Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 Chapter 1

   Life In A Small Town



   This is the story of a mountain vampire named Xavier.  It is my story
and it needs to be told.  For in the telling you this, I show that all
small towns and their children, however peaceful and innocent they may
seem, hold secrets, secrets that need to be told.

   My name is Jev and you could say that I am, or rather was, you're
typical eighteen year old.  I used to spend my time hanging out with my
friends and trying not to get into any trouble.  Well, any serious trouble,
that is.  In appearance I was only slightly different then most of the guys
my age.  While they worked on getting bigger muscles and tan to impress all
the girls, I wasn't that interested in impressing anybody.  I am just short
of 5ft.  and my hair is a deep shade of red, almost crimson, and when left
unbraided it reaches just below my knees.  What was really strange about my
hair was that I am the only person in my family with such a peculiar color.
My skin is pale, not completely white but just light enough to tell the
difference when I'm standing beside some one.  I think my best feature is
my eyes, they are a bright green.  According to the eye color chart the
color is known as willow green.  I have a slender build not to thin but
also not to big, firm, I guess you would call it.  If seen from a distance
you might think I was young kid.  Some have said that I resemble a kid of
about fifteen.  Great, I'm an ah adult that still gets treated like a kid
some times.

   Other than that what time I wasn't with my friends or family I could be
found at home or at my job.  I worked at the local gas station that was
just across the street from the only good pizza place in town.  My life was
happy and not that interesting and yet somehow I felt different, distant, I
guess you could say, and not a part of the whole social thing.  I had a few
close friends and my one best friend, Lisa.

   Lisa is the kind of friend that everybody wants to have.  She is funny
and a bit off, but that is what makes her so great.  She's always there if
you need a smile or a shoulder to cry on, or a swift kick in the butt if
she thinks you need it.  As countless times before have proved, she wasn't
shy about giving her opinion on a subject, whether you wanted to hear it or
not.  Yet despite all the hectic parts of life, I found it more comfortable
to be alone and not bothered by what was going on in the outside world.

   I live in my hometown of Raven, a small town tucked away in the
south-western part of Virginia.  The only real reason it's on the map is
because of the post office.  Nothing much ever goes on here, but hey it's
home to me.  I guess you could say it's like most small towns, there are
churches (twenty-one to be exact), main street, town hall, and of course
the beer joint.  The summers aren't too hot, nor the winters too cold. 
Most the time the winters are very rainy and very little snow.  When we do
get a snow storm it is a big one.  You could get lost in the rolling hills
and tall mountains around here.  It seems like time has passed this place
over, and for all I could care, it can stay that way forever.

   For as long as I could remember I have always been fascinated by stories
of the supernatural.  Especially stories that had to do with vampires, I
couldn't get enough of them.  I have read almost every book I could find on
the subject, and seen almost every movie that has one in it, yet still I
wanted to know more.  So after work I would spend hours online looking up
anything I could find on the subject of vampires and their habits, or going
into any chat room that even mention vampires in its name.  I have met
several people, who claimed to be real vampires, but they were just lying
to me, they were wannabe vampires, like me.

   Most of my friends think I'm crazy and a bit obsessed with the idea of
vampires, but that doesn't bother me much.  They tell me that I'm wasting
my time looking up something that's not even real.  They ask me if I
believed in them and all I can do is bite my lower lip, look at the ground
and shrug my shoulders.  I'm not totally sure if they are real or not, but
the idea is just too much to ignore.  I just had to find out for myself if
they are real or not.  I mean look at all of the rumors and
myths....vampires having clubs, biting people in their sleep when the
person knew that the door was closed and locked from the inside.  Blood
banks getting broken into all of the time; it is either a very sick person
or the unknown.  Besides that the stories of vampires go back for eons.  If
there are vampire bats then why can't there be vampires just in human form?
The answer to me is simple; people are scared of what they don't know, some
like me just want to find out the truth about them.

   The night my life changed started out like any other.  I was finishing
up a double shift and was ready to go home.  Rebecca and I were standing
outside after closing in the parking lot of the gas station, when I noticed
that the moon was full and there was a large ring around it.  I pointed it
out to her and we talked a bit about what it meant and the events of that
day.  After a while she looked at her watch and noticed the time and said
it was time for her to get on home.

   She turned to me and asked if I needed a ride.  I just smiled and said
"No thanks, it's a nice night for a walk and besides I could use the
exercise." She just laughed and patted me on the stomach and smiled.  Maybe
just a little bit there.  Hahahahahaah I just stuck my tongue out at her
and smiled one of my crocked smiles.

   Rebecca just smiled my way "Well, I guess I'll see ya later.  Just as
long as you're sure you don't need a ride home."

   "I'm sure I replied.  I'll see ya the next time we work together, but
this time you're running the register!"

   She laughed again, as she climbed into her car Rebecca smiled and said
"It's a deal!" Rebecca waved as she pulled out, so I started on my way
home.

   When I reached the red lights at the bottom of the hill I undid my
braid. After a few minutes of combing it out with my fingers I started
digging through my backpack looking for my cap.  Pulling my hair back
through it, I took another look at the moon and just shrugged.  I thought
that it was odd to have a ring around it in the summer.  Usually it is seen
in the winter or just before something bad happens.

   Little did I know that it was something bad, and it was going to happen
to me.

   The night was warm and a soft breeze tossed a few clouds across the sky.
There was a slight scent of rain in the air but it seemed clear, so there
was no real rush in getting home.

   The town was quiet as I walked through it, down its dusty, dirty
streets, but that was nothing unusual.  It seems that most small towns go
dead after the sun sets, and Raven, being one of those small towns, seemed
to fit the mold.  The only other person I saw on my walk home was a little
old lady out walking her dog.  She smiled and gave a friendly hello as we
passed.  I tipped my cap and replied "Evenin' Ma'am." as we continued on
our way.  She headed off back into her house and waved as she shut the door
behind her.  I laughed to myself and thought, what could possibly happen in
a place like this?  I mean, I knew most all of the people here and to some
part considered them harmless if not annoying at times.

   The wind picked up and more clouds started to roll in so I decided to
take a short cut past the old Raven Theater.  I had done it several times
before and didn't think much of it now.  Besides, it would take about five
minutes off the time it would take to get home.

   The theater had been closed down for as long as I could remember.  Over
the past few years, though, it had started to get run down and fall apart.
I can remember my mom and dad telling me stories about the movies they used
to go and watch there, and how cheap it was to go see a movie and get a
bite to eat compared to what the cost is today.  If only we could still
have the prices of the past, then there wouldn't be so much poverty today.
As I passed the theater I heard some guys talking but couldn't really see
who they were.  There were three of them that I could make out, but they
were just outside of the light of the street lamp.  I could tell from their
voices though that they were some of the town's local bad boys, and it
seemed that they were always looking for trouble.  Some had even suggested
that they might have had a thing going on between them, but no one really
knew for sure.

   First there is Kevin; he was the oldest and the ring leader of the
group. Kevin is nineteen and all around bad.  He had been trough so many
different foster homes while he was growing up that no one could remember
how many for sure.  Now ah days he spends most of his time in Juvy hall. 
He is tall and wiry, and would make a good basketball player, but he
wouldn't keep his grades where they needed to be.  Brad would be the next
in charge I guess you could say.  He is also nineteen but just a few months
younger than Kevin.  He is stocky and built like a brick wall, football
material you could say, all brawn and little brain.  He was one of those
kids that would try something new just to see how far he could take it. 
And then there was Chris.  He is eighteen and the youngest of the three. 
He's quiet and spends most of his time looking at the ground.  How he got
mixed up with those guys aint too clear.  Some say he just wanted to be
accepted by some body, any body, because his parents don't seem to have the
time for him.  Others think that he was some how forced to join their
little band of mary men, but no one knows for sure.  At any rate they were
three guys that you didn't want to get on the wrong side of.

   I tipped my cap and said my greeting as I walked by trying to get passed
as quickly as possible without having to run.  Kevin just said hey in his
usual rough way and that was the end of it.

   It was just after midnight as I reached the bottom of the hill to my
folk's house.  It was easy to tell the time because of the town clock, it
had started to chime the hour.  Almost tripping I noticed that one of my
shoes had come untied.  I knelt down to tie it just as a crack of thunder
rolled across the sky.  Great!  Now I'm gonna get soaked just because of
these darn laces.  This is just my luck I thought.  As another crack of
thunder boomed overhead I looked up for a second and noticed someone out of
the corner of my eye, someone was watching me but who?

   Who really cared I thought to myself grumbling under my breath.  After
finishing I noticed another pair of shoes standing in front of me.  Looking
up I noticed that it was one of the guys from the theater.

   Chris nodded to me "Hey, man, how's it going?"

   I stood and brushed the dirt off my knee.  "I'm fine thanks, and you?"

   Shrugging his shoulders, he just looked at me.  "Doin good, thanks." He
seemed nervous and was looking around allot, as if he was expecting
something to happen.  "Hey, got a smoke, man?"

   Shaking my head I took a step back.  "Sorry man, but I don't smoke."

   Kicking a rock around with his foot he just smiled awkwardly, "Yeah,
yeah...that's okay man.  By the way I'm Chris"

   Giving him a strange look I take another step back.  "Yeah, I know who
ya are.  We go to school together...I think we have the same math class or
something like that."

   Looking around more nervously he begins messing with his hair.  "Yeah,
that's right we do.  Hey, ya got any spare change so that I can get me a
pack of cigs for later?  I'll pay ya back when I get the time."

   I shook my head, just a little wary.  "Man, I only got a few buck and
it's not even enough to buy a pack.  Sorry about that though."

   Chris just looked at the ground and mumbled to himself.  He suddenly
looked at me, "Yeah, that's okay dude.  Maybe I can get me a pack later."

   Turning to go I tipped my cap.  "Well, later man.  I gotta get home." As
I started to pick up my backpack he scowled at me and mumbled something I
couldn't understand.  "Excuse me, what did you say?  I didn't catch it."

   A small rock went skipping my way and I heard another voice behind me.
"He said that you were a liar!  I think you are lying to us and we don't
take kindly to being lied to."

   Swinging around, I tried to see where the voice was coming from, but the
shadows were too heavy.  "I'm not lying and I need to go now.  I'm tired;
I've been working all day and I want to go home to bed." With that said I
started off again in the direction of my parents' house.

   "Where do you think you're going?  We're not done talking to you." Some
one reached out of the darkness and grabbed the back of my backpack.

   Holding tight I barked.  "Let go its late and I want to go home."

   "I don't think you're going anywhere until we're done talking to you.  I
don't care how late it is."

   Kevin steppes from the shadows and flashes a cold grin in my direction.
With a hard jerk he pulls the pack from my hands and drops it limply to the
ground beside him.  Regaining my balance I give him a dirty look.  "Look
man, it's late.  Just give me my backpack and we'll go our separate ways."
He chuckles at me and squats down, and started going through my stuff. 
"Hey man, what tha hell are you lookin' for?  I done told Chris I don't
have any money!"

   Kevin just looks up and smiles.  "Look, you just shut your pretty mouth
and don't move and I won't have to beat your skinny ass all over this
shitty town!"

   Not sure what to do, I just decided that I didn't care.  "Whatever man,
just keep it.  I have to go." Turning to go, someone grabbed me by my left
arm from behind and pulls me back.

   "The man said for you not to move so just keep your cute little butt
still, ok?" The stranger twists my arm behind me like he was going to break
it and pushes me to my knees.  "Now, stay put and don't move."

   Looking behind me I saw that it was Brad.  He had been the one who had
been watching me from across the road.  I try to squirm out of his grasp,
only to have him pull my arm up hard behind my back causing a sharp pain to
shoot through my shoulder.  As I try to scream for help he just put his
hand over my mouth and pulled my head back closer to his chest.  "Listen,
brat, I told you to keep still and now I'm telling you to keep quiet." He
leaned down and softly threatened "Keep it up and I'll just break your arm.
Who knows I could do more damage than that and you wouldn't like what would
happen then.  Now, shut your trap!!!"

   Kevin just laughs in my face, "Now be a good boy and don't make him have
to hurt you again."

   Gritting my teeth I just looked at him, "I've done asked for you to
stop. Your hurting me, I told you I didn't have any money.  Just let me go
already.  You can keep the pack."

   Kevin just smiles and pulls a knife out of his pocket and starts to pick
the corner of the backpack with it.  Leaning over he ran the tip of the
blade along my cheek and smiled.  "Now if I find that you have lied to us,
I promise that you haven't seen hurtin' yet."

   Squirming and shifting on the ground, again I try to pull my arm free.
"I haven't lied to you!  I don't have any money so just let me go. 
PLEASE!"

   After dumping everything on the ground and sorting through it he sighs.
"I guess you were telling the truth after all, huh?" He tossed my pack into
the nearby bushes he knelt down in front of me just looking me over.  "So
now what are we going to do with you I wonder?

   Winching from the pain in my shoulder, I grit my teeth and look up at
him.  "You can let me go.  I won't tell anybody anything, I promise.  I
haven't done anything to you."

   "Chris what do you think we should do with him?"

   Looking over his shoulder he smiles and traces the blades tip along my
right cheek.  Chris shrugs his shoulders and takes a long draw off of his
cigarette.  He just stood there for a bit looking at me then the ground. 
"I don't know man.  Maybe we should just let him go.  After all he doesn't
have any money or anything like that."

   I turn to Kevin and try to pull my arm free from Brad's grip.  I take a
deep breath and try once more to reason with them.  "Man, I'm not going to
tell!  Just let me go!  Please."

   Kevin nods and stands knocking the dust from his pants.  "Ok I guess
it's agreed then, we can go now."

   "Brad help him up," Kevin said, "We have to be on our way now, it's
getting late."

   Letting go of my arm, Brad helps me to my feet and smacks me on the
shoulder.  "Now do have a nice night ya hear?" he lets out a laugh as they
all starts to walk away.

