Agent Fox Mulder (i_want_2) wrote in multi_fiction, @ 2008-08-17 09:08:00 |
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Entry tags: | angel, au, buffy, het, kindred, magnificent 7, rated: adult, slash, wolf lake, world of darkness, x-over |
Fic: Azaeziel and Raziel 3/3 M7 AU Xover
Azaeziel and Raziel
By: Lopaka Tanu
Disclaimer: I do not own Kindred the Embraced, World of Darkness, Buffy: The Vampire Slayer, Wolf Lake, or Magnificent Seven.
Warning: Violence, Blood, Language, Character Death.
Summary: "The chronicles of my existence are far from complete, and aside from myself, no one will ever know the complete truth."
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Winter - 1981.
The helicopter hugged the mountain side, flying low to avoid strong winds. Inside, the passengers shook when a stray wind hit the rotors. Most of the people were silent, only the pilot speaking in his mouth piece to air control made any noise.
Ezra glanced through the window at the ground. The valley below was secluded enough for his purposes. He let his mind wander over the others. They were in agreement with him. Smiling, Ezra directed the pilot to make a final pass over the entire valley and then take them back.
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Spring - 1982.
Another truck load of debris, paper, scrap, sawdust and assorted natural refuse trundled down the mountain. The metal had been trucked to the northern end of the valley to the refineries. The smell was so bad from the rot that the people wore gas masks. Flies and other insects buzzed about in swarms so thick they resembled clouds.
Overseeing it all from atop the mountain complex, Ezra stood surrounded by six garou elders and the twelve weres. His childe beside him, Ezra continued to watch the combined efforts of man, beast, and machine toil through the valley.
Entire mountains had been covered in the refuse, their natural rocky soil being mixed in. Water was piped in from the frozen mountain tops. Bacteria and micro-organisms were specially selected and poured among the new grounds. Terracing held it all in place when the water ran down the mountain sides.
Ezra switched his attention north of them. This was the twelfth such facility in the valley, the others now having other uses. They each carefully monitored several square miles of ground that was now covered in green where once was barren soil.
Smiling, he glanced over at the weres. "It appears the operation is so far successful. What is the estimate on finishing the entire valley?"
A were tiger stepped forward with an open folder. Her hair coiffed in silver, she was the perfect image of the new decade's vanity. "Facilities two and seven are reporting marked growth in the vegetation, however there is a distinct lack in quality. We are attempting to compensate with natural elements before resulting to fertilizers."
"You will not! The ground must be naturally healed or not at all." Ezra looked away from her, turning to face the windows again. "Recycling is how we make our money, if we suddenly turn in to an agricultural business, the others will become suspicious. No, we must wait until the soil is ready before we try again."
"Sir, the entire region is being effected. We can not continue with the valley restoration project at this rate. More money is going out than coming in. The recycling division is more expensive than originally planned." She flipped through the papers looking for the expense reports.
"I do not care. There is always more money. We are not here to make a profit, but to restore the land that we may have a home." Folding his arms behind his back, Ezra winced at a muscle memory. Something about having his hands restrained made him pull them back to his waist. "Offer the state a discount for presorted refuse. That should make the job easier."
"Yes, sir." Pulling a calculator out from his brief case, another were tiger flitted the numbers over. He processed them at a speed that most people would find blinding. After a second he looked up. "That will increase our work speed by twenty percent."
"Final estimate at the current rate given new increases?"
"Two years. The valley project will be finished in two years. However, vegetation regrowth could take two decades to reach acceptable levels." The female pulled out the expense report and rechecked the numbers. "The cost is estimated at fourty-three billion. It will be five years before we stabilize our input, output ratio. In all likelihood we will be bankrupt by the end of the month."
Ezra gave her a look that had them all backing up. "I told you, money is not the issue. Just restore the valley."
"Yes, sir."
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Summer - 1990.
Movement in the shadows awakened Ezra from his meditation. He glanced over at the remaining member of his team and noticed he was still asleep. They had saved each other yesterday. Fighting the spread of the drugs to the world one drug lab at a time.
Chris had been his constant companion for the past five years. He didn't care about the rest of the world so long as he had Chris. In all the time they spent together, he had grown accustomed to the man's presence, the closest to love he would ever feel. He knew if something happened to Chris, that it would probably destroy what was left of his humanity.
Frankly, there were days when not even that made a difference anymore. The ignorance and poisons they fought to destroy here were evidence enough of the lack of humanity among man kind. Perhaps it was best to let go of his emotions and surrender to the beast. Then he would remember how it would effect Chris and the urge would back off to manageable levels. The cycle would continue.
The movement in the distance increased. Glancing in the general direction his eyes fixed on the creator. It was a being much like the monsters he had heard described in this part of the jungle. Probably Gangrel like himself, probably looked human once too.
She came forward with a vial in her hand and he knew the fragile peace he had fought to get was now over. Standing up, his eyes bled to blood red and his form shifted.
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Autumn - 1990.
Holding the Nictuku, Ezra ripped it apart. The vampire died screaming in pain. Growling, he faced the shadows where he knew the last of Abisimiliard's awakened Nictuku lay. Their battle was almost over. After three months of fighting, he was going to deal a fatal blow to the forces of his once ally.
