Title: "Bound" Author: EA Karras and Magnes Rating: A very hard NC17. Violencia, blood, vampirism to the nth degree. This one's not for the squeemish. Pairings: A lot. Even some for you people who keep telling us you want Ray/Calhoun. Notes: This be not pretty. It was originaly longer. We split it into two beause there's a lot of stuff going on and we don't want you missing any of it. We may do this with a lot of the arc 3 fics. Disclaimers: Due South belongs to Alliance, Tom, James, Dire, Von and all their original buds belong to Magnes and Karra. --- Eloise sat with the Moloch courtesan, checking to make sure that his connection to Wyrm was still severed. She smiled, her eyes lighting up as she glanced at her sire. "I think he'll be all right," she whispered. "What did you do?" Ray asked quietly and watched the man who looked so much like his friend sleep. "He looks...peaceful. Damn near happy." "I brought forth some memories he'd pushed back into the recesses of his mind." She stood up, her skirts ruffling at her feet. "He's doing a little walking down memory lane." She cast Aja a bright smile, gave him and Ray each a peck on the cheek, and left. Ray shook his head at the lorn-looking king. "You got it bad, dontcha?" Aja smiled wistfully. "Raymond, she's at least four times my age." "That's all I'm sayin', Aja." *** Vecchio yawned, crawling into bed with his wife...no, wives. He still needed to correct himself on that point, six years later. He smiled, and put his arms around the body they shared. "I love you," he murmured. He heard a murmur back and smiled wider, falling fast asleep. *** Tom curled tighter to James, fingers tangled in the Sabbat's hair. They had gone up to the rooms the Primals had insisted on making for their Higher. He'd used them only once or twice, when he'd been too knackered from working to go home. "I missed you," he whispered, slowly pulling the vampire's shirt out of his leather pants. God, how lucky was he to have a lover that not only wore leather pants as a matter of course, but looked hotter than hell in them, too? James eyed the leopard print sheets with distaste before returning Tom's glance. It looked almost forced. "Missed you too...Kinky." He froze as Tom kissed him then managed a smile. Inside his mind James was screaming as Lilith kissed Tom back, tangling fingers in the Moloch's coarse hair. She shoved Tom onto his back where he willingly opened his arms and pulled his lover close. James was shrieking in horror as she nipped at Tom's jaw line and then his neck. He knew her. She'd been in his head for a decade or more. He knew how she thought. Or he thought he did. This wasn't the Lilith he knew and despised. This one wasn't quite as insane as the one that had twisted him into a monster. This vampire queen could think logically, and the notion was terrifying to the Sabbat. Tom gasped but didn't struggle as James bit him hard. He felt the heat of his own blood at his throat and let out a growl as he ran his hands up the Sabbat's back, reveling in the feel of cool skin against his fingers. It looked as if James had missed him. The vampire had a tendency to get a little rough when they were apart for any amount of time. Not that Tom was about to complain. There was no denying they both liked to bite and be bitten. He didn't so much as move until it started to hurt, until he realized that this was no longer about sex. He could feel his heart beating like a drum in his chest. "No...James...n-oh!" He groaned as his head was tilted back. For one frightening moment he saw the look in James' pale eyes. There was no love there. Only contempt. Even the other James, the mad version of his Sabbat, had never looked so cruel as this creature of ice and leather. He could hear the slurping, sucking as James fed off him. What was going on? Why such a letting? Was this Amaranth? Had he somehow set James off again that he would be this angry? Why was he doing this? What the hell had happened to his James Calhoun that he would do this? "James...please..." He reached up, weakly trying to shove his lover away. So much blood loss in so few days had weakened him. Ray. Ray could help him. Ray would help him. He closed his eyes and concentrated. *** Fraser and Kowalski lay in bed, talking about what the American had seen in the other universe and the Chicago that Adam had defeated when the detective suddenly felt cold. Chilled. And very, very scared. The Canadian noticed immediately. "Ray?" "Frase...something's wrong..." "What?" "I...I dunno...It's Cal, or something. I've gotta get up there!" *** Tom squirmed as best he could as James tried to force him to feed from the Sabbat's wrist. The blood couldn't hurt him like it could a vampire, but he'd lost so much blood. He was too close... "No...please! James, don't...don't..." He screamed as the Sabbat hit him in the chest and gagged as blood was forced down his throat. He could feel his own blood soaking the sheets beneath him as James returned to his own feeding, tearing at the flesh in his throat. He could hear pounding, but whether it was his heart or the door he was not sure. *** The demons in Hell were upset. A psychic tremor was passing through the old prison and it frightened them. They hurried to the Primal's chamber where he lay with Lupa Kilpatrick. They would be able to explain. Rupert looked up from his pounding on the Higher's door. The Prince and The Mountie. Thank Primal. They wouldn't hesitate to act whereas all the demons in Hell would shrink from disturbing their Higher and his lupa. "He won't answer. Has something happened?" Kowalski shook his head. "Dunno..." He pounded at the door himself. "Tom! Yo, Tom Cat, open up!" Silence. He listened quietly. He could hear frantic breathing on the other side of the door. Squelching. Feeding. His eyes grew huge as he realized what was happening. "Oh God...Oh, shit! Fraser! Bust the door down!" It