Of Vampires And Rock Stars
Title: Of Vampires And Rock Stars
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.
Warnings: Swearing, Violence, Suggestive behavior
Disclaimer: The people in this fic are not mine, they belong entirely to themselves and if this were reality it would concern me a lot. I mean vampires running around killing people and such - bad news for humans.
Summary: “Make sure the Clandestine Vampire Hunters reach the House of Wolves bar” Beckett said a disturbing tranquility about his voice “I have already given the orders to my men but the other gangs might go after them now that they are wounded”
Chapter 1
Just Another Night…
Travis regarded the leader of the most infamous vampire horde in town with cautious curiosity, his fingers drumming lightly on the rich dark leather seat he reclined on. The man, whose presence emanated a certain power and animosity, stood watching the city through one of the many huge windows in the room. The room was not excessively large, though it was luxurious to the point of gaudiness with heavy red velvet curtains to block the sun by day and frame the moon by night. It was filled with ornate objects such as a handcrafted oak table; urns overflowing with stolen jewelry and a fine mink rug that one wouldn't even dare imagine its price. His eyes were luminous as they flicked back and forth silently watching the battle that was raging somewhere far below. His brown flowing hair hung in an unruly fashion just above his shoulders, his signature bowler hat lying discarded on a nearby table. Though he was fairly thin and long limbed by nature his frame was far from brittle; stronger than most steels and twice as flexible. Despite the fact that Travis’s own crew was waiting in the lobby, easily within hearing range, and he was not without his own inhuman strengths Travis didn’t entirely feel comfortable being alone in the room with such a being. Suddenly the vampire leader spoke.
“He is a constant form of agitation and affection to me” he said with a dull tone as though he were reciting a line of an uninteresting novel “Peter…with those insolent eyes that just won’t glow…so black and deep with hatred. Should he die I would laugh for the loss of these feelings for him. Better to be without them than suffer them”
“They’re winning then?” Travis asked knowingly, not moving to look down upon the city himself.
“Yes” he said calmly almost coldly.
“Yo Beckett is there something you wish me to do or are me and my band going to hang here all night? We need to feed too” Travis said willing himself to remain relaxed. Whenever this vampire was involved one had to be firm but respectful; he practically ran the city after all.
“I’m waiting for something” the vampire leader known as Beckett said ignoring Travis’s tone completely. Travis ran a hand through his thick dark locks. While Beckett’s skin was a milky glow Travis’ dark skin had not paled much in death. He traced a tattoo on his wrist waiting impatiently to be released.
“There he is. Heading for the bar. Excellent” Beckett stood finally turning to Travis all in one fluid movement and Travis stood too.
“Make sure the Clandestine reach the House of Wolves bar” Beckett said a disturbing tranquility about his voice “I have already given the orders to my men but the other gangs might go after them now that they are wounded”
“Yeah, got ya” Travis nodded and turned to go all the while the hairs on his neck were standing up. Beckett was excited about something and this was never a good sign.
* * *
Patrick slumped onto a stool ordering a few drinks and looking around the murky bar trying not to seem exhausted, brushing his strawberry blond hair out of his face. He swore under his breath when he saw none of his fellow vampire hunters present and turned back to give himself a quick look over. He was lucky for the lack of wounds he had sustained though he cursed the fact that his hand was cut. This was not just because it stung fiercely but because any bar at night, no matter how well checked out previously by Dirty, their reconnaissance man, was not safe for the injured. The air hung thick with smoke and an old show tune was playing on the jukebox in the background. Despite all the trimmings of a good simple bar Patrick couldn’t help noticing the questionable contents of some of the glasses people were drinking and the looks he could feel on his back. He knew some bars sold blood illegally in the area and the looks he could feel were ominously familiar ones. Bright eyes dancing with thrill like a cat watching its prey. Vampires could smell blood for miles around and an open wound was a particularly luscious smell, Pete had told him once. He prayed it was paranoia that was making him edgy.
As he sipped away at his drink waiting for his companion’s arrival he could hear a voice singing loudly along in time with the music. At first he tried to ignore it going over his strategy and trying to come up with a more effective one for the next time they struck out against the inaptly named Dandies lead by William Beckett. They had been getting bolder of late and Patrick was beginning to wonder just how deep their influence ran in the city. The singing grew louder till he couldn’t take it anymore. Patrick’s green eyes searched for the source finding it to be a singer cavorting about the small stage near the door. He was grinning out at the room watching from behind his black fringe. Some of the people seemed amused but most were disregarding him.
“But it’s really quite alarming! Cause I’m such an awful fuuuuuuuck!” Patrick sniggered a little and to his surprise the man’s focus shifted to him and continued as if Patrick was the only one in the bar “I gave you blood, blood galleons of the stuff I gave you all that you could drink and it has never been enough. I gave you blood, blood, bloooooooooood!!! I’m the kind of human wreckage that you love!”
Patrick gave him a soft clap and the man bowed low as if the small cheer was a roar. Then he straightened up and began walking over to the bar. For a moment Patrick was worried he might want to chat but the man sat down a few stools away and ordered a drink. Up close he noticed despite the young man’s pale face and darkened eyes he was fairly handsome. Patrick could also tell with a certain amount of relief that the pallor of his skin was just makeup. Eventually Patrick relaxed enough to check the time.
“I knew we shouldn’t have split up” he said under his breath when he realized how late they were “Hey guys, maybe this isn’t such a good idea but no why listen to me? I just make the weapons and plan the battles and-”
“Complain?” Patrick whipped around quickly startled back into ‘fight mode’. Pete stood behind him looking sulky with a few new cuts and nicks on his face that were no doubt gaping wounds ten minutes previously.
“What the hell took you?” Patrick snapped practically shoving a drink into Pete’s hands.
“Beckett’s lap dogs got a hold of me so it took me a while to beat them off” Pete said sitting down next to his comrade sculling his whole drink at once “Seen Joe and Andy?”
“No I haven’t…” Patrick answered finally allowing a smile to touch his lips for the relief of Pete’s safety. After a few moments of comfortable silence Patrick noticed Pete’s missing weaponry “where’s your gun” he asked worriedly about the new weapon he had crafted for Pete barely a week ago.
“I lost it” Pete said ordering another drink.
“What?! It took me ages to make that thing!” Patrick exclaimed feeling annoyance slithering back into his heart. He wondered if it ever left.
