Chapter Text
Title: The Damned – Chapter 6
ADULT CONTENT. NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED. NO MONEY MADE.
OPEN AIR INSANE ASYLUM
* * *
THE DAMNED
Chapter 6
By Creed Cascade and TJ
“ I won ’ t have it! ” Carl huffed at Gabriel ’ s announcement. He had tried to keep silent as Van Helsing told them he would be leaving for Rome with Aeson. He had lost it when Velkan picked up that their Master intended to leave them behind.
"Carl, be reasonable," Van Helsing implored. "It's not safe for you in Rome right now."
“ Nowhere is safe, ” Carl snapped back. “ You will not leave us here, Gabriel. ”
"Yes, Carl, I will," Van Helsing said sternly. He rarely spoke to Carl like that but he was not going to let the man anywhere near the Cardinal.
“ I am *not* a child, ” Carl said. “ You will not tell me what to do when it comes to Jinette. ”
"I am not treating you like a child," Van Helsing roared, stepping forward and grabbing Carl by the shoulders roughly. "But you will *not* go back there. Not while that monster still lives."
“ Is that an order? ” Carl asked in a deadly cold voice.
“If it has to be to make you stay here, then yes," Van Helsing told him, refusing to back down.
“ So, you ’ re choosing Aeson to stand at your side and not us? ”
"Carl... it's not like that," Van Helsing tried to explain. "You know I would never choose for someone else to stand beside me, but I don't want you going back there. I don't want you to have to see that monster again."
“ Fine, ” Carl said. He pulled away from Gabriel and went to sit down next to Velkan who had remained silent during the entire exchange.
"Carl, don't be this way," Gabriel pleaded, looking toward Velkan for help.
“ I will stay behind to protect him, Master, ” Velkan said. He had reacted with jealously when he had first met Aeson, but then with confusion when Van Helsing had continued to keep him. He had retreated into himself a bit, often not displaying his usual Gypsy passion or temper.
"Thank you, lupul," Gabriel said softly. "I would rather not leave either of you alone at present. Once this business with Jinette is done with, things will be better."
“ Yes, Master, ” Velkan echoed back. It was an old refrain that Velkan had used when he had first returned to Van Helsing from the grave.
"Lupul?" Van Helsing said, frowning. He really couldn't deal with both of them like this right now. He and Aeson needed to be on their way so they could get their grisly mission over with.
“ We are obeying, ” Velkan answered him. He moved fractionally on the bench, towards Gabriel. “ We could … say our farewells properly. ” He wanted his Master to remember his touch, but also if he could get one last touch, maybe he could convince him not to leave without them.
Van Helsing knew he had to be strong. If he gave in to Velkan now, he might not find the strength to leave. "I'm sorry, lupul, but we have to go," he said regretfully. "Look after Carl while we're gone. We'll be back as quickly as we can.
“ A kiss? ” Velkan implored.
"Of course, beloved," Van Helsing said, unable to deny the simply request. He kissed Velkan deeply, pouring all the love he felt for the man into it. When they pulled apart, he turned toward Carl, hoping his lover would at least allow him to say goodbye.
Carl moved to Van Helsing without being asked. He would not let his anger deprive them of this. He closed his eyes as he felt Gabriel ’ s arms wrap around him. When their lips parted, he whispered against his lover ’ s ear, “ For all of my antics and faults … even in the times I need protecting, I am a man, Gabriel. ”
"I know," Gabriel replied. "But so am I and I can not stand the thought of that beast touching you again. Forgive me my weakness, luv."
“ Then kill him, ” Carl said. “ But come home to us. ”
"You have my word on it," Van Helsing vowed.
<><><><><><>
“ They ’ ll be fine, you know, ” Aeson told Gabriel as they watched the shores of Britain disappear. They were on a ship heading toward Italy and Van Helsing was pale, but not from seasickness.
"I know," Gabriel replied. "But that doesn't make leaving them any easier."
“ They will sulk while you are gone, but when you get back, they will be all over you. ”
"Velkan will, but Carl won't," Gabriel said with a derisive laugh. "He'll make me work for it. Not that I blame him. If they'd gone off and left me at home, I'd be just as angry."
“ No one would have been able to order you to do anything, ” Aeson replied.
"Oh, they would not have been so foolish as to make it an order. My Carl is much more subtle than that."
“ I don ’ t doubt that, ” Aeson agreed. “ I do not presume to tell you how to live your life and I certainly do not mind spending the time alone with you … but, he may make your life hell for this decision. ”
"You can be certain of that," Gabriel said. He looked at Aeson for a moment, studying him closely. "I wish I could give you what you desire. I know they would abide it, but I do not think I could forgive myself for such a betrayal."
“ I have not asked for anything recently, ” Aeson defended himself. “ I will be dead and but a memory in your long life soon enough. ”
"You do not have to ask. I can see it in your eyes," Gabriel told him.
“ I cannot help that you are easy to love, ” Aeson sighed. “ Do not trouble yourself with my problems. ”
"You are my friend. I would see you happy."
“ Hunters of the Order aren ’ t meant to be happy. We live to serve. ”
"All God's children are meant to be happy," Gabriel countered. "Even us."
“ No, ” Aeson said, with a shake of his head. “ You are a different creature, Van Helsing. You are a Hunter who does not age or fear death the way the rest of we do. Do you know I am the oldest living Hunter serving the Order, other than you? The rest of those my age are all dead. ”
"I'm sorry," Gabriel replied softly. "I wish... there are many things I wish and precious few that I can manage. Know that if it were in my power, I would see you happy, my friend."