took three kicks to get the heavy door open, and even then the horror of what was happening inside the room froze them in place for a heartbeat. Then Tom made a tiny noise of suffering and galvanized them into action. The Primal demons rushed in, pulling Lupa Kilpatrick off their Higher. Restraining the struggling Elder, they dragged the barely-resisting Sabbat to the floor as Rupert went to Tom's side. Fraser was already there and Kowalski ran into the bathroom and fetched all the towels he could find and passed them to his Mountie. The Moloch was barely moving. His throat a mess of bite wounds and jagged tears. Blood soaked the bed and Kowalski had to fight to not throw up. "Why?" he shouted at his retainer, tears threatening to spill over. His face was a mask of blood, his hands clawed, James Calhoun just chuckled at their reactions. It was a hideous sound. Kowalski had only very rarely seen this side of his retainer, the unstoppable killer, the animal that lay just below the surface. Too often he forgot that the calm, reserved, and prudish man he was used to was only one part of the whole. That Jamey was just an aspect of the vampire that was an Autarkis Sabbat, despised by all, and a killer on a scale Ray could not imagine. Why had he done this to the man he loved so completely? James was grinning at him, at his confusion and horror. Kowalski knew that grin. He remembered it on Fraser's face one awful night six years ago. Lilith. "No..." Unaware of Ray's realization, Fraser looked up. "He forced Tom to feed." Kowalski shook himself, dragging his eyes away from the Sabbat that was letting the demons hold him. The Caanite prince wasn't fooled. Fueled by Higher and Ancient blood, Elder James Calhoun could flatten every person here in Hell and come back for more. "So? Tom's a demon. Demons don't vamp." Kowalski was fully resigned that his friend was dying. Son of a bitch. He looked at Fraser and hoped swelled. "What?" "Tom's half human." Suddenly a cry of pure agony erupted from Tom's lips. He was dying. He was going over. James looked positively triumphant as the demons dragged him out the door. The turning would be just as painful as Kowalski's had been, he could see that. He grabbed Fraser and Rupert, shoving them out of the room, and nodded to the others. "Go. Get out. I'll help him, you find me a vampire. And some blood. He's going to have to feed. Hurry!" He turned back, closing the door behind him. "Tom Cat..." He wrapped his arms around his friend, holding the agonized Primal tightly. "It's okay, I've got ya." Tom's voice was barely audible. "Ray?" "Yeah?" "Thank you..." "Shh..." He smoothed the Moloch's coarse hair. "Listen ta me, Tom Cat. This is gonna hurt. There's no easy way about it. You've seen it. Yer gonna puke and yer gonna feel crazy and cold and hot and yer gonna wanna kill something. I'm not leavin' ya. Whatever ya need, I'll get it. I'm stickin' right here fer the whole deal, 'kay?" He hesitated, then pressed, "Tom, I...I don't think...That wasn't Dead Man. Remember when we killed Lilith, she moved inta Fraser? Cal...Cal looked like Fraser did that night. I don't think that was him." Tom slowly nodded. He knew his James would never... His thoughts scattered as a wave of pain swept over him. A small cry escaped his lips. The detective braced him, murmuring comfort. He looked up as the door opened and Fraser entered, followed by the other Ray Kowalski and carrying a thermos. Fraser stood beside the bed, biting his lip as he nervously. He gazed at Tom's dying form, then at his lover, willing him to be safe. "Oh, shit," breathed the Gangrel vampire, taking in the carnage. He looked as if he wanted to be sick. "Where's they put him, Frase?" demanded Kowalski of his Mountie. "Maximum. They have guards on him. The Sabbat haven't been told yet. We need to get a hold of Von." "Do it, Frase." He tensed as Tom twisted in his arms. "Lock the door," he ordered. The Slayer leaned over and kissed him deeply. "Be careful." "You too." *** Aja stared at the door of his father's chambers, shaking. He had followed Fraser and Ray up, confused. He could hear the cries of pain coming from the room and they frightened him. The smell of blood and fear was almost overwhelming. He reached for the doorknob, jumping back when it pulled open allowing Fraser to exit. "Benton." He watched as Fraser locked the doors and was shocked when the large Mountie picked him up and started walking. "Benton, is my father ill?" Fraser was quiet for a few strides of his long legs then he slowly spoke, his emotions under tight rein. "There was...there was an accident, Aja. Your father...Jamey attacked your father." "No. James would never..." "We'll discuss it later." The tone of Fraser's voice was foreboding. Aja nodded, then leaned in and hugged him. *** Tom shook in agonized pain as his body died. God, was this was James had gone through? No wonder he'd gone crazy that first time, left alone and ignorant of how to deal with the changes going on in him. He remembered his friend's words of comfort and assurance. His Ray Kowalski had gone through this, as well. Thank god he was not alone for this. He knew he would not keep his sanity if he had to face this by himself. As the painful convulsions finally finished wracking his body, he felt someone lifting him up and walking him into the bathroom. Kowalski turned the showers on as his doppelganger Ray held Tom tightly. They'd have to work quickly. Tom was a demon. There was no telling how Tom's body would react...luckily, there was enough human in him to go over, but god only knew what the end results would be. Only an Ancient like Lilith or Caine could have done this. Cool water splashed down. Tom's stomach churned, and with a groan he began to vomit. Kowalski let him twist and writhe, trying to find a comfortable position as his body purged. He felt gentle hands wiping his face, cleaning