For three months he had been hunting down these bastards for making him give up Chris. Abisimiliard was going to pay dearly. Appearing to move faster than the hideous being could see, he flashed in front of it. His claws cut through its middle and pulled out its hip bone.
The Nosferatu slashed at his face, mindless from the pain.
Ezra ignored the dying creature's actions. When he had pulled out the pelvic bone, he latched on the base of the spinal column and jerked down.
Its scream was enough to shake the cave walls, causing dust to rumble down on them. Trying to break through his concentration, he focused on his eyes. When a flap of skin slid over Ezra's entire face, it shrieked in rage. Then it cried no more.
Ezra pulled out the heart and stomped it in to the ground. He let the body slide to the ground and turn to ash. With in a matter of moments all that remained of the ancient beings he had hunted here was so much dust in the wind.
He wiped the blood from his brow. Starting for the entrance, he watched the sun rise over the horizon. There would up roar in the world over his actions, but it didn't matter anymore.
He was alone, again.
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Spring - 1993.
Ezra glanced up from the corpse he had been draining. This one had been a Prince of a local city. His cat eyes scanned the stars, ears twitching, listening for the voice again. It called him, told him to return. Sniffing the air, he set off with a growl. His Master called!
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Summer - 1993.
The Camarilla vampires were in the city and they were hunting the Sabbat. The Sabbat was here and was hunting the Camarilla. Both sects were unaware that something was hunting both of them.
Hanging from the over pass, Ezra tilted his head and blinked his overly large eyes. The Sabbat war pack was below him and they were harassing a new Gangrel. He had seen her be embraced three nights ago by his meal from last night. There would be no sire for her.
His jaws opened and he spit the paralytic toxin at them. They immediately shrieked and fell to the ground clawing where it touched them. Legs spread wide, he snatched them up in his web. Spider was a good form for hunting.
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Winter - 1995.
New York was Hell, Ezra was completely sure of that now. Whatever his master had wanted, there was no sign of it. Tzimisce had called him here two years ago. Once he had arrived not another message was sent. In the intervening two years, he had killed vampires, wolves, mages, humans, and a host of other creatures. In the end, they all tasted the same to him.
The rattling of trash cans behind him, had him flipping over back wards and sending a wad of webbing from his wrist towards the building. Climbing the webbing, he reached the top of the building and stared down. This form he had seen in a cartoon. It had some advantages. Plus, the abilities designed in were fun to use.
Less people questioned a man in a costume than a big fucking spider eating their shitzou. Though the spider had more advantages, this man spider being had some of them. Perhaps if his luck didn't change soon, then he would simply continue on in this form. Try crime fighting for a while. It was an idea.
The figure in the trash cans scattered the bottles when it dived for a rat.
Ezra's keen eyes recognized the figure despite the grime and scum that coated it. It was none other than the Remnant itself, Angelus. In a bout of spite for the torture it had done him when they were together in the Master's court, he picked up a brick and hurdled it toward the vampire. When it struck home, he made a pumping motion and scanned the horizon.
There was crime afoot!
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Spring - 1998.
His master had called. It sent him to destroy the being that dared wield the power of the ancients. So here he was in upstate New York. Laying on the field around him were several dead Gangrel. They had been drained of life and were slowly turning to ash. They would all be fertilizer by sun rise. Growling, he followed the sense the creature gave off.
It was headed north.
There was also something else. Something hunted the childe. Something familiar. Rising off the ground, he aimed for the direction it had gone. The wind whipped past him tasseling his hair. If people looked up, they would see a steel colored creature with large wings beating the air.
He could sense it closer now. It was less than a hundred miles away. Soon he was upon it. Going lower, he scanned the area for any signs of life. There, below him, was the creature and it was fighting a small pack of Gangrel.
Flying higher, Ezra summoned the power of the storm. Light flashed across the sky. The air temperature dropped and the winds bottomed out causing him to plummet. More lightning streaked the sky.
Catching himself before he hit the ground, Ezra shifted back to his human form. He had fed well from the Sabbat and Camarilla forces before he had come. The blood made him feel slightly drunk, but he remained in complete control.
Ichor dripped from the central eye on its head. The massive eye covered almost the entire face of the unlucky leech that wielded it. It was standing over the few remaining Gangrel, hands out to draw them closer.
Raising his hands, Ezra seized the assembled Gangrel with his will and swept them to either side in a parting gesture. The creature turned its attention to him. Ignoring the powers it exuded in an attempt to dominate him, Ezra raised his hands. His entire being seemed to glow brilliant white and the lightning fell from the sky.
The first strike hit the vampire and knocked it off its feet. The second had no effect. Rising again, it raised both hands and sent a wave of energy towards Ezra.
Ezra bounced hard off the ground when he was struck. He rose in the air without aid of winds. Facing the being, he braced both arms at his side and summoned the blood. He focused all his anger towards the ground.
The ground beneath it shook violently knocking the vampire over. It tried to stand again, but found the earth still unstable. To avoid falling again, it floated up like Ezra.