“ Let ’ s change the conversation to something happier, ” Aeson said and smacked Van Helsing lightly on the shoulder. He suddenly looked older as he faced the prospect that he couldn ’ t or wouldn ’ t be loved. “ Say… killing Jinette. ”
Gabriel smiled at the thought, a bit of the wolf showing through in the gleam of his eyes. "You may strike the killing blow, but I want to make the bastard hurt first."
“ It will be one of the highlights of my life, ” Aeson said, sneering as he looked out at the dark waves.
"Mine as well. All I have to do is remember what Carl looked like, broken and whimpering at his feet and my hatred flares white-hot."
“ He has the luxury of time to heal, ” Aeson added. “ And with Jinette gone, it will happen. ”
"I hope so. I truly despair for him at times. I know he has made little progress in getting past what was done to him. Not that I fault him, mind you. But I am worried."
“ Taking two lovers such as you did was not an easy choice, ” Aeson said. “ They are both needy in their own way and love you. ”
"I agree it was foolish, but it was not intentional. And Velkan has come a long way."
“ He has. ” Aeson was silent a long while and then he said the one thing he had promised he wouldn ’ t linger over. “ I could have loved you greatly, Gabriel. ”
"And I, you," Gabriel replied, matching Aeson's honesty. "If there were not others to be concerned with... "
“ Don ’ t, ” Aeson cut him off. “ This will be the last we ever talk about it. There is no ‘ if ’ for us. God gave you Velkan and not I. He also gave you Carl ’ s gentle soul in trust. You are merely my purgatory. ”
"I am sorry for that, my friend. I would not be the cause of your suffering. You are right about Velkan and Carl, though. They have been entrusted to me and I will not betray them."
“ Hunters are born to serve, ” Aeson repeated the phrase that Jinette had drilled into his head. “ We are not born to love. Think nothing of it. ”
Gabriel shook his head. "I will convince you of the folly of that statement if it is the last thing I do. And if I cannot, then Carl certainly will. He is fond of you, you know."
“ When he isn ’ t threatening to kill me, ” Aeson chuckled.
"Aye, but he only did that when he thought you were trying to come between us. He truly is a gentle soul."
“ Then let ’ s remember we are doing this for him. ” Aeson had to keep that in mind because he couldn ’ t give into his own painful memories of Jinette. He had been raised in a religious order since he was four years old and knew what a sin self-pity was.
"Not just for him," Gabriel said. "But for all of us. Hunters of past and future both."
<><><><><><>
“ It could be months before he gets back, ” Velkan said. He had been alone with Carl before, but never for that long and never without the knowledge that Van Helsing would return to him shortly.
"I know," Carl said, trying not to be short with the younger man. "Think of it as a test. He'll be quite pleased if we manage without him while he's gone."
“ I don ’ t want to manage without him, ” Velkan complained.
Carl walked over to him and wrapped his arms around Velkan. "Neither do I," he admitted. "But for the time being, we have little choice."
“ I don ’ t understand what we did wrong, ” Velkan said, he bent his head and started to nuzzle Carl ’ s neck for comfort.
"We didn't do anything wrong," Carl told him, a tingle running up and down his spine at the feel of Velkan's lips on him. "He just doesn't want to let me too close to Jinette. He's afraid... he's afraid I'll break if he does."
“ I understand the feeling, ” Velkan answered quietly. “ If Dracula wasn ’ t dead …”
"But he is," Carl said quickly. "And he can't ever hurt you again."
“ Jinette will soon be dead, Gabriel will soon see to that. ”
"Good. If ever a man needed to die, it is him. Aeson told me of some of the things he did to the children. If I had known..."
“ You lived in your lab, ” Velkan cut him off. “ Gabriel told me you did. You couldn ’ t have known. ”
"Perhaps not, but someone should have. Someone should have guessed at the cruelty he was capable of."
Velkan didn ’ t answer right away, instead he settled into Carl ’ s welcoming embrace. It wasn ’ t the same as his Master, but it was familiar and comfortable all the same. “ Carl? ”
"Yes, little Prince?"
“ Can you tell me what it ’ s like for you to love Gabriel? ”
"That's... that's not an easy thing to answer, but I shall try," Carl said. "It's... like he's a force of nature at times. Sometimes, when I let my mind think on things it shouldn't, it saddens me."
“ Me, ” Velkan filled in the blank easily enough, but he didn ’ t pull away from the embrace. “ For me, Gabriel is my existence. I vaguely remember what it was like to live before he came into my life … not the memories, but the idea of not being tied to anyone else. I envy the pure love you feel. I love him, but as a servant. I did not have the joy of choosing to love him. ”
"I think you are wrong," Carl told him. "I think you have simply chosen to love him so completely that you know nothing else. Yes, you are bound to him and that bond compels you to obedience. It does not, however, command you to love him as you do. That, Little Prince, comes from you."
“ It hurts me now that he is gone, ” Velkan confessed to Carl.
"It does me as well. And it hurts me to know that I am the reason he left you behind. I am sorry for that. If I could have changed his mind, I would have."
“ You aren ’ t the reason, ” Velkan told him. “ Jinette is. Could I have one of your potions? ”
"What potion do you want?" Carl asked, surprised by the sudden question.
“ I don ’ t know, something to ease the pain. ”
"Perhaps something to help you sleep," Carl suggested. He had a number of potions that would give Velkan a peaceful night's sleep and keep his dreams at bay. Perhaps once the younger man had rested he wouldn't feel the pain of Gabriel's departure so acutely.