   Cussing under my breath I start picking up my stuff and putting it back
into the pack, then started to walk home when Brad grabs my left arm. 
"Where do you think your going?" Giving him an annoyed side long look I
yank my arm free and continue in the direction of the house.

   "I'm goin' home.  Where tha hell do you think I'm going?"

   Brad cracks a mirthless grin.  "No.  He said that we could leave. 
You're comin' with us, so just get your ass in the car, NOW!"

   Looking back at him I shake my head and grunt.  "No, I don't think so.
I'm going home.  Ya'll don't have to worry about me tellin, I done said
that." As I turned to leave Kevin comes up behind me and hits me in the
back of the head with a rock knocking me out cold.



   Chapter 2

   The Pitiful Plaything



   Hours seemed to go by before I came to.  When I finally regained my
séances, I could hear the sounds of heavy rain and the occasional crash of
thunder, but try as I may I couldn't see anything.  Trying to open my eyes
I found that I couldn't because something was covering them, whatever it
was it was tight against my face.  I stayed as still as possible not
knowing what to expect.  Hopefully they had forgotten me, I thought to
myself.  Slowly I start to hear someone in the room with me.  If anyone
then who?  It didn't sound like any of the guys that did this to me. 
"Hello, is anyone there?  Please, if there is anyone there answer me!"

   Brad laughed as he walked toward me.  "So sleeping beauty is awake.  I
thought for a minuet there, that Kevin had finished you off with that
shot."

   Kevin pats my head hard and starts laughing, "Na-Nah, just a little bump
on the head, ain't that right baby boy?"

   "Where am I?  I....I can't see.  What do ya want with me now?"

   "So ya want to see, huh?  Hey, would one of ya guys be so kind as to
help our little friend out?" Kevin laughed.

   As Brad untied the blindfold, he gave a sharp tug on the cloth, causing
pain to shoot through my head.  "Oops, sorry I guess I pulled it a little
tight there.  "My bad." He laughed.

   After slowly opening my eyes, I start looking around to see where I was.
From what I could tell from the dim lighting I was in an old building of
some sort.  There was a barrel in the center of the room with a fire going,
which seemed to be the only light in the whole place.  Well except for the
random flash of lightning through the broken windows that weren't boarded
up.  As my eyes grew more accustomed to the lighting I could make out more
and more of where I was.  A cold flush ran over me when I finally realized
where I was- the old Raven Theater!  What a place to be alone with a bunch
of guys like this.  I just couldn't help but think of what they were
planning to do to me.  I mean I've heard the roomers of what they do with
each other when they are alone, but now I'm here, alone with them.  Looking
around I noticed that I was alone on the middle of a large wooden stage.  I
scramble to my feet I start walking towards the edge looking for a way
down. There had to be a way out of here, I thought to myself, there just
has to be.  Walking around to see where my escape was, I realize to my
horror that my wrists and ankles were bound by hand cuffs connected to long
sturdy ropes and the only place I could go with ease was on the stage. 
Needless to say, they had me on a leash and to beat it all they had taken
off all of my clothes!  Well, all accept my boxers and cap, which for some
reason I still had on.  The rest of my stuff was in a pile on the floor by
the side of the stage.  "What tha hell is this you jerks?  Taking hold of
one of the ropes I tried my hardest to pull it loose from the wall, but
there was no budging it.  My head throbbed with a killer headache, but I
wasn't about to let them know that.  No telling what they would do with
that bit of information.

   Kevin just grins, "Nothin' much.  Ya see we can't let you go off and
tell people what has happened tonight, at least not yet anyways.  So we're
going to have a bit of fun before we let ya go.  Oh, by the way, you don't
mind do ya?

   "Fun!?  What do you mean fun?" I asked in a panicked whimper, pulling at
the cuffs to see if they would give any, but instead they seemed to get
tighter.

   Kevin smirked and shrug's his shoulders.  "I mean, if you don't have any
money to give us, then I guess you will have to do." Kevin laughed as he
walked around the barrel, digging around in it causing the fire to flare
up. Walking back over to where I was he smiles brushing a strand of hair
from my face and whispers in my left ear "Almost ready...but not yet."

   In a frantic panic, I pointed over to where my clothes were.  "I have my
wallet in my back left pocket.  If there is anything in it, take it.  I may
have a five in there but I'm not sure.  Take that and let me go."

   Brad walks over to my clothes and picks up the jeans pulling the wallet
out and tosses it to Kevin.  As Kevin goes though the wallet Brad comes up
behind me and kisses me on my left ear.  While running his hands down my
sides and across my stomach he pulls me back closer to him and whispers in
my ear "Oh you've really done it now pretty boy!" With that he gently bites
and pulls on my ear then walks back over to Chris and climbs up onto the
back of one of the chairs to watch Kevin's next move.

   As he walks over to the seats by his boys he just looks my way and
smiles.  "Boy's ya know what to do..." With that they jump out off their
seats and walk my way.  Climbing on to the stage, they start pulling the
ropes tight.  I tried to pull the ropes back but couldn't, they were just
too strong.  When the ropes were pulled as tight as they could go I was
left standing with my arms and legs spread wide in a large X shape.

   "What are you doing?  No.  Please stop!  Just tell me what it is you
want from me." I plead, pulling the ropes but to no use.

   Kevin walks up to me tapping the wallet in his hand.  "You lied to us.
Now why did you go and do that for?"

   "No, I didn't....I..."

   "YOU LIED TO US!!!!!!!" He screamed, hitting me across the right side of
my face with the back of his hand.  "Chris asked you if you had any money
and you said that you didn't.  If that isn't a lie then I don't know what
is." Blood began dripping from my lip, I tried to talk but Kevin grabs me
by the throat smiling at me.  "Sssshhhh, no....you will not get the chance
to lie to us again.  Do you remember what I said would happen if I found
out that you had lied?" He begins nodding his head in a mocking gesture. 
"Yes, you remember, don't you?  Oh, the time for talking is over pretty
boy....now the fun can start."

   With that Brad jumps up and yells.  "YEAH!  HHHHHHHHAAAAAAA!!!!  It's
party time." Walking over he leans on Kevin's shoulder, giving me a long,
evil look.  "Hey Kev, let me go first.  I've always wanted to try something
like this but I've never had the chance, well till now that is.  Oh come on
man, let me play first!  I won't be too rough, promise."

   Kevin nods and let's go of my throat, then walks back over to where he
had been sitting.  He points at Brad and raises one of his eyebrows.  "Just
remember not too rough, the rest of us want to have a go at him too."

   Brad claps his hands together and jumps up, smiling like a madman. 
"Yes! Your mine now, little boy, and I want to hear you scream." Brad
chuckled as he walks over to a small table in one of the corners and starts
sorting through some cds...  "Now all we need is some music to set the mood
and then we can get started.  Oh hell yeah, here we go, the perfect song."
Turning the player up as loud as it would go the song Closer by Nine Inch
Nails starts drifting through the empty building while Brad laughs and
points over at me.  "Hey Kev!  Let me see your knife for a sec." Digging
through his pockets Kevin tossed the small folded blade over to Brad.  Brad
catches the knife and turns to me, smiling.  "First thing's first, this
thing has to go.  After all you won't be needing it anymore." He then cuts
the string that held a small silver cross that I had around my neck and
tosses it to Kevin.  "Here man I don't think he will need this.  Hey guys
take a look at this!  He's sweating like a whore on Sunday and I haven't
even started yet." Tracing a finger down my chest he placed it in his mouth
and smiles down at me.  "Now that is the taste of fear and damn don't it
taste good.  Man, I am so loving this."

   Coughing and gasping for breath I plead with Brad.  "Brad don't, I aint
never done anything to you so just stop and let me go.  Please, I'm begging
ya."

   "Man just shut tha hell up.  It's your fault you're here, anyway.  All
you had to do was give us the money and then we would have been on our way,
but no!  You had to try and play us, so just shut up and take it like a
man....HAHAHAHAHA....more like a little baby." He then starts circling me
as he takes off his jacket and tosses it on to the back of the nearest
seat. "Now I'm gonna show you how a man does it...so I hope that you are
ready for a wild time little boy." He walks over behind me and rubs his
hands down my sides and hips; cupping my upper thighs in his hands, as he
squeezes them in tightly it causing me to jump and gasp for breath.  "Now
that's a firm body if ever I felt one.  Man this is going to be one hot
time."

   After he lets go of me I gasp again for air and try to plead with him.
"Brad, please don't.  I'm sorry I lied, just don't do this man, please be
reasonable."

   "Man, I said to shut tha hell up.  If you want to beg then I'll give you
a reason to beg." With out another word he runs the small sharp blade up
along my left side cutting a deep gash from my hip to just below the last
rib, but before I can make a sound he covers my mouth and then shows me the
knife blade with my blood dripping from its tip.  "Now there is a reason to
beg boy." Grabbing hold of my hips he pulls me close and whispers in my
ear. "How does it feel baby boy?  Good I bet.  Now take it like my boy
should." Pushing me over he gently slides his hands back down my sides, but
this time he doesn't stop at my hips.  Ever so slowly he nudges his finger
tips under the cuff of my boxers and maneuvers his hands further down. 
Gasping in shock I start to scream but he is to quick.  He muzzles my
scream with his left hand and jerks my head back hard against his chest.

   "Now now.  Don't go and spoil the mood baby boy.  If you just relax it
will be over soon, well not too soon.  Hahahahahaha...  Biting my lower lip
hard I start sobbing and shaking my head in total disbelief of what is
about to happen to me.  Annoyed by my whimpering and sobbing brad grabs a
hand full of my hair and shoves my head forwards.  Shut up you little brat,
if your not going to enjoy this then I guess we will have to do this the
hard way.  Just for your info kid, I prefer the hard way myself.  I just
stand there with my head down and my face covered by my hair sobbing.  Brad
grabs the back of my shorts and jerks them down hard.  I hear him undo his
belt and slowly unzip his jeans.  "Now baby boy the real fun can start, so
please try and have some fun, I know I will." Now a different kind of
screaming fills the empty building.  One screams in pain while the other in
pleasure.  After a few minutes the screams change again, the pleasurable
one fades to a soft panting grunt while the painful one drags out into
heave sobbing and crying.  After redoing his zipper and belt, brad slumps
over my shoulder and nuzzles his noise into the back of my neck.  Damn boy
that was real nice thanks man.

   "Look at you, shorts all hanging down around your knees.  Boy don't you
have any manners.  Brad grunts and smiles then takes hold of either side of
my boxers and pulls them up hard around my waist.  Gasping in pain through
the tears I manage to look up between the strands of hair that hang over my
face.  "

   Kevin just looks at Brad with a less than amused grin on his face and
just shakes his head.  Nice man, real nice.  As if we really needed to see
that you pig.  HAHHAH.

   Brad just makes a weird face with his tongue stuck out and flips Kevin
off.

   "Now that you have had your fun you can let me go now.  Please!!!!  "

   "UM No...  I don't think I'm done with you yet, that was just to get me
in the mood." Brad just pats me on the head hard then starts circling me
again, tapping the knife blade on his chin as he decides what to do next.
"Boy you have such a nice body, not sure what to do or where I should start
first.  Standing in front of me, he knees me in the stomach causing me to
fall to my knees and gasp for breath.  Hey, Kev ...  this ain't half bad,
Ha-ha, you wanna go at it?"

   Kevin just looks up and raises his hand.  "Not just yet, but thanks for
the offer.  I'll let you have some fun first." Kevin just smiled at me as
he starts flipping through the sketch book he had found in my pack. 
Looking up at me he asked, "Did you do these?" Flipping a couple more pages
he raises an eyebrow, "They're not that bad man."

   Brad just grunts and looks back down at me.  "Now, where were we?  Oh
yeah!  My scream.  Go ahead and give it to me baby boy.  I want to hear you
scream!" Biting my lip I try to hold it in, shaking all over from the pain.
I start sobbing and looking at the floor.  "OH NO YOU DON'T!" I want a
scream and baby; you will give it to me!" Grabbing me by the hair he pulls
my head back and runs the knife up my right side.  I scream as the blade
slides deep into my thigh.

   "PLEASE STOP!  OH, GOD PLEASE STOP!"

   Smiling he wipes the knife on my stomach again.  "Now that's a good boy.
Oh and a real nice scream there Jev.  See that wasn't so hard now...was
it?" Crying and sobbing I try to stand back up just to have Brad stab me in
the back and push me back to my knees.  He then brushes my hair to the side
and softly kisses me on the back of my neck.  "Now that was what I needed.
Thanks man.  What should I do with you now, huh?  Should I do this?"

   With out a word, he garbs me by the hair again and yanks my head back,
smiling over at his friends, and slashes the tip of the knife across my
right cheek just below my eye.  Blood beings pouring from the gash and down
my cheek, as it drips from my chin it snakes its way across my chest and
down my stomach.  Screaming out from shock as much as from pain I begin
thrashing around and pulling at the ropes desperately trying to get free.
This just seemed to piss Brad off and he slashes me across the chest a few
times in a vain attempt to reassert his control.  Seeing that this was only
making things worse he grabs a hold of both sides of my head and slams it
into his knee.  As he does this one of my front teeth catches him on the
top of his leg and cuts it deeply.  "What tha hell...., you bit me you
stupid little bitch.  I'll teach you to bite me." Grabbing me around the
neck from behind with his left arm he pulls me up off my knees and begins
to try his best to suffocate the life out of his badly bleeding plaything.

   "Bite me huh, I'll show you what happens to stupid little boys who try
and be cute by biting people." I gasp for breath and trying to pull his arm
free from my neck.  Consciousness begins to flicker away from me, but just
before I black out, I hear Kevin tell him to let go and back off before he
kills me.  As he lets go I fall back to my knees and begin coughing up
small drops of blood as I continue gasping for breath.  Brad gives me one
last kick in the ribs as he walks back over to his seat mumbling under his
breath.  "Stupid little jerk, next time you won't be so lucky, that I can
promise ya." As he slumps back into his chair he smiles over at Kevin and
lights up another cigarette.  After taking a long draw he casually blows a
puff of smoke above his head and flicks away some ashes.  "Hey man, you
have to try that.  It's such a head rush."