him, pulling off his shirt to wash away the sweat and vomit and blood. The Moloch took a deep breath, feeling his throat healing, smelling the vampire prince that held him, the intoxicating scent of blood from a ghoulite with a soul. Tom closed his eyes, surprised that tears were flowing down his cheeks. Kowalski murmured something he couldn't understand, then gently pulled him in close, stroking his wet hair and rocking him slowly. *** Aria hissed as the cage across from her and the demon child was shut and locked. She tried reaching through the bars to claw at Calhoun. Rupert watched her warily. If this had been anyone but the Lupa, he would have allowed her access to their Higher's attacker. She could smell Tom's blood on him. She was afraid. So was he. Who knew what a Higher-Sabbat combination would bring? And why had Lupa Kilpatrick, who clearly loved their Higher beyond words, attacked him so savagely? He glanced at the Sabbat vampire. A faint smile twisted the fair face into an unpleasant sneer, turning that pale, handsome face into a mask of evil cruelty. *** Benton and Fraser were changing the sheets on the bed when the skinny blond vampire finally came out of the bathroom. He was covered in blood and looked exhausted "How is he?" Fraser whispered, tugging on the sheet corner. "He's...he's crying. And sick. Ray...your Ray, Fraser, wants you to come in there." *** Tom was unconscious, supported by Kowalski when Fraser made his way into the bathroom. The detective was doing his best to clean his friend off and looked as tired as his double. "Frase..." "Ray?" He looked down as Kowalski took his hand, guiding it to Tom's skin. Warm. The Moloch lying in his arms was still warm. "How...?" "You tell me. This is too weird. What the hell's up with Dead Man? Frase, I've seen that look before. That was Lilith. C'mon, Cal would never do that ta Tom." Fraser crouched beside the bathtub, heedless of the water showering down on them. "Ray, before I was abducted and taken to England, Tom and I talked. He mentioned how Jamey and he were discussing the future a while ago. Jamey is frightened of Tom's mortality. He's frightened of having to watch Tom grow old and eventually die while he remains alone." "Ya don't think he did /this/ though, do ya?" "No." A thought struck Kowalski and he looked up, fixing his glasses. "Fraser? Are you scared of that, too? Of me goin' over and you dyin'?" The Mountie smiled at this gentle creature he loved so completely and leaned over into the spray of the shower to kiss the hybrid. "No. I'm not frightened, Ray, because I would never leave you." The Caanite nodded, reassured. "Me, either, Frase. I love ya." "And I you." "Help me get him up. He's gonna need ta eat, then sleep." *** Grissom sighed quietly and sat up in bed. Ray had left the baby with him while he went to help with some task or another. He hadn't really been paying attention. He looked at her sadly and picked her up, standing up slowly. One-handed, he pulled a bathrobe around his clothes. He raised an eyebrow in distaste. These had to be his counterpart's or something. Guy sure liked his leopard print. Him, it was black. And lots of it. He held the baby close and walked sock footed down the corridor. He could hear talking. The Seeker and Calhoun. He froze outside the door. His Calhoun. Well...not his. He didn't want him. He wanted Alex. The realization came as a shock. He'd buried the memories of Alex deeply, away from prying eyes. Like his tryst with Ray, he kept Alex a secret unto himself, hidden away from Cecil's petty jealousies and the prying inquiries of the vampires. Alex was his and his alone, one of the few points of light in his life. He sighed and felt a cool hand on his arm. Eloise. He smiled at her. "Hi." "You miss him," she stated simply. "Yes." He stared at her sadly, not even wondering how she knew. "Well, then. Let's see if we can't find a way to find him, hmm?" He gazed at her, still unable to get used to being treated like he had some worth. He reminded himself that these people were unlike the world that he had left. Even here, despite what he had done in his own world, they regarded him as their peer. He bit his lip, losing himself for a moment in her cornflower blue eyes. "Where shall we start, Lady Eloise?" *** Kowalski pulled the blankets around Tom, setting the empty thermos on the counter. "Has someone called the Sabbat?" "Von's on his way," Fraser whispered, staring down at the sleeping Moloch. "He'll be all right?" "Physically? Probably. I don't know about in there." He tapped his own head, frowning. "Ah." *** Von glared at the two Witch girls. They kept insisting on sticking with him. It was seriously getting annoying. To the point where he was starting to hope they were the type he could eat. He sighed and turned to them, glaring. "Do you want something?" "We want to see Elder Calhoun," the blonde said, brushing her hair behind her ear. "Fine." Pain in the ass women. He wondered if they had a place to stay, then wondered why the hell he cared. *** They decided to confront James together. Aja suggested it, disturbed by his son's idea that the Dark Queen might be the one responsible for this attack. Dressed in the garb Warfield had provided - another replica of the Mongolian traveling robes he'd favored for centuries - the ancient in the demon child's body, his ghoulite son, and his son's soul left word with their peers that they were going to speak to their prisoner. The demon guards hung back a bit, giving them room. That the guards were Swiss Fishies, one of the few creatures on the planet capable of stopping even a Sabbat, made Ray nervous. He had quite a few negative associations with the fish demons. The child Adam was the first one they saw. He stared at Aja, hate filling his eyes that his counterpart should have freedom whereas he was confined to a cell. The two children spent a moment looking at each