Velkan used his hand to touch his temple lightly. “ It hurts here. A dull ache … as he get farther away, it only gets worse. ”
Carl let him go and moved to his small laboratory. "I have something here. This will help you sleep. In the morning, if you are still having pain, I have something else I can give you. Gabriel never meant for you to be in pain, Velkan. If he had known, I'm sure he would have taken you with him."
“ There was no point to tell him, ” Velkan said with a shake of his head. “ It isn ’ t normal … and I thought, if he felt it, he might come back for … us. So, that means he doesn ’ t feel it. ”
"Don't be so certain of that," Carl said, handing Velkan a vial of clear liquid. "Gabriel is stubborn. If he thinks he's doing something for our own good then he'll ignore whatever pain he's in. He probably doesn't realize you feel the same thing."
“ If he can ignore it, then so should I, ” Velkan said. He was rolling the vial in his hand, looking at it. “ I should not take this, then. The pain is a punishment for letting my Master leave without me. ”
"Don't be absurd," Carl huffed. "Take the draught. If anyone is at fault for Gabriel leaving without you, it's me."
There had been a sort of truce between Carl and Velkan as they learned to live together. Within the pack, Velkan thought of himself as the youngest and lowest ranking. He opened the vial and swigged back the contents. “ I know you think I ’ m like some spoiled child. ”
Carl couldn't stop the laugh that forced its way out at Velkan's words. He shook his head at the younger man and took the empty vial from him. "I do not think of you that way at all," he said. "I haven't for quite some time. You are young and impetuous, yes. And you feel things too greatly sometimes, but you are no child."
“ And you are no victim, ” Velkan snapped back a little sullenly. “ You don ’ t understand what it ’ s like. ”
Carl's eyes darkened at Velkan's words. "And just what is it you think I don't understand, little Prince?"
“ To be a never have been a real man, ” Velkan growled. “ I ’ ve always been under the command of another. My father … then, my sister. But none so complete as Gabriel …” He stopped and laid his hand over his heart. Maybe it was something in the painkiller, but he was saying things he had never even said to Van Helsing. “ But then knowing you enjoy it … desire and need it, is even worse. Knowing that the heavens sent you back as a gift for a man … and that you aren ’ t enough, that there is some sort of inherent problem with you …”
"Stop it!" Carl snapped angrily. "There is nothing lacking in you. If I had known it would lead to this I would never have allowed Gabriel's touch. The heavens sent you back for him because you alone were strong enough to endure such a trial."
Velkan recoiled a bit when Carl ’ s voice rose. He was a proud Gypsy prince who had fought vampires and evil since he was old enough to hold a weapon, but he had no defense against the angry voice of a loved one. “ I would not deny him you. ”
Carl stepped closer and pulled Velkan into his arms once more. "I would have if I had known it would make you feel this way. I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt you, my little Prince."
“ I am not a Prince anymore, ” Velkan said. “ I am dead to my people. ”
"You will always be a prince to me," Carl told him. "You will always be the proud gypsy prince that brought the light back to Gabriel's eyes."
“ He owns my soul, ” Velkan said. “ No real gypsy prince considered acting appallingly so that their Master would have to stay to punish him. ”
"I doubt any other gypsy prince has been so in love with Gabriel Van Helsing. He inspires men to do things they never would have conceived for they met him."
Velkan leaned in closer and whispered against Carl ’ s ear. “ Like loving a man other than Gabriel himself? ”
"Like loving a man at all," Carl said. "But yes, that, too."
Velkan ’ s mind was switching gears now. There was nothing he could do to bring Gabriel back to him more quickly, but his Master would be pleased if Velkan made Carl content. For whatever reason, his brain connected happiness to sex rather quickly. He started to nuzzle Carl ’ s neck. “ I don ’ t know if Gabriel would ’ ve accepted me without your guidance …”
"He accepted you long before I did," Carl said. "He might have tried to fight it, but he took you as his own that very first night." Carl shuddered as Velkan kissed and nipped at his neck. He suddenly found himself aching for the younger man and wanted nothing more than to drag Velkan to bed and let the man ravish him.
“ He didn ’ t want to accept me, ” Velkan insisted. “ I know that. He never said it, but I know if I hadn ’ t shown up, it would only have been a matter of time before he seduced you. ”
"If you hadn't shown up, as you put it, I would be dead by now," Carl said. "Gabriel would never have touched me. *You* gave him the courage to do that."
Velkan made a huffing sound as he dismissed Carl ’ s argument. He was now kissing behind Carl ’ s ear. “ You can take me like our Master does …”
Carl's breath hitched at the thought but his body wanted something else tonight. "Actually... I thought you might take me that way."
“ Will you tell me how you like it? ” Velkan asked. It was his way of asking to be told what to do, but he knew Carl didn ’ t like that all the time.
"Yes, my beautiful prince," Carl said, taking Velkan by the hand and leading him toward the bedroom they all now shared.
“ I would not change that we share Gabriel, ” Velkan told him. Part of him thought he shouldn ’ t talk about his Master here, with Carl like this, but he couldn ’ t stop himself. In his mind, the world revolved around Gabriel and he associated even his relationship Carl, through Gabriel.
Velkan listened to Carl ’ s whispered commands as he undressed him. He knew that even though he was the more active partner at the moment, it was actually Carl who was in control and that was the way it should be. Carl was comfortable and not cringing away from his touch.