   After taking a few long deep breaths I finally manage to stagger back to
my feet.  Steadying my self by holding onto the ropes I look over at Brad
and wipe a small trickle of blood from the corner of my mouth.  "You've had
your fun, now let me go.  I have to get home, its getting late." Brad
bursts out laughing and flicks what's left of his cigarette in my
direction. "HAHAHAHA...  Hear that Kev he's got to get home!  Baby boy you
aint goin any where the fun is just getting started."

   Kevin just looks over at Brad then at me and starts shaking his head. 
"It's about time I made him pay for his little error in judgment." Kevin
walks over to the barrel and pokes the fire back up a bit.  "Now it's
ready." Pulling a poker out of the barrel he takes a long look at its
brightly burning tip and then sticks it to some old newspapers stacked on
the floor.  He cracks an evil smile as the papers lit almost immediately.
"Yep, now it's ready."

   Walking over to where I am he circles me a few times and stops just
behind me.  "You have such a nice body.  Has anyone ever told you that
before?  It's a real shame that we are going to have to mess it up so
badly." Taking a handful of my hair, he breaths in deeply.  "Smells nice,
by the way what shampoo do you use?  It's nice; I'll have to get some for
me some time." I shiver as he tosses it over my right shoulder and gently
runs his finger tips along the back of my shoulders and down the center of
my back stopping just above the cuff of my boxers, then he just sighs. 
"Yeah, a real shame aint it."

   Without another word he rams the poker into my back and all the way
through until its glowing tip comes out just below my ribs.  As I scream in
agony he gives it a sharp twist and pulls it out with one swift jerk.  It
makes a hissing sound as it burns its way back through the skin.  Smiling
wryly he covers my mouth with his left hand and holds the burning poker,
caked with blood, up near my face.  The scent of burning skin and blood
almost causes me to throw up.  "Now how did that feel?  What no answer?  Oh
well you probably would have just lied anyways."

   Pushing my head forward he slowly walks back over to the fire and tosses
the poker back into the barrel and starts digging around in it with
something else.  Coughing up blood I try to call for help but no words seem
to come out, just an inaudible grown and droplets of clotted blood.

   Brad laughs and points over to where I am.  "Oh look Kev, he's trying to
talk!  Isn't that so cute?  As if anyone could hear you anyways."

   "Boys could you loosen the ropes please, I think I'd like him on the
floor for a bit.  Yeah, I think that would be the best position for him."
Brad and Chris Jump up on the stage and begin to untie the ends of the
ropes.  As they loosen the ropes Kevin walks around me taking off his
jacket and smiling.  When the ropes were loose enough I fell to my knees
again, almost hitting the floor.  The sudden stop causes my cap to come
loose and slide free from the hair that was holding it in place.  Steadying
myself with one hand on the floor, I sit back on my knees and weakly look
up at Kevin brushing the now free flowing crimson hair from my eyes. 
Suddenly the whole place lit up with a blinding light as a crack of thunder
boomed outside.  The storm had gotten worse over the hours I had been
detained in that crumbling place of pain and humiliation.  It was as if the
sky itself was protesting the cruel treatment of there feeble plaything.

   Wiping a trickle of blood from the corner of my mouth I ask in a feeble
cracking voice "What are you going to do to me now?  Please just let me go.
Please!"

   Folding his jacket neatly and placing it on the stage, Kevin walks over
and stands there looking down at me.  "What makes you think that I'm gonna
tell you anything?  Oh, other then this will hurt, a lot I guess.  Now, I
said on the floor." Kicking me in the stomach he then places his right shoe
on the back of my head and pushes me to the floor, flat on my stomach. 
Standing there just looking down at me and shakes his head "No, on second
thought I don't think I like you like this...nope, not at all.  Brad, Chris
can you turn our guest over on his back for me please?" Brad begins to pull
me back to the middle of the stage, pulling my arms behind my head as Chris
pushes my ankles back together.  "There we go.  I think that is much better
don't you agree?" All I could do was shift painfully from side to side in
the pool of blood and sweat that had formed below me from brads earlier
handy work.  Straddling me he then sits on my stomach looking down at me
and blows me a little kiss.  I try to resist but Brad just holds my wrist
tight over my head while Chris held tight to my ankles.  Leaning over he
places his hands on the stage on either side of my head and smiles down at
me.  "Now what's the matter?  Don't you want to have some fun too?"

   Gathering all the strength and hatred I could, I just look up at him and
grit my teeth hard.  "NO!  I'd rather die then give you satisfaction! 
Especially like this!"

   "Is that so?  Well, I guess we will just have to see what we can do
about that then, now won't we?" Sitting back up he looks over to Brad and
motions for him to go over to the fire barrel and bring him another piece
of hot metal.  Just as Brad let go of my arms I start to take a swing at
Kevin, just to have him catch my fist in mid swing.  "Now what were you
gonna do just now eh?  Not something stupid I hope." With that he slams his
left elbow into the center of my chest cracking three ribs and causing a
sharp jolt of pain to run through my whole chest.  Smiling down at me he
slowly leans over and lays his head on my chest just beside my rite nipple.
"Oh poor baby I think I might have broken a rib or two with that one.  I'm
sorry; I guess I just don't know my own strength.  Can ya forgive me there
man?" I try to catch my breath but all I can taste is the sweet metallic
taste of blood running down my throat.  As Kevin stands up to let me breath
I manage to roll over onto my side and begin coughing up large clots of
blood and spit.  "Hey, now, what's this?  I didn't say you could move there
now did I?" With that he gives me a hard kick to the stomach with his left
foot, causing me to roll back flat onto my back.  "Much better now don't
move."

   After a few seconds Brad comes shuffling back over to where we were
holding a brightly glowing piece of metal.  "Hear man I got ya ah special
treat.  Watch it now, its still kinda hot." Kevin looks at the brightly
glowing object then down at me smiling.  "Oh now this is gonna be fun,
thanks man.  Hey Jev, lookey here I got something for you, and I really
think you're gonna love it." Straddling me once again he sits back on my
hips this time with a bone jarring thud.  "Ops, sorry man, hope I didn't
hurt ya or anything." Grunting loudly from the weight that now rested
itself on my hips I just look up at him and gave him a painfull grin.  He
didn't care much for my attitude, and he let me know it with a back hand
across the face.  "Now if your gonna get all snippy with me, then I guess
we will have to leave." Still coughing and trying to catch my breath I just
grunt.  "Oh please don't go.  Were just getting to have some fun now aint
we." Leaning over he kisses me on the forehead and smiles.  "Dang boy.  You
sure can be a smarty pants when ya wanna be can't ya." I just smile up at
him and blow him a bloody kiss.  "Well then I guess since you asked so
nicely, then we will have some fun now." Leaning back up he once again
takes the small shining object from Brad and looks down at me with a more
sinister smile this time.  "What say we return Jev's stuff to him?  I sure
bet he misses it.  Don't ya think so Chris?"

   Now up to this point, Chris had just been sitting on the edge of the
stage holding my ankles and not much else.  Kevin looks over to him and
barks the question again.  Chris just shrugs his shoulders and mumbles.  "I
guess so man, I guess so."

   Kevin gives him a dirty look and then returns his attention to me. 
Leaning over close, he braces his weight on the stage with his left hand
and slowly holds the smoldering piece of metal close to my face.  With
wide, disbelieving eyes I finally recognized what the brightly glowing
object was.  It was the small cross that Brad had taken from me and tossed
to Kevin earlier in the night.  Shaking all over from both fear and pain I
start shaking my head and pleading with him not to do this.  He just smiles
down at me and nods his head.  "Oh yes little boy, oh yes."

   With that being said he pushes the small burning cross deep into my
forehead and holds it down as it burns its way deep into my skin, hissing
and sizzling as he pressed all his weight behind it.  Screaming in agony I
start to toss my head from side to side, but he pushes the burning metal
harder onto my forehead keeping me from moving.  Brad looks up with a frown
and punches Kevin on the shoulder causing him to loose his grip on the now
smoldering cross.  "Crap man, that scream was better than the one I got out
of him.  Dang I wish I had thought of melting that thing into his head
before you did.  Dude you have all the luck."

   Kevin just looks up at him and smiles.  "Well Brad ole buddy, I guess
when ya got it, ya got it." The smell of burning skin drifted through the
room as Kevin leans back up onto my hips and asks to see the knife that he
had given to brad a few hours ago.  As Brad hands him the small blade, I
start sobbing and trying my best to scream out for some one to help stop
them, but all that seems to come out was a high pitched screech that seemed
to be lost in the violent screams of the music and the loudly rolling
thunder outside.  Brad knelt down beside my head and grabbed a hand full of
hair pulling my head up off the stage.  "Shut up man before I cut your
tongue out." Letting go of my hair he slams my head back down onto the
stage and I start to lose consciousness.  As I fade in and out I can make
out Kevin smacking me on the cheeks trying to keep me awake.  "Now...  now,
there will be no sleeping till we are all done.  Ok?  Hello can you hear me
down there?  Hellllllloooooo.  Earth to Baby boy, come in Baby boy."

   As he continues to try and keep me awake he gives Brad a foul look and
starts cussing him.  "What were you thinking?  Ya know if he goes and
passes out then well have to wait till he comes too again, if that ever
happens, before we can finish having our fun.  Man you can be such an idiot
some times." Growing more annoyed with each slap, he finally stops and just
sits back tired and ticked off.  With one final hard slap he growls `I said
wake up boy and I men NOW!" With that my eyes spring open just to see him
glaring over at Brad and flipping him off.  `Oh hey there man, thought we
had gone and lost ya for ah second.  Feeling better are we?"

   I immediately start sobbing and shaking my head.  "No I'm not.  Just
leave me alone and go away, please." Hearing my pathetic whines, they both
burst out laughing and mocking me.  "Umm...  no, I think we are gonna stay
right here until we're done with you.  But I'll make you a deal.  If you
give us a smile I might just leave and not bother you again, that is if
it's a real nice smile.  Think ya can do that for me, eh?"

   Painfully I do my best to smile but they just shake their heads and
frown.  "Pitiful, just pitiful, I've seen better smiles on the pieces of
crap in my toilet.  What do you think Brad, Chris?  Can he do better or
should we just leave and get something to drink?" Brad just starts laughing
and pointing while Chris just looks at the floor and kicks a piece of trash
around with his foot.  "Nope, I think you can do better, here let me help
ya." With out warning Kevin grabs me by the hair and pushes my head down on
the stage.  Leaning over he cruelly yet carefully cuts each side of my
mouth making it into a grotesque clown- like smile.  "Now all we need is
some lipstick and we will have ourselves a great little smile here won't
we." Taking his thumb he smears the blood that is now pouring out of his
freshly done work across my mouth and over to the other side.  "There much
better.  Hey now is that a smile or is that a smile?" Brad leans over onto
Kevin's back and smiles down at me gloating.  "Yep now that is a face only
a mother can love." AHHAHAHA great job there Kev, you should really think
about going into plastic surgery, HAHAHAHAHA."

   Smiling down at me he taps the knife on his chin.  "Hey now that is an
idea.  What do ya think Jev?  Dr.  Kev surgeon to the stars.  HAHAAHAH nice
ring to it don't ya think?  Don't ya think so?  What....  cat got your
tongue?"

   Slowly tracing his finger through the blood that had splattered on my
chest he leans over and rubs some across my lower lips.  "Here ya go, have
a taste.  I know you have a thing for Vamps.  So go on have some." Kevin
carefully he takes the knife and pricks the tip of his finger letting a
small drop of blood to trickle down.  "Now here have a taste of the one who
owns your butt, boy." Again he traces his finger across my lower lip mixing
his blood with mine and smiles.  Clenching my teeth tightly together I do
my best to spit the blood back out and into his face.

   "No, I won't.  You don't own me, and you never will!"

   "Oh really?  We'll see about that." Picking his knife up from the stage
he stabs me in the right shoulder and pushes it down hard.  As I scream he
shoves his finger in my mouth and scrapes the blood off with my bottom
teeth.  Pushing my jaw shut preventing me from spitting it back out.  "Now
if you try that again you might not like what will happen next."

   I try to spit out what he has put in my mouth but can't.  The pain is
horrible and I'm unable to breath.  Kevin just smiles down at me and
laughs. "What's the matter?  Does it hurt baby boy?" Driving the knife
deeper into my shoulder, I feel myself about to pass out again when he
jerks it out and slaps me across the face again.  "No not this time, you
won't go sleepy by till I say it's time, got it baby boy." I beg him to
stop and to not to stab me again, but he wouldn't listen to me.  I start to
cry as he slowly runs the blade along the outer edge of my thigh.  The
blade jumped and skipped along creating small cuts and nicks on my skin. 
Leaning back up he runs his hands up my bloody chest and smiles down at me.
After a few seconds of just looking down into my eyes he leans over and
lays his head on my chest, listening to my heart beating wildly.  Softly
kissing my cheek, he smiles and looks me in the eyes again.  "Now let me
ask you something.  Was it as bad as that?  I mean I was having fun, but I
guess we're not all wimps and cry babies like you."

   The pain was almost more than I could take, so all I could was shake my
head.  "Oh well, if you're not gonna have any fun with me then I guess it's
back up ya go.  Chris, it's your turn so get your skinny butt over here and
let's see if he likes you better."

   Chris just sat there and shook his head.  He just looked at the floor
and started messing around with a piece of broken tile.  "Nah, man this
isn't what I signed up for tonight so ya'll just go on without me okay?"

   "Hey man it's your loss but you don't know what a sweet time you're
missing."