It had been a year since Pete had been changed but his friends were still finding it difficult to get use to his new personality. He was moody, difficult, edgy and often impossible to deal with. Every now and then there was a joke shared between the four once so close friends and the unease would fade into happiness. These times were not infrequent but not often enough either.
“But” Patrick thought as he tried to calm himself “Dying will do that to you ”
“Patrick give me your hand” Pete commanded holding his own out palm up. Patrick tensed up.
“No, I’ll deal with it when we get back to the base” Patrick said hiding it under the bar.
“Look dude I can’t take it ok, I can smell it all through me, and it’s so distracting I can’t even hear what’s going on outside so just grit your teeth and bear it ok?” Pete snapped still not looking at Patrick. Patrick narrowed his eyes.
“But it’s gross and if someone sees you doing it they might think I’m up for grabs” Patrick said shifting his gaze around the bar. However as he did so he felt Pete grasp his hand with inhuman speed and draw it to his mouth. Patrick barely had time to grab the bar before he felt Pete’s tongue press against the wound. At first the cut burned with such heat that Patrick squeezed the bar and closed his eyes tight but slowly it cooled off to nothing leaving a fresh patch of skin without even a scar. Pete quickly drank the rest of his alcohol down to wash away the bloody taste not because he hated it but because he hated that he loved the coppery bitter sweet flavor so much.
“Thanks” Patrick said slightly grudgingly rubbing his healed hand on his pants.
“Don’t mention it” Pete replied in a marginally better mood, thanks to the blood rush which was not unlike a sugar rush when it came to Pete. The doors of the bar swung open and Joe staggered in scarlet stains showing through rips in his jeans and breathing hard though none of his injuries looked fatal. He tried in vain to hide the large gun under his coat and he walked briskly over to the bar.
“Hey” Joe said quickly grabbing a glass off the counter and sculling it then coughed “Listen Pete, Andy’s outside and he’s got a bad gash on his arm, he didn’t want to come in because of well…” Joe looked around at the half a dozen eyes that were watching his wounds longingly. Pete looked more concerned than exited as he stood.
“You guys stay here, we’ll be in in a minute” Pete said but not before having a look at Joe’s injuries “You don’t want me to do you too?” Joe glared at him and gave him a shove towards the door.
“No, now hurry up” He snapped sitting down on to one of the stools and looking over at Patrick “I know he mean’s well but it’s very disconcerting”
“Tell me about it” Patrick sighed in a melancholy fashion having a quick look at his perfectly healed hand “So how did you go?”
“Eh they were chasing me and Andy down the street and managed to even surround us but” he said patting the gun under his coat “Clandestine weaponry is a sweet thing”
“Blasted em?”
“Andy managed to burn some of them with the flame thrower and I managed to net and shoot a few but once there was a large enough window for escape we got out of there” Joe explained.
“Good thing too” both Patrick and Joe gave a jolt as they turned around coming face to face with a tall dark vampire, his eyes seeming to pierce them with his cool light gaze.
“Dickhead!” Patrick shouted punching him hard.
“Ergn you know we hate it when you do that!” Joe exclaimed clutching his heart “You and Pete just love to appear behind us don’t you?!” A smile broke Travis’s icy facade and he nodded.
“Yeah man, human’s are so fun to toy with but you two are my favorite!” Travis laughed giving Joe the Decay Dance hand shake before checking out the room.
“I’ll bet. What are you doing here anyway?” Joe asked grumpily. Patrick looked down the bar to the man who had been singing before. Though he was watching the bottles behind the bar with a hazy kind of attention Patrick felt as though he was watching them.
“William’s up to something” Travis said winking at one of the girls sitting in a dark corner “I bet she’d taste sweet…”
“William’s always up to something” Patrick muttered ignoring the comment about the girl.
“Nah, I mean” Travis looked over at Patrick and Joe his gaze becoming sharper “He told me to keep the other vampire gangs away from you on the way here. I shouldn’t really be here but I get the feeling serious shit’s going down tonight. It’s got something to do with Pete…I just can’t figure out why you had to be here” Patrick and Joe both looked over at the door becoming wary of Pete and Andy’s extended absence.
“Maybe an ambush…” Travis said scanning the room for signs of a trap.
“Pete and Andy have been outside for a while” Patrick said voicing Joe’s and his concern.
“Let’s check it out” Travis said pulling the hat he was wearing down. He had the ability to affect the mood of those around him. If he did not want to be noticed he could slip through a crowd going unseen by vampires and humans alike. It worked opposite ways as well making him effortlessly popular with all the ladies whenever he chose. Though right now if Joe and Patrick had not watched him move away from them they might’ve mistaken him for one of the many people wondering around the bar.
“William must be watching tonight” Joe said darkly following after Travis, Patrick doing the same. They made their way through the bar and to the door Joe flinching from the throbbing of his injuries and the looks of some of the men and women around. It was only when he pulled his coat half off his large weapon making it truly visible and gave the room a fighting glare that the bars attendants settled down and went back to their various conversations realizing that he was not wounded prey. Patrick opened the door of the bar slowly looking out and around.
“I can’t see them, I can’t see anyone” Patrick said looking back at Joe and Travis. Travis narrowed his eyes a little.
“Let me go out first, it would be stupid to all go out at once especially since William’s up in his mansion watching us like there ain’t anything better on TV” Travis said squeezing past Patrick and out into the street. As soon as he was across the street he melted into the shadows, the sound of his voice ringing out a moment later the only proof that he was still there.
“It looks alright to me yo, but if anything happens I won’t be able to do much, I can’t afford to right now” he said as quietly as he could.
“That’s fine; we’ll take it from here. Just go and try to make sure your band doesn’t take too many human lives tonight. There are plenty of other animals to be drinking from” Joe whispered in reply.
“Cool, see ya’ll later” Travis said his farewell and the side street went silent.
Patrick and Joe slipped out into the night, Joe pulling his coat on and holding his gun out, Patrick pulling his own weapon out. It was far less adequate than Joe’s though as he had exhausted his artillery during battle. All he held now was a silver steak. They crept cautiously down the street jumping at every noise till they reached the end. They leant against the wall not daring to look around the corner. A single drop of sweat ran down Patrick’s jaw and he swallowed preparing himself. He never did like battle much.