"Yesss..." Carl moaned when Velkan began manhandling him onto the bed. He knew the young gypsy well enough to know how to guide him in this without actually having to tell him what to do. His compliance would be more than enough to keep Velkan going.
Soon Velkan was posed over Carl, ready to enter, but still there was a momentary hesitation, despite wolf instincts that were telling him to just take. “ Carl … yes? ”
"Please," Carl begged shamelessly. "Make me feel it, Velkan."
Velkan made a pleasant sound as he entered Carl, who he had made sure was stretched. He wanted to take it slowly, but then he felt the sweet pressure around his cock.
"God, yes!" Carl moaned loudly, pushing back against Velkan as he entered him. He knew the other man wouldn't pound him the way he truly wanted to be but that was alright. Carl would happily take whatever he could get.
Velkan started to pump into Carl and leaned over to kiss him. It wasn ’ t the same feeling that he got when he was kissing Gabriel, but he still felt a warm affection and love for Carl.
Carl responded to the kiss, reveling in the feeling of being taken by his lover. Just like with Velkan, it wasn't the same as when Gabriel took him, but there was love, affection and trust between them and it soothed him.
Their orgasms washed over them almost at the same time, like unpolluted ecstasy. Carl realized briefly that he didn ’ t even think of his past pain.
"It seems I was right to cast you from the church after all, Brother Carl," Jinette said from the doorway as he stared down at the pair in disgust. He had heard that Van Helsing and Aeson were coming for him and had beat a hasty retreat with what was left of his Inquisitors.
“ Jinette! ” Carl shrieked. He felt Velkan cover him with him with his body and the young man groping for a nearby weapon.
A sword at Velkan's neck stopped his movement then hands were grabbing him and pulling him bodily from the bed. "I would expect such behaviour from the gypsy whore but I thought you had learned your lesson the last time we were... together," Jinette smirked at Carl.
“ I take it missed you me, then? ” Carl spat, shaking in anger.
Carl suddenly found himself jerked off the bed and backhanded across the room. "Your orders, Cardinal?" the Inquisitor that had struck him asked.
“ Bind them, ” Jinette ordered. “ But be careful, the whore bites. ”
The Inquisitors made quick work of binding the pair. They left them naked in the hopes of making them feel even more vulnerable. They were, after all, as acute at mental torture as they were at the more physical aspects of it.
Now Jinette was circling around Velkan, the hems of his red Cardinal ’ s robe just touching the younger man ’ s feet. “ Now this one, after my Inquisitors are done with him, I think I ’ ll keep him for my own personal use. ”
"No!" Carl shouted, struggling against the bonds holding him prisoner. He would not allow Velkan to suffer at the hands of these men as he had done. He would not let Jinette break the young man.
“ Don ’ t worry, Brother Carl, this one is different than you, ” Jinette laughed. “ He ’ s prettier and younger. I ’ ll keep him alive and in relative good shape. He sort of reminds me of my Aeson before he got too old. ”
"Don't do this," Carl implored the fiend before him. "He's done nothing to deserve this. If it's a plaything you want, take me instead. Velkan wouldn't last a week in your care."
“ We ’ ll see, ” Jinette answered. “ But you ’ re acting as if I want you, Brother Carl, after two werewolves have had their way with you. ”
"I would have thought that was what you preferred," Carl said, trying desperately to sway the man away from Velkan. "You would be taking the one thing Gabriel swore to protect. He considers the boy almost his equal, but not me. Why do you think he left us here?"
“ Because he is a foolish, blind man, ” Jinette laughed. “ He never thought that I would have gotten wind of my rival faction ’ s plan to kill me. ”
"Please," Carl begged softly, bowing his head to Jinette in submission. "I will do anything you say... be anything you want... just do not harm the boy. He has seen too much pain in his short life already."
“ My plans for you are already set into motion, ” Jinette said and waved his hand towards the doorway. One of the Inquisitors nodded his head and left the room briefly. When he returned, he had a young man in tow with him. The boy was in his late teens, with a serious face. “ Now, Drew, come to your Master. ”
The young man moved to Jinette and went down on one knee to kiss the Cardinal's ring. He understood why he had been brought here. He was to begin his studies in the torture of heretics and he would start with these two.
Jinette ’ s hand went out and started to pet the boy ’ s hair in a way that spoke volumes. “ Drew is my current favourite. He ’ s a bit small to be a Hunter or Inquisitor, but he ’ s so damn pretty and eager. Think of this as either a reward or punishment, but either way he will get over his squeamishness about torture today. ”
"I will make you proud of me, Master," the boy said. He looked back and forth between the two bound men then up to Jinette. "Which of the heretics did you want me to start with?"
“ Start with the younger one, ” Jinette instructed. “ Did you know he ’ s a gypsy, Drew? Do you remember what I told you those heathens do to babies? They eat them. ”
"No!" Carl shouted once more, thrashing ineffectually at the ropes binding him. "I... I thought you wanted to keep him... the boy is inexperienced... he could kill him by mistake... " He knew he was babbling but he could not simply sit by and watch Velkan be tortured.
“ Start with the water torture, ” Jinette told the young man. Even as he gave those commands, some of the Inquisitors were carrying in a vat full of water. “ Simple, but effective. Don ’ t mark him just yet. He will be taking your place for the next few days. ”
Carl cursed as he watched the young man drag Velkan over toward the vat of water. He knew what was coming for the young gypsy and he wasn't going to let it happen. Suddenly the ropes at his hands gave way a bit and Carl increased his struggles, determined to protect Velkan at all costs.
