(FIC) Crushed Rubies 11/13

[konishi-zen.livejournal.com]

Sorry for the delay. Finally another part. I swear I will write faster. Honest.

Authors: Konishi_zen, Elouisa is the beta

Disclaimers: Don't own, don't sue, I'm skint.

Warnings: the usual angst, blood and gore and vamps.

pairings: Monaboyd, other scattered around.

archives/feedback: my lj memories, Songworks, others ask. Feedback would be cool, thanks.

x-posted at monaboyd also

Part Eleven: The Calm Before the Storm

It was shadowy, but he knew he was standing at the edge of a big battle. The wind was whipping through the trees and it helped carry the sounds of screams away. It was all just like he had said…

Dave woke suddenly, the fragments of his dream disappearing the minute he opened his eyes. Sighing heavily, he blinked and rubbed his eyes. It looked like it had started again. Sitting up, he was surprised when a sleepy moan and a pale hand clung tightly to his shirt. Puzzled, he looked down and was shocked to find that sometime during the day, Miranda had fallen asleep on his lap and wasn’t letting him go just yet.

Shaking his head ruefully, Dave loosened her grip on him and eased out from under her and made his way to the kitchen to get a hot cup of tea to start the day. He entered the kitchen expecting Billy and Sean to be there and to ignore him as always. So it was yet another surprise when he found himself face to face with the two leaders of the Lupernalia Johnathan and Cate who were sat with Sean and…   Viggo.

Seeing them there made him stop in his tracks since he was face to face with the four most fearsome beings he had known in his life. He wasn’t sure if there would be any consequences to his actions. Before he could make up his mind whether to proceed or not, Sean stepped forwards and handed him a mug of tea.

“Evening Dave.” Sean greeted him and placed a hand on his back steering him towards the others who were watching their movement with what seemed like mild curiosity.

“Is this the go-between?” Jonathan asked, his voice soft and cool as liquid as he spoke. Sean nodded.

Cate moved up to him and studied him for several moments before stepping back and taking her place beside Viggo and Jonathan.

“He’s not what I expected. He’s got more power. And not of our kind.” She stated softly before picking up her forgotten cup of tea and taking a delicate drink from it. Sean’s eyes narrowed at the comment.

“Are you sure?” he asked in a low voice. Jonathan gave a deep barking laugh at the question. “Of course she is sure. When have you known her to be wrong?”

Sean gave a low “hmm” sound before turning to Dave, who was getting more and more confused the longer the conversation went on. “What is she talking about?” Dave asked Sean, who was looking at him as if he hadn’t really noticed him till now. “A latent power. It seems that me giving you my blood has awoken something in you.” Dave nodded and buried his nose in his cup, not wanting to draw any more attention to himself than necessary.

“You have given him blood?” Viggo asked, stepping up to Dave and Sean.

“Yes. I gave Billy and Karl blood also. We are going to have to go against Orlando and his army” Viggo nodded as his eyes travelled over Dave, who wished he had still stayed asleep with Miranda in his lap and Karl and Robin around him.

“Makes sense.” Viggo noted as he gently touched Dave’s face. At the touch, Dave felt an electric jolt as Viggo’s fingertips brushed against his skin right before a swirl of images flooded his brain.

…The light from the lamp reflected against the shiny cobblestones, making her blue dress all the brighter. Viggo knelt over the body and his mouth was bloody. Sean was standing near-by, looking on almost impassively as the leftover blood soaked the street…

Dave shook his head and he could hear the others talking to him, but their voices sounded as if they were coming from deep under water and too muddled to hear clearly.

…There was blood on the bark of the tree and the forest floor was covered with it. He heard Sean scream and he knew he had to go and help him. He rushed towards him, but he was stopped by a man-sized beast hurtling toward him. He felt the sharpness of claws tearing through his flesh…

“Wenham? Wenham? Are you alright?”

Dave blinked and shook his head to clear his vision somewhat. It helped a bit, but his head was still spinning from all of the images that Viggo’s touch had triggered. He swallowed hard and closed his eyes for several moments, ignoring the rest of them in the kitchen until he felt the shock wear off. When he opened his eyes, he was surprised to see Sean and Viggo staring at him with what seemed like curiosity mingled with apprehension on their faces. He snuck a look at Cate and Johnathan, but found them staring at him with barely disguised anger on their vulpine features.