other, Aja's soft brown eyes filling with pity and pain at the sight of what might have been. Aria was next, pacing her cage endlessly. At the sight of the familiar group she calmed down enough that Aja was able to scratch her behind the ears. They had yet to discover a way to reverse the effects of the mirror smasher. And then there was the Sabbat Elder. He stood at the back of the cell, arms folded across his chest and a cocky smirk on his handsome face. He was clearly enjoying every moment of this. "Soooo," he sneered as the trio stood before his door. "How's the psychic whore coming along?" "Where is James Calhoun?" demanded Aja calmly. He spread his arms. "I'm right here, 'my lord.'" "You are not. The James Calhoun known to us would never do the thing you have done." He laughed. "Maybe you just don't know me too well, kiddo." "Cease this childishness, Lilitu." The smile grew broader. James then turned his gaze on the two men flanking the boy. He undressed the pair of them with his eyes. "What did you do with my retainer, Lilith?" demanded Kowalski. He was really in no mood for these games. "Retainer? Oh, you mean caddie, right?" Pushing off the wall, James glided forward until he was against the bars of the cell. "What did I do to him, Prince Kowalski? I am he. Maybe you should be wondering what I'm going to do to /you/." His voice dropped to a seductive whisper. Kowalski felt nauseous. "You didn't enjoy that night much, did you?" goaded the vampire in the same tone. His pale eyes roamed over to Fraser. "Neither did you, Slayer. /She/ did. A lot. I've got all his memories right at my fingertips. And guess what? Your precious retainer that you know so well would give anything to do to you what she did." Ray held the evil gaze evenly, forcing himself not to react at the mention of the rape. Lilith had possessed Fraser and used his body to force Ray. It was an event they had dealt with and left in their past. "Liar," stated Kowalski evenly, his gaze never wavering. "You can't tell me anything about Calhoun, Lilith, so give it up." He smacked himself with the heel of his palm. "Can't even tell you he won't fucking stop screaming? He's putting up a good fight. Better than that wuss Gangrel could have." A low chuckle emerged from the Sabbat's throat. "He's not like the Calhoun I left. That one was like a child by comparison. I can feel /you/ in him, Prince Kowalski. You too, Lord Caine. Even you, Slayer, and that stupid Higher bitch. Pure power. He doesn't even know the limits. You have no idea of what you're dealing with, gentlemen! You have no...fucking...clue!" Suddenly it occurred to all three that Lilith was absolutely right. Before they could even edge away, though, the Sabbat had seized the cell door and twisted with all his might. The metal groaned and creaked and abruptly ripped clean off the hinges. Kowalski dove back out of the way. Laughing, James strode out the cell door to freedom. The guards rushed forward, but all the Sabbat did was back fist one, snapping his neck in one blow and knocking him into the other guard. "Run!" screamed Kowalski to his lover and his father. They were closer to the door. They had a chance. "Oh, don't worry," chuckled James, ignoring the Mountie and the Ancient. "You're the one I want, Prince Kowalski." Kowalski felt a clawed hand seize him by the shirt, yanking him to his feet. "I'll take these," said the Sabbat, plucking off his glasses. The American winced and tried to turn away. He could hear the door opening and Fraser and Caine and the remaining Swiss Fish escaping. Moments later an alarm sounded throughout the old prison. "Time to go, Sire," teased the vampire. Kowalski struggled and fought, but Lilith was right - James Calhoun was pure power. He didn't stand a chance. Adam clutched the bars of his cell. "Take me with you, Lilith! I can help!" The vampire paused a moment to look at the little boy, then laughed. "Fuck off, brat." Then Kowalski was dragged into darkness, the stinking, wet maze of cells beneath the prison, depths so deep not even the original builders of the place could have found their way through. *** Tom blinked rapidly and opened his eyes. His hand flew to his neck and he stared up at Turnbull. "What...what's that noise?" "Lilith's escaped. In Jamey's body." Turnbull held a hand to Tom's shoulder, trying to keep him from sitting up. "She's got Ray." Lilith? He must have spoken the name aloud because the Seeker continued. "Yes." "Isn't she...what is she?" "It isn't our Lilith. This one hitched a ride to our world in the other Calhoun." "Ohh...God..." He was hungry. Very hungry. He snatched a cup Turnbull offered and drank down the blood quickly. He remembered now. Calhoun had said she wanted him...oh, God...like Caine now had Calhoun, so Lilith had taken his lover. /His/ lupa. /His/ James. "She did this to me? Not James?" "Exactly." Tom touched his neck and shivered. "I'll kill her." *** Kowalski gave a cry of pain as he felt his arms being yanked up and secured above his head. The vampire used the ropes he found on the ground of the lower cells to bind his captive to the bars. Unable to fight effectively, Kowalski opted to sneer instead. "What're you gonna do, Lilith? Huh?" His only answer was a triumphant smile as Lilith slapped him. Kowalski tried to roll with it but he still smacked his head on the bars behind him. Hurt like hell. Dead Man was damned strong. "So," he said through a trickle of blood on his lips, "Whatcha gonna do, bitch?" The vampire's pale eyes, barely visible to his sensitive eyes, were fixated on the thin line of blood on his chin. Slowly James moved forward, graceful as a panther. His expression was hungry, and suddenly Ray Kowalski was afraid. Very, very afraid as his chin was lifted. Cold hands. He looked into his friend's eyes. Dead Man wasn't home. He would never look at his prince that way. Never. Slowly, the vampire licked