Once his hands were free, he kept them behind his back to keep up the illusion that he was still bound. “ Jinette! Stop it! I ’ ll do anything if you stop this! ” Carl begged loudly to lure the old man closer.
Jinette grinned down evilly as he approached Carl. "Anything, whore?" he asked, his hands going to his robes to part the material. The thought of what it would do to Gabriel to find his precious friar submitting himself like this made his cock hard.
He couldn ’ t just kill Jinette. In the man ’ s last moments, he must suffer. This wasn ’ t the teachings of the Church that he had loved for most of his life, but this was the wolf speaking. It was a deep, internal need for revenge. He played up his disgust, but continued to beg and opened his mouth. Just seconds after Jinette ’ s cock entered his mouth, he bit down sharply.
Jinette screamed and pulled back sharply just as Carl had known he would. He watched in satisfaction as the Cardinal sank to his knees, holding his groin as blood seeped through his fingers. Spitting the offending bit of flesh from his mouth, Carl turned his attention to the stunned Inquisitors.
Even half drown and bound, Velkan was able to understand the moment to strike had come. He took out Drew in front of him with one sharp head butt. As the young man fell limply to the floor, Velkan set at attacking the closed man to him with a series of kicks.
They made short work of the stunned Inquisitors. Aeson had taken care of Jinette's elite ranks, leaving only these lesser ones behind. They were no match for a pair of determined hunters. When it was over, all lay dead except the boy. "Do we finish him as well?" Velkan asked, holding the unconscious youth over the vat of water.
Carl reached out and took the boy ’ s face in one hand. When he was unconscious, he looked too damn young. “ How old do you think he is? ”
"Old enough to torture us," Velkan spat angrily. "Old enough to stand by and watch while that beast made you..."
“ Young enough to know what it means to be Jinette ’ s favourite …” Carl said more softly. He looked over to Jinette who was lying in a puddle of his own blood and barely alive. “ Should we keep your pretty boy alive before you go to meet the devil? ”
Jinette remained silent, watching the pair as they held the boy between them. He knew his own life was over. He should have killed Carl when he had the chance but he had wanted to watch Van Helsing suffer too much. He knew what would happen if they left the boy alive. They would warp him to their own obscene beliefs. "Kill him," he whispered, his voice a mere ghost of its former self. "I'll not have him turned into the likes of you."
Carl left the boy in Velkan ’ s arms as he walked over to Jinette. “ And alive we shall keep him then, ” he said. He crouched down right next to the older man and hissed, “ Just remember it was me who killed you … I ’ m a Hunter, Jinette, and a servant of my Lord. I know you will face his wrath in the afterlife. ” With that he stood up and spit in the dying man ’ s face. “ Let him bleed to death. ”
"What of him?" Velkan growled, giving the body he held a good shake. He would let the child live if Carl wished it but he would not be allowed to roam free. If he so much as looked at Carl sideways Velkan was prepared to end his young life.
“ We keep him until the others get back from Rome, ” Carl said. “ We tie him up and then bury the dead. Clean up the blood. ”
"Agreed," Velkan said. He carried the boy out of the room and down the hall to what had once been Carl's room. Throwing him down on the bed, Velkan went in search of rope to bind the boy with.
<><><><><><>
Van Helsing bolted upright in his make shift bed, a feeling of dread and pain overcoming him. “ Velkan … Carl …” he groaned out.
"What is it?" Aeson whispered in the dark, Van Helsing's cry awakening him.
“ We have to return to England, ” Gabriel answered. “ Something ’ s happened to them. ”
"Are you certain?" Aeson asked as fear clenched him.
“ I can feel it! ” he growled. He was already out of bedroll and starting to throw everything together hastily. They were only one day ’ s hard ride from Rome and had stopped to rest the horses for a few hours.
Aeson began packing as well. He could feel the agitation pouring off Van Helsing, making him even more afraid for the two men they had left behind. He knew that if anything happened to them that Van Helsing would never forgive himself for leaving them there alone.
<><><><><><>
Drew was awake now and watching his captors carefully. The Cardinal had told them about their evilness and sins. He had woken up with aching and none of the Inquisitors or Jinette around.
"Would you like some water?" Carl asked when he noticed the boy was awake.
“ I want my Master, ” Drew said. The blonde man didn ’ t seem threatening, but he had learned that meant little.
"If you mean Jinette, that will not be possible," Carl said a bit reluctantly. He felt no remorse over killing the monster Jinette had become, but he was all too familiar with the pain of losing one's master.
“ I need to see Cardinal Jinette, ” Drew insisted. “ Take me to him! ”
"I'm sorry, young one, but I can't do that. Jinette is dead and buried. He will never harm another living soul again."
That ’ s when Drew started to shake. His entire world revolved around Jinette. He had been brought up to be a Hunter, but he knew the only reason he wasn ’ t dead now was because of Jinette ’ s personal attention and protection. This was the first time he had even seen the outside of Vatican City. “ Kill me …” Drew begged suddenly.
"No," Velkan said from the doorway before Carl could reply. He had heard Carl talking to the boy and had come to make sure he didn't do anything foolish like untie him. "You don't get off that easily."
When Drew saw Velkan, all of the training he had seemed to melt away with the colour in his face. He tried to struggle against the bonds and looked around the room wildly.
"Easy, young one," Carl said, trying to calm the boy. "We're not going to hurt you. Velkan didn't mean that quite the way it sounded."