“Andy, Pete are you there?” Joe hissed. A moment later they got their reply.
“Yeah we are” It was Andy “Are you guys alone?”
“Yeah are you?” Patrick asked.
“Yep come around” Pete called out and Joe relaxed his gun arm rounding the corner Patrick in toe.
“What are you two doing out here?” Patrick asked as the group finally united again. Andy was looking a little worse for wear but the bad gash on his arm was gone leaving only a heavily blood stained sleeve. Pete stood by Andy looking fairly chuffed. “You said you’d come straight back in”
“Yeah but we met one of Travi’s boys out here and he told us there was a really powerful vampire in there to bust so we thought we’d wait till you came out looking. We figured it wouldn’t be long anyway. He said it was a vampire that was a member in office. If we can take him out it’ll be a real blow to Beckett’s plans of overrunning this city” Pete explained, “What do you think Patrick? Do we have enough fire power to take him out or should we go home?”
“How’s the flame thrower” Patrick asked Andy, rubbing his chin thoughtfully as he weighed up the odds.
“It’s at about half power” Andy answered reading the gauge on the side of his large weapon. Though cumbersome looking the weapons Patrick built were surprisingly lightweight, strong and powerful a testament to the nickname ‘Mad Scientist’ Pete had dubbed Patrick on their first day of vampire hunting.
“And the nets and bullets?” Patrick said turning to Joe.
“Uh lets see…6 nets and one full magazine of normal bullets” Joe said checking his belt for spare magazines only finding the one “knew I should have brought the extra silver bullet cartridge...” Patrick gave Pete a glare, which Pete flinched under.
“Unarmed vampire grunt?” he asked the irony of the lost weapon surfacing.
“Ready to rumble whenever” Pete replied with a weak smile.
“And I have a steak” he snapped in Pete’s direction though returned his gaze to the group.
“Travi’s boy said this vampire doesn’t come out a lot and it’s a good opportunity to nail him” Andy raised a good point before looking to the vaguely lightening horizon “and the sun’ll be up soon…”
“All the more reason to take him now and be done with it” Pete said hurriedly. Patrick thought for a moment longer before nodding in approval.
“Ok, one of us should go in there and get him while the others wait outside” Patrick explained and the others fervently agreed “Did Travis’s guy say anything about the vampires appearance?”
“He just said that it would be the vampire lurking in the far end of the bar away from the lights and people,” Andy explained.
“I think I remember seeing him when I came in” Patrick said having spent the most time in the bar that night “he was a big guy in a black suit sitting in the back…have any of you guys got the deep and desperate urge to lure a vampire out?” he added turning to Joe and Andy who both looked tired and drained, no pun intended. It had been a long night for everyone and Patrick knew even hardened vampire hunters needed rest.
“I’ll do it then” Patrick volunteered hiding the steak in his coat.
“What? What about me Patrick? I’ll do it!” Pete exclaimed as they all made their way back down the alley to the bar.
“No Pete since we are so short on ammunition and weaponry right now I’ll need all you guys to be waiting to pummel the guy the second he comes out, especially you because you’re the best without weapons and would make the best ambush device we have right now, so-” Patrick explained trying to keep bitter tones out of his voice.
“Just cause you’re pissy right now cause I lost the gun doesn’t mean you should count me out of the fight!” Pete spat angrily but it was Joe who replied.
“Pissy or not it’s the truth dude. Let’s just get ready and get this over with so we can go home,” Joe said in a commanding voice.
“Yeah alright” Pete finally agreed.
“Ok Andy, you hide behind that dumpster, Joe behind that car and Pete if you could wait just behind the bar door maybe you can grab him and shove him out into firing range. That ought to give us the element of surprise too” Patrick said to each of them and they each took up their separate places. Patrick took a deep breath and turned to the bar’s door Pete standing next to it.
“How are you gonna get him out here?” Pete asked quietly as Patrick watched the door.
“Don’t know yet I think I’ll start with asking him to come outside and see how that goes,” Patrick answered dryly, no longer angry with Pete but disliking the idea of approaching the vampire inside. As Patrick took the handle in his sweaty palm Pete grabbed his arm. Patrick looked up at Pete to find his stare less apologetic with traces of concern.
“Be careful” he warned “If it’s not working come out and we’ll go”
“Sure” Patrick nodded and opened the door, Pete’s hand slipping away.
A few eyes looked up as Patrick returned alone. He let the door close behind him and casually made his way over towards the corner trying to decide what he would say. Sure enough the Vampire was still there a large and sleek looking man with thin-rimmed glasses. He looked almost out of place amongst the crowd with his pinstriped pants and svelte black jacket but he had that feel about him. A kind of sharpness to his gaze and smoothness of movement that gave away his origin of darkness. As Patrick drew closer he still couldn’t think of what to say when a hand shot out and grabbed him by the shoulder sitting him down.
“Hey you don’t want to talk to that guy. He’s bad news” it was the singer from before. Patrick gave him a smile that he hoped would come across as confidence.
“Uh thanks but I know what I’m doing” Patrick replied calmly but the man’s face only grew more anxious.
“I’m serious,” he said leaning close and lowering his voice to a whisper barely audible over the hustle and bustle of the bar “he’s a seriously fucked up psycho. Why don’t you just go back to your friends and call it a night”
“Would if I could dude but tonight’s not over till I walk out of this place with that guy behind me” Patrick said beginning to stand. The man stood too. And they regarded each other for a moment Patrick wondering if the singer was going to cause a problem.
“Good luck” he said suddenly and walked back over to the stage. Patrick watched him for only a second longer before making his way over to the vampire. Patrick stood facing the vampire who was reading a book, which gave him away even more due to the extreme lack of light in the corner. After a moment incandescent eyes flicked up from the page and watched Patrick with mild interest.
“Are you dinner?” he said his voice deep and rough, with teasing tones.
"Maybe" Patrick replied cryptically then bit his finger a single bead of blood appearing there "Am I to your liking" The vampire didn't move but Patrick could tell he was tasting the air and the scent of Patrick’s blood there.