   Kevin kicks me in the ribs and walks back over to where his smokes were
and lights one up, blowing a large cloud of smoke over his head. 
Meanwhile, Brad is messing around in the fire barrel, poking around to make
sure the embers are still hot and glowing.  After Kevin takes a few more
draws from his cigarette, he and Brad pull the ropes tight once more.  As
they tie them off, I am again left standing in the middle of the stage arms
and legs spread wide.  Digging around in the barrel Kevin then pulls out
another piece of hot metal.

   This time he stands in front of me and lifts my head to look him in the
eyes.  "Oh don't go and pass out on me.  I'm not done with you yet...not
done by a long shot." He takes the lump of metal he starts to untie a piece
of wire that was wrapped around it.  This time there were several smaller
metal rods that made up the larger one.  With great care and deliberate
thought he begins pushing them into my body slowly, allowing them to burn
their way in.  He put one in each arm just above the elbow and one in each
leg near my thigh.  With each one he would smile and say, "Now that has to
hurt!" In total there were about twelve smaller rods that he placed in
several different spots across my body.  "Hey Chris lookey here, I have me
a life size voodoo doll!  What do ya think of that?" Chris just looks up
and gave a mirthless laugh.  "Yeah man, that's real funny.  Can't ya just
get it over with?  I mean this isn't right."

   Kevin finished pushing one of the burning rods into my shoulder then
walks over to where Chris was sitting and looks down at him.  "Are you
trying to tell me what I should do here man?" Still holding one of the hot
pins he grabs Chris by the collar of his shirt and pulls him close to his
face.  "I asked you a question!"

   "No man!  I just think that he has had enough.  I mean he just lied
about a few bucks, that's all.  Cut him some slack man."

   Kevin just looks at him then turns to me and smiles.  "Well, if you
think he has had enough then by all means, put him out of his misery or
shut up."

   Brad jumps up and grabs Chris by the arm.  "Yeah man it's your turn or
do you want to join him?"

   Chris shakes his head and tries to talk them out if it, but it finally
boiled down to either he participated or I would have company on stage. 
Reluctantly he agrees and Kevin hands him the knife that he had in his
pocket.  "Now do it or you will be next."

   Almost to the point of tears, Chris walks up to me lifting my head to
look me in the eyes.  In a small voice almost unheard I beg him not to. 
"Please don't.  You don't have to do this.  Please don't.  I'm beginning ya
not to."

   "Man, I'm sorry but I don't have any choice.  I'm so sorry.  I'll try to
make it as painless as I can." With that he picks my cap up off the blood
soaked floor and gently pulls it down over my eyes, whispering for me to
forgive him and that I should brace myself.  I start sobbing uncontrollably
as he put his left hand on my right shoulder then softly whispers "I'm so
sorry.' He then pushes the knife deep into my right side just above the
hip. Pulling me close, he muffles my scream with his shoulder.  Again he
whispers in my ear for me to forgive him, and then softly kisses me on the
cheek.

   As Chris walks off the stage, Brad grabs him by the arm and demanded to
know where he was going.  Chris turns and punches Brad in the jaw, knocking
him to the floor.  Pointing the knife at Kevin, he just looks at him with
the most hatred he has ever felt for any one person in his whole life.  The
only thing he could do was walk over to where he had been sitting and just
tries to ignore them the best he could.  He had to save his own skin after
all, but that still didn't make this rite.

   "What tha hell is your deal Chris?  That hurt!" Brad yelped rubbing his
jaw and looking up at Kevin.

   "Yeah, what is your deal man?  Why did you go off on Brad like that
for?"

   Chris just looks at Kevin and starts to say something but was unable to
talk.  He just points the small bloody blade at Kevin and fights back his
own tears.  After a few heart pounding seconds he throws the knife at
Kevin, driving it deep into the floor between his feet.  After he calms
down a bit he pointed at me.  "The guy has had enough.  I mean come on man,
all this just over a lie about a few bucks.  Here if that is all it will
take for this to end I can cover that.'

   Reaching into his back pocket, Chis pulls out his wallet and tosses a
wrinkled twenty dollar bill in Kevins direction.  "Hear man his debt is
paid." And if you ever make me do anything like that again, you'll be
finding a knife like that in your gut!"

   Kevin bursts out laughing at Chris, doubling over from the absurdity of
it all.  "Yeah man, as if you could.  You don't have big enough balls to do
anything like that to me!  Like Jev there I own your skinny butt and don't
you forget it.  There is only one way out of this and it's his way."

   Brad gets up and walks over to where I was and pulls the cap back up
from my eyes.  "Hey, wake up....What did he say to you?  Hey!  I asked you
a question and you had better answer me now!"

   I was unable to talk, let alone see much of anything, so I just stared
blankly past him at Kevin and Chris.  Brad couldn't hear what they were
talking about, but he could see that they were arguing and pointing over to
where we were.  Kevin walks back to where we were and picks up another
piece of smoldering metal.  He looks back over at Chris and shoves it deep
into my stomach as Brad pulled my head back from behind so I would have to
look Chris in the face.  With a shudder I start gasping and coughing up
blood then slump forward.

   "He wants us to finish this, but I'm not quite ready.  I want him to see
what happens to people that cross me."

   Chris just gave me a look of sorrow, then turned his head away and
closed his eyes.  I knew that he was not to blame and for one reason only.
If it was me in his place and he in mine, I would save my life over his
without a second thought.  The next few hours were spent divided between
Kevin and Brad.  Both were taking their time figuring out ways to make me
scream and still keep me alive.  If I passed out from blood loss or pain,
then they would wait till I came to, then the pain and screaming would
start all over again.  I don't know how much time had passed; I could never
tell you that.  I just remember the one time I was aware of things around
me, was when I thought I could hear the town clock tolling the hour, or
maybe it was just a dream.  I just couldn't tell the difference anymore.

   "Well, I'm getting bored of him now, and I'm hungry." Kevin yawned.

   "Yeah me too, hey, how long have we been here?"

   Wiping the blood off his watch, Kevin noticed the time.  "Man, where did
the time go?" Hey guys, we've been here for over twelve hours now.  Man,
time sure flies when you're having fun don't it?  Finish up what you're
doing and let's get out of here."

   Brad nods and returns to the cutting he was doing on the one spot on my
back that was still recognizable as skin.  "There, all finished and signed,
hey Kev!  Come take a look and tell me what ya think."

   Smiling and nodding his approval Kevin looked at Brad.  "Looks good man,
now pack up the stuff and I'll be right out.  I have to finish something
first."

   Chris was the first to leave, but not before a long look over his
shoulder back at me.  He just drops his head when he saw that I was looking
up at him and reaching out my hand.  Brad grabbed the CD player and the
rest of their stuff and headed out.  He stopped at the door and yelled back
in at Kevin.  "Hey, how long ya gonna be man?  I'm starving and the game is
about to start.  Besides I think we all need a hot shower, I got blood all
over me.  Oh and Jev, thanks for the lovely entertainment...it was a
blast!" Laughing he starts for the door.

   "I'll be out in a sec, just get the car started." Looking back to me
Kevin tilts his head and smiles.  "This shouldn't take long now should it?"
Squatting down in front of me he looks up into my face.  Brushing some
blood soaked hair from my eyes he just smiles.

   With the last bit of strength I could find and look him in the face and
hoarsely asked him one simple question.

   "Why?"

   Kevin shrugs.  "I'm not really sure.  I guess you were just in the wrong
place at the wrong time was all.  Hey don't take it personal or anything
like that; you're really not that bad of a kid." With that he pulls my cap
back down over my eyes and shoves his knife deep into my stomach, just
above my navel and pulls it up hard, cutting a long deep gash as it went.
With a soft moan and a long exhale I finally stop moving.  He stands up and
puts his right hand on my head and closes his eyes.  In a small almost
prayer like voice he whispers, "May flights of devils, wing you to your
eternal rest." He then makes the sign of a cross and blows me a small kiss.
Walking out of the door he turns for one last look and sighs.  "It was a
good night though." Walking out the door he yells to Brad and Chris, "Who's
up for pizza?  I'm starved



   Chapter 3

   The Gift



   As the blood drips from Jev's stomach he could feel his heart slow with
every beat.  So this is what dying feels like, he thought to himself.  His
mind seemed to clear a bit, and the pain was gone.  This ain't so bad.  As
he was about to surrender to death's cold embrace he could hear someone
calling his name.  It wasn't a voice he could hear from inside the theater
but, surprisingly it was in his head.  The voice was soft and welcoming,
like a cool breeze on a hot summer's night.  It seemed to echo with many
different voices, yet they all spoke as one.  It came from no specific
direction yet seemed to be all around him.  Gathering what strength he
could, and in a voice no more that a whisper he manages to speak.  "Hello.
Is anyone there?" The returning voice was soft, like the rustling of fallen
leaves.

   "Hush now and be still my child.  You have been through much and need
rest." The voice spoke softly in his head.

   "But who are you?"

   "My name is Nioby and for now that is all that you need to know, and
that I am here my child to offer you a choice."

   "What do you mean?  I don't understand." Jev asked but silence was all
he heard.  After what seemed like an eternity he manages to hold of deaths
sweet release and come back to his séances.  Clearing a clot of blood from
his thought he yelled back into the darkness.  "Hello?  Where did you go?
Please don't leave me, pleaser don't!" A soothing breeze gently caressed
his battered body as that soft voice filled his throbbing head once more.

   "I am here child.  Come to me and take your rest in my arms."

   Weekly he pulls against the ever tightening ropes but they still won't
move.  "But I can't move.  I'm afraid that if I do I'll fall."

   "Do not fear.  If you fall, I will be here to catch you." Nioby softly
replies.

   Shivering from a sudden jolt of pain he began to cry.  "How do I know
you will be there to catch me?"

   "Child, I have always been with you, though you could not see.  I did
not leave you then, nor will I leave you now."

   Feeling so weak and tired Jev let his mind slip and he fell for what
seemed an eternity.  Suddenly pain shot through every part of his body as
he came to.  Opening his eyes wide he screamed from the waves of pain that
now washed over him.  Crying uncontrollably and shaking all over from the
pain he tries to pull at the ropes, but they wouldn't budge.  He tried to
stand but slipped in a large pool of blood at his feet causing him to fall
forewords.  The ropes being as tight as they were, prevented him from
falling, but they didn't prevent the pain that shot through his arms and
chest.  Crying out in agony Jev yelled into the darkness.  "Where are you?
You said you would catch me if I fell." Hearing nothing but the soft
rustling of leaves as they blew across the stage he just closed his eyes as
he felt the last fading beats of his heart slow and become silent.

   As the sun set and the last rays of light filtered through the broken
windows Jev thought to himself that this would be the last sunset that he
would ever see.  Forcing himself to raise his head he just stares blankly
at the windows trying to burn the image into his mind.  Slumping over he
just closed his eyes and passes out from the pain and loss of blood.

   Not knowing how much time had passed since he lost consciousness, the
only thing he knew was that the moon was up and a thick mist filed the
theater.  Again the voices started calling his name but this time they
weren't in his head, they were all around him, as if they were coming from
the mist itself.  Coughing and spitting up blood he calls out in a barely
noticeable voice.  "Hello...is anyone out there?" Shuddering from a sudden
jolt of pain, he calls out into the darkness and looked around to see if
anyone was there.  "Where are you?  You said that you wouldn't leave me. 
Hello...Nioby are you there?"

   "Hush, be still my child.  I am here as promised, I did not leave you."
Looking up he could make out what seemed to be a figure forming out of the
mist in front of him.  It was tall and lean in appearance and began to take
on the shape of a woman.  As the moonlight shown behind her the figure
began to move towards him with arms out stretched.  "Come to me child. 
Take comfort in my arms and rest." Nioby spoke softly as she stood in front
of him.

   Pulling away in fear he just looks up at her, wary.  "Are....are you
here to take me to the other side?"

   Nioby looks down at him and caresses his cheek softly.  Shaking her head
with a small laugh, she smiles at him.  "No, child, I am here to release
you and offer you a choice." She moved her hands over the cuffs that
cruelly bound his wrists and instantly they broke away, causing Jev to fall
limply into her waiting arms.  Sitting on the stage she pulled him onto her
lap and looked down into his swollen, bleeding face, gently brushing a
piece of hair from his eyes.  She smiles a sad smile.  "What was done to
you is unforgivable and unjust.  I offer you the choice of eternal sleep or
a new life, but the choice is yours and must be made soon." Nioby placed
her hand on his bloody chest and looked at him.  "There are but a few beats
of your heart that separates you form this life and the next."

   Looking up into this stranger's eyes Jev could only mutter.  "Who are
you?"

   Nioby only smiles and holds him closer to her.  Wrapping her arms around
him, she begins rocking slowly and humming softly.  "If you choose life,
then all will be revealed to you, but if you choose death, then I will walk
with you until you reach the gates of your eternal home."

   With what little strength he had left Jev whispers into her ear, "I
choose life." With that the last bit of life he had left began to slip
away. Closing his eyes he falls limply into this strange woman's arms.

   Smiling, she whispers into his ear, "Then it shall be yours my child."
Holding him close to her chest she closes her eyes and tilts her head to
the side.  As she arched her back and pulled him closer the mist began to
swirl around them as a pair of dark wings spread wide behind her.  "Child,
I welcome you to the great mysteries of the night.  Be at peace and join
with us, become one with the children of the night and know the joys of
eternal darkness." Leaning down she softly kisses his lips.  His heart
began to beat wildly, as if it would tear itself from his chest.  His back
arches and he begins tossing his head from side to side as the effects of
her kiss begin to take hold of him.  From the spot where she kissed him,
his skin seemed to burn with an intense heat.  The burning sensation was
not that of fire but of ice.  It spread through him as if it would freeze
his very soul.  After a few minutes of freezing pain throughout his body,
his heart stops beating and he collapses into her arms.  Hours passed as
the external and internal wounds he suffered began to heal themselves. 
Slowly opening his eyes he looked deep into the violet eyes of the creature
that gave him another chance at life.  Her dark wings were wrapped around
them as if protecting him from the outside world.  Smiling down at him she
started to unfold her wings as she smiled.  "Welcome child.  Welcome to
forever!"