Ezra rushed it, hands out stretched and growling. When he made contact, the cycloptic vampire screamed in pain. He flew backwards when it hit him across the face. Spinning around, he righted himself. The air around him crackled with rising energy.
Not waiting for Ezra's next attack, the Cyclops shot forward with fire covered hands. It was shocked when Ezra grabbed both hands.
Crushing them in his fists, Ezra's face lost all sense of humanity. The Beast took control and he snarled. The air around them started to spin and shatter. Their battle of wills continued as they rose higher in the sky.
It tried to jerk out of Ezra's grasp only to find their hands were no longer distinguishable. Staring up at him, it knew fear for the first time in millennia. The air grew heavy and they continued to rise. Brilliant light surrounded them, crushing them together.
Ezra opened himself to the light, allowed it to pass through him. Soon it was so brilliant he could no longer see. All he knew was complete darkness, his eyes having been burned out.
Its frantic struggle continued despite having no room to maneuver. Their bodies were crushed and mingling. Crying out one last time, its atoms were smashed.
Trying to let go, Ezra forced himself to remain whole. The power of his mind allowed him to reshape himself to spite the force. With a popping sound, the world around them exploded and he was hurtled back to the Earth. He impacted so hard the ground rose above him by several feet.
Feeling himself whole once more, Ezra began to chuckle. He had survived, whatever the hell had happened, he had survived. Opening his eyes to know if he could see again, he saw something that made him believe he was truly dead.
Blue eyes blinked at him, brushing back a string of long curly hair. "Ez?"
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Summer - 1998.
Ezra knelt by the grave marker, pulling the weeds from around it. He traced the name with fond remembrance. "It's been a while, mother. I hadn't thought to see you again so soon after our last departure. Your less than stellar attitude made me believe you were never going to forgive me."
"I haven't."
Ignoring the voice, he used a handkerchief to wipe the bird shit from the top of the marker. "Remember when we used to watch over the oceans, how the sun would go down and we would celebrate the success of another mark taken down?"
"Release me, Ezra."
"Sorry, Mother, but you know better than that." He patted the grave with a sad smile and stood up. "See you again in another fifty years, Maude."
"Then why did you come?" Her disembodied voice floated through his mind. Maude's anger was evident by the way she sent violent images to him.
"He is here, again. You know the one, the man you killed so long ago." Unzipping his pants, he pulled out his prick. "He is alive again, Maude, and there is nothing you can do about it this time." Pissing on her grave, he began whistling a jaunty tune.
"Ezra! Have you no respect for your elders?" Her carefully controlled voice belied her rage.
"Not since you took the only one I cared about from me, no. You do remember that night, don't you?" Upon her silence, he kicked up dirt toward her grave marker. "Then let me refresh your memory, mother. You found me in bed with a man, said I was an evil catamite. He tried to protect me and you beheaded him for it. While your back was turned I plunged a stake through your heart and buried you. There, now do you remember? Besides, if I do recall, I was around 500 years before you."
"God will punish you, Ezra."
"And Satan is still waiting for you. Good bye, mother, as always, I wish you final death." Zipping up, he walked away and started whistling again.
Across the field, a young man with long curly hair waited for Ezra impatiently. Shifting from foot to foot, his lean frame shivered in the cold midnight air. "Hurry up, Ez, I'm hungry and it's cold out here."
"Hold on, Mr. Tanner, I shall be with you shortly, there is someone else I must visit." While he spoke, Ezra bent down on one knee and traced an engraved picture on the grave stone in front of him. Bringing his hand up to his mouth, he kissed it and then placed it palm flat on the picture once more. "Always, Vincent."
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Summer - 1998.
They had been together less than two months and he still hadn't spoken about his past. Ezra knew it was normal for someone so scared to refuse to talk, but aside from acknowledging their relationship, Vin hadn't said word one about it. Perhaps it was best that way.
Ezra ran his hand through Vin's hair. The young man was curled about his waist, nearly as thin as a skeleton despite the amount he ate. The weight was slowly coming back to his form, but whatever that had happened had put him through hell.
The first thing Ezra had done after capturing the youth in a kiss was fly them back to San Francisco. They had spent the last two months walking the city of their past liaisons. Nothing else mattered, not the summons of Tzimisce, not the burning sun, not the cries of the people he killed for snubbing his Vin. All he cared about was that he had Vin once more.
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Autumn - 1998.
Ezra bared his fangs as the men surrounded him and Vin. Eyes going silver, his fingers extended into claws. "Stay close to me, Vin."
Buck drew his gun. "Shit, its one of them mother fuckers. Anyone gotta phosphorous gun?"
Drawing the large barreled black gun from Ezra's hip, Vin aimed it at Buck and smirked. "Right here, fur face!"
"Don't try anything funny, son. We only want to talk with your companion, he has a few people who want some answers from him." Josiah gave the others of team seven a serious stare. "Hold off until Chris gets here, no body wants to do anything stupid."
"Coming between a Kindred and his meal was stupid, priest." Ezra gave the older man a mocking salute. With disdain, he gave the werewolf a superior, haughty sniff. "Your holy items do not effect me, however you reek of whores and cheap wine."