the thin line of red on his chin and mouth. A sound escaped the Sabbat. He was getting off on this. No, SHE was getting off on this. Oh, god, please, not twice in a lifetime... He winced when suddenly James' cold lips covered his own in a caress that was no more a kiss than the emotion they shared right now was love. Hungry, cruel, and selfish, the vampire's hands roved over his ribs, down towards his groin even as Kowalski's mouth was invaded by the vampire's tongue, seeking the cut inside his mouth. Somewhere inside his mind, Kowalski screamed, fully aware that his retainer screamed with him. *** Grissom was sitting with Eloise when the vision hit him. He took in a sharp breath. This felt different. It didn't feel like his visions usually did. They usually felt good. Wonderful, even. Not this one. This one hurt. Agonizingly. He brought his hands to his temples, eyes tearing up. He managed to get out to Eloise. "The others. Find the others...Ah!" He fell back on the bed, screaming in agony as the vision ravished his mind. He could see Ray. This world's Prince Kowalski. This world's Tom. Oh God. Their power...it would destroy the world if they weren't careful. He felt hands all over him, trying to steady him as his writhed on the bed, trying desperately to escape the pain. He could see... Oh God... He could see... He screamed, throwing his head back and screamed some more. Blood ran in rivulets out of his nose. He could see everything. *** Aja stared down at the man that could be his father, watching Eloise and Benton try to calm him down. He was in such pain, this creature. He'd caused such pain. He frowned, touching the man's face gently. "Show me. Show me what you see..." He saw several images. The man his pater had stolen for a body. His double. Blood. Rivers of blood. He heard screaming. Was he seeing the future? Or the past? *** Fraser ran down the hall to Tom's room, determination written on every line of his face. He knocked and entered without waiting for an invitation and he found Turnbull talking to the Primal Higher. They both turned to him in surprise. "Can you move, Tom?" demanded the Mounted Slayer. "We're leaving momentarily." "Let's go," said the Higher and newly made Sabbat. "Where are they?" "Somewhere beneath the lower levels." "That's where they kept the Spiritus Sanctii. James would remember the area." As he spoke, Tom struggled into some clothes. Basic black. This was the most reasonably dressed any of them had ever seen Tom Grissom. "Who's going?" "Me. You. Both Diefenbakers, the other Ray is waiting for us in the cell block." "And me," added Turnbull. "Let's grab Rupert and Ignatz, too," said Tom. "Ray Vecchio has been contacted," continued Fraser. "Stella and Ma will watch the children. Ray Vecchio is on his way in to act as backup and he's bringing Constable Dire. Jay and Lucia are on their way, too, and I've contacted Von. He's sending Ted and Joan to keep an eye on D'Hoffryn and he'll be here in a little while." "Where's Adolph?" "In the library with Benton, Eloise and the other Tom." He hesitated, stumbling on his own thoughts. Pain. Fear. Confusion. Revulsion. //Ray...// Tom winced. He felt it, too. Oh, god. Eyes wide, he looked to Fraser desperately. He knew the feeling. So did Fraser. So did Ray. Oh, god. Oh, no. Oh, please... A scream rose unbidden in the Mountie's mind, screaming for his lover, for his pain. Screaming for his friends. //...love...you...// "RAY!" *** Oh...God... He felt the shiv Lilith had gotten out of the bunk run up his arm, the rough metal strip slicing into his arm. The Sabbat's lips locked onto the cut, draining for all he and she were worth. "No...no..." It hurt. It hurt a lot. He groaned, his head tilting back and hitting the bars hard enough to make him see stars. "Stop..." "Not on your life," Lilith grinned, lips dripping with Kowalski's blood. His fingers brushed inside the prince's thigh, producing a small sound as he tried to squirm away from the touch. "No!" A powerful grip on his leg, lifting it slightly, then teeth replaced the fingers. He screamed as the fangs bit down, tearing into his leg. Feeding. He kicked out, trying to land a blow on the Sabbat, trying to shove him away. It was like trying to push a tank. He felt rather than heard the amused chuckle from the vampire's throat. He? She? paused in the feeding to breath him in. He felt the touch on his groin, a slow motion, trying to stimulate him...oh, god... //Focus. Focus, Ray. You've fought them before. Ohgodithurts. Think. Forget about what she's doing to you - ohgod!// Another scream escaped him. Or almost a scream. He felt her - for it was clearly no longer him - slide up his front, pressing close. A smell of leather and blood as his lips were parted for another kiss... //You don't fight Dead Man. He's too damned strong. You fry his brain//, Kowalski reminded himself. He concentrated. //Louis, help me here...// Another chuckle as he let out a small cry. *** James' mind continued to scream, raging against the woman that would do this to his Prince. His friend. And Tom. Oh God. Tom. What he had done! Was he dead? Alive? He couldn't feel him...maybe...maybe he could... *** Tom was halfway to Ignatz's hole when his mind erupted full of screaming. Absolute agony and frustration and fury. He recognized the emotions instantly: James. Somehow, the Sabbat had gotten through the barrier. Too overwhelmed by what he was being made to do, all he could manage was this endless scream. The noise lasted almost two minutes and when it was done he was on his back in the library, covering his ears. "James...?" Aja stood over his father, blinking. "Are you all right?" "Uhhmm..." How on earth had he gotten back here? "You feel different..." Tom blinked, not sure how much to tell Aja at this moment. "I..." They both looked up as the other Tom Grissom, the Moloch, came into the library carrying Livia. He watched