn’t seemed strange to Patrick either. He realized now how Gerard had been able to hold his own against Pete in their sparing match the day before. Even though Patrick had not seen Gerard’s sharp teeth he knew vampires could retract them or talk in such a way that people didn’t notice. Now that Patrick was looking at him more carefully he realized that Gerard’s eyes seemed to have a soft ethereal glow. He frowned as he remembered the night they were ambushed and were racing home through the sunrise that Gerard had remained perfectly silent though the sun must’ve burned him as it burned Pete. They had all been too wounded and panicked to notice any burning his skin was being subjected to or the rapid healing that would have occurred after. Patrick’s mind reeled as he tried to analyze and organize all the facts and understand what they meant.
“How convenient especially considering the power your bloodline has, I mean it’s the reason why Beckett went to kill your family that night” Travis began but Gerard cut him off.
“What do you know about that night?” Gerard asked abruptly though his face seemed paler than usual and his eyes were glassy.
“…wait…you don’t know what happened do you?” Travis said his voice losing its thunder “you didn’t-”
“What happened that night?!” Gerard snarled standing and startling the others. Travis suddenly seemed subdued and Patrick held his breath waiting for the answer.
"Come on a minute ago I couldn't shut you up! What happened that night?"
Travis sighed grimly obviously not looking forward to the task ahead then began.
It was like someone was pulling apart his seams one thread at a time and he grew weaker with every sharp tug. His stuffing fell out bare for them to see as Travis re-told the events of the night that had defined who he had become. Why he wasn’t alive anymore, why he’d been dead for a long time. At many times during the moments that passed painfully by Patrick thought to tell Travis to stop but was rendered speechless by the gravity of the story and it’s impact not just on Gerard but on their lives as well. When Travis finally fell silent Gerard stood for a while looking like he might collapse or break down but didn’t. He stood on the threshold at the zenith of his sorrow and it almost hurt Patrick to watch him. Eventually he turned, staggering out of the room wordlessly and soullessly as though he had suffered that night again knowing things now that he had not known then.
* * *
It hadn't taken the Dandies very long to spread through the house like a disease and claim most of its residents. Helpless to aid his relatives and the servants in the house all Frank could do was watch from his hiding place in vain as each and every one of the members in his band was dragged out beaten and captured. After Mikey, Bob was the next to be brought out. Michael had been the one to find him. Bob seemed fairly uninjured except for a broken lip and was shoved to the floor as Mikey had been. Frank was glad that he at least could ask some of the questions he'd been wanting to. Once he looked around and saw Helena cradling Mikey he dashed over to them.
"Is he ok, what's going on?" Bob asked Helena when suddenly Mikey groaned "Mikey, Mikey are you ok?"
"Yeah, I’ll be fine" he croaked eyes squeezed shut "My ribs just hurt a bit that's all…might be broken…"
"Take it easy man" Bob sat patting him on the shoulder "Everything will be ok. Where is everyone?"
"I don't know" Helena answered "I don't know what's going on"
Frank closed his eyes praying the others would avoid capture but to no avail. A few minutes later Ray was brought out far more wounded than they all were. He had cuts on his arms and rips in his shirt, blood stains splattered his clothes and bruises colored his face though he still walked with a fair amount of poise. Judging from the injuries the vampire who brought him out had sustained it seemed so far Ray had put up the best fight of all of them. Another hour passed with Brendon watching over them, unyielding and calm. Frank knew as long as Brendon was there and they were so wounded they would not escape whatever fate William had in store. Eventually the tall, elegant vampire re-appeared, unimpressed. He looked over the four prisoners with cold eyes inspecting their harsh expressions and shaking bodies. No doubt any of them would be ready to attack him at a moment’s notice.