Seeing that made Dave mumble an apology before stumbling out of the kitchen and into the living room.

He sank down on the only free spot and ran his hands through his hair, noticing only too late that he had spilled tea on his hands and had wiped them dry through his hair.

“Great.” He sighed heavily, looking down in disgust.  It seemed like everything was out to make his life miserable after all.

“What is?”

He looked up in time to see Robin carefully extricate herself from Karl’s arms and move towards him, a questioning look on her face as she did. Dave shook his head and stood up.

“Just crazy stuff. And then I spilled tea all over myself.” he explained, feeling less foolish as he talked to her. Robin nodded as she pushed her hair out of her face and looked up at him. “Yeah. Shit would happen like that. Kind of like the perfect icing to a messed up situation. You have my condolences.”

Dave snickered softly and grinned at her at her off-handed words. “Uh. Thanks. I think.” Robin smiled.  “Not a problem dude. Just to let you know though, the bathroom’s on the left and there are towels in the closet next to it if you need them.” Robin told him as she ran her hand through her hair, which Dave noticed looking a bit greasy and stringy.

“Uh? Oh yeah. Thanks. I’m not going to be using the bathroom right now though. You can go ahead if you want.” Dave assured her. Robin nodded, but didn’t move, making Dave look at her strangely. “Uh…I’m not going to use the bathroom, Robin. You can go on.”

Robin glared at him. “I heard you the first time, Dave. The thing is that…well…I can’t wash my hair and no one else is awake and there is no freaking way I’m gonna ask any of those people in there for help.” Robin told him holding up her hands, which were still wrapped up in casts, making Dave feel like a dope for not catching on earlier that she wouldn’t be able to do that task herself.

He realized he had to say something when he caught Robin staring at him with an expression of mixed disgust and concern on her face. “Look… It’s okay if you don’t want to. I can wake Karl or Randa up…”

He was about to agree with her when he heard voices being raised in what seemed like an argument being conducted in a guttural language akin to Finnish. He would have ignored the voices and their argument if he hadn’t heard his name at least once or twice in the conversation, telling him it was time to go. “Uhm. No. It’s fine. I’ll be happy to do it.” Dave assured her, grabbing her elbow and leading her none too gently into the bathroom and closing the door behind him with more force than intended.

“Are you sure about this, Dave? Cause I don’t want to make you feel like you’re under obligation from the cripple or something.” Robin stated as she began fighting with her sweatshirt while Dave tried to collect his wits. “No. I’m serious. It’s fine…Whoah! What are you doing?” Dave asked, feeling the blush rise up in his face when he finally noticed that Robin was standing there wearing only a sports-bra. “Getting ready for you to wash my hair. I’m not going to get my shirt soaked! Which is what probably what would happen considering I have all this hair to wash.”  Dave nodded and let out a deep breath.

“Okay. So let’s get started then.”

~*~*~*~*~*

Billy was woken out of a wonderful dream, which involved Dom, a cottage in the moors and a nice fire by the somewhat tinny strains of  “Boys Don’t Cry”. At first, he tried to ignore it, hoping that it was just a product of his twisted subconscious, but the tinny ring-tone had done its work all too well.

Growling slightly, Billy reached out from under the covers and felt around a bit on his night-table, knocking over his real alarm clock, a couple of awkwardly stacked paper-backs and a glass before picking up his cell phone and clumsily dragging it into his lair of blankets.

“This better be good.” Billy mumbled into the phone as he settled into his thick nest of blankets beside Dominic, who was still sleeping. “When has it not been?” Sean replied dryly, making Billy swear softly under his breath.

“When?” He asked, hoping that he would have at least some time with Dom before shit hit the fan.

“I want you here in about three hours. Bring the boy along. He’s not safe until Orlando’s ashes are scattered to the four winds.”

“True. Anything else I should know?”

“Nothing until you get here.” Sean told him before the line went dead.

