Darien crouched before the grave, the dewy grass
beneath his fingertips and the violet streaks in the
sky signaling the approach of dawn. The midnight
marble stared blearily at him, the name of his brother
shinning brightly in the darkness as if it was
glowing. Hesitantly, he reached out and ran damp
fingers over the inscription, to prove to himself that
it was only wet marble.
"Do you honestly think that Kevin would want anything
to do with you now, Fawkes?" The accented words cut
through the silent night and Darien shoved the
irrational fear aside as he patiently ignored the man
who had appeared at the grave as silently as a
specter.
"Go away, Arnaud. If you think you can torture me now,
you're wrong." A small smile stretched across the
lanky vampire's mouth. "I have a purpose now."
"Ah yes. The killing of innocents to survive," replied
Arnaud. The slight mocking in his tone pulled Darien
up to face the Swiss-French terrorist. The other man
was casually dressed in black slacks and a white shirt
with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows and the top
few buttons undone. Arnaud spread his arms in both an
invitation and to show that he was unarmed, a knowing
smirk on his face. "Well, here I am. Go on. Add
another name to your list of victims."
Darien glared at Arnaud and clenched his fists to
resist punching that smirk off of his face. He hadn't
killed anyone to survive. He hadn't even gone hunting
with either Bobby or Spike since Claire had arrived
soon after his death. The tantalizing pounding of
Arnaud's heart suddenly seemed impossibly loud in the
still graveyard, swirling through his mind and that
pale expansion of skin that mocked him above the white
shirt was practically begging him to sink his fangs
into it and drink his fill. It would put an end to his
tormentor once and for all.
"You could hardly expect Kevin to love you, or even
care about you as you are now, mon ami; a cold-blooded
killer." The words reached Darien's ears on a
seductive tone, and he turned away, desperately trying
to fight his instincts as he gathered his thoughts.
Kevin had forgiven him for what happen, hadn't he? In
that dream, didn't his brother say that the attack on
Darien had been an accident? It was hard to think with
Arnaud's heartbeat pounding in his ears and his
mocking words swirling through his mind, blurring his
memories. "Perhaps you were lying to yourself even
then, convincing yourself that dear Kevin would love
you even though you had become this." Darien clamped
his hands over his ears in a childish, yet desperate
attempt to bock those teasing words, but Arnaud's
voice slipped through, twisting his thoughts and
shredding any attempt to gather his thoughts. Kevin
had forgiven him for being a thief and even for being
so difficult, but now the lanky man was a true killer.
How could he expect his brother to ever forgive him
now that he was no better than the man who stood
behind him? His hands dropped to his sides as a wave
of despair washed over him, the grave before him
mocking him with the glowing name of Kevin Fawkes.
"I always knew we were of the same nature. Brother,"
Arnaud stated as a heavy, hot hand fell on his
shoulder as if branding Darien as the terrorist's
property. Or worse, his family.
Knocking the hand off, Darien spun around in a rage.
No! He was NOT Arnaud's family not was he anything
like him. His long fingers wrapped around that
tempting neck and his lips curled back in a snarl,
enjoying the shocked expression on the man's face.
"Arnaud!" he growled, the red glow that was almost
familiar covered Arnaud's gasping form. A shout of
fear reached Darein's ears but it didn't come from
Arnaud's throat.
It came from his blood. the blood of his blood.
*********************************************
Angel shook his head as he slowly walked down the
hall. Only Spike would have the legendary Accursed One
as a grand-childe. Soft whimpers caught his attention
and he stopped before a closed door, gently easing it
open to reveal Darien's room. The large vampire
frowned as he caught sight of a figure thrashing on
the bed. Due to Darien's injuries, he shouldn't even
be able to make any sound, let alone move for another
sixteen hours. Curious, he entered the room and stood
next to the bed, gazing down on the lanky vampire
illuminated by the moonlight that streamed through the
open window.
< He will make a valuable weapon against our enemies,
> whispered Angelus.
Angel smothered a growl. <He is NOT a weapon. He is
our family. Blood of our blood,> he countered,
ignoring the temptation in Angelus' voice with long
practice. The demon respected the blood-ties of
family, and even honored them in its own twisted way.
The talk with Darla and Dru had taken several hours as
he pulled details out of the blond before sending the
girls to get cleaned up. Apparently, since their run
in with Darien and Buffy, they had been hiding out in
a crypt that some demons had decided to use as a
hideout near the sewers. Even though the sun was still
a few hours from rising, Angel felt that he should
close the heavy curtains and before he knew it, he had
pulled them closed, shutting out the bright moon. With
the last of the silver light blocked, the thrashing on
the bed and the whimpers stopped.
Turning, Angel returned to stand next to the bed and
gazed down at Darien once more, his features visible
in the dim light that intruded from the hall. The
ridges of the demon had smoothed out to reveal the
handsome face that he had sketched for Cordelia from
her vision, save for the deep wrinkle in his forehead
that announced his misery to anyone who couldn't feel
it pouring off of him in waves.
The misery intensified as Angel placed a calming hand
on his shoulder, hoping to sooth the younger vampire's
dreams, when suddenly, furious brown eyes glared at
him. By the unfocused gaze in those eyes, Angel knew
that Darien was still trapped in his nightmare. Darien
lunged at Angel, thin fingers wrapping around his neck
as the dark vampire fell back onto the floor, taking
Darien with him.
"Arnaud!" hissed Darien, straddling Angel's chest.
Strange warmth flowed out of those fingers to envelope
his own cold body, and he cried out in fear, feeling
Angelus' terror as the demon was pulled forward. Then
the warmth sent him plummeting into unconsciousness.