"Don't insult me boy, pray without a fight is hardly prey at all" he shirked Patrick off looking back to his book, though his pupils grew wider. Patrick felt a kind of fear creeping up his spine as the muscles of the vampire tensed. Pete had once told Patrick that his blood was in fact the tastiest he'd ever had. Patrick knew the blood running down his finger must be driving the Vampire wild but this vampire was one of those with poise. Had he been a punk or gangster type Patrick would not still be standing. However what the singer in black had said before concerned Patrick. Like with humans vampires varied greatly in personality and levels of control. Speculation could only get Patrick so far.
"Very well, I'll be outside of you change your mind" Patrick relented and with a great effort turned his back on the Vampire utterly exposing himself. He had only taken a few steps when he heard an inhuman hiss of a word behind him.
"Impudence"
Suddenly he was smacked across the back so hard he was knocked off his feet slamming into the bar. Dazed he whipped around seeing the vampire advancing on him; face contorted in a sharp toothy grin literally reaching his ears and eyes blood red. His handsome face had been replaced with that of a terrifying monster. He was indeed an exceptional and powerful breed of vampire rarely seen and even fewer had been challenged. Patrick shouted in fear in spite of himself and scurried towards the door. A foot seemed to appear from nowhere and Patrick fell hard into the floor. He could taste blood in his mouth and his glasses fell from his nose breaking as he tried to get up.
"Mmmm more" the vampire said as though he was begging kicking Patrick onto his back and pulling out a gun. Patrick's shock was hidden as he rolled to the right, a shot ringing out and just nicking his arm. By now everyone in the bar was watching with either alarm or anticipation. The vampire leaned down and grabbed Patrick by the shirt. He lifted him slowly till their faces were level Patrick completely suspended over the ground and struggling. The vampire leaned close licking the blood off Patrick’s chin and lips as Patrick growled kicking and punching in disgust and vain. Patrick thought he felt the vampires tongue in his mouth before he managed to pull away then spat in the creatures face.
"Isn't this what you wanted?" the vampire laughed tossing Patrick against the bar door and wiping the bloody spit from his face.
"Fuck no!" Patrick shouted and turned his back on the vampire again to open the door. Patrick heard a loud gunshot and waited for the pain to hit him. Instead he felt a back bump against his. He looked over his shoulder.
"Open the door" a voice coughed; it was the singer. He was hunched, leaning against Patrick’s back holding a wound in his lower ribcage area "I said open the door!!" he moaned and Patrick grabbed the singer by the jacket throwing open the door and dragged him into the street. The vampire stormed out after them slamming the door closed behind him. The singer’s legs buckled and Patrick fell beside him head snapping back up to face the vampire.
"NOW!" Patrick roared as the vampire approached them. Pete emerged from the shadows, gripped the surprised creature from behind and threw him away from the two further into the alley. Joe and Andy took aim but Joe was the first to fire; a net shooting from the end of his gun and wrapping around the vampire. Then Andy blasted him with a flurry of flames and still he struggled breaking free of the net. He was charred and infuriated as he jumped out of range of the flamethrower. Joe started shooting bullets at him, a few making their mark but as they were only steel they barely fazed the vampire who was more concerned with his burns at this point. Pete leapt onto him again, smacking him a few times and then burning his chest with his palm before he too was repelled.
"You filth!" the vampire screeched at Patrick realizing the plot against him. Patrick stood and rushed at the vampire. The vampire opened his huge mouth wide and tackled Patrick biting into his already injured arm. Patrick screamed and Joe, Andy and Pete abandoned their positions running to the struggling two. The three of them pulled and punched at the vicious creature as it tried to feed. Suddenly it went rigid and fell to the ground ear-piercing squeals and cries coming from it. Andy caught Patrick as he too began to fall. They looked down at the squirming vampire to see a bloody silver steak protruding from its back.
"You got it!" Joe exclaimed patting Patrick on the back and Patrick issued a weak laugh.
"Shit! Are you ok?" Pete asked eyeing Patrick's many injuries with deep distress "Did it drink from you?"
"No, I'm fine" Patrick said through gritted teeth trying to catch his breath leaning on Andy "but I am going to sit the next fight out" Patrick looked over at the singer who was lying near motionless on the sidewalk, the rise and fall of his back the only sign of life.
"Pete can you please go heal him, he's been shot" Patrick asked pleadingly.
"Who is he?" Pete asked quickly walking to him and turning him over.
"I don't know but he took a bullet for me" Patrick said watching the singer sadly as he lay on his back clutching his chest, blood seeping from between his fingers "We have to help him" Pete pealed the shirt up the blood making the wound hard to see.
"I'll be ok" he coughed "Leave it, leave me here…it'll be morning soon anyway" Pete's head snapped up only now noticing the sky was a disturbingly light shade of blue.
"Joe Bring the car around!" Pete shouted and Joe ran off to get the car, which was a block away. Pete turned his gaze back to the wound and ran a hand over the area wiping the blood away so he could see and the singer groaned in pain "And you shut up" he sucked on the wound till the bullet was out and Pete spat it off to the side then turned back to the wound. He licked over it a few times till it was just a wet patch of new skin and then sat back quite satisfied. Patrick and Andy had walked over to them and Andy looked down at the man with a grin.
"What's your name anyway?" Andy asked as the distinct sound of screeching tires issued in the near distance. The singer opened his eyes only a little looking quite sickly and dazed as he spoke.
"Gerard" he said weakly.
"Well Gerard can you sit up?" Pete asked as their car came sliding around the corner, Joe masterfully executing a drift. Gerard pursed his lips and forced himself into a sitting position pulling his shirt back down.
"Guess so" Gerard replied "But standing, I think, is a different story"
"That's fine" Pete said putting an arm around Gerard's back "Hold on to me, quick" Gerard did as he was told and Joe pulled up opening the front passenger door.
"Come on! Hurry up!" he said urgently. The four men collapsed into the car as fast as possible taking off before the doors were even properly closed. Pete began to sweat as they sped through the empty streets of the twisted suburbia they called home: New Chicago.
"We're cutting it too fine" Pete said apprehensively watching the sky with an ever narrowing gaze "We're not gonna make it"
"We'll make it!" Joe said firmly "When we get there Pete, don't worry about Patrick we'll take care of him you just get into your coffin. Oh and do us a favor, let us sleep in tomorrow night ok?" Pete couldn't help a small smile at Joes comment.
"Sure" Pete agreed, hand on the cars door handle as their base came into view. He let out an animalistic snarl as one of the first rays of sun skipped across his neck scorching him and he ducked behind the car seat.