Buck dropped his cross back to his chest and cursed. Placing a hand to his head set, he clicked the transmission button. "Chris, where the hell are you? We got the suspect and his lover boy in custody but they are armed, I repeat, they are armed."
"Don't harm either of them! I'm on my way."
Static cleared over the radio and Buck turned it down. "We will just sit tight and wait for the big man to arrive."
Ezra stepped closer to Vin and looked him in the eyes. "What do you know of these clowns? When you caught sight of them you started muttering about how you should have known."
"They are part of an elite squad of federally sanctioned hit men. If they are called in, it is already too late for negotiations. If they take us alive, our extermination won't be pleasant." He shifted his grip on the phosphorous gun. Tilting his head, he wore a twisted smile. "I used to be an official translator until their members banded together and murdered my symbiot."
"Your symbiot?"
Vin raised his shirt and exposed a round scar the size of a tennis ball next to his kidney. "I was host to a Vorex demon, I translated for several key members of the High Council. That is until they grew weary of the secrets we possessed. When we refused to tell all, they assassinated my protector and tried to pin it on me. They failed in their one attempt to kill me, but Tanner wasn't so lucky."
"Vorex demons are banned by Council law," Hank said as his face twisted between wolf and human. "So you are the much vaunted Vin Tanner. Figures you would associate with the lowest scum on Terra."
"I will see all of you back stabbing bastards dead for Tanner's murder!" Vin turned on Hank and pulled the trigger.
The effect was immediate as Hank was hit full force by the Phosphorous blast and burned to a cinder. His team members scrambled for cover as Vin opened fire wildly striking Marshall a glancing blow and hitting Roanoke in the face. Buck, Josiah, and Nathan opened fire trying to hit Vin and Ezra.
Ezra disappeared in the ground and reappeared behind Nathan. Grabbing the man about the chest, he pulled back and sank his fangs in Nathan's neck. He drank quickly sucking until Nathan was too weak to fight. Releasing him to bleed out on the ground, Ezra turned his steel gaze on a new target.
Vin fired twice more in to his already down victim and killed Marshall. When he pulled the trigger again, the gun clicked empty. He tossed it at Buck and charged the wide eyed shifter. Screaming, he rushed hands open ready to latch on to something and rend it. A foot from Buck, the ground erupted from gun fire and Vin jumped to avoid it. He barreled into Buck and came up in a fighting stance.
Chris stared down the end of his hand gun at the thin figure and shook his head. "You don't want to do this, Vin. We came here to help."
"You helped enough, Larabee, Tanner is dead and I soon will be." Stepping on Buck's neck, he pushed the gasping man back down. "I will kill him and then I will kill you. You betrayed me when I trusted you."
"It wasn't me, Eli Joe..."
"Is dust! He got what was coming to him and you are next!" Vin pushed a little harder with grim determination.
"Please, I know we made a mistake and nothing will bring Tanner back, but you are still alive." Inching closer, Chris ignored the pained motions of his friend and focused on Vin. "We know it wasn't your fault the Rel ambassador is dead. Yates confessed everything to Lilly before she executed him."
"Jess was my friend, I would never betray him."
"We know that now." Chris stopped four feet from Vin as Buck turned a brilliant purple. "You have to let him go, Vin, he's innocent of all this. He wasn't part of my team back then."
Vin's eyes darkened as he stood up straight. With a quick duck of his head, he stepped back from Buck.
"That's good..." Chris was cut off when a pale arm wrapped around his neck.
"I would think long and hard before I made another move, Mr. Larabee." Ezra blew a cool breath over Chris' ear making the man shiver. "You and I have a history, don't we? You know what I will do if you don't leave us alone."
"I do." He kept his face carefully calm. "What do you want with him, Ezra?"
"Why are you hunting me?"
Leaning back against the Kindred, Chris glanced over his shoulder. "I done told you, we want to know why you want Vin. Why have you been protecting him these last few months?"
"That's my business, Mr. Larabee, which means it is none of your concern." Ezra pushed Chris forward. "Tell your bosses that he is with me and will remain that way until he sees fit."
Chris landed on his hands and knees, scrambling to even keep that up. When he had gained his balance, he looked up and found both Vin and Ezra gone. Standing up, he looked around him. He knew they couldn't be far, he just hoped they were still in hearing range. "Vin! We want to help. Travis believes you are innocent, he sent me here because I do too. Hank, Roanoke, and Marshall, they worked for the conspirators, not me."
There was no response.
"We can help clear your name!"
"I don't care!" Vin's voice drifted back through the deserted night. "Nothing would ever make me come back and kiss their feet again!"
"Then don't." Chris took in the bodies of three of his team mates with a sad stare. "We got a few openings, join my team."
Ezra suddenly appeared in front of him. Reaching out a hand, Ezra took Chris' gun from his fingers. "What is your interest in him, Mr. Larabee?"
"That is none of your concern." Chris tried to take his gun back, but was unsuccessful against Ezra's speed.
"He has killed three of your men, yet you offer him respite, why?" Ezra's eyes bled silver again as he forced his will on Chris. "Tell me."
"They were dead either way. They didn't answer to me, which made them a liability. They conspired with those who tried to kill Vin, which sealed their fates." Chris blinked and when he opened his eyes again, Vin was standing in front of him, not Ezra. "Vin, how did you..."