“ I know what he is! ” Drew repeated in a panic. “ Jinette told me what he is! ”
"He is a gypsy prince and a Hunter of the Order," Carl told him. "Anything else Jinette told you was a lie."
“ He doesn ’ t lie, ” Drew mumbled. Now he was frozen and quiet as Velkan approached the bed he was tied to.
"Jinette is the father of lies, boy," Velkan told him. "I am no werewolf. ‘Tis true, I was once one, but no more."
“ D-Don ’ t talk about him that way … he ’ s a Man of God, ” Drew said with a shaky voice.
"He was a demon straight from Hell and I think you know it," Velkan said, stalking toward the bed. "He broke men for the sheer pleasure of seeing them grovel at his feet."
“ They deserved it, ” Drew repeated back what he had been told since he was a young child. He remembered watching his first prisoner die when he was five years old.
"Really? What was their crime? What did they do that was so heinous that they deserved such a fate?" Velkan challenged. "Did none of them cry out for mercy? Beg forgiveness?"
“ You must close your ears to their cries, ” Drew answered. “ They will find salvation in their death. ”
"And where in the Bible does it say that?" Carl asked softly. "Is it not the church's duty to offer forgiveness and absolution for sins?"
“ It doesn ’ t matter what the Bible says, ” Drew shook his head. “ It ’ s what the Cardinal says. The Cardinal is always right. ”
"Stupid child," Velkan spat. "Since when is the messenger of God more important than our Lord's own words?"
“ When that man owns you, ” Drew answered back too seriously.
"You are a fool," Velkan said, shaking his head. "Can I trust you not to unbind him, Carl?"
Drew didn ’ t let Carl answer. “ Kill me, gypsy. He won ’ t. I know you want to … I won ’ t go back. ”
"I won't free him, Velkan, don't worry," Carl said, ignoring the boy's outburst for the moment. "I'm afraid he'd be too much of a danger to himself at the moment."
“ Let me die …” Drew kept begging, his voice now raw and cracking. He knew that the Order would come and get him. He knew what happened to Apprentices who failed their Masters before they were full Hunters.
"Tell me what you fear so," Carl implored. He knew something was driving the boy's continued requests for death... something other than simply a desire to join his master.
“ I failed the Order, ” Drew answered. “ You were their servant once. You know what happens when you fail. ”
"Yes, I do," Carl agreed. "And it has never made me beg for death before. Tell me what you think will happen to you for failing in your mission."
“ I don ’ t want to pick one of the others to die …” Drew confessed.
"Pick one of the others?" Carl asked, frowning in confusion.
“ One of the other Apprentices, ” Drew said. “ To fail yourself, is to fail the group. ”
"My God," Carl whispered, crossing himself. "Has no one kept this monster in check at all? I promise you, young one, none of the others will be harmed because of your actions here."
“ You can ’ t promise that! ” Drew said. “ I could stop Jinette ’ s anger before … now who will …” He stopped when he released that Jinette was dead.
"It's over. He can't hurt you or the others any longer. You're safe now," Carl told him, trying to get through to him.
“ You don ’ t understand …” Drew mumbled. “ H-He owns me. There will be someone else … they ’ ll be as bad or worse. ”
"No, there won't be," Carl told him. "That will *not* be allowed to happen. There are those within the church that can be trusted. Even now, they are working to undo the harm Jinette has caused."
“ Who? ” Drew challenged.
"Several other Cardinals. Not to mention, Van Helsing and Aeson," Carl replied.
The boy brightened at the mention of Aeson ’ s name. “ Aeson Marapos? You know him? ”
"Yes," Carl said with a nod. "He was here before Jinette arrived. He and Van Helsing headed to Rome to... help with the situation. Most likely, he'll return here when they don't find Jinette."
“ Mr. Marapos is coming here? ” Drew asked and he had stopped any form of struggling. He had a look on his face that Carl usually saw when people referred to Gabriel.
"He should be," Carl said. "They *were* both supposed to return once their mission was complete. Would you like to see him?"
“ I s-saw him once …” Drew said in a nervous whisper. “ He ’ s the greatest Hunter alive. ”
“Well, that might be a matter of opinion,” Carl chuckled. "Though he is a rather... impressive... man."
“ He survived Cardinal Jinette …”
"He is not the only one," Carl said softly, "though they are few in number. I think... I think Aeson might be quite happy to see you when he arrives."
“ I might … behave until he comes, ” Drew said. “ I ’ ll only listen to him. ”
"I'm afraid I won't be able to untie you until then. Velkan can be quite protective when he feels his family is threatened."
“ I don ’ t care, ” Drew said. The truth was, he didn ’ t know what it felt like to have anyone care about him that much.
"Don't worry, young one. This ordeal will be over for you soon enough. I can already feel Gabriel drawing closer. In a few days time, they should be here."
<><><><><><>
Gabriel didn ’ t sleep the entire journey back to England. It had taken a death threat to get the small frigate to turned around, but finally he was close to home. The English cottage looked normal enough as they approached and Gabriel didn ’ t even wait for his horse to stop completely before he jumped down. “ Carl! Velkan! ” he bellowed.
Velkan was out the door even as his name left his master's lips. He had longed to meet the man en route but hadn't wanted to leave Carl alone with the boy. Now that Gabriel was home, however, he could set aside the burden of Carl's well-being, knowing his master would see to things.