them, curious and wary as a deer, but said nothing. The two Toms had yet to talk, really. Adolph pushed away from the wall where he'd been waiting and watching, hovering over his own father. Aja and Tom eyed him carefully, both completely aware of what their own Adolph had done in the past and ready to run for help if need be. Aja was shocked when this Adolph wrapped his wings and arms around Grissom and tried to sooth him with gentle words and a loving hug. Aja looked at his father, glad to see he wasn't alone in his shock. He was about to speak when Fraser's rescue party came into the room. "Lord Caine, please, go upstairs," said Fraser. "Tom, are you all right? We're going down now." He barely spared the other Grissom a glance, caring at this moment only about his Ray. Tom struggled to his feet. "James...James is screaming. He's..." "Are you coming or not?" demanded the Slayer impatiently. Tom nodded, touching Aja's shoulder affectionately. "Yes. Let's move." He turned his gaze on Adolph. "Take care of them. And your sister..." Adolph nodded, holding his trembling father closer. *** Louis' attack finally hit when Lilith had James biting down on Kowalski's ankle. The ghoulite was making noises of agonizing pain that'd he'd never heard pass anyone's lips. Ever. God. It hurt so much. He was almost weeping with joy when the familiar pain of a flash hit him. And then from horror when he saw that the Sabbat didn't even blink. It didn't work. Somehow, she blocked it. "No...noo..." He stared down at his retainer, slumping in his awkward positioning. Lilith glared up at him using James' ice-blue eyes. "Do I have to gag you?" Ray screamed as she sank her fangs into him again. *** Von ran ahead of the girls, running smack into that damned sewer rat the consort had brought back from Sunnydale. "What happened? Where's Elder Calhoun?" "Lupa Kilpatrick?" "Whatever!" He seized the thing by its collar. "Where is he? What's happened? You tell me now, or I swear to God!" He bared his fangs, hissing. "Lupa Kilpatrick has a twin. The twin infected him with the Dark Mother. The Mother turned Higher Grissom, then Lupa Kilpatrick kidnapped Prince Kowalski and took him into the Pit." Von stared, amazed that he managed to follow this senseless rambling. He shook his head then tightened his grip. "Show me how to get there, sunshine! Now!" *** The two werewolves lead the way unerringly. With no effort, they worked as a team and found the trail in just a few moments. Ignoring Adam and Aria, they plunged into the darkness. Instantly the Gangrel Ray took the point, able to smell the blood even from here. Jay and Lucia covered the rear. Tripping, stumbling, they wove downwards into the very bowels of the prison, into a region that had never seen the light of day. Tom shuddered at the memories. He had frozen James here during their battle with D'Hoffryn. "Shh!" ordered Ray. He listened intently. They had been moving for almost half an hour, ignoring the cold, the stench, the refuse blocking their way. Nothing mattered beyond saving Ray Kowalski. They were close enough to hear his screams. Fraser fought to keep his calm. Beside him, his double, Benton, tensed as well, just as affected. Either they were close, or Lilith was in a place where the sound could travel far... *** "Cal...please...stop...stop, please. Jamey. Oh, god, please listen to me, Cal! Stop this, please..." He was begging. He hated begging anyone but Fraser. A voice right by his ear. "He can hear you. I won't let him do anything about it, but you're getting through, Prince Kowalski. He's finally getting his dream come true, Ray, why does he think I'm a fucking bitch?" Another kiss, this one at his throat. He barely felt the fangs graze his neck anymore. He felt the press of the Sabbat's body against him, pressing him into the bars. Oh, god, it hurt... "Enjoying it, Prince Kowalski? Want to feel what he's always wanted to do to you?" teased Lilith. She concentrated, digging in the Sabbat's memories for a moment of sheer, psychic ecstasy she could inflict on the unwilling ghoulite. "...jamey?" he slurred. "S'okay. S'not yer fault...don'...you didn'...do..." Then his mind exploded in a climax of psychic energy. *** "Tom?" "He's screaming louder. Ray's dying." *** Kowalski breathed in deep as Lilith pressed against him once more and bit down. He could feel the bitch murmuring something against the neck as she bit, draining him. This felt different. He felt a pulling in his mind. And then a shoving. Something was there. It was like...it was like Louis or Irene but ten times, a hundred times worse. God, was this how Dead Man felt? No. Not like Cal. This thing...whatever it was entering his mind...Not Lilith. Definitely not this darker version of Lilith. He felt a mad chuckle burst from his lips. It was insane. Completely and totally insane. It was Eloise. Not his Eloise. Definitely not. But /an/ Eloise. //NO! Nonononono! Oh, god, no! Fraser!// He fought to keep her away. He failed miserably. He was defenseless against the sheer magnitude of her insanity. He was sure he screamed when it finally took control. *** She watched the detective go limp under her host's body, and waited, still pressed full-length against him. Finally he took in a breath. Then another. Eyes opened and stared up at her madly. She smiled back and quickly pulled off the restraints. "Hi." A smile back. As mad as the gaze. "Hi..." *** Tom was beside Fraser when the Mountie suddenly slowed, then stopped. He was stricken and the psychic didn't have to ask why. His Ray was gone. If not dead, then worse. Fraser swayed, paler than death as he tried to collect himself. "Keep...go. We...he needs us...he's...oh, god..." "Move it!" ordered Tom, plunging into the darkness. No time. They had no time. They had taken too long... *** He was still present. It was like being crushed within his own mind. He could see, he could hear and feel