   As her wings unfold he could see others standing around them.  At first
he couldn't make them out but their faces began to become clearer.  There
were too many of them to count, some were smiling and some frowning as
others whispered between themselves and pointed at him.  "Who are they?" He
asked sitting up stiffly and looking around the room to see that he was now
surrounded by shifting forms and pointing gestures.

   Nioby smiled and opened her arms wide.  "These are my children.  They
are your new brothers and sisters.  Some you already know and others you
have yet to meet." She said smiling and bowing her head to all of those
gathered around before turning to face him.

   "But what are they?  Please forgive me, I don't mean to be rude or
ignorant...but who, or should I ask what are you?" Looking at her and the
gathered crowed with what would seem like an expression of childish
ignorance he then pulled his cap down over his face to hide his shameful
question.

   Nioby gives him an understanding smile and took him by the hand.  Again
she sat on the stage and pulled him close to her as she began her tale.  As
she spoke, Jev closed his eyes and drifted off into a deep sleep.  As he
slept he could hear her voice speaking softly to him.  With each word she
told of herself and her kin, and how she was one of the first true
immortals to walk the earth.  She and her kind ruled over man for countless
centuries, guided them, and tried to teach them the ways of the world, but
with time most of them lost interest in the affairs of man.  Most of her
kin had either left this life or gone into a deep seemingly endless sleep.
She told of her loneness and how she took a human as her lover.  She spoke
of their love, and how over time their love had given them a child, thus
was born the first vampire ever to walk the earth.  As her voice swirled
around him, he learned of how the legend of vampires came to be and that
some of the stories were true, while others were just made up and used to
scare children into being good.  He learned that as he hunted for their
existence, that in truth he was the one being hunted by them.  He learned
that he was being watched to see if he was a threat to their way of life,
or if he was someone who would welcome them and in turn be welcomed.  His
untimely abduction and torture was what had drawn them out.  She continued
their tale, of how the line had been created and traced it to its current
stage.  As the tale ended and her voice began to fade he became aware of
the others standing around him, closer this time than before.  Sitting up
and slowly looking around he could see that he did know some of the people
in the room.  They were his friends and those he had talked to online about
vampires and other things.

   Looking around he first spotted Trux out of the crowd.  He was a guy
that he had met online and became friends with a few moths earlier.  He had
taught Jev so much about how to stand up for himself and to look deep
inside to see the real him.  They had talked about art and Trux had even
sent him some music and drawings that he had done.  The last he had heard
of the guy, he had moved from Canada and was currently living in
California. Beside him stood another familiar face just grinning down at
him.  Joe, was a guy that Jev ran across in a chat room one night that was
kind enough to help him find a person he was looking for.  They had talked
several times after, but he would have never thought in a thousand life
times that he was a vampire.

   Rubbing the sleep from his eyes Jev just looked up at him confused. 
"Joe, is that you?  I never thought you were one too!"

   Smiling he shruggs and messes with his hair.  He then helped Jev to his
feet and hands him his clothes.  Looking around still in a bit of a shocked
state of mind he notices another person he had gotten to know online.  "Mr.
Amarose....not you too?" he asked surprised to find this out.  Mr.  Amarose
was a man that had begun talking to him some time ago, and he was his
source for most of his vampire knowledge.  This man would sit patiently for
hours online and answer any question Jev could think of.  He had made
offers for him to come and be a part of his family, but Jev never dreamed
he was a real vampire.  "Sir, why didn't you tell me that you were a
vampire?  I mean a real one!"

   Mr.  Amarose just smiled and put his hand on Jev's shoulder.  Looking at
him he shook his head understandingly.  "I did tell ya bro.  You just
weren't ready for the whole truth.  Now that you have joined our little
family I suspect that we will be seeing a lot more of each other."

   Confused and still a bit tired, Jev begins to get dressed, still looking
around at all of the faces that he knew.  How could they be here?  He
thought to himself.  Some of the people in the building with him were the
very same one's that told him it was a waist of time thinking about
vampires, that they didn't really exist and that he should stop looking for
them.  Yet here they were, vampires themselves!

   The clock in the town hall began to chime.  "Oh no, what time is it? 
Mom's gonna kill me!" He went to look at his watch and remembered that
Kevin had taken it just after he was tied up.  Rubbing his wrist he walks
back over to where he had been bound.  Kneeling down he picked up the
bloody handcuffs that had so cruelly held his wrists and ankles.  He
stuffed them into the backpack as he walked to the side of the stage where
Nioby was standing.  "Ma-am, how can I ever thank you for saving me
tonight? I don't have any money and I can't think of anything that could
ever be enough to give you."

   She simply smiles and kissed him on the cheek.  "There is nothing I want
from you.  I freely gave you the gift that you have so longed searched
for." Her soft look turns to a stern one, as she places her hand on his
left shoulder.  "You must remember one thing however.  What is given can in
turn be taken if missed used." Having said this, she smiles once again and
spread her wings.  All that was heard as she glided past was the softness
of her laughter and the rustling of the leaves that covered the floor.

   Turning around to talk to the others, Jev found himself once again alone
in the theater.  As he picked up his pack and started walking out the door
he trips and falls.  Looking at his feet he noticed that one of his shoe
laces had come untied again.  Looking at the lace he just laughs as he
retied it tighter this time.  "Well, I guess I was right.  You did get me
in trouble didn't ya?  Man, I have to start wearing sandals or just go
barefoot for now on." As he gets back up he shoulders his backpack, finally
ready to head back home.

   As he reached the bottom of the hill he noticed that the lights were
still on at his parent's house.  Having lost his keys in the theater
somewhere, he knocks on the door and waits for someone to answer.  When his
mom opens the door she just looks at him with her hands on her hips. 
"Where have you been all night?  I have been worried sick over you!  What
happened to your cloths?  They're a mess."

   He just shrugges his shoulders and looked at the ground kicking his foot
back and forth, causing small puffs of dust to drift about.  "Oh nothin
much, my shoe came untied and I kinda fell and got a bit scratched up is
all.  It's nothin really, promise."

   Shaking her head she just gives him one of those long mom type looks. 
Ya know the one where she knows more has happened than has been told, but
won't ask for the truth.  "Well just get on home and clean yourself up. 
And throw them shoes away if they're gonna be causing you that much
trouble."

   Smiling, he nodes and looks up from under his cap, "Yes ma-am." He was
relieved that she didn't ask anything else or tried to get him to talk
about it.  After all, it wasn't unusual for him to come home all scratched
up and bleeding.  She knew he took shortcuts that sometimes led him through
the woods and past brier bushes and thorn trees.  Even though he was only
eighteen and still in school he didn't live with his folks.  His brother
had given him his house when he got married and moved out into a larger
one. When he finally got home he tossed his pack in the chair and walked
into the kitchen.  "Cleo!  Where are ya girl?" She was sitting on the
counter waiting for him to feed her, as he opened the cat food Merlin,
Momo, and Monster came running in to eat too.  While they were eating, Jev
grabbed a bite to eat himself and walked into the bathroom and starts
running the water for a long over due shower.  He wasn't actually hungry,
but for some reason he thought that it might help.  After all it had been
almost two days since he had eaten.  After tossing his clothes in the
washer he stretched out on the bed and just looked at the ceiling for a
bit, letting what had happened the night before run over and over through
his head.  "Well, this aint gonna get me any cleaner now is it." Getting up
he climbed into the shower and started washing the grime and dried blood
from his hair.  While still all soapy and dripping he reached out and
turned the c.d.  player on.  After a song or two had played and he had
rinsed the soap out of his eyes the song Closer came on.  His eyes grow
wide and his heart started beating wildly as the memory of what had
happened truly washed over him for the first time.

   All he could do was curl up as tight as he could and try to be as small
as possible in the corner of the shower.  Covering his head with his arms,
he started crying and whispering.  "No more, please, I'm sorry, no more."
Though he knew no one was there he stayed in that position until the song
had played and the c.d.  stopped.  After getting out of the shower and
making sure that there was no one there but him and the cat's he climbed
onto the center of the bed and pulled his knees up under his chin.  With
the lights off he sat there rocking and trying not to think about the pain
he had suffered or the humiliation that they had put him through.

   As the thoughts came back to him, and the sounds of their laughter
filled his ears he started crying and shaking all over.  With that sudden
emotional shift his heart began beating faster and his head began to throb.
Holding his head in his hands he started to double over in pain.  It was as
if all the bones in his body were trying to rearrange themselves, pushing
and pulling in all directions.  After a few minutes the pain eased and he
sat back up on his knees.  As his heart rate began to slow, he noticed that
his gums and teeth were starting to ach a bit.  As he ran his tongue across
his teeth he could feel them changing.  It was strange, the cavities he had
filled, and the tooth that was missing seemed to be growing back in.  As he
ran his fingers across his lower teeth one of them was cut on his canines.
Walking into the bathroom he looked in the mirror and before his eyes he
watched as his upper canines started to grow.  "What tha......?  I must be
dreaming!" Pulling at his upper and lower lips he stretched them, trying to
see if there are any other unseen surprises going on in his mouth.

   Climbing back on the bed he grabs his cap and just sits there running
his tongue over his new teeth, trying to make some séance out of the whole
nights happenings.  His shoulders started to itch and as he arched his back
to scratch them a cold flush seemed to rush over him.  The feeling was so
cool and calming, as if he was standing in front of a freezer that had been
left open on a hot summer's day.  Closing his eyes and tilting his head to
the side, he could feel his shoulder bones pop a bit and begin to stretch.
The feeling was strange, but not upsetting, more like something natural and
familiar.  Leaning forward he rested his head on the bed and arches his
back as far as he could.  As he did this a pair of wings began to unfold
from his shoulders.  A few minutes pass and he sitst up looking over his
right shoulder.  Now this is cool!  He thought smiling.  Putting his hands
behind his head, he stretches and pops the bones along his spine, allowing
his new wings to stretch and flex.  Looking over his shoulder he frownes.
"Humm, a bit small ain't they?  I don't see what use they could be.  I
don't see how I can fly with these."

   The soft sound of laughter caught his hear.  "You do not need them for
flying child.  You do not need wings to do that." Looking over his shoulder
he sees that Nioby was standing behind him in the doorway of his room. 
Grabbing a pillow he covers himself and just sits there with his cap pulled
over his eyes, smiling embarrassed.  She gives him a twinkling laugh and
walks over to sit on the corner of his bed.

   "Ma-am I didn't know you were here.  I never got the chance to thank
you, properly I mean."

   She softly smiles at him and gently caresses his cheek.  "There is no
need of thanks.  You have spent so much time believing and looking for us.
You will make a good addition to our family.  I have heard good reports of
you from those you have met online, and from those who you know here.  They
like you and bade me to invite you."

   With an embarrassed smile Jev looks at the bed and pulls more covers
around him.  She just smiles and looks away.  "I thank you.  But if I don't
need wings to fly, then why do I have them?  Do all vampires have wings or
just me?"

   "No, not all of them have wings.  You have them because you have
envisioned yourself with them.  Your friends Joe and Trux don't have
wings...nor does Mr.  Amarose."

   "So I really don't need them?"

   Nioby smiles and shakes her head.  Looking over his shoulder he folds
his wings against his back and watches as they fade back into his skin. 
Confused and a bit upset he looks over to her and just stares.  Holding
back a laugh she reaches out and caresses his cheek smiling.  "No worries
child.  They will be there whenever you want them to be...as are mine."
With wide eyes and a smile he watches as she stands before him and unfolds
her beautiful dark wings.  Sitting back on the bed beside him she wraps her
wings about them and holds him close to her.  "Child you have so much to
learn and so many willing teachers.  But for now you should rest and try to
sleep.  You now have the time you need to regain your strength and plan
what you will do next." Closing his eyes he started to drift off to sleep
as she pulled the covers over him and softly kisses him on the forehead. 
Then she was gone, only a soft breeze remained where she had been.

   He slept though the next day.  The phone was the only thing that woke
him with its incessant ringing.  Answering it with a hateful grunt he soon
found out that it was his mom on the other end wondering if he was okay
because she hadn't seen him all day.  He rubes his eyes and states that he
was okay, just tired.  She again stated her worries and asked him if he
would be down later for dinner.

   Before she hung up, she instructed him in a not so gentle voice not to
answer the phone in that tone of voice again.  Letting out a long yawn, he
says that he wasn't hungry, and he would grab a bite to eat later.  She
said her goodbyes and asks him not to stay in bed all day and hangs up the
phone.  Rolling over he yawns again and pulls back the curtain and looks
outside.  The sun was just about to slip over the mountain and there were a
few clouds to obscure the sky.  "Looks like it's gonna be a clear
night....a nice night for a bit of fun." He laughs to himself.

   After getting up and feeding the cats, he grabs a bite to eat, again out
of habit rather than hunger and walked out on the porch to watch the
sunset. Jev checks his email and after saying hi to some people online he
heads off to take a long soothing shower.  Closing his eyes he leanes
against the wall and lets the warm water run down his back.  As it flows
over him he could feel his cares and worries seem to wash away.  After a
good long soak he climbs out and dries off.  He puts a c.d.  on he heads
for his room humming along with the music.  Swaying along to one of the
songs and biting on his lower lip he starts looking through his closet for
something to wear.  He picks out some clothes and throws them on the bed.
He figures that if he was going to have some fun tonight, that they needed
to be comfortable and easy to move in.  He picks a pair of loose denim
shorts, rolled up to just above the knee, a white tank top, a black belt,
and of course his blue denim cap.  Also this time he didn't wear any shoes,
he figured why take the chance with laces that never seemed to stay tied.
After all that's what got him into trouble in the first place.  After
getting dressed he combs out his hair and braids it up, pulling it back
through the cap to keep it out of his face.  Fastening a pair of silver
hoop earrings in the top of his ears, he lets the cats out and follows them
onto the porch.  Sitting there he watches as the moon came out and wondered
what it was going to be like to actually fly.  Well, this ain't getting me
anywhere now is it?  I have things to do and best get at it!  He thought to
himself.