"Hurry!" Pete shouted.
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.
Warnings: Swearing, Violence, Suggestive behavior
Disclaimer: The people in this fic are not mine, they belong entirely to themselves and if this were reality it would concern me a lot. I mean vampires running around killing people and such - bad news for humans.
Summary: “Make sure the Clandestine Vampire Hunters reach the House of Wolves bar” Beckett said a disturbing tranquility about his voice “I have already given the orders to my men but the other gangs might go after them now that they are wounded”
Chapter 1
Just Another Night…
Travis regarded the leader of the most infamous vampire horde in town with cautious curiosity, his fingers drumming lightly on the rich dark leather seat he reclined on. The man, whose presence emanated a certain power and animosity, stood watching the city through one of the many huge windows in the room. The room was not excessively large, though it was luxurious to the point of gaudiness with heavy red velvet curtains to block the sun by day and frame the moon by night. It was filled with ornate objects such as a handcrafted oak table; urns overflowing with stolen jewelry and a fine mink rug that one wouldn't even dare imagine its price. His eyes were luminous as they flicked back and forth silently watching the battle that was raging somewhere far below. His brown flowing hair hung in an unruly fashion just above his shoulders, his signature bowler hat lying discarded on a nearby table. Though he was fairly thin and long limbed by nature his frame was far from brittle; stronger than most steels and twice as flexible. Despite the fact that Travis’s own crew was waiting in the lobby, easily within hearing range, and he was not without his own inhuman strengths Travis didn’t entirely feel comfortable being alone in the room with such a being. Suddenly the vampire leader spoke.
“He is a constant form of agitation and affection to me” he said with a dull tone as though he were reciting a line of an uninteresting novel “Peter…with those insolent eyes that just won’t glow…so black and deep with hatred. Should he die I would laugh for the loss of these feelings for him. Better to be without them than suffer them”
“They’re winning then?” Travis asked knowingly, not moving to look down upon the city himself.
“Yes” he said calmly almost coldly.
“Yo Beckett is there something you wish me to do or are me and my band going to hang here all night? We need to feed too” Travis said willing himself to remain relaxed. Whenever this vampire was involved one had to be firm but respectful; he practically ran the city after all.
“I’m waiting for something” the vampire leader known as Beckett said ignoring Travis’s tone completely. Travis ran a hand through his thick dark locks. While Beckett’s skin was a milky glow Travis’ dark skin had not paled much in death. He traced a tattoo on his wrist waiting impatiently to be released.
“There he is. Heading for the bar. Excellent” Beckett stood finally turning to Travis all in one fluid movement and Travis stood too.
“Make sure the Clandestine reach the House of Wolves bar” Beckett said a disturbing tranquility about his voice “I have already given the orders to my men but the other gangs might go after them now that they are wounded”
“Yeah, got ya” Travis nodded and turned to go all the while the hairs on his neck were standing up. Beckett was excited about something and this was never a good sign.
* * *
Patrick slumped onto a stool ordering a few drinks and looking around the murky bar trying not to seem exhausted, brushing his strawberry blond hair out of his face. He swore under his breath when he saw none of his fellow vampire hunters present and turned back to give himself a quick look over. He was lucky for the lack of wounds he had sustained though he cursed the fact that his hand was cut. This was not just because it stung fiercely but because any bar at night, no matter how well checked out previously by Dirty, their reconnaissance man, was not safe for the injured. The air hung thick with smoke and an old show tune was playing on the jukebox in the background. Despite all the trimmings of a good simple bar Patrick couldn’t help noticing the questionable contents of some of the glasses people were drinking and the looks he could feel on his back. He knew some bars sold blood illegally in the area and the looks he could feel were ominously familiar ones. Bright eyes dancing with thrill like a cat watching its prey. Vampires could smell blood for miles around and an open wound was a particularly luscious smell, Pete had told him once. He prayed it was paranoia that was making him edgy.
As he sipped away at his drink waiting for his companion’s arrival he could hear a voice singing loudly along in time with the music. At first he tried to ignore it going over his strategy and trying to come up with a more effective one for the next time they struck out against the inaptly named Dandies lead by William Beckett. They had been getting bolder of late and Patrick was beginning to wonder just how deep their influence ran in the city. The singing grew louder till he couldn’t take it anymore. Patrick’s green eyes searched for the source finding it to be a singer cavorting about the small stage near the door. He was grinning out at the room watching from behind his black fringe. Some of the people seemed amused but most were disregarding him.
“But it’s really quite alarming! Cause I’m such an awful fuuuuuuuck!” Patrick sniggered a little and to his surprise the man’s focus shifted to him and continued as if Patrick was the only one in the bar “I gave you blood, blood galleons of the stuff I gave you all that you could drink and it has never been enough. I gave you blood, blood, bloooooooooood!!! I’m the kind of human wreckage that you love!”
Patrick gave him a soft clap and the man bowed low as if the small cheer was a roar. Then he straightened up and began walking over to the bar. For a moment Patrick was worried he might want to chat but the man sat down a few stools away and ordered a drink. Up close he noticed despite the young man’s pale face and darkened eyes he was fairly handsome. Patrick could also tell with a certain amount of relief that the pallor of his skin was just makeup. Eventually Patrick relaxed enough to check the time.
“I knew we shouldn’t have split up” he said under his breath when he realized how late they were “Hey guys, maybe this isn’t such a good idea but no why listen to me? I just make the weapons and plan the battles and-”
“Complain?” Patrick whipped around quickly startled back into ‘fight mode’. Pete stood behind him looking sulky with a few new cuts and nicks on his face that were no doubt gaping wounds ten minutes previously.
“What the hell took you?” Patrick snapped practically shoving a drink into Pete’s hands.
“Beckett’s lap dogs got a hold of me so it took me a while to beat them off” Pete said sitting down next to his comrade sculling his whole drink at once “Seen Joe and Andy?”
“No I haven’t…” Patrick answered finally allowing a smile to touch his lips for the relief of Pete’s safety. After a few moments of comfortable silence Patrick noticed Pete’s missing weaponry “where’s your gun” he asked worriedly about the new weapon he had crafted for Pete barely a week ago.
“I lost it” Pete said ordering another drink.
“What?! It took me ages to make that thing!” Patrick exclaimed feeling annoyance slithering back into his heart. He wondered if it ever left.