"In the days of castles, kings and emperors sometimes a ruler of authority would attack a neighboring state to gain their land, their stock, their people and greater power. We've all heard of these goings on before in plays like Macbeth and Hamlet and historic battles played out through the centuries" William began with a sweeping statement as he paced back and forth before them as though he were a priest reading at a hanging nearly sniggering with the next line "Let's not kid ourselves though, this is no knobble battle ground, this is New Chicago. Stock is of no value anymore and its replacement, money, is more important to mortals than those of us blessed with the gift of a vampire’s life. Villages of people are unimportant, especially when they cannot match our strengths at all. So I can only be here for one thing. Power. The Way family has been around for centuries growing more powerful with every generation but doing nothing to really tip the balance between mortals and humans. I am here to change that. In those old days people weren’t shocked or hurt when an entire knobble family was murdered in a motion to seize power. It was just how things were done back then. That's simply all I’m doing. Tonight I will be eliminating a greater power than mine in a motion to become a more influential vampire"
"How can you just spiel it off like that!? Like our lives don't matter at all" Bob shouted unable to remain silent any longer.
"They don't" William replied smiling politely at him "Otherwise I wouldn't be here. I just wanted you to understand that I will not hesitate to fulfill any promise I make tonight. Especially if it concerns your lives. To me this is strictly business. What I really want from you now though is Gerard, where is he?"
Franks stomach tightened as he realized Gerard was still out. Gerard could burst in at any minute and also end up in this creature's clutches or worse. Helena tensed up and Mikey coughed. They all knew the weight of this answer.
"We don't know" Ray spoke through swollen lips.
"Don't lie to me now. There are two ways this night will end. One is with you all lying in ashen heaps in the sunlight's glare. But if you give up Gerard then I might allow you to live as my slaves. If you have not given him up by sunrise, however, I will not spare you the dawn that will shine through those ridiculously large foyer windows that even now beam moonlight down on you. I will hunt him down and kill him either way" William swore hand over stony heart.
"We'll never give him up to you and if you kill us he will avenge our deaths" Helena spat. Frank could feel the shadows of the other vampires closing in; their greedy faces dripping with carmine and watching. Bloodlust for the mass murder they had just committed pumping through their veins and still hungering for more. Frank could only hear the heartbeats of his kneeling comrades and his own amongst the speeding vampire's hearts. Everyone else in the house was dead, Frank was sure of it and he knew that they would die too. William would not bend or break under threats or retaliation. They were outnumbered and overpowered.
A strange sensation came over his body as he realized what he must do. He slowly felt his pocket with a shaking hand checking to see if it was still there. Sure enough he pulled out the small metallic object and flicked it open. He nearly scoffed at the sad irony of this impersonal method of communication but began typing anyway. He silently sent the text after pressing every button with careful accuracy his heart climbing up from his chest into his throat making a lump that was heard to breathe through. Slowly he returned it to his pocket reluctantly as though it was somehow an extension of Gerard himself that Frank couldn't let go of. He fought against the agony in his chest as he drew himself to his feet, his legs feeling like lead, and turned to face the room. He dragged the cuff of his shirt across his face wiping away the moisture on his cheeks. He took a deep breath. Frank walked into the light of the room and all eyes turned to see him his friend’s faces springing to utter surprise at his entrance. William narrowed his eyes.
"Who are you?" he asked brazenly.
"I'm Gerard" Frank said with all the sincerity he could muster "Do what you want with me but leave the others out of it" William studied him momentarily.
"You look nothing like him" William said eyes flicking briefly to Mikey "Gerard and Mikey Way of My Chemical Romance are brothers and he has been called Mikey several times this evening"
"If you've heard that than you've probably heard that we don’t look similar at all" Frank replied "What the fuck do you want with me?" William smirked.
"We all know I want your blood" William replied "And I'll take it"
Mikey snarled loudly and Frank turned to him. His hazel eyes were trained to Frank’s form and Frank could tell he understood.
"Hey Mikey…you've been a great little brother. I'm so proud of you, how you've grown up and the man you've become. I was lucky to have you"
"…Don't do it" he cried and wheezed trying to breathe through tears, Helena helping him sit up “…Gerard"
"Grandma, take care of them, don't let these motherfuckers touch them" Frank swore as Helena nodded in firm understanding then he looked over at Bob and Ray as well "In all my life I’ve never met any people I've cared about more then you four"
"What sentiment!" Brendon exclaimed, acting overwhelmed.
"Indeed" William agreed taking a step forward. Frank jumped back feeling his fate was sealed.