"Why did you have to kill them, Chris? The Vorex were no threat to anyone."
Chris held out his hand for Vin. "Someone had to take the blame for Jess Kincaid's murder. The Council wanted blood and they decided it was your fault."
Vin took a step back. "You said Yates confessed."
"And he did, but Yates is a convicted liar, no one would have believed him." Chris reached forward to grab Vin. "If you come back with me, Orrin has promised to protect you from the others."
"What will you tell the others about the death of Kincaid? That it was Tanner, I was just the poor host who had no control over my own actions?" A cruel smile twitched on his lips as he looked away. "That's it, isn't it. Travis has already told them all it was my symbiot. Hank said that the Vorex were banned from the Council, now I know why. No thanks, Cowboy, what we had is over."
"Vin!" Chris lunged and caught only air. Looking up, he saw an owl flying over head and disappearing in to the night. "I won't stop looking, Vin, I'll find you!"
"Then you'll be searching a long time."
Chris swung around in time to see Ezra change in to a wolf and run off. "Where are you going?" Feeling a hand on his shoulder, Chris shrugged it off. "Leave me alone, Buck."
Rubbing his neck, Buck gasped out, "you wanna tell me what the hell just happened here?"
"I said leave me alone, Buck. It is best you didn't know."
That struck a cord with the werewolf. "It was him, wasn't it."
Shifting to glare at his old friend, Chris scowled. "What about him?"
Buck saw the defensive stance, knew it for what it was. "Nothin, my mistake." Shrugging out of his body armor, he walked over to give Josiah a hand up.
Nathan was already on his feet and rubbing at his own throat. "Damn vampires! At least he didn't try ripping me apart like the last dozen or so. That is a bitch to heal."
"Those are Kindred, brother, not vampires." Josiah dusted off his own body armor as Buck lifted him up from the ground. "Thank you, Buck."
"What's the difference, they still die when you stake'em." Nathan shifted his hand up and a small wooden stake popped out of the wrist sheath.
"No, they don't. Kindred are a more human off shoot of the Children of Caine. About two thousand years ago those embraced by a vampire of the clans started walking during the daylight and every generation embraced by that one after it were day walkers. Every clan has their own version of the day walkers, some can only go out in twilite, while others full day. Some become almost human in the sun while others turn into grotesque monsters. It is really very fascinating." Josiah finished with a shake of his head. "They all share one thing in common though, they refuse to be called vampires for they aren't, not really. Kindred are physically and psychologically different in almost every way."
"Seems you know alot about the subject, Josiah." Chris, having shaken off the feeling, walked over to the corpses of his former team mates and nudged one with his boot. "Those phosphorous guns do a hell of a number on a Kindred. A normal person doesn't stand a chance."
"Creative devils, I'll give'em that much." Buck knelt down and picked up the empty gun Vin had hit him with. Holding it so the others could see the still smoking, distorted barrel, he sniffed it. "Stinks, sorta like gun powder but not."
"That's because it is more an explosive than a projectile." Chris reached into a compartment on his belt and pulled out what looked like a shot gun shell. "Looks normal enough, but if you place one of these slugs in a normal gun, the heat from one shot would ruin the barrel permanently." He slipped it back in his belt. The others were still learning and he had plenty of time to teach them. "We need to head back and inform Judge Travis of our failure."
"What are we gonna do about the stiffs?" Nathan spit to clear his mouth of the smell.
"Don't worry about them, this was their last mission anyways." At the surprised looks of the others, he smiled. "Haven't you heard? You've passed the final tests, you're my new team."
Josiah grimaced. Looking down, he made a cross sign over the bodies. "Let us hope, brothers, that we do not lose our team leader's favor as these lost souls have."
Smirking, Chris started away. "We'll see."
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Autumn - 1998.
Watching the sun rise, Ezra smiled at how it made Vin's hair glow. Today was the first day of his new childe's existence. Finally, after seven months of struggling, he finally persuaded Vin to accept his offering.
He refused to abandon Vin like he had done his other childer. The archaic ritual of all Gangrel sires to leave their childer to fend for themselves after the embrace would not employed here. He knew Vin was suicidal at times and it made the embrace that much more dangerous. But it didn't matter.
He had Vin back, and not even Ennoia herself would take him from him.
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Summer - 1999.
Ezra awoke shrieking. His body wracked with pain, the burning flames of the sun eating him alive. He convulsed, trying to dispell the flames. Nothing worked and he continued to scream from the pain. Hearing the words of the Antediluvian in his mind, he surrendered to oblivion.
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Autumn - 1999.
Gasping, Ezra shot up in to a sitting position. He felt suffocated. A cloth covered his face. Pulling the veil from his face, Ezra let it drop to the floor. Glancing about him, he blinked in surprise. He knew this place.
Two figures in white cloth appeared at the entrance to the room. They were covered from head to toe in silver painted runes. Moving in to the room they whispered in quiet voices back and forth. Their entire demeanor spoke of curiosity. "It awakens."
"What is going on?" He turned on the altar, ignoring the way his privates dragged across the stone. "Where is she?"