It had been a year since Pete had been changed but his friends were still finding it difficult to get use to his new personality. He was moody, difficult, edgy and often impossible to deal with. Every now and then there was a joke shared between the four once so close friends and the unease would fade into happiness. These times were not infrequent but not often enough either.
“But” Patrick thought as he tried to calm himself “Dying will do that to you ”
“Patrick give me your hand” Pete commanded holding his own out palm up. Patrick tensed up.
“No, I’ll deal with it when we get back to the base” Patrick said hiding it under the bar.
“Look dude I can’t take it ok, I can smell it all through me, and it’s so distracting I can’t even hear what’s going on outside so just grit your teeth and bear it ok?” Pete snapped still not looking at Patrick. Patrick narrowed his eyes.
“But it’s gross and if someone sees you doing it they might think I’m up for grabs” Patrick said shifting his gaze around the bar. However as he did so he felt Pete grasp his hand with inhuman speed and draw it to his mouth. Patrick barely had time to grab the bar before he felt Pete’s tongue press against the wound. At first the cut burned with such heat that Patrick squeezed the bar and closed his eyes tight but slowly it cooled off to nothing leaving a fresh patch of skin without even a scar. Pete quickly drank the rest of his alcohol down to wash away the bloody taste not because he hated it but because he hated that he loved the coppery bitter sweet flavor so much.
“Thanks” Patrick said slightly grudgingly rubbing his healed hand on his pants.
“Don’t mention it” Pete replied in a marginally better mood, thanks to the blood rush which was not unlike a sugar rush when it came to Pete. The doors of the bar swung open and Joe staggered in scarlet stains showing through rips in his jeans and breathing hard though none of his injuries looked fatal. He tried in vain to hide the large gun under his coat and he walked briskly over to the bar.
“Hey” Joe said quickly grabbing a glass off the counter and sculling it then coughed “Listen Pete, Andy’s outside and he’s got a bad gash on his arm, he didn’t want to come in because of well…” Joe looked around at the half a dozen eyes that were watching his wounds longingly. Pete looked more concerned than exited as he stood.
“You guys stay here, we’ll be in in a minute” Pete said but not before having a look at Joe’s injuries “You don’t want me to do you too?” Joe glared at him and gave him a shove towards the door.
“No, now hurry up” He snapped sitting down on to one of the stools and looking over at Patrick “I know he mean’s well but it’s very disconcerting”
“Tell me about it” Patrick sighed in a melancholy fashion having a quick look at his perfectly healed hand “So how did you go?”
“Eh they were chasing me and Andy down the street and managed to even surround us but” he said patting the gun under his coat “Clandestine weaponry is a sweet thing”
“Blasted em?”
“Andy managed to burn some of them with the flame thrower and I managed to net and shoot a few but once there was a large enough window for escape we got out of there” Joe explained.
“Good thing too” both Patrick and Joe gave a jolt as they turned around coming face to face with a tall dark vampire, his eyes seeming to pierce them with his cool light gaze.
“Dickhead!” Patrick shouted punching him hard.
“Ergn you know we hate it when you do that!” Joe exclaimed clutching his heart “You and Pete just love to appear behind us don’t you?!” A smile broke Travis’s icy facade and he nodded.
“Yeah man, human’s are so fun to toy with but you two are my favorite!” Travis laughed giving Joe the Decay Dance hand shake before checking out the room.
“I’ll bet. What are you doing here anyway?” Joe asked grumpily. Patrick looked down the bar to the man who had been singing before. Though he was watching the bottles behind the bar with a hazy kind of attention Patrick felt as though he was watching them.
“William’s up to something” Travis said winking at one of the girls sitting in a dark corner “I bet she’d taste sweet…”
“William’s always up to something” Patrick muttered ignoring the comment about the girl.
“Nah, I mean” Travis looked over at Patrick and Joe his gaze becoming sharper “He told me to keep the other vampire gangs away from you on the way here. I shouldn’t really be here but I get the feeling serious shit’s going down tonight. It’s got something to do with Pete…I just can’t figure out why you had to be here” Patrick and Joe both looked over at the door becoming wary of Pete and Andy’s extended absence.
“Maybe an ambush…” Travis said scanning the room for signs of a trap.
“Pete and Andy have been outside for a while” Patrick said voicing Joe’s and his concern.
“Let’s check it out” Travis said pulling the hat he was wearing down. He had the ability to affect the mood of those around him. If he did not want to be noticed he could slip through a crowd going unseen by vampires and humans alike. It worked opposite ways as well making him effortlessly popular with all the ladies whenever he chose. Though right now if Joe and Patrick had not watched him move away from them they might’ve mistaken him for one of the many people wondering around the bar.
“William must be watching tonight” Joe said darkly following after Travis, Patrick doing the same. They made their way through the bar and to the door Joe flinching from the throbbing of his injuries and the looks of some of the men and women around. It was only when he pulled his coat half off his large weapon making it truly visible and gave the room a fighting glare that the bars attendants settled down and went back to their various conversations realizing that he was not wounded prey. Patrick opened the door of the bar slowly looking out and around.
“I can’t see them, I can’t see anyone” Patrick said looking back at Joe and Travis. Travis narrowed his eyes a little.
“Let me go out first, it would be stupid to all go out at once especially since William’s up in his mansion watching us like there ain’t anything better on TV” Travis said squeezing past Patrick and out into the street. As soon as he was across the street he melted into the shadows, the sound of his voice ringing out a moment later the only proof that he was still there.
“It looks alright to me yo, but if anything happens I won’t be able to do much, I can’t afford to right now” he said as quietly as he could.
“That’s fine; we’ll take it from here. Just go and try to make sure your band doesn’t take too many human lives tonight. There are plenty of other animals to be drinking from” Joe whispered in reply.
“Cool, see ya’ll later” Travis said his farewell and the side street went silent.
Patrick and Joe slipped out into the night, Joe pulling his coat on and holding his gun out, Patrick pulling his own weapon out. It was far less adequate than Joe’s though as he had exhausted his artillery during battle. All he held now was a silver steak. They crept cautiously down the street jumping at every noise till they reached the end. They leant against the wall not daring to look around the corner. A single drop of sweat ran down Patrick’s jaw and he swallowed preparing himself. He never did like battle much.
“Andy, Pete are you there?” Joe hissed. A moment later they got their reply.