"If you see Frank again, tell him I'm sorry I had to do this" he said baring his fangs and bracing himself, knowing in his heart that it was probably a lost cause but ready to fight anyway. William sped forward grabbing both of Frank’s hands and pulled them away from his face.
"NO!" Bob and Ray screamed jumping to their feet but were immediately tackled to the ground and held there by some of the previously hidden vampires.
"Don’t MOVE!" Brendon shouted at Helena, standing in front of William as she made to do something. Teeth sunk painfully into Frank’s neck as William drank thirstily. He shouted and struggled yelping and crying with every litre of blood drained. Frank grew paler and weaker, eyelids beginning to close. Eventually he stopped struggling and started sinking towards the floor whimpering. Mikey watched, feebly crying as Frank’s life drained away, too wounded to do anything about it. Bob looked away grinding his teeth his rage indefatigable. Ray kept shouting for William to stop but Helena watched in silence, eyes wide and unblinking tears running rivers down her cheeks; she would not look away. Helena would honor his sacrifice as she suspected no-one else would have the chance.
The light and feelings Frank sensed grew thinner still and soon he could not even feel William’s hands restraining him. He felt a vague weight on his stomach which he assumed was William sitting there and the suction of his mouth on his neck. His life didn't flash before his eyes like they all said it would when he died. He remembered being disappointed on the night they had been turned when he hadn't seen any flashes of any events in his life. He remembered a voice saying something, a reply to his stupid comment. A giggle and a grin. The corners of lips making soft contours of naughty cheeks and the glint of bright eyes. The voice was muffled now though and faded. He couldn't hear it any more.
Gerard don't come home again. Change your name, don't draw attention to yourself. B safe and keep living. I know u always said u wanted 2 go down with us but u can't. Not this time. William Beckett did it. We love you Gerard, forever. If there is somewhere after we'll watch over you. Until the end, goodbye Gerard.
Frank.
Author: seraph05
Rating: PG-13
Fandom: Largely Fall Out Boy with My Chemical Romance and appearances from The Academy Is…’s William Beckett, Gym Class Heroes’ Travis and Panic! At The Disco’s Brendon & Ryan.
Pairing: Peter/ Patrick, Gerard/ Frank,
Warnings: Swearing, Violence, Suggestive behavior
Disclaimer: What? *shuffles the tied up boys into the next room* Define own…
Summary: "Coffee" Patrick said bluntly, flipping the pancakes.
"Mhmm" Pete mumbled with a nod.
"It wasn't really a question, you Starbucks whore" he said curtly turning to the coffee machine though there was no venom in his voice.
Chapter 1 - http://seraph05.livejournal.com/4296.html
Chapter 2 - http://seraph05.livejournal.com/4704.html
Chapter 3 - http://seraph05.livejournal.com/4964.html
Chapter 4 - http://seraph05.livejournal.com/5530.html
Chapter 5 - The Ghost of You Will Always Haunt Me
Patrick was frying up some pancakes for his breakfast/ dinner when he heard someone walk into the room. He looked over his shoulder to see who it was though he already knew. Pete slumped onto the couch groggily, his short hair more out of control than usual and his eyes hazy and unfocused.
"Coffee" Patrick said bluntly, flipping the pancakes.
"Mhmm" Pete mumbled with a nod.
"It wasn't really a question, you Starbucks whore" he said curtly turning to the coffee machine though there was no venom in his voice. It was too early for anger. He switched it on and went to the fridge collecting the toppings for his pancakes.
"Ouch" Pete said several minutes later proving that he was still in that delicate stage between asleep and awake. As Patrick finally slipped the pancakes onto a plate the coffee maker gurgled happily in the background. Patrick faced it pouring out a few cups. He walked across the room holding one of the cups out to Pete as he went by and Pete took it wordlessly. Patrick had reached the door before Pete said anything.
"What about the rest?" his said blearily.
"There's one for me, one for Joe and one for Gerard. Andy's still asleep" Patrick answered "I'm going to eat breakfast in my room today"
"Patrick, wait" Pete said slightly more soberly. Patrick looked back at him.
"What?" he said shortly annoyance now evident in his voice "My pancakes are getting cold."