Billy laughed softly before ending the call and carelessly placing the mobile on the edge of his beside table, pressed up against Dom wrapping his arms around the sleeping man, not wanting to think about anything except the present. Billy buried his nose into Dom's hair and breathed in the mix of coconut conditioner mingled with Dom's unique scent and tried not to wonder whether he would ever forget the smell if anything happened.

~*~*~*~*

“Karl?”

Karl looked up from the old copy of “The Count of Monte Cristo” he was skimming through and was surprised to find Sean standing in front of him, a neutral expression on his face as he looked down at him. Hastily placing the book on the edge of the sofa he was sitting on, he then waited for Sean to speak.

“Where is the girl?” Karl blinked at the question, clearly taken aback by it. “In the bedroom. My sister is helping her comb her hair. Why do you ask?” Karl asked nervously.

“When are you going to turn her?” Sean asked bluntly, making Karl blink in surprise.

“What?”

“I asked when are you going to turn her. That is the reason why you and Miranda are keeping her alive. Am I right?” Karl’s mouth opened and closed soundlessly as he tried to work through the logic as to why Sean would ask him such a question.

“I normally wouldn’t put pressure on you to turn anyone. There’s enough problems with the small group of us that there are. But I am not going to lie and say that we need more people and I know that she would be strong and a good fighter against Orlando and whatever bullshit he’s going to turn up. So when are you going to turn her?”

Karl was silent for a few moments, tapping his fingers on the cover of the book for several minutes before he answered Sean’s question. “I’m not going to turn her. At least not for a while at least.” Sean frowned at this answer.

“Why not?”

“She’s expecting.”

Sean blinked at the question. “Pardon?”

Karl nodded as he opened the book, letting it fall to wherever the spine fell fit to let the book open up to. “She’s not aware of it yet, but I can smell it on her skin.” Karl replied, marking his place with his thumb as he looked up at Sean, who was frowning.

“Understood. But make sure that you and your sister take responsibility for her. I don’t have the capability to protect her and any others that Orlando may choose to use against us.” Karl stared at Sean, disbelief written all over his pale face as he stared at the First Lord of the Varg.

“Are you serious?”  Sean snorted and walked away from Karl.

“She is your plaything. I’m not getting involved any further with this unless she happens to get into my way, so think long and hard on what I’ve just told you.”

Karl opened his mouth to reply, but then closed it again, knowing full well that Sean had just granted a boon that could easily be taken back if the wrong thing was said. Shrugging, he then opened his book and began to read. He would think about what to do later on when things absolutely demanded it of him.

~*~*~*~*~

Dominic felt icy shards of nervousness going down his spine as he climbed up the stairs to what had been his haven in the recent past, but was now strange and alien and altogether not as welcoming as it had been that first day he had arrived in New York.

“Something on your mind?” Billy asked as they reached the top of the stairs and began walking over to the flat.

“Nah. Well. Sorta. I was thinking how much this place has changed. When I came here, it was welcoming. Lij was here, I had a job waiting for me, I was for sure going to meet you again… things were all looking up. And now… everything’s changed and this place isn’t the same anymore.”

Billy winced at the wistful tone in Dom’s voice and squeezed his hand in what he hoped would be a reassuring manner. “It’s gonna be over soon. One way or another, things get back to normal.” Dom raised an eyebrow at Billy’s statement.

“You know, if that was supposed to make me feel better, it kind of fell short of its goal.” Billy grinned sheepishly and shrugged. “Sorry to fall short of being comforting, I kinda have to admit that the day’s events have sucked all the emotions out of me.”

Dom rolled his eyes and bopped Billy on the side of the head with his free hand.

“At least you’re being honest.”

“Yeah. Yeah. You didn’t have to hit me you know.”

“Ooooh. Did that hurt? Do you want me to kiss it better?”

“What the?!  Dom!  Get away from me!  Oh You are so NOT going to do that!”

“You wanna bet?”

“Get your tongue away from my ear Dominic or I swear you’re going to…” Billy’s threat was cut short by the appearance of the dark haired girl he had seen joking around with Dom in the bakery a week ago, before everything had gone to hell.

“Dom? Is that you?”

Dom stopped his teasing Billy and ran his hand nervously through his hair as he racked his brains over how to ease the awkward moment that he had inadvertedly created by his clowning around with Billy in front of his soon to be ex-girlfriend.  They probably would have stood there, none of them wanting to say or do anything that would have made the situation even more devastating than it already was if it hadn’t been for Karl and Dave coming out of the flat at that moment.