"She is here." The taller one stepped forward, hands out. "We have heard of your kind before, but you are the first we have met."
"She has embraced many. I was not the first." Ezra stood up and headed for the door.
"Be that as it may, you are the only one we have met. There is a very special reason we brought you here." The shorter one matched the taller in their pace towards him. "Your childe was very worried. You are only one of a few that survived."
"What do you go on about?" Ezra shoved passed them, ignoring their seeking hands. "Where is Vin?"
"Wait!" The taller being's voice froze Ezra in his tracks. "There is much going on you do not know about." It began walking around him to face him once more. This time, it stopped and held up both hands to ward off any attacks. "The Dark Mother is on the move. Her forces are greater than we anticipated."
"What does it matter to me that Lilith walks the Earth? She can kill the whole lot of them for all I care." Ezra was silenced by the other being's hands on his back. He tried to speak again, but found his voice wouldn't come out.
"We are the last of the priests to your blood line, Caine has seen to that. For almost ten thousand years, the Dark Mother was in another dimension, cast there by Caine. She has finally been freed. Unlike the joyous occasion this should be for us, it is a sadness. She is no longer the Goddess we have worshiped. Her age, magic, grief and rage have combined to create a twisted being of unimaginable horror." The tall priest pressed its hands to Ezra's chest. "We are not strong enough to stop her, and despite your belief, she needs to be. Her abilities have made her in to the very monster she sought to destroy."
"Ennoia is the only one strong enough to stop the Dark Mother. If she can not restore her balance, then she can destroy her." The short priest's hands suddenly turned cold against Ezra's back. "There is a problem."
"For the past four months, you have lain in torpor. Your childe has abandoned all hope of reviving you. Others have come and paid their respects to you and your body has been enshrined in the heart of your valley." The tall priest's hands joined the small priest's in becoming ice against his skin. "The destruction of Dracian by the Technocracy sent many in to torpor."
"With the blood of a hundred Kindred, we have revived you. We did not believe it would take so many, there is very little left for Ennoia. If their blood was not strong enough combined, then it would matter very little to her." They stepped closer to Ezra as the floor beneath them began to descend. "You are the strongest we could find. We hope you will be enough."
Ezra tried to force his body to move. Their grip not only paralyzed his voice, but his entire being. The world around him was plunged in to darkness so thick not even his preternatural eyes could penetrate. Suddenly there was light around their feet. They were lowering in to a chamber lit by torches.
The first sight that greeted his eyes sent a feeling of dread through him so strong he actually shuddered despite their hold. At the center of the room was an altar much like the one he had woken upon. On this altar was the beast woman, her skin covered in fur and face misshaped by the large bore tusks that protruded from her lower lips. Her black hair and skin were barely noticeable through the fur. Ennoia's face had been painted over with a white skull.
It was the same being that had torn his heart out an eon ago. But it wasn't the sight of her that sent fear through his ancient frame. It was the piles of ash and skulls spread out around the room. The priests had only partially lied. He was the most powerful they had caught, but he wasn't the only they had. Ezra was the next in a long line of attempts, just another quick fix. From the blood stains, they had been trying to revive her for a very short time.
They dragged Ezra from the dais towards the altar. This had become so routine they didn't even have to see where they were going. Keeping one hand on his chest to hold him, they guided his left wrist with their free hands to Ennoia's mouth.
When he felt his sire's lips upon his wrist, fire shot through Ezra. Her tusks sank in his flesh and she bit down. The moment her lips sealed on the wound, his world began to darken. The very world around him shimmered and for the first time in his unlife, Ezra felt the real fear of death. He knew the blood was being drained quickly from his body.
Ennoia's hand wrapped around his arm, crushing it in her grip. She sat up with robotic movements, using his broken arm to pull him closer. Ezra's throat was pulled to her mouth, and she used the tusks to tear away the flesh. Her mouth opened completely and sealed over the gaping wound.
Ezra screamed.
When no more blood would come, she let him drop to the floor. Spinning, she slid off the altar and stood to face the priests.
Both priests dropped to their knees, heads bowed to the floor in supplication.
Without a backwards glance, she headed for the dias. The priests followed after her. When they were on the platform, it rose in to the ceiling and the torches extinguished.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Late Winter - 2000.
They hit the solid bronze doors, trying to kick it open. After the third try, it finally gave enough for them to wedge through. Strong flurries of snow and wind blew through the gap quickly filling the inner chamber. A snow booted foot stepped inside the chamber quickly followed by the entire body of the explorer. Glancing over his shoulder, he smiled at the rest of his team. "This is it. The heart of the entire pyramid!"
"What is in there?" A second man, covered from head to toe in snow gear followed his companion in to the chamber. The contents of the chamber had him pause in shock. Upon the altar was the frozen corpse of a being he had only thought existed in myths. "John, is that what I think it is?"
The first man turn smiling to his friend. Seeing him pointing, he followed the line of sight. He jumped back in fright. "Holy shit, Roger, it's a fucking werewolf!"
"More like a Were Tiger or Were Leopard to be more precise." Roger was already moving forward, his gloved hand ready to touch the corpse. "I had heard those daft Americans claim they existed, yet to see one comes as a complete shock. Do you suppose it has been here for long?"