   Standing up he pulls the cuffs that Kevin had used on him out of his
pocket.  Breaking the chain that ran between them he put one on each wrist
and one on each ankle, and then climbs up onto the part of the roof that
faces town.  The moon was full and bright, he decided to let it guide him
to his night's fun.  Feeling a burning sensation on his right arm near the
shoulder, Jev watches as a symbol began to appear and take the shape of a
circle with three triangles intertwined in it.  What is this?  He thought
to himself tracing along the design with his finger.

   Nioby's voice came with the soft whisper of the wind.  "This is the mark
of my house child.  Wear it proudly and know that I am always with you if
you should ever need me." Like that her voice was gone.  He thanked the
wind for carrying her sweet message to his ears and climbed to the highest
part of the roof.  Once there he spread his wings and looked out towards
town.

   Now Kevin it's my turn to play!

   Chapter 4

   The First Hunt

   The full moon shone brightly as a soft breeze tossed a few clouds across
the night sky.  Stepping off the roof, Xavier spreads his wings and glides
silently off in the direction of town.  Learning how to fly was one of the
things he should have thought through and learned how to do before he
stepped off the roof.  It didn't come to him as easily as he thought it
would.  His first crash landing was on his parents roof.  Thank god no one
is home.  Knowing mom, if she were home she would be heading up the stairs
and trying to help dad investigate what had made the noise.  I wonder what
they would have thought if they knew it was him that had landed on the
roof. My being able to fly surely would have freaked them out.  Too busy
thinking of what he could have told them, he tried it again and almost hits
the large maple tree that was in the back yard.  Finally landing and taking
a few deep breaths to calm down, he decides to take his time and
concentrate on what he was doing before he crashes into something or
someone.  Taking off again he heads for town, this time he is more careful
as he learns how to maneuver.  Like a bat in search of its nightly meal, he
goes in search of Kevin and his friends.

   He figurers that the best place to start his search would be the local
bar.  Xavier felt it was a good place to look.  Knowing Kevin and his group
they all would be here or at least one of them would be.  Quietly landing
outside of the bars main door, he could already smell one of them inside.
By the smell of it he guessed that it was Brad.  The colon he wore was
unmistakable; it smelled like a mix of old spice and stale beer.  He
thought to himself that was a smell that he wouldn't soon forget.  Xavier
looks around the place, letting his new séances do the searching for him to
see if Kevin or Chris was there with him, but it was only Brad.  He could
tell by the smell and sound of him that Brad was pretty wasted.  This could
make my job a lot easier.  He thought while he waited for him to leave the
bar.

   After a few minutes or so, Brad, half drunk stumbles out of the door and
into the parking lot cussing and yelling because the bartender decided to
toss him out on his ass for acting like a fool and being a little too
friendly with one of the ladies at the bar.  As he stagers to his car,
something knocked his keys out of his hands.  As the keys slide under the
car, he stumbles up against the door.  Cussing he looks around to see if
someone is there behind him.

   "What the hell?  Who's the wise guy?" Seeing nobody behind him, Brad
mumbles a few choice words under his breath and squats down looking for his
keys.  "Where did those damn keys get to?"

   "Hey Brad . . .  lose something?"

   Looking around startled by the quiet, grim voice, Brad squints his eyes
trying to get a better look at where the voice was coming from.  As far as
he could tell the lot was empty, except for a few cars belonging to those
inside the bar.  "Who's there?  Show yourself . . .  NOW!  I'm warning ya!
If ya don't come out where I can see ya there's gonna be some real
trouble."

   "Oh what's the matter?  Can't ya see?" Xavier chuckles as he passes
within inches of Brad unseen.

   "Who's there?  I said for you to show yourself and I mean NOW!"

   Xavier's voice swirled around him, taunting, teasing him.  Whispering,
reminding him of what he and the others had done.  As Xavier passes by him
unseen, he would poke at him or claw him.  Leaving small nicks and cuts on
his chest and back.  Whirling around trying to protect himself from the
unseen attacker, Brad cries out "Who the are you?  Why are you doing this
to me?"

   Holding his bleeding chest Brad waits for an answer but there is none.
There is only the soft whistling of the wind through the trees.  After a
few minutes he nervously walks over to pick up his keys.  Looking around
the lot one more time and still seeing no one, he quickly reaches for the
car door then looks up and sees Xavier squatted on the roof of his car just
smiling down at him.

   Tipping his cap, Xavier just says " Evening, nice night aint it?"

   With a look of complete terror on his face, Brad drops his keys again
and begins to slowly back away.  His heart was beating wildly in his chest
as if it would tear itself from his body.  "What the hell man?  No way! 
You....you can't be here.  You're dead!  Kevin said he finished you off."

   Pulling a gun from behind his belt he takes a few shots, but Xavier is
no longer there.  All that was left there were whips of mist and his fading
laughter.  Grabbing his keys off the ground, he jumps into his car and
spins out of the parking lot, heading off towards the edge of town.  After
an hour or so of driving, Brad comes across an old dirt road that cuts off
the main highway, leading back into a wide open set of fields known locally
as the cow pastures.

   "He'll never find me here." Brad thinks as he pulled off the road and
headed out into the open countryside.  Driving faster then he should over
such unkept roads, Brad's car kicks up clouds of dust and tosses lose rocks
behind it.  As he looked in the review mirror to see if he was being
followed, he misses a curve and slam's into a large oak tree just off the
side of the road.

   After a few minutes he came to and starts cussing and holding his head.
His head ached and as he placed his hand to his forehead he noticed that it
was bleeding.  After a few tries he manages to kick the door open, and
stumbles out of the car.  Still holding his head he collapses on the ground
and roles over on his back growling and spitting out curses under his
breath.

   "Oh you poor baby.  That looks like it smarts just a bit."

   Wiping some blood from his eyes, he looks up.  There Xavier sat squatted
on the roof of his car, just smiling down at him.  "What tha hell!  I
thought I left you back there at the bar.  How in the hell did you get out
here so fast?  It's not humanly possible."

   Smiling down at him Xavier adjusts his cap and hops off the car to sit
on the ground beside him.  "You're right, it's not humanly possible.  But
as you can tell, I'm not quite human anymore." Pulling his knees up under
his chin, Xavier just sits there with his head down looking at the ground.
With his cap pulled down over his eyes he just looked at the ground,
tracing his finger through some of Brad's blood that had dripped onto a
small rock.  Lifting his hand he watches as the warm liquid runs down his
finger and across the back of his hand.  "Ya know Brad, I kinda have you
and the others to thank for this new life, or whatever it is that I have
now.  Well, you and Nioby."

   "What are you talking about?" Brad gasps as he tried to crawl away from
the wreck.  "Who the hell is Nioby?"

   Grabbing him by the left leg Xavier threw him across a fence and up
against the side of an old near by barn.  "DO'NT YOU EVER SAY HER NAME
AGAIN! . . .  Understand!" As Brad slumps against the wall trying not to
fall to the ground, Xavier takes him by his right arm and spins him around
so that his back is against the wall, allowing Xavier to look into his
bleeding face.  "Now we are gonna have a little chat, you and me.  And for
your sake you had best have the answers I want to hear." Looking deep into
his eyes with no sign of emotion, Xavier asks a simple question.

   "WHY?"

   Brad didn't answer, instead he gave him a mirthless smirk.  "Screw you.
You're nothing freak and I ain't telling you nuttin'!"

   Placing his hands on the wall to either side of Brads face, Xavier leans
in close to him and smiles, then softly kisses him on his right cheek.  As
he caresses Brads cheek with his own Xavier whispers softly in his ear. 
"You already have." Without another word, Xavier throws him across the road
and back up against his car, knocking the breath out of him.  Walking back
over to where he was laying and bleeding against the door of the car,
Xavier sits on the ground beside him readjusting his cap.  With his knees
pulled up under his chin, he just watches Brad as he tries to crawl away.
Messing with a piece of metal that had fallen off the car, Xavier looks
over to see how far he had gotten.  "Now where do you think you are going?
The night is still young and I'm bored." Standing up and taking a long
leisurely stretch, Xavier walks over to where Brad was and starts walking
along beside him as he crawls up the road.  Still playing with the piece of
metal that he had picked up off the ground, he sighs and tosses it to the
side into some bushes.  "Well now, I guess we had better get to this.  I
don't have all night and I'm starting to get bored again.  So if ya don't
mind I think it's time to play."

   Noticing that Brad had made it a fare distance from where he was
standing, Xavier walks up behind him and grabs him by the left ankle,
pulling him back down the road.  Brad starts to make what seemed like a
crying sound as he claws at the ground, trying to keep from being pulled
backwards.  When they reached the car again Xavier tossed him across the
hood and smiled.  "Now how was it that you put it?  Oh, yeah, I remember."
Taking Brad by the throat he lifts him off the car and looks him in the
eyes smiling a cold smile.  "Your mine now little boy, and I want to here
you scream." With that Xavier throws him through a barbed wire fence and
back up against the side of the barn.  The wire having been so old and
rusted just snapped and tangled around him as he went through it.  "What no
scream?  Now work with me here Brad."

   As Brad hit the wall, some of the barbs on the wire cut deep into his
back, tearing small pieces of skin and cloth from his shirt.  He falls to
the ground and as he tries to get up his hand was cut, deeply by more of
the wire that had wrapped its self around his arm.  It stabbed him as he
braced himself against the ground.  Cussing under his breath, Brad just
looks up at Xavier and tries to pull the rusted wire out of his now badly
bleeding hand.  A tear roles down his cheek as he scrambles along the
ground and back up against the barn wall causing more barbs to cut into his
back, but still he didn't cry out.  Still holding his bleeding hand against
his chest he looks up at Xavier.  In cold and silent defiance he flipped
him off and smiled.  He soon lost his smile as Xavier crossed his arms and
frowned walking up to him.

   "Be reasonable man, come on.  I didn't hurt you that much.  It was all
in fun . . .  ok?"

   Squatting in front of Brad, Xavier leans in close, placing his hands on
the ground to either side of Brads trembling body.  Like a cat that has
cornered its pathetic pray, Xavier purrs loudly and takes a long deep
breath.  Now that is the smell of fear he thought.  Closing his eyes he
smiles, exposing the tip of his right fang.  Brads pitiful cries continue
as Xavier shakes his head regaining his séances.  "REASONABLE!!  Where was
reason when I begged you not to do the things that you did?" Taking hold of
a piece of wire that was wrapped around Brad's waist, Xavier pulls him up
close, causing the wire to tighten and cruelly cut into his stomach. 
Covering his mouth so he couldn't scream Xavier held him close.  "Was it
reasonable to take a boy and torture him the way you did.  Was it
reasonable to take away the only real gift that GOD gives us in this life?"


   Shaking all over from the pain Brad manages to remove Xavier's hand from
his mouth.  "What did I take from you man?  Tell me.  Kevin took your
money, not me."

   Letting go of the wire, Xavier sits back on his knees and just looks at
him with a confused and astonished expression on his face.  Putting his
hands on his head he just starts to laugh for a bit then begins to cry. 
"What did you take?  What did you take?"

   "Yeah man....You tell me what did I take from you?"

   Grabbing Brad by the throat again, Xavier starts to squeeze digging his
nails deep into his skin.  Wiping the tears from his eyes he looks at him
coldly.  "YOU TOOK MY INNOCENCE!!!!" Shoving him against the wall Xavier
continues to squeeze as Brad gasps for air, desperately trying to pry
Xavier's fingers from round his through.  "You took a part of me that I can
never get back.  A part that I wanted to share with the one I loved, but
now that's something that I can never do.  Now can I.  CAN I!" After a few
seconds, Xavier regains his composer and lets go of Brad's throat and
steppes back a few feet.  Adjusting his cap he just smiles and pulls it
down over his face just a bit.  "Now where were we?  Oh yeah ...my scream.
I want to hear you scream."

   Brad stares at him shaking all over and starts to cry.  It was either
from the pain of the cuts or the thoughts of what Xavier would do to him
next.  Kneeling in front of him Xavier places the tips of his fingers to
Brad's trembling lips and shakes his head.  "NO . . .  There will be no
crying.  I want to hear screaming!" Grabbing Brad by his shirt collar
Xavier stands to his feet and a kick open the barn doors and drags him
inside.  Finding a roll of barbed wire by the door, Xavier picks it up as
they pass by.  Brad meanwhile is sobbing and trying to undo his shirt in
hopes of getting away.  "Now here we go, fresh rolls, now this aint likely
to break so easy, now will it."

   Letting go of Brad's collar, Xavier starts to clear a spot in the center
of the room where he could work, or as Brad put it, have a little fun. 
Gasping for air, Brad tries to crawl away but the cuts on his hands slow
his efforts.  Xavier looks over his right shoulder and notices Brad's ill
timed attempt of escape and starts to walk over to him.  "Where ya off to
in such a hurry?  It's not time to go just yet." Picking up a pitchfork
from against the wall, he rams it through Brads left leg just below the
knee and deep into the floor boards, effectively pinning him to the spot.
Brad screams out in pain as he tries to pull away.  Reaching behind him, he
tries in vain to pull the fork out, but in the position he was in couldn't
quiet reach it.  Squatting beside him Xavier smiles and tips his cap.  "Now
that should keep you still until I get ready for you.  Oh and by the way,
that was an excellent scream there.  I knew you had it in ya." Xavier pats
him on the head and returns to his work.