"It’s about what I said last night" Pete said awkwardly "I'm sorry dude it's just…ah I’m not good at this like you are…I’m better at writing than talking…I make more sense on paper"
"I know" Patrick replied rolling his eyes and waiting to hear the no doubt convoluted and not entirely understandable explanation he would be given.
"Sometimes it's like…it's like being a teenager again. Everything feels like it's moving too fast or people don't care about you and one minute everything’s ok and the next it's not. It's just a bit overwhelming sometimes and I get angry when it gets to be too much. Just being called a monster…what the preacher said and Beckett making me so pissed…I was in a bad state of mind - that's why I didn't come back out. I didn't want to be alone but I didn't want to bring you all down you know and…I’m sorry Patrick, I'm really sorry" Pete said slowly trying to get his head around his own justification.
"I got it. You're sorry for being an ass last night" Patrick summarized perfectly. Pete smiled.
"It’s wrong how well you get me dude - I swear if you were a girl-" Pete began but Patrick cut him off.
"Drink your coffee Pete I told you it's never going to happen" Patrick said walking out of the room Pete's goofy laughter following behind him. He got five paces down the hall before Pete's voice spoke again.
"Are we ok then?"
Patrick looked over his shoulder to see Pete's head peering out from around the gymnasium door.
"I don't know…I’m still a bit mad at you but it's not entirely your fault so yeah, we're ok" Patrick said honestly.
"What can I do to make it up to you?" Pete asked again obviously very upset by Patrick's annoyance.
"You can go find Gerard. He has a habit of disappearing and ending up in some weird part of the school. So far I’ve found him on the Widow's Walk, in the drained swimming pool, on the lawn, in the science labs and the art rooms" Patrick explained walking back and handing Pete the coffee "Don't get lost, don't drink his coffee and don't let it get cold"
"Yes Von Stump!" Pete exclaimed.
"I'll be in my room if you need me" Patrick said his farewells and walked on.
* * *
Frank looked up from his laptop to see Mikey walking into the room a slight frown on his face. He seemed to be looking for something.
“What’s up?” Frank asked curiously.
“Oh nothing I was just wondering if Gerard was here, I can’t find him anywhere” Mikey replied.
“I sent him out to the mall. He’s been getting a bit antsy lately and I thought he needed some time to himself. It's been two years but…he still can't let the memory of her go; if anything he seems to be thinking of her more lately…anyway I told him to go buy us some stuff…games, clothes whatever to get his mind of it” Frank said looking back to his computer screen.
“Oh good thinking, shopping might cheer him up a bit” Mikey seemed relieved.
“Why, anything I can help you with?” Frank asked not looking up.
“No it’s just I’ve had a weird feeling over the past few weeks that something bad is going to happen. Today’s the worst it’s been and I just wanted to know where he was,” Mikey said stress in his voice.
“That’s odd, what kind of weird?” Frank asked, cocking one eyebrow and acting cool.
“It doesn’t matter…I think I’ll go for walk around it might chill me out, maybe see Grandma” Mikey said dismissively leaving the room.
Frank didn’t want to alarm Mikey but he had been having similar feelings recently too. Frank tapped his knee for a few minutes and decided he would feel much better if he knew how Gerard was going. He pulled out his mobile and dialed Gerard’s number but he didn’t pick up. Frank called again and still couldn’t get through.
“So stupid” he muttered under his breath throwing his mobile onto the other side of the couch “getting paranoid Frankie, getting paranoid” Frank continued sending e-mails and surfing for an hour before he picked his mobile up again. He waited, phone pressed against his ear getting nothing but a voice mail message. The night was dragging on ever later and Frank wasn’t happy with Gerard’s extended absence after all he’d only sent him out to browse and maybe buy a thing or two. In truth Frank had expected him to get bored and come back an hour later. Finally suspicion got the better of him and he shut down his laptop and set it aside grabbing his keys and mobile. He picked his jacket up off his chair then walked down the stairs to the lobby.
“Going out!” he called reaching for the golden knob of the large mahogany front doors. He turned it and pulled but the door didn’t open. He jiggled it a little then put his keys in checking the lock. It wasn’t locked but it wouldn’t open. Suddenly Frank began to hear strange sounds like windows scratching and things running around on the roof. He could feel his heartbeat speeding up as he looked around.