"What are you saying, that it simply came to the Antarctic to lay upon this bloody altar so you could find it? Look at the rest of the chamber, this place has not been used in forever." Glancing about him, John smiled. He raised his arms and spun about. "Look at this fucking place!"
"I think we're going to be famous."
"Damn right we are!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Spring - 2000.
Team Seven entered the museum shaking the rain from their jackets. Vin pulled off his shades and glared at the door. "I hate this place. Who's idea was it to send us again?" His blue cat's eyes blinked in the harsh light. Having frenzied after Ezra's death, they were now a permanent part of him.
"I dunno, brother, London has a certain appeal to it." Josiah shook the dew from his collar before folding it down. His clothes, as always, were immaculate, much to the envy of his team mates. "And it was our illustrious team leader who accepted the assignment."
"Don't start with me, Vin, you know anyone else would have bungled this job. Besides, were are the most human looking team there is." Nathan looked at Vin's eyes and smiled. "Human looking."
"I still don't see why we are the ones that's gotta investigate what some dumb scientists brought back from the arctic." He saw Nathan open his mouth to correct him, and Vin held up his hand. "Un uh, Nate, I know I said it wrong, I don't care. I didn't like this city two thousand years ago, I don't like it now. I'm cold, I'm wet, and I'm hungry." Seeing his team back away, he growled. "Don't even start, you bunch of pussies."
"Actually, Vin, you're the one that can turn in to..." JD trailed off at the glare from his fellow Marshall. "Right, we're the pussies, got it."
"Can we please get back to the case? I know it is terrible inconvenience, but we do have a job to do here." Adjusting his black duster, Chris pushed passed his team and headed down the corridor. They were in the back entrance to the Museum as to avoid the crowds and get quick access to what they came for. "Remember it is a quick swipe and wipe deal, in and out, no dallying for artifacts you find pretty, JD."
"One time and I am branded for life. It was a jeweled scarab I thought Casey might like. She is always complainin I never get her anything fancy." Giving a put upon sigh, he folded his arms, but kept an eye out for employees. The security had been through already and they had a fifteen minute window before they got back, or so his surveillance had told him. "Second room on the right."
"And straight on til morning." Buck chuckled at his own joke. He slapped JD on the back to get him moving again and to quit scowling at him. "Kid, don't you have any sense of humor?"
"I laugh when the joke is funny." Elbowing Buck, JD shot out ahead of the group. "There is an ancient mummy here I wanna look at while you guys retrieve the amulets and urns. They said they found it in the same temple."
"Careful, JD, sometimes they come back." Nathan smiled along with the chuckles of the guys.
"I will be. It is a Were Leopard. Just imagine, an ancient were person. I wonder what he was doing in the Antarctic." They reached the lab without anyone catching them. JD used a small palm computer to over ride the security scanner on the door. When it popped open, he rushed inside and gestured the guys follow him.
They wasted no time getting in.
Vin was the first to start riffling through the shelves, breaking the locks on the drawers with his claws. "If you see something not bones, take it. These guys got too much magical stuff here. I'm surprised we are the first ones to come here."
"It is understandable." Josiah crossed himself and backed away from the central exam table. "I would suggest we hurry, brothers, some of these artifacts speak of divine retribution for removing them. Especially that." He pointed towards a head dress of solid gold inlaid with jade and emeralds.
JD came over to scan it, using his leather glove to delicately move it. "It isn't anything I recognize. Seems to be Mayan, but much older. Says the name of the owner is Raziel, child of Ennoia."
The shattering of a clay pot on the ground, had them turning to face Vin.
Vin dropped his travel satchel of artifacts and strode over to JD's side. "Are you sure about that?" He picked up the head dress and turned it over, the golden leaves fluttering in his hands. "Are you sure about the name, JD?"
Taking it back, JD examined the name again. "Yep. Says right there, Raziel, Child of Ennoia. Why are you so interested?"
"Is this from the mummy?" Vin was almost begging when he saw JD nod.
"Yeah, Vin. The mummy is just over there in that freezer. Help me get it out." JD set the head dress back down on the table and walked over to the freezer. He gestured for Vin to break the lock. After his friend had done it, JD pulled on the handle and opened the door.
Chris saw the others still frozen, watching the two men at the freezer. "Get back to work, we have artifacts to collect!"
"Aye, Captain." Buck saluted Chris. Turning back to the drawers, he used his own claws to bust them open. He just pulled them out, and dumped the contents in his satchels. Soon all four bags were loaded. "I'm all through here." He scowled when Chris tossed him four more.
JD pulled the roll out tray from the body freezer. The mummy was covered in a tarp. With a quick tug, he jerked it from the body. He tried to get at to examine it, but Vin blocked his way. "Out of the way, Vin, I wanna see."
"Back off, JD." Vin started to growl until his friend complied. He ignored the shocked look the others gave him. Choosing, instead, he focused on the body on the tray. He sliced a claw across his palm. After waiting for a little blood to well up in the cut, he turned it over and placed it against the mouth of the mummy.