Gabriel had arm full of Velkan within moments and the aching dread in his chest was gone. He had felt through the bond that Velkan was alive, but he could see faded bruises on his young lover ’ s face. With is werewolf healing, the original wounds must have been vicious if they were still lingering. “ Tell me, ” he growled.
"Jinette," Velkan said softly, giving in to a shudder at the mention of the man's name. "He and what were left of his Inquisitors showed up a couple of days after you left."
“ Where is he? And Carl? ” Gabriel was already striding towards the cottage with Velkan in tow.
"He's dead and Carl is inside with the one he wouldn't let me kill," Velkan replied.
“ Then I shall kill him, ” Van Helsing decided. He knew Aeson was following closely on his heels.
"Carl won't let you," Velkan said, trying hard not to sulk when he did. "He says the boy's a victim in all of this, too."
“ Boy? ” Aeson questioned. He saw the murderous look on Van Helsing ’ s face and hoped he wouldn ’ t have to intercede. He remembered that Jinette always had his favourite boy of the moment near him.
Velkan nodded. "It's why Carl wouldn't let me kill him for what he did."
“ Carl has been wrong before, ” Van Helsing announced and made his way to the bedroom in the back of the bedroom. He could smell Carl, but he could also smell a stranger in his home with the scent of lingering bloods of many.
"Welcome home, Gabriel," Carl said as the hunter strode into the room. "Did Aeson accompany you?"
“ I smell blood, ” Gabriel said. He kept one hand on Velkan ’ s wrist and quickly pulled Carl away from the bed.
"It's days old," Carl said calmly. "Nothing fresh."
Van Helsing pulled Carl to his chest and started sniffing him. He could see some of the same bruises that marred Velkan ’ s face. “ He tried to kill you. ”
"Not exactly," Carl said. "He only tortured me for a bit. Jinette would have killed me if I hadn't beat him to it. I killed him."
“ And him? ” Van Helsing asked. He nodded his head towards the bed where Drew was tied up.
"He is as much a victim of Jinette as everyone else in this room," Carl told him. "I would not see him die for his obedience to the order, misguided though that obedience was."
“ Fine, ” Gabriel answered curtly. He was happy enough to agree with Carl now that he knew the man was okay, but he would deal with the enemy later. “ Velkan, take him out back and tie him to a tree. Make sure his feet are off the ground. ”
"Gabriel, no," Carl said shaking his head. "He's little more than a child and he's made no move to harm us since Jinette was... dealt with. I told him there were good people in the church... people that would help him... don't make a liar of me."
“ I ’ m not afraid of him, ” Drew said, his voice cracking at the end.
"As well you shouldn't be," Carl told the boy. "This is Gabriel Van Helsing, a Hunter of the Order. He would never harm an innocent."
The young man stuck his chin out in defiance. “ I don ’ t care who he is. ”
"Don't be insolent, child," Aeson said from the doorway. He had stayed close, waiting to see what Van Helsing might do. He should have known Carl would not allow the boy to come to harm.
“ I ’ m not a child, I ’ m an Apprentice Hunter, ” Drew said. His eyes were now completely on Aeson and ignoring the other men in the room.
"You're a child until I tell you otherwise," Aeson declared. "The old Order is dead now that that fiend Jinette is gone. Things will be different from here on. I'll see to that myself."
“ He wasn ’ t that bad, ” Drew said in a softer tone.
"Yes, he was," Aeson said as he approached the bed. "He was a monster that preyed on children."
“ He kept me alive, ” Drew argued. “He stayed away from the others as long as I served him . ”
"He used you, boy. The same way he used every man here, except for maybe the gypsy. And that's only because he didn't get a chance to. He was the worst of mankind and the world is a brighter place now that he's dead."
“ He was my master …” Drew said. His tone was now lost as he looked up at Aeson. “ I wasn ’ t strong like you to leave him. ”
"You are stronger than you think," Aeson told him. "He is your master no more."
“ I have to have one, ” Drew said. Drew tried to shift closer to Aeson on the bed. “ Did the Order send you to my new master? ”
Aeson understood all too well what the boy was feeling. He had felt the same thing when Jinette had cast him aside in favour or someone younger. "The Order did not send me here for that, but I will take you on as my Apprentice."
“So, y ou are my Master then? ” Drew pressed. He wanted to hear the words.
Aeson glanced up at Van Helsing and saw the understanding in the man's eyes. "Yes," he said softly. "I'm your master now."
“ I know I ’ m old … but Jinette said that I was talented, ” Drew said. “ I will serve you well. ”
Aeson swallowed thickly, thinking about how *talented* the young man might be. "I am sure you will, though your duties will be different than they were with Jinette."
The boy ’ s face fell and he look like he had been slapped. “ Why don ’ t you untie him, Aeson? ” Carl suggested.
"Would you like to get up now, young one?" Aeson asked as he reached for the rope binding the boy's nearest hand to the bed.
Drew merely nodded as he was untied. He kept his head down as he pulled his limbs in close to his body and winced slightly when they tingled with the fresh blood flow.
Aeson began gently massaging his arms, helping to restore the circulation. "It will be alright. You'll see. I will be a good master to you. I promise I will."
“ I can be good …” Drew tried again, his voice lost. He set on of his hand in the middle of Aeson ’ s chest.
"I have no doubt of that," Aeson told him. He made no move to remove the boy's hand, knowing he would surely take that as rejection.
“ Will you be teaching all of the others, too? ” Drew asked. His hand was now loosely fisted in Aeson ’ s shirt and he had shifted on the bed so he was pressed against the much larger man ’ s side.