“Mikey?...” He called into the empty room “Bob? Anyone here?”
All he could hear was the strange banging and scraping noises that were puncturing the silence. Frank put his jacket down and moved to the centre of the lobby. He felt his senses heightening as he grew tenser.
“Ray” he shouted hopefully. Once again no one answered. The noises grew sharper and he heard some windows smashing and the sounds of growing numbers of footsteps stampeding through the mansion.
“The hell…” he swore under his breath stepping backwards and having a quick look around. He dove into the pitch-black room that lead out of the lobby and hid waiting to see who would come. Frank thought the situation insane. Less than ten minutes ago he was sending e-mails and chilling out and now something, many somethings were overtaking the house. He wondered where the others were.
Suddenly two people strolled into the room. One man was quite tall and dressed as an English gentleman. He wore a fur around his shoulders and a bowler hat. His face was set in a superior, almost bored, expression and his sharp eyes were watching the other man who he had by the scruff of the neck. He suddenly and roughly shoved him onto the hard marble floor of the lobby. Frank bit his tongue when he realized it was Mikey. He heard a scream and his wide eyes flicked back to the hall where Mikey and the bastard had come from.
“Get your hands off her” Mikey snarled as Helena was dragged into the room by a man dressed in the same kind of upper society English wear. The man laughed manically seizing her by the hair and forcing her to look up.
“What if I don’t, pretty boy?” the man asked pulling a blade up to her neck “How would you like to see what the inside of her throat looks like?”
“Michael, calm down. We may need them yet,” The vampire told the maniac holding Helena captive as more men with the same clothing filled the large lobby.
"Yes William Beckett" Michael replied dutifully.
The men were all of similar build, fairly skinny but no less strong for it, were elegant in posture and their movements were smooth and relaxed. They were acting almost as if they owned the place. Though none were more relaxed than their apparent leader, the tallest in the room and the one who had walked in first.
“Spread out, bring the members of My Chemical Romance here. Kill everyone else you come across,” he said coldly “Brendon, watch these two”
Frank only had time to see one of the men step foreword before he had to draw further into the shadows as all the others spread out running down every corridor, up the two staircases and even into the servants wing. His mind was racing desperately trying to think of a way to prevent the slaughter that was about to happen.
Mikey glared up at Brendon who was simply watching him with calm interest. Mikey ran forward taking Helena into his arms and carrying her back towards the front door.
“Don’t bother, it’s barred from the outside” Brendon sighed sitting down on a chair and crossed one leg over the other. Mikey continued to walk towards it and at the last minute kicked it hard. It creaked and shook but didn’t open. Brendon smiled as Mikey snarled kicking it again harder. Splinters broke from the mighty doors but they wouldn’t budge. He turned back around to face Brendon his usually soft expression replaced by a harsh glare. He set Helena down, icy resolve in his eyes. She grabbed his arm.
“Mikey” she whispered, though Frank heard it perfectly “Don’t, please” He took the shaking hand and slowly pulled it from his arm.
“I’ll take care of this bastard” Mikey replied standing and rushing at Brendon full pelt. He drew his hand back putting his whole body into the punch. Frank closed his eyes tight as he heard the sickening sound of fist smacking into cheekbone and another screech. He looked back shocked to see Mikey fall, his body slapping against the unforgiving floor.
“Tch” Brendon snorted shaking his hand before kicking Mikey so he slid back over to Helena “You got blood on my gloves, you little fuck”
Mikey curled up coughing from the kick to his chest. Ribs might have been broken but Frank couldn’t tell, he was too busy trying to see through the red that was blinding him. He had never felt a rage such as this filling him so completely. Every inch of him wanted to run over and kill that pretentious creature.