"What are you doing? It's a body, Vin!" JD tried to pull Vin off the corpse only to be thrown across the lab for his efforts. He looked up, thankful to Buck for catching him. "What's gotten in to him?"
Chris had gone completely white. Swallowing, he bit back on the edge of jealous anger. "It's Ezra." Walking over to stand beside Vin, Chris stared at his lover. "Is he worth it?"
"He's all I got, Chris. He's my sire."
"What about me?" Chris grabbed Vin's free hand. "What about us?"
"I dunno, Chris, but I gotta help him. It isn't something I can think twice about, cowboy. I just have to do it." Tightening his grasp, he pulled Chris to him. "Please. Don't make me choose."
Staring in to Vin's eyes, Chris felt his anger disappear and be replaced by emptiness. Backing away, he adjusted his own satchels. "Do what you have to."
Vin turned back to Ezra, focusing more of his blood in the mouth of his sire. "Come on, Ez, wake up." Slitting his other hand, he pressed it to the wound on Ezra's neck. "Please wake up. Don't do this to me again."
Nathan stood beside Josiah, a hand resting on his shoulder. "How the hell did he end up in the Antarctic? I thought he was buried under six tonnes of cement in the Shifter Valley."
"There is no telling, father. It has been a year, may be one of his fellow blood suckers dug him up and buried him there." Josiah turned away when he saw Vin begin to break down. "There are still some artifacts we have to get."
"Yeah, lets go." Nathan turned back to his drawers and quickly emptied them in the satchels he carried.
JD watched with curiosity. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Chris' jaw clench. "Isn't there some thing you can do for him?"
"Don't get in this, kid." Chris cracked his knuckles and turned away.
"Don't call me a kid! You're the all powerful mage, I know there is something you can do to wake him up." Grabbing Chris' shoulder, JD forced him to turn around and face him. "Ezra ain't a bad guy, Chris."
"What would you know about him?"
"He kept me alive, that is what I know. He gave my dad work when the farm shut down. He built the valley we call home. He brought us together as a team, we all know it! And he saved Vin when you turned your back on him..." JD found himself against the cabinets, Chris' hand around his throat. "Go on, hit me, I know you've been wanting to since you got me."
"Don't take your guilt out on the kid, pard." Buck held Chris' fist back from hitting JD, using his were strength to keep his friend from making a mistake. "You and I both know it ain't JD you're mad at."
"He shouldn't be talking, Buck." Chris tried one last time to pull his fist back, but Buck held firm. With a shake of disgust, he pushed JD away. "Get him out of my sight!"
"Quit being so selfish, you ass! Vin needs you more now than ever and again you are turning your back on him!" JD pushed Josiah's hand from his mouth, but allowed himself to be dragged away. "When are you going to stop equating him with your family? He isn't going to leave you unless you push him away. And you're doing a pretty good job of it!"
Chris' hands started to glow as his eyes bled black. Turning on the youngest member of their team, he snarled. "You have no idea what you are talking about. So! Shut! Up!"
"Why don't you help him? Get over yourself, Chris, and do something for someone else for a change!" JD fought now. He tried to get at the elder so he could take out the frustration on him. He had grown tired of two years of resentment and it was time to deal with their problems. "You aren't special among us, we've all had our problems!"
Chris' light grew in brilliance with his rage. "You weren't raped by a vampire for five years!"
"It was voluntary! You wanted him as much as he wanted you. You're just mad he couldn't love you. That it was impossible for him to actually feel love for someone when it wasn't artificially induced. Well guess what, Vin knows that he did it to Ezra, that it wasn't real, and he still cares enough to bring him back! So who is the one who has no idea? Go fuck yourself, you selfish bastard!" Kicking Josiah in the shin, JD broke free and lunged at Chris. "Help them!"
Chris caught the violent ball of anger in his arms and held him close. He gripped JD so tightly the younger man found it hard to breathe. Tears running down his face, he kissed him on top of his head. "I don't think I can."
"Then don't think about it." Holding on tight, JD dragged Chris towards Vin.
By now Vin was ready to collapse from the loss of blood. He had fed so much but it hadn't even sparked a reaction. Ezra was still as dead as when he collapsed after waking screaming in their bed. It was like losing the ancient again. Feeling someone at his side, Vin glanced up. He caught Chris' look and felt something inside him snap. "Please, help him."
Chris clamped down on his feelings. Pushing JD and Vin aside, he placed his hands on either side of Ezra's head. Closing his eyes, he focused on linking their life forces. He could sense the cold energy of Ezra's aura. With the heat of his own, he blew upon the dark energy.
Ezra's body seized off the table, arching up. Life and thought flooded back through him. The first reaction he sensed was the bond to his childer. They were all alive and knew he was too. He grasped on to that bond and pulled the energy he needed to remain this way. Another, older source noticed he was awakened too. Shutting off all links to the being, he opened his eyes. His and Chris' eyes met.
Chris stared in to the oldest eyes he had ever seen. Gently, he slid his hand over Ezra's forehead. "Welcome back."
"I'm alive, Mr. Larabee."
"I know, I brought you back."
"You do not understand. I believe I can feel my heart beating."
THE END..................
For more information, check out the AU Post.