“Yeah we are” It was Andy “Are you guys alone?”
“Yeah are you?” Patrick asked.
“Yep come around” Pete called out and Joe relaxed his gun arm rounding the corner Patrick in toe.
“What are you two doing out here?” Patrick asked as the group finally united again. Andy was looking a little worse for wear but the bad gash on his arm was gone leaving only a heavily blood stained sleeve. Pete stood by Andy looking fairly chuffed. “You said you’d come straight back in”
“Yeah but we met one of Travi’s boys out here and he told us there was a really powerful vampire in there to bust so we thought we’d wait till you came out looking. We figured it wouldn’t be long anyway. He said it was a vampire that was a member in office. If we can take him out it’ll be a real blow to Beckett’s plans of overrunning this city” Pete explained, “What do you think Patrick? Do we have enough fire power to take him out or should we go home?”
“How’s the flame thrower” Patrick asked Andy, rubbing his chin thoughtfully as he weighed up the odds.
“It’s at about half power” Andy answered reading the gauge on the side of his large weapon. Though cumbersome looking the weapons Patrick built were surprisingly lightweight, strong and powerful a testament to the nickname ‘Mad Scientist’ Pete had dubbed Patrick on their first day of vampire hunting.
“And the nets and bullets?” Patrick said turning to Joe.
“Uh lets see…6 nets and one full magazine of normal bullets” Joe said checking his belt for spare magazines only finding the one “knew I should have brought the extra silver bullet cartridge...” Patrick gave Pete a glare, which Pete flinched under.
“Unarmed vampire grunt?” he asked the irony of the lost weapon surfacing.
“Ready to rumble whenever” Pete replied with a weak smile.
“And I have a steak” he snapped in Pete’s direction though returned his gaze to the group.
“Travi’s boy said this vampire doesn’t come out a lot and it’s a good opportunity to nail him” Andy raised a good point before looking to the vaguely lightening horizon “and the sun’ll be up soon…”
“All the more reason to take him now and be done with it” Pete said hurriedly. Patrick thought for a moment longer before nodding in approval.
“Ok, one of us should go in there and get him while the others wait outside” Patrick explained and the others fervently agreed “Did Travis’s guy say anything about the vampires appearance?”
“He just said that it would be the vampire lurking in the far end of the bar away from the lights and people,” Andy explained.
“I think I remember seeing him when I came in” Patrick said having spent the most time in the bar that night “he was a big guy in a black suit sitting in the back…have any of you guys got the deep and desperate urge to lure a vampire out?” he added turning to Joe and Andy who both looked tired and drained, no pun intended. It had been a long night for everyone and Patrick knew even hardened vampire hunters needed rest.
“I’ll do it then” Patrick volunteered hiding the steak in his coat.
“What? What about me Patrick? I’ll do it!” Pete exclaimed as they all made their way back down the alley to the bar.
“No Pete since we are so short on ammunition and weaponry right now I’ll need all you guys to be waiting to pummel the guy the second he comes out, especially you because you’re the best without weapons and would make the best ambush device we have right now, so-” Patrick explained trying to keep bitter tones out of his voice.
“Just cause you’re pissy right now cause I lost the gun doesn’t mean you should count me out of the fight!” Pete spat angrily but it was Joe who replied.
“Pissy or not it’s the truth dude. Let’s just get ready and get this over with so we can go home,” Joe said in a commanding voice.
“Yeah alright” Pete finally agreed.
“Ok Andy, you hide behind that dumpster, Joe behind that car and Pete if you could wait just behind the bar door maybe you can grab him and shove him out into firing range. That ought to give us the element of surprise too” Patrick said to each of them and they each took up their separate places. Patrick took a deep breath and turned to the bar’s door Pete standing next to it.
“How are you gonna get him out here?” Pete asked quietly as Patrick watched the door.
“Don’t know yet I think I’ll start with asking him to come outside and see how that goes,” Patrick answered dryly, no longer angry with Pete but disliking the idea of approaching the vampire inside. As Patrick took the handle in his sweaty palm Pete grabbed his arm. Patrick looked up at Pete to find his stare less apologetic with traces of concern.
“Be careful” he warned “If it’s not working come out and we’ll go”
“Sure” Patrick nodded and opened the door, Pete’s hand slipping away.
A few eyes looked up as Patrick returned alone. He let the door close behind him and casually made his way over towards the corner trying to decide what he would say. Sure enough the Vampire was still there a large and sleek looking man with thin-rimmed glasses. He looked almost out of place amongst the crowd with his pinstriped pants and svelte black jacket but he had that feel about him. A kind of sharpness to his gaze and smoothness of movement that gave away his origin of darkness. As Patrick drew closer he still couldn’t think of what to say when a hand shot out and grabbed him by the shoulder sitting him down.
“Hey you don’t want to talk to that guy. He’s bad news” it was the singer from before. Patrick gave him a smile that he hoped would come across as confidence.
“Uh thanks but I know what I’m doing” Patrick replied calmly but the man’s face only grew more anxious.
“I’m serious,” he said leaning close and lowering his voice to a whisper barely audible over the hustle and bustle of the bar “he’s a seriously fucked up psycho. Why don’t you just go back to your friends and call it a night”
“Would if I could dude but tonight’s not over till I walk out of this place with that guy behind me” Patrick said beginning to stand. The man stood too. And they regarded each other for a moment Patrick wondering if the singer was going to cause a problem.
“Good luck” he said suddenly and walked back over to the stage. Patrick watched him for only a second longer before making his way over to the vampire. Patrick stood facing the vampire who was reading a book, which gave him away even more due to the extreme lack of light in the corner. After a moment incandescent eyes flicked up from the page and watched Patrick with mild interest.
“Are you dinner?” he said his voice deep and rough, with teasing tones.
"Maybe" Patrick replied cryptically then bit his finger a single bead of blood appearing there "Am I to your liking" The vampire didn't move but Patrick could tell he was tasting the air and the scent of Patrick’s blood there.
"Don't insult me boy, pray without a fight is hardly prey at all" he shirked Patrick off looking back to his book, though his pupils grew wider. Patrick felt a kind of fear creeping up his spine as the muscles of the vampire tensed. Pete had once told Patrick that his blood was in fact the tastiest he'd ever had. Patrick knew the blood running down his finger must be driving the Vampire wild but this vampire was one of those with poise. Had he been a punk or gangster type Patrick would not still be standing. However what the singer in black had said before concerned Patrick. Like with humans vampires varied greatly in personality and levels of control. Speculation could only get Patrick so far.