Acting quickly and in an unspoken, eerily perfect tandem, Karl grabbed Robin and pulled her away; Leaving Dave there to serve both as a herald and in a lesser capacity, a barrier between them and Robin.

“Come inside. They want to talk to the both of you.” Dave told them in a neutral voice that made Billy shiver and Dom feel extremely guilty at what had taken place.

Billy could only nod and follow, since he was totally taken aback at how different and self-assured Dave appeared. It was quite impressive what being near death and a good dose of a Varg Lord could do to a man.
They walked into the flat and were received by Sean and several others that made Billy break his confused silence.
“What are they doing here, Sean?” Billy asked, his voice turning raspy as his pulse quickened in expectation for a battle as Viggo and Craig looked at him expectantly. “The same thing you’re doing here, I would assume.” Viggo replied, coolly draping himself over Sean who at least had the common decency to look away.

“And him?” Billy asked, his voice going dangerously close to a growl. He hadn’t had many dealings with the other man in the past, but he had recalled him as being one of Orlando’s lackeys and that was good a good enough reason for him to attack if the situation ever arose.

“He brought your little friend home.” Jonathan spoke up, a slightly amused look on his face as he sank down on the worn out couch. “Will that earn forgiveness in your eyes?” Billy’s eyes narrowed at the Leader of the Varg, but he said nothing lest he alienate them on the eve of battle.

“Enough.” Cate’s voice cut short any argument that was going to erupt between the First Esquire and her Lord and thus slow their plans down. “We didn’t come together to air out our petty arguments and quarrels. We came here to formulate a plan of attack in the small amount of time left to us, since it is all too painfully clear that Orlando will move as quickly as possible to crush all of us.”

That sober statement made Billy drop all his animosity and look at Sean, who nodded.

“Do we have any idea of where to begin?” Billy asked harshly, hating the fact that he was their strategist and would have to formulate an outline of an attack for his colleagues.
“We have an idea as to when he will come. But when he will, it will be with all his might.” Viggo replied in a ragged voice before walking up to Dom, who had been standing quietly watching the proceedings as they unfolded in front of him.

“Is he…?” Viggo asked after running a hand down Dominic’s face and licking his cheek. Billy wordlessly watched and shook his head.

“Soon?” Viggo pressed. Again, Billy shook his head.

Viggo sighed and turned to Dominic, who was watching him with mute horror, unsure of how to react at being touched and licked by one of the oldest vampires in existence. “Get out of this room and go fetch my Karl and Miranda. You are no use to us at this point. I do apologize for being that short with you, but time is running out.”
Although Dom was pissed of at being treated like something insignificant, he did as he was told. There was no point in arguing with him…unless he wanted to get his heart ripped out and handed to him on a platter, so he left the room as unobtrusively as he was able.

He could hear them start the conversation again, but he blocked it out of his mind as he entered what used to be Lij’s room and found a man and a woman sitting in what looked like a loosely protective fashion around Robin, who looked to be sleeping peacefully.

“I.. ah.. I was told to tell a Karl and Miranda to go to the living room. They want you there.” Dom told them, hating the way that his words sounded squeaked out and harsh as he spoke. Karl nodded and stood up with his sister, both of them not sparing a look at him as they went past. Dom thought that they shared the same dim view of humans and was not dismayed at their behaviour until Karl paused and looked back at him.

“Don’t hurt her anymore, or you will have to answer to us.”

Dom blinked at the threat and turned to look at Robin, who was now staring at him with a haunted expression on her face. Dom sat down gingerly on the corner of Lij’s bed, making it clear that he would move if he was given any hint to. He sat there for what felt like a long, painful stretch of time until he couldn’t take it anymore and turned to Robin, who was now sitting up against the wall playing with the hem of her jacket. He watched her play with her clothing for a few more minutes before reaching out and putting his hand over her fingers, stilling them completely and finally drawing her attention to him.

“What’s his name?” Robin asked softly.

“Billy…uhm…William. William Boyd.” Dom corrected himself as he kept his eyes on his hand. Robin laughed softly and shook her head at him.