   A few minutes passed as Xavier finishes tying up wire across the wooden
beams overhead and making sure it would hold.  Meanwhile Brad had managed
to turn on his side and tries again in vain to pull his leg free.  Sobbing
loudly he looks up at Xavier.  "You're crazy man, you can't just kill me
out here.  Come on Jev, I'm begging you here."

   Xavier didn't bother to stop what he was doing and just looks over his
shoulder and smiled a strange smile.  "My name isn't Jev, he's dead. 
Thanks to you and your friends that is.  My name is Xavier.  Now, I think
that should just about do it." Stepping back he wipes a few specks of dirt
and hay from his shirt and admires his handy work.

   Walking back over to where Brad was pinned to the ground, Xavier just
smiles down at him and taps his finger on his chin, as if he was trying to
remember something important.  Pulling the pitchfork from the ground Xavier
drags Brad over to the spot that he had cleared in the middle of the floor.
Breaking off a long piece of wire from the roll he binds Brad's writs
together and picks him up off the ground.  Tossing the wire over a beam in
the ceiling Xavier begins to pull Brad's arms over his head and starts
lifting him up off the ground.

   Brad was now hanging about a foot off the floor; the weight of his body
caused the wire to cut deep into his wrists.  He starts to sob and beg as
blood began to trickle down his arms.  "Come on man, this aint funny any
more.  Please I'm begging' here."

   After securing the wire to a nail Xavier walks over and stands in front
of him.  He just looks up from under his cap and frowns.  "You're begging.
What about when I was the one doing the begging, did that matter to you?  I
think the time for begging is over, and besides it's starting to get on my
nerves." As Brad was about to answer, Xavier took another piece of wire and
wrapped it around Brads head, making it into a gag.  Brad made a muffled
scream as the wire cut into the sides of his mouth and the back of his
head. "Now that should shut you up, till I'm ready to play."

   As he hangs there shaking from either the pain or fear, Xavier runs his
hands under Brads shirt, he could feel the taught lean body that was hidden
underneath.  Pulling him close Xavier places his head against Brad's
stomach and takes a long deep breath.  "MMMMMM...  Nice......Real nice, to
bad that it won't stay that way for much longer." After a few minutes of
standing there with his arms wrapped around Brad's waist, Xavier steps back
and wipes away a few tears from his eye.  Not sure of what he should do
now, he just stands there with his cap pulled down over his eyes looking at
the floor.  The thoughts ran over and over in his head.  "What am I doing .
. .  This aint me . . .  This aint right. . .  'YES IT IS' . . .  No it's
not . . .  'HE HURT YOU . . .  HE SHOULD BE HURT BACK' . . .  No . . . 
It's not right . . .  'YES IT IS . . .  HURT HIM . . .  MAKE HIM PAY' . . .
No I won't . . .  'YES' . . .  No!" Holding the sides of his head, as if he
were in excruciating pain Xavier begins to stagger around the barn. 
Stumbling over a lose floorboard he falls to his knees, slumped over with
his head on the floor he just sits holding his head and sobbing.  Brad
could hear him mumbling and talking to himself, as if he were having an
argument with some unseen person.  As he argued with the unseen foe he
starts to claw at the ground leavening deep gashes in the wooden floor
boards.  Brad could see that a pair of small wings unfolded from under
Xavier's shirt and began to flap wildly, as if they were trying in vain to
gain some height off the floor.

   "ENOUGH!"

   The word was clear and cold.  Sitting up on his knees Xavier calms his
agitated wings and readjusted his cap.  Taking a few deep breaths he looks
up at Brad from under his cap and calmly smiles.  "Now it's time to play."
Standing to his feet he wipes the straw off his knees and unwrinkled the
end of his shirt that has gotten tucked into the side of his belt.  He
walks over to a small table in the corner and begins to sort through some
of the old tools that were lying there.  Holding them up one by one, he
looks them over making sure Brad could see each one.  If it didn't suit his
fancy he would carelessly toss it to the side and move on to the next. 
"Now this will do nicely." Turning back to face Brad he slowly pulls a
rusty sickle from behind his back.  Smiling cruelly he looks up at Brad and
began to turn it over and over in his hands, tracing his fingers along the
rusted, yet still sharp edge.  "Now what can we do with this I wonder?  Any
suggestions?  No."

   Walking back over to where Brad is hanging, he circles him a few times,
allowing the blade to drag along the outside of his shirt.  Stopping just
in front of him, Xavier looks up and smiles a playful smile.  Taking hold
of the hem of Brads shirt he places the tip of the sickle under Its edge
and runs it upward, cutting the shirt open with one pass.  Brad screams in
pain as the tip of the blade catches him just under the chin, cutting it
badly.  Realizing his mistake, he pulls it out with one quick jerk, cutting
a deep gash as it went, Xavier bites his lower lip and looks up at him with
an expression of concern mixed with excitement and pleasure.  "Oops I'm
sorry man, didn't mean to go that far.  You ok there?"

   Brad jerks and writhes in agony, his heart beating wildly while the
blood begins to gush out of the wound with each pounding heart beat.  As
the blood pours from the open wound, Xavier's mouth begins to water as he
watches the crimson flow work its way down the center of Brad's chest and
over his washboard stomach.  Biting his lower lip hard, he closes his eyes
and turns away.  Not yet he thought as the urge to sink his teeth into the
tinder spot just behind the ear washes over him.  "No not yet.  Still have
to make him suffer a bit before I have my fill." Driving the thought from
his head he turns back and finishes watching the trickle work its way over
his navel and disappear into the top of his pants.  Peeking up at Brad from
under his cap, Xavier smiles and taps his finger on his chin.  "Now I
wonder where that went to eh?  Shall we find out?"

   Sobbing and twisting his wrists trying to free them Brad shakes his
head. Not realizing that the more he moves the tighter the wire becomes and
the deeper it cut.  Pulling him close Xavier begins to undo Brad's belt and
slid it from its loops.  The wire cuts into Brads jaws as he tries to beg
for him to stop, but only sprits of blood came out in place of the words.
Kneeling down to untie one of Brads shoes, Xavier momentarily takes his
eyes off of Brad.  Taking this laps in concentration, Brad manages to kick
him in the side of the head, knocking him backwards to the ground.  Looking
up with a bit of a startled expression Xavier smiles and rubs his sore jaw.
Standing to his feet he picks up his cap, smacking it against his leg to
brush the dirt off.  Walking back over to where Brad was he just smiles and
readjusts his cap.  "Now that was a good kick man.  If I do remember
correctly, you were on the football team rite.  That would explain it
then." Brad just hung there with a defiant look on his face, trying not to
start sobbing again.  Shaking from the pain he tries again to kick Xavier
away from him only to have his leg grabbed and twisted hard, breaking the
bones just below the knee.  Screaming through the wire he starts to cuss,
but the words came out distorted.

   "Well now if you won't let me do it the easy way, then I guess we'll
have to do it the hard way and that suits me just fine." Picking the sickle
up off the ground Xavier begis to circle him once more.  When he came to
either side, he swung the blade and cut the jeans down their length.  The
blade being as old and rusty as it was made an uneven and ragged cut as it
went.  Brad twists and squirms in pain as the blade cut through the fabric
and his legs too.  The jeans fall to the ground leavening him in only his
boxers, and revealing long bleeding gashes down both sides of his legs. 
His legs swung wildly as if they were trying to aid him in his escape. 
Xavier just looks at him and frowns.  "I'm gonna have to do something about
that it seems." He thought to himself taking more barbed wire he wraps it
around each ankle and pulls them apart, tying each to a beam on either side
of the room.  Brad twisted and screamed as the wire cut into his ankles. 
"Now that will do just nicely don't you think?  What?  I can't here you
Brad.  You'll have to speak up."

   Pulling on the wire that covers his mouth, Xavier tries to remove it,
only to have it cut deeper into the back of his head.  Screaming Brad
tosses his head back and causes the wire to snap.  When it snapped one side
of it flipped forward and caught him in his left eye.  His eye bleeding
badly now Brad begins to scream wildly.  It was a mix of cussing and
begging, but not all the words were understandable.  Xavier walks back up
to Brad and watches him as he thrashes about causing blood to sprinkle all
over the floor.  When Brad finally became too tired to move about so much,
Xavier looks at him and frowns.  "What to do?  What to do!" He thought. 
Trying to come up with an interesting way to amuse himself.  With the
sickle still in his right hand Xavier Looks up at Brad and smiles a
childish smile.  He takes hold of Brads boxers with his left hand and
starts to pull them down, but stops just shy of his groin.  A small tuft of
black hair peeks over the edge, as if to tease and invite one to look
lower.

   Closing his eyes and lowering his head Xavier growls.  "No this aint
rite and I won't be like you." Letting go of the boxers Xavier steps back
and puts his left hand to his head.  Stumbling backwards as if someone had
punched him in the head the voices begin swirling around him once more,
urging him to finish what he started.  "DO IT . . .  No I won't . . .  This
aint rite . . .  YES IT IS . . .  HE DID IT TO YOU . . .  NOW SHOW HIM WHAT
IT IS LIKE TO BE TAKEIN' AGAINST HIS WILL . . .  No . . .  YES. . .I said
no . . .  YES . . .  DO IT NOW!" As he argues with the unseen and unheard
voices he stumbles around the room swinging the blade wildly, trying to
drive them away but instead he was gashing Brad deeply across the stomach
and chest.  The blood spills on the ground and Xavier looks on in horror.
"NOW SEE, THAT WASN'T SO HARD, NOW WAS IT?  Stop it please . . .  I won't
hurt anyone else. . .  OH I THINK YOU WILL. . .  No . . .  YES . . .  THERE
ARE STILL TWO MORE TO GO AND YOU WILL HUNT THEM DOWN . . .  No please don't
make me."

   Swinging the blade again he cuts across Brad's back leaving a long
bloody gash.  As the arguing persists he continues to stumble around swing
the sickle, trying in vain to stop the voice in his head.  Suddenly he
stops and just stares at the ceiling, his eyes wide, and his teeth clinched
shut and shaking all over.  A few heart pounding minutes pass before he
closes his eyes and lets out a long deep breath, dropping the sickle to the
ground and lowers his head.  Kneeling down he picks it back up and looks at
Brad from under his cap.  He has an evil smile on his lips, and his fangs
are fully exposed.  "You're mine now little boy, and I want to here you
scream now."

   Xavier throws the sickle and it drives deep into Brad's left shoulder.
As he screams, Xavier begins to laugh and walk in his direction.  Pulling
the blade out he smiles again and wipes it across Brad's chest.  "Now
that's what I call a scream.  I wonder can you do it again even better."
Running the blade up Brads left side he could hear one of his ribs crack.
Smiling, Xavier decides to do it again on the other side, like Brad had
done to him not so long ago.  As the blade sinks deep into his body there
could be heard multiple pops and cracks.  Brad writhes and screams as loud
as he could, only to have Xavier cover his mouth and softly whisper for him
to be not so loud in his screams.  That someone might hear and ruin his
fun.

   An hour or so passes with the sounds of Brad's screaming and breaking
bones until Xavier steppes back and rams the blade deep into Brad's back
just between the shoulders.  The night was getting late and he was getting
bored.  As he walks to the barns door he stares out at the emptiness of the
pastures and sighs.  "This used to be one of my favorite places to come
when I was a kid.  Can you see that tree over there?  My folks and I used
to come out her on Sundays and have a picnic.  And over there, he pointed
again; we would go fishing and swimming under that large willow tree.  But
now how can I ever be happy here again?" Looking back over his right
shoulder he growls deeply.  "I hope you are proud of the work you and the
others have done."

   Looking back at Brad's bleeding and mangled body Xavier smiles and wipes
a tear from his eyes.  "It's time to finish this," he thought.  Walking
back over to where Brad was hanging Xavier lifts his head and looks him in
the eyes, well the one eye that he was still able to see out of that is. 
Smiling he wipes a trickle of blood from Brads cheek and kisses it softly.
"Now be a good boy and tell me where the others are, so I can get this over
and done with."

   Brad looks up at him and smiles weakly, spitting blood in his face.  "Go
to hell you freak.  I'm not gonna tell you anything."

   Wiping the spit from his cheek, Xavier just frowns and shakes his head
annoyed.  "Oh my boy, my beautiful bloody boy, you will go there far ahead
of me.  I can promise you that.  Oh and be a good boy and give the Devil a
message for me, won't you." Pulling him close Xavier traces his finger down
Brad's bloody and mangled chest then looks up at him smiling.  "Tell him to
make room for your friends, cause' they'll be joining you very soon."
Stepping back he put his hand on his chin and just looks at Brad.  "Well if
your not gonna tell me, then I guess there's no reason to keep you hanging
around then, is there."

   Grabbing Brad by the throat Xavier rips him from the wire leavening
small chunks of meat and pieces of bloody cloth hanging in his place.  Then
without a word he throws him through the nearest wall, leavening a large
blood stained opening.  Stepping outside through the hole, Xavier passes by
an old unused fence pole.  Stopping briefly and looking at it he smiles and
tapes his finger on his chin.  Picking it up and tossing it onto his
shoulder he walks over to where Brad had landed and looks down at him.  His
body lies crumpled in a bleeding pile against a large stone.  Xavier places
the pole on the ground and kneels down to roll him onto his back, then
carefully pulls him up onto his lap.  Ever so carefully he begins to pick
shards of broken glass and pieces of splintered wood from his hair and
face. Softly he parts Brad's hair in the style he always wore and wipes a
small tear of blood from the corner of his right eye.

   In a voice that seemed to care and so low as to almost be lost on the
wind Xavier spoke.  "You idiot.  All you had to do was let me go home, now
look at ya." Wiping another bloody tear from his other eye Xavier looks
down into Brad's eyes.  Biting his lower lip, he tries to hold back his own
tears but fails.  Brad could see a storm of emotions swirling in Xavier's
eyes, before he closes them and turns his head away.