“Don’t try anything lady” Brendon said relaxing back into his chair as Helena glared at him “I’ll hit you just as hard. Dandies don’t discriminate and besides” he paused as if he was taking the moment in and savoring it “You’re not going to see the night through anyway. Might as well spend your last few hours un-injured before the grand finale”
* * *
Travis ran down the path that lead to Clandestine’s school ignoring the fast coming sunrise. This information was more important than the sunrise and even more important Beckett, who was no doubt furious about his abrupt exit from the mansion without explanation. What he had been told was bigger than him, his clan and the other clans of New Chicago. This secret was key to the future. If used correctly it could save them all. If abused it would mean the end, perhaps of all human kind.
“Yo!” Travis shouted bashing against the front door not bothering with secret codes or even attempting to make his presence hidden “Patrick! Open the door! Pete! Pete! Andy! Joe! Anyone!” After a few minutes he heard someone messing with the many locks that kept them safe inside.
“Alright, alright” came Joe’s voice as he opened the door and Travis swept past “What the hell is up with you, anyone could be watching or listening”
“I have something really important to tell you all” Travis said quickly as Joe re-padlocked the door “Come on” They both jogged down the hall to the gymnasium. Other than Gerard who was sitting on the couch reading a comic of Andy’s the room was empty. He reluctantly looked up when he heard them enter, wanting to finish the comic without interruption.
“What do you want?” Gerard asked as Travis stared at him.
“The Dandy mansion is yours” Travis said pointing at him “I knew I had seen you somewhere before and then I saw your portrait up in one of the halls there along with several other photographs of your band”
“What!?” Joe exclaimed.
“It wasn’t always the Dandy mansion it was The Way Estate” Travis continued “One of the vampires told me all about what happened to you and your family”
Gerard looked down.
“It’s in the past. I don’t want to talk about it” Gerard said softly.
“You’re not dodging this Gerard Way we are going to talk about it all right now” Travis shouted just as Patrick rounded the doorway.
“What’s going on why is everyone shouting?” Patrick asked but Travis ignored him.
“Like when we’re you going to tell us that you’re a vampire huh?” Travis questioned raising his voice again as Joe and Patrick’s heads snapped back to look at Gerard “Or did that little detail slip your mind?!”
“I never said I wasn’t” Gerard replied putting the comic down but not looking up.
Patrick couldn’t hide his shock as he stared at Gerard and wondered how he could have possibly missed it. Patrick hadn’t even thought about the fact that his pale makeup would have worn off long ago revealing the true pallor beneath. Since most people lived in the twilight hours Gerard’s nocturnal nature hadn’t seemed strange to Patrick either. He realized now how Gerard had been able to hold his own against Pete in their sparing match the day before. Even though Patrick had not seen Gerard’s sharp teeth he knew vampires could retract them or talk in such a way that people didn’t notice. Now that Patrick was looking at him more carefully he realized that Gerard’s eyes seemed to have a soft ethereal glow. He frowned as he remembered the night they were ambushed and were racing home through the sunrise that Gerard had remained perfectly silent though the sun must’ve burned him as it burned Pete. They had all been too wounded and panicked to notice any burning his skin was being subjected to or the rapid healing that would have occurred after. Patrick’s mind reeled as he tried to analyze and organize all the facts and understand what they meant.
“How convenient especially considering the power your bloodline has, I mean it’s the reason why Beckett went to kill your family that night” Travis began but Gerard cut him off.
“What do you know about that night?” Gerard asked abruptly though his face seemed paler than usual and his eyes were glassy.
“…wait…you don’t know what happened do you?” Travis said his voice losing its thunder “you didn’t-”
“What happened that night?!” Gerard snarled standing and startling the others. Travis suddenly seemed subdued and Patrick held his breath waiting for the answer.
"Come on a minute ago I couldn't shut you up! What happened that night?"
Travis sighed grimly obviously not looking forward to the task ahead then began.
It was like someone was pulling apart his seams one thread at a time and he grew weaker with every sharp tug. His stuffing fell out bare for them to see as Travis re-told the events of the night that had defined who he had become. Why he wasn’t alive anymore, why he’d been dead for a long time. At many times during the moments that passed painfully by Patrick thought to tell Travis to stop but was rendered speechless by the gravity of the story and it’s impact not just on Gerard but on their lives as well. When Travis finally fell silent Gerard stood for a while looking like he might collapse or break down but didn’t. He stood on the threshold at the zenith of his sorrow and it almost hurt Patrick to watch him. Eventually he turned, staggering out of the room wordlessly and soullessly as though he had suffered that night again knowing things now that he had not known then.