"Perhaps. It's not been decided yet. If I do, you'll have to help me. I'm afraid it's been a long time since I've tried my hand at teaching anyone anything."
“ I ’ ll do anything you want me, too, ” Drew told him. He had now laid his head on Aeson ’ s shoulder. “ I like you much better than Jinette. ”
"Oh, child," Aeson whispered, his arms going around the boy protectively. "I will never hurt you like he has. You will always be safe with me."
“ Seems like Aeson has found a new friend, ” Carl whispered to Velkan and Gabriel. He had thought this would happen. He knew the human hunter was rather apt to fall for the needy boy, whether he knew it or not.
"Let's leave them alone for a bit then," Gabriel said. In truth, he simply wanted his lovers away from the boy he still didn't entirely trust. And he wanted to find out what had gone on here while he had been away.
Carl took his lovers to the other bedroom in the cottage. He knew that Gabriel was still upset and Velkan wasn ’ t much better off.
They settled on the bed with Gabriel in the middle and Carl and Velkan on either side of him. "Now, tell me what went on here from the beginning," he said.
“ I can ’ t lie to you …” Carl started off softly. “ When Jinette first came in, he caught us off guard because Velkan was making love to me. ”
"You were in your home," Gabriel said before Velkan could jump to Carl's defense. "You thought you were safe here. You *should* have been safe here."
“ You ’ re not angry? ” Carl said. “ We were … without you …”
"That you and Velkan were making love?" Gabriel asked. "No. You have every right to be together whether I'm here or not. I would never begrudge you finding comfort in each other."
“ I accept him, Master, ” Velkan said a few short words he had never said before. “ I love him. ”
Gabriel felt a weight lift from him at Velkan's words. Velkan's final acceptance of Carl was all that had been lacking. Now perhaps Carl could come to believe that they really did want him there. Clutching both men to him, Gabriel leaned over and placed a soft kiss of thanks on Velkan's lips.
“ Velkan …” Carl said. He was a little taken aback, knowing that Gabriel would always come first, but that he was also loved. He would offer the younger man something in return that his Gyspy heritage and werewolf instincts would appreciate. “ I feel the same. I would die or kill for you. ”
"That, I already know," Velkan said, smiling softly. "You proved it when you offered that beast your body in exchange for my safety."
“ And you know our Master is going to blame himself for everything that happened …”
Velkan turned to Gabriel and regarded him seriously. "It was not your fault," he said. "He got word you were coming and slipped away before you could arrive. Do not blame yourself for the acts of a demon, Master."
“ I should have listened to Carl and never have left either of you alone, ” Gabriel said, first looking at Velkan then at Carl. His very soul hurt for what had happened to them.
"We survived," Carl said simply. "And maybe... maybe we needed to. You cannot protect us from everything, Gabriel, no matter how hard you try. You have trained us both well, though, and that training protected us when you could not."
“ I cannot help but want to protect you from pain, ” Gabriel told them. “ I love you both in a way you would never know. ”
"We know, Master," Carl replied. "And we would each do the same for the other. Why do you think I tried so hard to keep Jinette's attentions focused on me. I would rather endure his touch than see him lay a finger on our prince."
“ So, we have learned we would all sacrifice ourselves for each other, ” Velkan said. “ It is the way of the pack, so why torture ourselves over the truth. ”
"Agreed," Carl said, not wanting to give Gabriel the chance to wallow in his guilt. To Carl, it was over and done with. Jinette was no longer a danger to them and it was well past time they moved on.
“ I don ’ t want to stay in this place any longer, ” Gabriel said. “ It ’ s tainted. ”
"No," Carl said firmly, pulling away from Gabriel a bit. "I will not let him drive us from our home. He drove me from the church and I had no choice but to allow it, he will not do so again."
“ If it is your wish, then I will learn to get over it …” Gabriel gave in with a sigh.
"I know he left his taint here, Master, but I will not run from him again. Please, do not ask me to," Carl implored.
“ I won ’ t, ” Van Helsing assured Carl. He leaned over slightly and kissed Carl on the lips. He would do almost anything Carl asked of him right now. “ Maybe it ’ s time for Gabriel Van Helsing to go into retirement for awhile. ”
"But... what would we do?" Velkan asked, suddenly unsure. Being a hunter was the only thing he'd ever known his Master to do.
“ Get to know each other better, ” Gabriel told him. “ Love each other. When we are needed, trouble will find us soon enough. I ’ ve learned that. ”
"Will the church allow it?" Velkan asked. He knew Jinette would not have but he was unsure now that the man was no longer in control.
“ We will give the Order time to rebuild, ” Gabriel said. “ We have sacrificed much and they will have to allow it. ”
"You do realize we will have to return to Rome with Aeson," Carl said. "There will be much to answer for where Jinette is concerned. They will want to speak to us directly."
“ Yes, but after that, we return home, ” Van Helsing answered. “ I want at least a few months of relaxation for us. ”
"That would be nice," Velkan said. He didn't want to return to Rome but he would do as his lovers wished. The knowledge that they would be returning home afterward would be his comfort.
“ Try to sleep, ” Gabriel said softly to them both. He knew it was unlikely, but it was an excuse to simply lie there and hold them.
"I am tired," Carl admitted. "Perhaps when we wake up we can see to... other needs."
“ And that ’ s another reason to love him, ” Velkan chuckled. “ He ’ s a genius. ”
END.
Please, feed the authors: Creed Cascade and TJ