"Very well, I'll be outside of you change your mind" Patrick relented and with a great effort turned his back on the Vampire utterly exposing himself. He had only taken a few steps when he heard an inhuman hiss of a word behind him.
"Impudence"
Suddenly he was smacked across the back so hard he was knocked off his feet slamming into the bar. Dazed he whipped around seeing the vampire advancing on him; face contorted in a sharp toothy grin literally reaching his ears and eyes blood red. His handsome face had been replaced with that of a terrifying monster. He was indeed an exceptional and powerful breed of vampire rarely seen and even fewer had been challenged. Patrick shouted in fear in spite of himself and scurried towards the door. A foot seemed to appear from nowhere and Patrick fell hard into the floor. He could taste blood in his mouth and his glasses fell from his nose breaking as he tried to get up.
"Mmmm more" the vampire said as though he was begging kicking Patrick onto his back and pulling out a gun. Patrick's shock was hidden as he rolled to the right, a shot ringing out and just nicking his arm. By now everyone in the bar was watching with either alarm or anticipation. The vampire leaned down and grabbed Patrick by the shirt. He lifted him slowly till their faces were level Patrick completely suspended over the ground and struggling. The vampire leaned close licking the blood off Patrick’s chin and lips as Patrick growled kicking and punching in disgust and vain. Patrick thought he felt the vampires tongue in his mouth before he managed to pull away then spat in the creatures face.
"Isn't this what you wanted?" the vampire laughed tossing Patrick against the bar door and wiping the bloody spit from his face.
"Fuck no!" Patrick shouted and turned his back on the vampire again to open the door. Patrick heard a loud gunshot and waited for the pain to hit him. Instead he felt a back bump against his. He looked over his shoulder.
"Open the door" a voice coughed; it was the singer. He was hunched, leaning against Patrick’s back holding a wound in his lower ribcage area "I said open the door!!" he moaned and Patrick grabbed the singer by the jacket throwing open the door and dragged him into the street. The vampire stormed out after them slamming the door closed behind him. The singer’s legs buckled and Patrick fell beside him head snapping back up to face the vampire.
"NOW!" Patrick roared as the vampire approached them. Pete emerged from the shadows, gripped the surprised creature from behind and threw him away from the two further into the alley. Joe and Andy took aim but Joe was the first to fire; a net shooting from the end of his gun and wrapping around the vampire. Then Andy blasted him with a flurry of flames and still he struggled breaking free of the net. He was charred and infuriated as he jumped out of range of the flamethrower. Joe started shooting bullets at him, a few making their mark but as they were only steel they barely fazed the vampire who was more concerned with his burns at this point. Pete leapt onto him again, smacking him a few times and then burning his chest with his palm before he too was repelled.
"You filth!" the vampire screeched at Patrick realizing the plot against him. Patrick stood and rushed at the vampire. The vampire opened his huge mouth wide and tackled Patrick biting into his already injured arm. Patrick screamed and Joe, Andy and Pete abandoned their positions running to the struggling two. The three of them pulled and punched at the vicious creature as it tried to feed. Suddenly it went rigid and fell to the ground ear-piercing squeals and cries coming from it. Andy caught Patrick as he too began to fall. They looked down at the squirming vampire to see a bloody silver steak protruding from its back.
"You got it!" Joe exclaimed patting Patrick on the back and Patrick issued a weak laugh.
"Shit! Are you ok?" Pete asked eyeing Patrick's many injuries with deep distress "Did it drink from you?"
"No, I'm fine" Patrick said through gritted teeth trying to catch his breath leaning on Andy "but I am going to sit the next fight out" Patrick looked over at the singer who was lying near motionless on the sidewalk, the rise and fall of his back the only sign of life.
"Pete can you please go heal him, he's been shot" Patrick asked pleadingly.
"Who is he?" Pete asked quickly walking to him and turning him over.
"I don't know but he took a bullet for me" Patrick said watching the singer sadly as he lay on his back clutching his chest, blood seeping from between his fingers "We have to help him" Pete pealed the shirt up the blood making the wound hard to see.
"I'll be ok" he coughed "Leave it, leave me here…it'll be morning soon anyway" Pete's head snapped up only now noticing the sky was a disturbingly light shade of blue.
"Joe Bring the car around!" Pete shouted and Joe ran off to get the car, which was a block away. Pete turned his gaze back to the wound and ran a hand over the area wiping the blood away so he could see and the singer groaned in pain "And you shut up" he sucked on the wound till the bullet was out and Pete spat it off to the side then turned back to the wound. He licked over it a few times till it was just a wet patch of new skin and then sat back quite satisfied. Patrick and Andy had walked over to them and Andy looked down at the man with a grin.
"What's your name anyway?" Andy asked as the distinct sound of screeching tires issued in the near distance. The singer opened his eyes only a little looking quite sickly and dazed as he spoke.
"Gerard" he said weakly.
"Well Gerard can you sit up?" Pete asked as their car came sliding around the corner, Joe masterfully executing a drift. Gerard pursed his lips and forced himself into a sitting position pulling his shirt back down.
"Guess so" Gerard replied "But standing, I think, is a different story"
"That's fine" Pete said putting an arm around Gerard's back "Hold on to me, quick" Gerard did as he was told and Joe pulled up opening the front passenger door.
"Come on! Hurry up!" he said urgently. The four men collapsed into the car as fast as possible taking off before the doors were even properly closed. Pete began to sweat as they sped through the empty streets of the twisted suburbia they called home: New Chicago.
"We're cutting it too fine" Pete said apprehensively watching the sky with an ever narrowing gaze "We're not gonna make it"
"We'll make it!" Joe said firmly "When we get there Pete, don't worry about Patrick we'll take care of him you just get into your coffin. Oh and do us a favor, let us sleep in tomorrow night ok?" Pete couldn't help a small smile at Joes comment.
"Sure" Pete agreed, hand on the cars door handle as their base came into view. He let out an animalistic snarl as one of the first rays of sun skipped across his neck scorching him and he ducked behind the car seat.
"Hurry!" Pete shouted.