* * *
It hadn't taken the Dandies very long to spread through the house like a disease and claim most of its residents. Helpless to aid his relatives and the servants in the house all Frank could do was watch from his hiding place in vain as each and every one of the members in his band was dragged out beaten and captured. After Mikey, Bob was the next to be brought out. Michael had been the one to find him. Bob seemed fairly uninjured except for a broken lip and was shoved to the floor as Mikey had been. Frank was glad that he at least could ask some of the questions he'd been wanting to. Once he looked around and saw Helena cradling Mikey he dashed over to them.
"Is he ok, what's going on?" Bob asked Helena when suddenly Mikey groaned "Mikey, Mikey are you ok?"
"Yeah, I’ll be fine" he croaked eyes squeezed shut "My ribs just hurt a bit that's all…might be broken…"
"Take it easy man" Bob sat patting him on the shoulder "Everything will be ok. Where is everyone?"
"I don't know" Helena answered "I don't know what's going on"
Frank closed his eyes praying the others would avoid capture but to no avail. A few minutes later Ray was brought out far more wounded than they all were. He had cuts on his arms and rips in his shirt, blood stains splattered his clothes and bruises colored his face though he still walked with a fair amount of poise. Judging from the injuries the vampire who brought him out had sustained it seemed so far Ray had put up the best fight of all of them. Another hour passed with Brendon watching over them, unyielding and calm. Frank knew as long as Brendon was there and they were so wounded they would not escape whatever fate William had in store. Eventually the tall, elegant vampire re-appeared, unimpressed. He looked over the four prisoners with cold eyes inspecting their harsh expressions and shaking bodies. No doubt any of them would be ready to attack him at a moment’s notice.
"In the days of castles, kings and emperors sometimes a ruler of authority would attack a neighboring state to gain their land, their stock, their people and greater power. We've all heard of these goings on before in plays like Macbeth and Hamlet and historic battles played out through the centuries" William began with a sweeping statement as he paced back and forth before them as though he were a priest reading at a hanging nearly sniggering with the next line "Let's not kid ourselves though, this is no knobble battle ground, this is New Chicago. Stock is of no value anymore and its replacement, money, is more important to mortals than those of us blessed with the gift of a vampire’s life. Villages of people are unimportant, especially when they cannot match our strengths at all. So I can only be here for one thing. Power. The Way family has been around for centuries growing more powerful with every generation but doing nothing to really tip the balance between mortals and humans. I am here to change that. In those old days people weren’t shocked or hurt when an entire knobble family was murdered in a motion to seize power. It was just how things were done back then. That's simply all I’m doing. Tonight I will be eliminating a greater power than mine in a motion to become a more influential vampire"
"How can you just spiel it off like that!? Like our lives don't matter at all" Bob shouted unable to remain silent any longer.
"They don't" William replied smiling politely at him "Otherwise I wouldn't be here. I just wanted you to understand that I will not hesitate to fulfill any promise I make tonight. Especially if it concerns your lives. To me this is strictly business. What I really want from you now though is Gerard, where is he?"
Franks stomach tightened as he realized Gerard was still out. Gerard could burst in at any minute and also end up in this creature's clutches or worse. Helena tensed up and Mikey coughed. They all knew the weight of this answer.
"We don't know" Ray spoke through swollen lips.
"Don't lie to me now. There are two ways this night will end. One is with you all lying in ashen heaps in the sunlight's glare. But if you give up Gerard then I might allow you to live as my slaves. If you have not given him up by sunrise, however, I will not spare you the dawn that will shine through those ridiculously large foyer windows that even now beam moonlight down on you. I will hunt him down and kill him either way" William swore hand over stony heart.
"We'll never give him up to you and if you kill us he will avenge our deaths" Helena spat. Frank could feel the shadows of the other vampires closing in; their greedy faces dripping with carmine and watching. Bloodlust for the mass murder they had just committed pumping through their veins and still hungering for more. Frank could only hear the heartbeats of his kneeling comrades and his own amongst the speeding vampire's hearts. Everyone else in the house was dead, Frank was sure of it and he knew that they would die too. William would not bend or break under threats or retaliation. They were outnumbered and overpowered.