and think, but he was no longer master of this house. He knew why Dead Man was screaming. *** "Tch." She ran a finger along the edge of Kowalski's teeth. "How come you get to have fangs?" "Because I'm a vampire." She looked down at the gashes, the blood staining the slim body she now inhabited. "If I bleed out much more I may have to be. Hmm. You get the leather, too." Lilith chuckled. "Listen - let them find you. We'll meet up later." "I'll be the one with the screaming man inside me." "*** Fraser was the first to see him. He was collapsed on the floor of a cell, his body smeared with blood. He was barely conscious and muttering to himself. Loose ropes were tied around his wrists. "Ray!!" With Tom at his side, he shoved into the cell, the two of them working as a team to get Ray on his back and straightened out. He wasn't murmuring. He was laughing. *** They had him on transfusions all night, locked in the same room in which Tom had been attacked. He wouldn't stop laughing. Mina was sure it was just hysteria, but when she'd looked into his eyes that theory went out the window. All she saw was madness. Lunacy. Tom had seen in too, she knew. And he would know it. Neither of them shared their thoughts with Fraser, though the Mountie guessed. He knew his Ray and he knew what he had felt in that awful moment and this...creature was not who or what it pretended to be. They had been fooled before. Fraser would not allow then to be fooled again. *** Aja sat with Turnbull and Benton and Ray, all of them trying to fathom what had occurred, when Calhoun approached them. There was a serenity the Seeker recognized in those pale eyes, only he was used to it being reflected in large, brown eyes. "My Lord," greeted Turnbull. "Elder." "One or the other, Turnbull," corrected Calhoun. "You can't offend either of us." "Join us, please," invited Aja, rising. "You have heard about my son?" "Yes." "The Primals are scouting, as are the clans, trying to find Elder Calhoun. I fear their search will be in vain. Bloody Mary will show herself when she so chooses." "Yeah, but meanwhile my twin's elevator is not stopping on all floors. That, or he's got a stowaway on board," said Ray. Aja was still for a moment. "I believe a reading is in order, Son of Rachel." "Indeed, Lord Caine," agreed Turnbull. *** Von entered Tom's second set of rooms in Hell and stared down at the rather depressed-looking Moloch. "What's wrong with you?" "What?" "You look like death warmed over. What's wrong with you?" "Look in a mirror lately, Von?" Tom replied sarcastically. He was sick of this. Sick of Von and the rest of James' clan treating him like shit just because James hadn't chosen one of them as his consort. They could go to hell and take Lilith with them as far as he was concerned. Well. He was one of them now. Whether they liked it or not. He certainly didn't like it. "So what's the word? I got here after the dust settled." Tom glared. "The word is, Prince Kowalski is a total nutter and your boss was subject to a hostile take-over by Lilith. Oh, and I'm a Sabbat now, too." That hit home. Von hesitated. "What?" Tom bared his fangs. They were different, smaller and whiter than the fangs he acquired as a Moloch. "What the fuck do these look like, you moron?" "What the-fuck!" "Now what the hell's your problem, Von?" demanded Tom impatiently. "You've got no fucking clue, do you, you moron?" demanded the Sabbat second in turn. "Clue about what?" he demanded. "No. Don't tell me. I don't fucking want to know." He stood up, shoving his way past the shocked Sabbat. "I'm going out. Tell the others." "Alone?" "I'll take Ignatz..." Von shook his head at the retreating figure. "Oh, yeah, a three-foot rat is going to do soooo much...Shit!" *** For once the cards read nothing. It was almost as if someone didn't want them to know what was to occur. Aja let that thought shiver down his spine. "There has to be some way we can..." He paused in thought. Calhoun smiled brightly. "The Oracle." "Would he?" "I'm sure he would. You just have to ask nicely." *** "No. I won't." Grissom shook his head, turning his back on them. "I won't..." "Thomas," Calhoun started, Caine predominant. "Thomas, you must. We must know." "I can't! Not here." Aja was quiet. "You did it before. In the chapel." "I..." The Moloch stared at the floor. "It's beginning to hurt." "I'll do my best to ease any discomfort," Calhoun assured him. "No...it's not pain. It's...agony. It's agony. Torture." Calhoun smiled. "Thomas..." "I said no!" Then Ray Kowalski, Gangrel vampire and former Knight of the City, got in his face. "You fucking little coward! Oh, it hurts, does it? Oh, it's agony? It's torture? Awww. Whaddya think Prince Kowalski and Elder Calhoun have gone through? Huh? Think it tickles to have a vampire tryin' to suck ya dry? Think they're havin' fun here? Think they like havin' some psycho bitch queen in their heads? First ya lied ta me, then you hide back here in a corner and let everyone else fight and get hurt tryin' ta keep yer ass safe! Even that weenie Cecil has more moxie than you! Worst part is, I liked ya. I trusted ya. Is this how ya pay back everyone that goes out on a limb fer ya?" He looked at Calhoun. "He fuckin' started a clan war fer yer sorry carcass. Elder!" He addressed Calhoun. "Quit wastin' yer time and yer love on this piece of chicken shit! He ain't worth it! Won't even put up with a little pain to save a Caanite Prince and a Sabbat Elder! Guess he thinks they're dime a dozen commodities." Turning back on the speechless Tom Grissom, Ray poked him in the chest. "You don't deserve to have my Elder. Ya don't deserve their suffering or their protection. And ya fuckin' don't deserve ta be loved by anybody that's got their head on straight." He fixed his glasses. "C'mon, Ben, let's go find Fraser. I don' wanna hafta look at this creep again." *** Ignatz strolled beside Higher Grissom, watching