“Do you think you’ll be happy with him?”

Dom looked up from her hand, completely taken aback at what she had just asked him. He had expected anger, screaming fits, maybe tears. But he hadn’t steeled himself to expect her to ask that. “Yes.” He replied without hesitation.

Robin nodded and pushed her hair away from her face, which although pale, wasn’t bruised anymore. “If he hadn’t come back to you, do you think we would have been happy together?”

Dom closed his eyes at the question. He had known it was coming and had prepared himself for it. But it had still caught him off-guard. He bit his lip and opened his eyes to really look at Robin, who was staring at him with hooded eyes as she waited for his reply. “Yes. I think we would have if he hadn’t come back.  I fell in love with you.” he told her, his voice low as he struggled to rip out the words that he had had in his mind all that time.

“It mustn’t had been that strong, if you’re with him now.” Robin replied, her voice calm and flat as she spoke, making Dom feel even worse than he already was. “No. Robin. No. Don’t think like that, babe. Please don’t think that…” Dom broke off and bit his lip as he fought to keep from crying and screwing everything up worse than it already was. He gave up after he heard Robin try to stifle a sob.

“Shhh. Don’t cry. I swear I never meant for all of this…” Dom broke off as he pulled Robin into his arms and hugged her tightly. He didn’t know how long they stayed that way. Nor did he know how it led to him and Robin staring at each other before Dom leaned in and kissed her.

The kiss was tender, with Dom taking the opportunity to taste every inch of her lips and her mouth; tasting both the sweetness and the salty bitterness of her tears at the same time. He pulled away after several minutes and stroked away the tear-stains from her face as gently as he could, kissing her forehead before loosening his grip on her. He would have moved away completely from her if it hadn’t been for her reaching out and keeping him in place.

At first, Dom was startled and was about to make another attempt at pulling away when Robin spoke. “I believe you, Dominic. Let’s not talk about it anymore. I’d rather not draw it out any longer than it has to be. Let’s just sit here and talk about everything, like we used to when we first met. Do you remember that?”

Dom smiled a bit as he brushed her hair back away from her forehead and nodded. “Yeah. I remember. Didn’t you throw an old piece of bread at my head the first time we met?” Robin laughed softly. “You’re never going to forgive me for that, are you?”

Dom grinned. “We’re still friends, aren’t we?” Robin nodded and squeezed his arm gently.

“Yeah. We are.”

“Thanks.”

“Anytime. With some reservations.”

“Seriously?”

“Nah. Just messing with you.”
~*~*~*~*~

Orlando stood in the middle of the field, his hair whipping around his face, hiding the blood that was dripping from his empty eye socket. He ignored both the wind and the blood as he concentrated on drawing up the circle of power that would call his army forth to him.

Once he finished, he stood outside the circle and cast a branch of cypress and a crumbling of catnip before reaching into his pocket for the last and most important item: his left eye.

Throwing the bloodied orb into the circle, he lit a candle and walked counter-clockwise around it, chanting words in a tongue that was long forgotten by all except for him; the last of his line.

Once the walk was completed, he cast the candle into the circle and burned the spell components.

Less than a minute later, he heard their cries as they arrived.

The War had begun.

 

Comments

[aprilkat.livejournal.com]

Oh, I am SO glad to see you continue this. Everything seems to be drawing to a head, and things are going to get nasty.

I notice that no one is commenting on where Craig and Elijah have gone - hm, wonder if they have a part to play in the upcoming war?

You certainly know how to complicate matters. (Robin's pregnant and under passionate protection. Billy's annoyed with everyone except Dom. The war is starting.) Very nice.

[konishi-zen.livejournal.com]

Oh yes indeed! i think chapter 12 is gonna be really hard to write because of that.

Craigs in the Kitchen and Elwood will show up...later.

Oh yeah. Robin's state was meant to be a monkey wrench since once it is fully revealed it will have crazy repercussions with everyone and Billy's just acting out. he's got to deal with stuff he doesn't want to...and may not at all...we'll see if his honor prevents him from being nice.

And the war...oh yes.. that's going to be just crazy. Lord knows how I'll plan it!

Thanks for reading!