A strange sensation came over his body as he realized what he must do. He slowly felt his pocket with a shaking hand checking to see if it was still there. Sure enough he pulled out the small metallic object and flicked it open. He nearly scoffed at the sad irony of this impersonal method of communication but began typing anyway. He silently sent the text after pressing every button with careful accuracy his heart climbing up from his chest into his throat making a lump that was heard to breathe through. Slowly he returned it to his pocket reluctantly as though it was somehow an extension of Gerard himself that Frank couldn't let go of. He fought against the agony in his chest as he drew himself to his feet, his legs feeling like lead, and turned to face the room. He dragged the cuff of his shirt across his face wiping away the moisture on his cheeks. He took a deep breath. Frank walked into the light of the room and all eyes turned to see him his friend’s faces springing to utter surprise at his entrance. William narrowed his eyes.
"Who are you?" he asked brazenly.
"I'm Gerard" Frank said with all the sincerity he could muster "Do what you want with me but leave the others out of it" William studied him momentarily.
"You look nothing like him" William said eyes flicking briefly to Mikey "Gerard and Mikey Way of My Chemical Romance are brothers and he has been called Mikey several times this evening"
"If you've heard that than you've probably heard that we don’t look similar at all" Frank replied "What the fuck do you want with me?" William smirked.
"We all know I want your blood" William replied "And I'll take it"
Mikey snarled loudly and Frank turned to him. His hazel eyes were trained to Frank’s form and Frank could tell he understood.
"Hey Mikey…you've been a great little brother. I'm so proud of you, how you've grown up and the man you've become. I was lucky to have you"
"…Don't do it" he cried and wheezed trying to breathe through tears, Helena helping him sit up “…Gerard"
"Grandma, take care of them, don't let these motherfuckers touch them" Frank swore as Helena nodded in firm understanding then he looked over at Bob and Ray as well "In all my life I’ve never met any people I've cared about more then you four"
"What sentiment!" Brendon exclaimed, acting overwhelmed.
"Indeed" William agreed taking a step forward. Frank jumped back feeling his fate was sealed.
"If you see Frank again, tell him I'm sorry I had to do this" he said baring his fangs and bracing himself, knowing in his heart that it was probably a lost cause but ready to fight anyway. William sped forward grabbing both of Frank’s hands and pulled them away from his face.
"NO!" Bob and Ray screamed jumping to their feet but were immediately tackled to the ground and held there by some of the previously hidden vampires.
"Don’t MOVE!" Brendon shouted at Helena, standing in front of William as she made to do something. Teeth sunk painfully into Frank’s neck as William drank thirstily. He shouted and struggled yelping and crying with every litre of blood drained. Frank grew paler and weaker, eyelids beginning to close. Eventually he stopped struggling and started sinking towards the floor whimpering. Mikey watched, feebly crying as Frank’s life drained away, too wounded to do anything about it. Bob looked away grinding his teeth his rage indefatigable. Ray kept shouting for William to stop but Helena watched in silence, eyes wide and unblinking tears running rivers down her cheeks; she would not look away. Helena would honor his sacrifice as she suspected no-one else would have the chance.
The light and feelings Frank sensed grew thinner still and soon he could not even feel William’s hands restraining him. He felt a vague weight on his stomach which he assumed was William sitting there and the suction of his mouth on his neck. His life didn't flash before his eyes like they all said it would when he died. He remembered being disappointed on the night they had been turned when he hadn't seen any flashes of any events in his life. He remembered a voice saying something, a reply to his stupid comment. A giggle and a grin. The corners of lips making soft contours of naughty cheeks and the glint of bright eyes. The voice was muffled now though and faded. He couldn't hear it any more.
Gerard don't come home again. Change your name, don't draw attention to yourself. B safe and keep living. I know u always said u wanted 2 go down with us but u can't. Not this time. William Beckett did it. We love you Gerard, forever. If there is somewhere after we'll watch over you. Until the end, goodbye Gerard.
Frank.