him carefully. He was worried about his elder. The attack by the Lupa seemed to have driven a wedge into his mental well-being. Like most Primals, Ignatz was very direct in his emotions. The complexities of the Higher's and Lupa's relationship were beyond his experience. He was pondering that when the dart hit him in the back. Later he would blame himself. His own distraction had caused this, he was sure. He saw the Higher watch him fall and then look around like a deer caught in headlights. Then Tom's hand went to his neck. Another dart. "I'm sorry," he whispered to Tom before blacking out. *** He woke up to darkness and a constant stroking on his arm. His head hurt. A lot. "James...?" He was having trouble thinking. "Shhh." James' voice was barely a whisper, close to his ear. "Ellie will be here soon. Then we'll have a party." "James." He gazed into the pale blue eyes, trying to find any trace of the passionate, loving man he so adored in those twisted depths. "Jamey doesn't live here anymore, Tommy," whispered Lilith before kissing him with cruel intensity. *** "How could you lose him?" Von demanded, staring Ignatz down. "You were only gone a half hour!" Turnbull was at his side and they were mightily annoyed in unison at the Sewer Rat. "I...he...we were hit. With darts..." Ignatz held up the tiny pin dart. "When I woke up he was gone. I could smell the Lupa." "Lilith," Turnbull sighed. "What the fuck does she have planned now?" Von stared up at the ceiling. Life sucked. So did undeath. How much more messed up could things get? Why the hell hadn't he listened to his mother and gone to West Point instead of Woodstock? Life would have been...well, life. None of this undead dealing with demons crap. Fraser ran down the stairwell, shaking hard. "Ray's gone!" *** Tom moaned as he felt movement next to him. "Ellie," Lilith whispered happily. "You look much better...hungry?" "Very..." Ray. Oh God. Ray? *** "Jesus H. Roosevelt Christ!" The Constables blinked in surprise at the outburst from Von. He caught their looks. "So my Elder served in World War II. Lay off!" They had called a war council in the library: Fraser, Ben, Ray, Aja, Vecchio, the three Mounted Slayers, both werewolves, Von, Adolph, and Calhoun. Ignatz was hiding somewhere under the tables, afraid to come out and Fraser Sr. was perusing the fiction section. "How did Stan just up and walk out?" demanded Vecchio. "From what Turnbull tells me, there were only pieces left." "Indeedy!" agreed Dire as if on cue. "Shut up," grumbled Von. "Whatever possessed my son was powerful enough to animate him in his weakness," said Aja. "I fear for him, for his body is far from healed and in no way equal to the tasks being demanded of it." Almost sick with anxiety, Fraser sighed and bent his head, feeling Dief's arms wrap around his middle in a tight hug. "Remember, Constable Fraser, have faith," said a lilting accent as Eloise joined them. Aja immediately was on his feet, offering her a chair. Despite the situation, it was charming and sweet to see how completely smitten the Ancient was by this lovely young woman. "Your Ray knows you're looking for him. He knows you won't rest until he's safe." "Lilith needed my body as a host," said Calhoun calmly, and they could tell by the change of accent that it was the Gangrel speaking, not Caine. "Prince Kowalski is equal in strength to Elder Calhoun, if not greater." "Stan?" gaped Vecchio, voicing their mutual disbelief. "Yes, Sir Vecchio. Clearly he doesn't know it." Aja looked a bit guilty, as did Turnbull. "We have not told him, Elder. He is an innocent." Calhoun's look softened, glancing at his own Ray Kowalski. "He is indeed, Lord Caine." He collected his thoughts. It was easier to do now that the Ancient possessed him. "I think Lilith drained Prince Kowalski to weaken him and build her own strength, so that whomever took him over would not be her equal. It may be just as well Prince Kowalski isn't aware of his strength - whomever is in him knows his every thought and memory." "So where do we go from here?" asked Ben. "We can only assume the three of them are together right now," said Vecchio. "We have to track them." "Dief and I tried it earlier," said Fraser. He shook his head. "There was no trail." Adolph, perched up on a bookshelf, raised his voice. "I may be able to find them. Or, at least, the Higher. His scent is very similar to my own father's." "You won't need to, Adolph," said a new voice. They all turned to see the Oracle standing in the doorway. He was pale and shaken, he held a bloody cloth to his nose, trying to stem the bleeding and clearly looked quite dazed. "He's going to show up any moment now. Be ready." And with that, his eyes rolled back and his knees went out. Eloise barely got out a cry of alarm before the Oracle fell to the floor, unconscious. *** Tom groaned through the gag as his arms were yanked above him and handcuffed to the ceiling. Then he screamed a muffled scream as he felt both James' fangs and Ray's ghoulite ones pierce the flesh on either wrist. He could feel the blood running slowly down his arm and it hurt. A lot. This. This was Amaranth. Tears ran down his cheeks as he realized it. He would go mad, he was sure of it. Amaranth, on a demonic vampire. //James...James, please...Ray...stop...// Someone...one of them was licking his way down his left arm. He nearly choked on the gag as fangs tore into his neck. He felt fingers tearing the gag away, and he was finally able to scream. He could feel them pressing on either side of him, James's cold form at his front, Ray's relative heat at his back. He screamed again as fangs dug deeper. "Stop...please stop please..." James was moving downward now, and he could hear his lover screaming inside his head. It did little good to ease his quickly loosening sanity. "James...please..." He thought he felt him hesitate before biting deeply into his ankle.