   For a while Xavier knelt there holding Brad in his arms and rocking him
gently, humming some long forgotten lullaby.  It was still and quiet, all
that could be heard was Xavier's soft humming and Brad's irregular rasping
breaths.  Suddenly, Xavier grabs the sides of his head and throws it back
as far as it would go.  This sudden move caused him to lose his balance and
fall backwards on to the ground.  He just lies there with his eyes shut
tight and his teeth clinched, as if he were in terrible pain.  The
suddenness of this action and the violence of his convulsions brought Brad
back from whatever safe place his mind had escaped to.  After a few heart
pounding seconds Xavier's heart slows and an expression of calm comes over
his terrified face.  Sitting back up slowly Xavier begins to gently move
his head in a circular motion, causing the bones in his neck to make a
cracking sound.  After making a complete circle he lowers his head and
takes several long deep breaths.  Slowly opening his eyes he looks down at
Brad and softly smiles exposing the tip of his right fang.  Brad looks up
in horror, for now the storm of emotions that had once been swirling in
Xavier's eyes had now been replaced by a cold dark emptiness.  Pushing Brad
from his lap Xavier stands and arches his back popping the bones along his
spine and unfolding his wings, allowing them to stretch in the bright
moonlight.

   "Now where were we?  Oh yeah....My screams." Taking Brad by his left
ankle Xavier drags him back over to where his car had slammed into the
tree. When they reach it, he throws Brad's bleeding body across the hood
and pats him on the head smiling.  "Now don't you go any where, this will
only take a sec.  Ok." Walking back into the barn he disappears for a few
agonizing minutes, then reappears carrying another coil of barbed wire in
one hand and the fence pole in the other.  Brad tries to crawl off the hood
of the car and begins to cry uncontrollably, begging him to let him go. 
"AAAAHHHHH now that brings back memories now doesn't it.  I mean the crying
and the begging."

   Lifting Brads head up by the hair Xavier looks into his eyes and smiles.
"If you want to beg then I'll give you a reason to beg."

   Having said this Xavier slams Brads head into the hood of the car once
again, breaking his nose and knocking several of his front teeth out.  As
Brad moans and makes what seemed to be some sort of choking sound, Xavier
picks the fence pole up and walks to the edge of the road whistling and
messing with his cap.  With a single push he rams the pole into the ground
and looks back at Brad humming and chewing happily on his lower lip.  Brad
meanwhile had managed to roll off the car and to the ground, breaking his
left arm as he fell.  Crying and cussing, if that is what you could call
the sounds he made, he then tries to crawl away.  Walking back over to
where Brad was, Xavier walks along beside him unbraiding his hair and
combing it out with his fingers.  "Now where do you think you're going'? 
It's almost twenty miles to town and the nearest house is in the other
direction.  Besides we're not done here yet."

   Placing his left foot in the middle of Brads back Xavier presses down
hard.  He could feel several ribs crack and the warm wetness of his blood
that was pouring from the many cuts and gashes across his body.  Brad
screams out in pain unable to move, he can only shiver and cuss under his
breath.  Taking him by the ankle Xavier starts back towards the pole,
dragging Brad behind him leaving a trail of blood soaked dust as they went.
As they pass the car Xavier picks the barbed wire up and starts happily
whistling a song.  Noticing the wire in his hands Brad begins screaming and
clawing at the ground, trying to wrench his leg free.  His squirming only
makes Xavier tighten his grip and dig his nails deeper into his ankle. 
When they reach the pole Xavier lets loose of Brad's ankle and droppers the
wire at his feet.  Stretching again Xavier pops his spine, as the wire hits
the ground it rolls along and up against his ankle.  Xavier jumps and steps
back hissing in surprise.  "Ouch that's sharp.  No wonder I got such good
screams out of ya." Kneeling down he runs his thumb across the cut and
wipes up a few drops of blood.  For a few seconds he just looks at it and
watches it run down and across his finger.  Placing his thumb in his mouth
he closes his eyes and takes a deep breath lost in its sweet metallic
flavor.  Noticing that he has forgotten something he again focuses on the
present and grabs Brad by his neck, slamming him up against the pole.  "I
will ask you one last time.  Where are Chris and Kevin?  Tell me now and I
might just leave you here still breathing."

   Brad gasps for breath as he is lifted off the ground.  His feet dangle
helplessly as Xavier just stairs silently at him with no hint of emotion on
his face.  Brad's throat constrict as Xavier tightens his grip, causing
small trickles of blood to flow over his fingers as they cut deep into his
neck.  "I . . .  I don't know Jev I swear.  If I did I'd tell you . . . 
please let me go . . .  FOR GOD'S SAKE PLEASE!"

   Slamming the back of Brad's head against the pole, Xavier tilts his head
to the side and bears his fangs growling.  "My name is XAVIER!  How many
times do I have to tell you that?  You and your friends killed Jev, now
there is only me."

   With a sudden upward leap they are both airborne, Xavier's wings spread
wide allowing the moon to shine through their deceptively delicate looking
membranes.  Brad tries to scream as he notices that he is now high off the
ground and directly over the fence pole and its cruelly misaimed base. 
With what little strength he has left he begins to beat on Xavier's arm and
tries in vain to free himself from his ever tight ting grip.  "If that is
your answer then there is nothing else we have to talk about.  Then I guess
I will let you go now."

   An expression of terror comes across Brads face as he hears these words
and their true meaning becomes clear.  He begins to scream as Xavier closes
his eyes and releases his grip, allowing him to fall freely.  Brads screams
reach a new height as the sharp point of the pole slides into his body
between his legs and up through his torso.  The screams are cut short as
the point comes out thro a spot between his head and left shoulder.  Brad
makes a choking sound as blood begins to spill from his mouth as he tries
in vain to pull him self free of the cruel spike.  He begins to sob
slightly as he slides further down the pole, his feet finally coming to
rest on the ground.  Xavier lowers his head and glides silently to the
ground in front of him.  Folding his wings behind him he tilts his head and
looks at Brad from under his cap, not sure of what to do now.  Walking
around behind him Xavier runs his fingers along Brads shoulders and across
the spike.  Examining the nights work, he then wraps his arms around Brad's
shoulders and nuzzles his nose against the back of his neck.  Whispering in
Brad's left ear that he was sorry for the excessive pain and violence.  He
then brushes the blood soaked hair that hung over the back of Brads neck
aside and kisses the spot softly.  In a shaking, almost sobbing voice he
softly whispers.  "Let us end this.  I feel we both have suffered too long
tonight, and it is time to go."

   Brad just makes a soft whimpering sound as Xavier pulls him close,
sinking his fangs into the tinder spot just behind his left ear.  As he
drinks deeply the voices inside his head become less noticeable and his
heart slows to a steady beat once more.  His body becomes alive with the
sensation of the new blood that now courses through his veins.  All that
Brad was and all that he would ever be now washed over him and that
overpowering flood of emotions and thoughts knocks him backwards to the
ground.  After a minute or two, Xavier rises to his knees; kneeling there
beside Brads motionless body, he looks up at him from under his cap.  Brad
shudders slightly and then takes a deep breath.  Xavier reaches up slowly
and places his hand on Brad's chest, feeling his heart slow with every
beat. As Brad releases his final breath his body becomes still and hangs
limply over the pole.

   As the blood drips from the pole that supports Brad's limp lifeless
body, Xavier runs a finger through the crimson pool that has gathered at
his feet.  Purring softly, he traces his blood soaked finger over his lower
lip and smiles softly.  Tasting the sweet warm liquid on his lips he closes
his eyes and leans back against the post.  "Now that was a head rush." A
flash of lightning brings him back from his musings and he can hear the
roll of distant thunder.  Clouds gather overhead and a strong wind began to
blow across the empty open expanse of the fields.  He stands and closes his
eyes, letting it wash over him.  Its many invisible fingers glide through
his blood soaked hair, combing it out and causing small droplets of blood
to fly free.  The thunder crashes closer this time as the sky is torn by a
large white bolt of light.  The sound is almost deafening and causes him to
cover his ears.  The rain begins to fall softly at first but in time become
more heavy and relentless.  Xavier walks over to the barn to take shelter;
he quietly sits on the floor by the door and just looks out over the
loneliness of his surroundings.

   Running his fingers through his hair he watches as the now watered down
blood runs across his hands and down his arm.  Standing he looks down and
for the first time notices that he is covered with blood.  Taking off his
cloths he walks out into the chill of the pouring rain and crashing
thunder. Running his hands through his hair he slowly walks across the open
fields as he allows the rain to saturate his already blood soaked hair. 
Standing in the middle of the open field he holds his arms out wide and
lets the rain wash the blood and shame from his body.  As the cooling
waters flow over him he falls to his knees and puts his head to the ground
sobbing.  His crimson hair flows out wide around his head as he slams his
fists into the muddy earth he begins to cry uncontrollable cusses himself
for what he has done.  Slowly he rises up sitting back on his knees and
again closes his eyes, lowering his head.  He says a small silent prayer
for the life that has been taken and asks that he be forgiven for what was
done.  It had to be done, yet he was sorry for having to do it.  Standing
he allows the rain to wash the mud from his legs then turns and begins
slowly walking back to the barn.  As he enters he finds a pen and piece of
paper lying on the table beside the sickle that he had used earlier that
night.  He picks the rusted tool up and turns it over and watches a drop of
blood as it runs down the edge of the blade.  With a smirk he drives it
deep into the table and returns his attention to the paper and begins to
scribble something down.  Picking his blood soaked cloths up off the floor
he turns one last time to look at Brads lifeless body.  Spreading his wings
he disappears into the sky with the next roll of thunder and flash of
lighting, leaving behind a note hung from Brad's neck that had only one
word written on it.



   . . .  RAPEIST. .



   Chapter 5

   Forgiveness

   The sun shown brightly, to brightly Xavier thought as he pulls the
curtains back across the window and rolled over burring his face in the
pillow.  "Why does it have to be so bright outside?  It's giving me a real
headache.  It's too early to get up!" he moaned as Cleo hopped up on the
side of the bed and nuzzled her nose against his cheek.  "Go away, can't
you see that I'm still trying to sleep.  It's not fair.  You got a full
night sleep and I didn't." Cleo just looks at him and meows loudly, as if
to voice her annoyance at her growing hunger.  She jumped off the bed as
Xavier sat up and stretches, yawing.  Brushing his bangs from his eyes, he
walks into the bathroom and stumbles over a pile of wet cloths that had
been left by the door.  Picking his foot up he just looks at them puzzled
scratching his head.

   "What tha....now how did these get here?" Picking up the shirt he
notices that it was soaking wet, but not with water, It was soaked with
blood and it was still fresh.  The once clean and white tank top now was
crimson and hung heavily from his hands.  The blood had soaked through and
was still warm and dripping in the floor.  Gathering them up he throws them
into the washer and starts it up.  Cleo meanwhile rubs up against his legs
purring and meowing her growing frustration at being ignored.  Scooping her
up he tosses her onto his shoulder and scratches her behind the ear. 
"Alright, alright, it's breakfast time.  You are really annoying at times
you stupid cat."

   He walks into the kitchen with her still slung over his shoulder purring
contently and swinging her tail from side to side.  After fixing her
breakfast he walks out onto the porch munching on a piece of left over
pizza, and looks out over the mountains that surround the little valley
where his folk's house is.  Putting his hand over his eyes to shield them
from the sun, he looks down at his parent's house and notices that they
were all gone.  Walking back into the house he figured that they must be
out looking for a yard sale or something like that.  Sitting on the floor
in front of the couch, Xavier turns the TV on and starts looking through
the channels to see what was on.  He was off for the next few days and
didn't have anything else better to do.  After a few minutes he came across
the local news station and they were running a story about a recent murder
that had happened not too far from town.  He turned up the volume and sat
quietly, caught up in all the hustle and bustle that was going on there. 
Pulling his knees up under his chin he smiles a cheeky little smile when
they showed the barn, where just the night before he had some what messily
dispatched Brad.

   The lady on the TV had described the scene as the site of a cruel and
inhumane butchering.  She talked of the old style of punishment that was
reserved for criminals from the Far East.  It was known as impalement, and
from how she described it, it sounded like a most painful and slow way to
die.  Xavier just smiled down at Cleo and bit his lower lip.  She said that
the police were at a loss to how there was so much blood on the surrounding
ground and in the barn, and yet there was none left to be found in the
body. They were also at a loss to what kind of animal could leave the type
of bite mark that was found on the back of the victims' neck.  Officer
Stinson had remarked that it looked human, but the shape and placement of
the teeth were more like those of an animal.  The officer had little else
to say, stating that it was an ongoing investigation and that the name of
the victim would not be released at this time.  Before the segment ended
the camera man had managed to pan over to where the body was.  It couldn't
be seen on account of the coroner had already removed it from the post and
covered it with a white blanket.  The post however stood in plain site, and
it was a grim site to see.  There were small pieces of meat and skin still
hanging from its rough sides, and a small pool of blood had formed at its
base.  An officer had seen them and tried his best to cover the lenses so
it wouldn't be able to show the crime scene but the damage had already been
done.  Near the post an officer was knelt down and putting something into a
small baggy.  The news anchor described it as a small note that had been
found around the victims' neck.  She didn't mention what was written on it
for the reasons of security and didn't want to taint the chain of evidence.
Xavier just smiles and scratches Cleo behind her ear.

   "We know what it says don't we precious?  That's all that matters.  At
least I know that it said murderer, because I was the one that wrote it. 
Sighing loudly he scoops Cleo up in his arms and snuggles her lose to his
cheek.  "I had so much fun last night girl . . .  they shouldn't have done
it to me . . .  it was all their fault and every single one of them will
pay for the crime they committed against me.  I bet you agree with me don't
ya girl?" He asks Cleo as he scratches her behind her ear.  He knew he
could confide in her because she couldn't talk and she would always listen,
and it was safer then writing it down when he did have to talk it out to
someone . . .  even if that someone was one of his cats.

   After the news cast was over, Xavier stands up and stretches trying to
figure out what he was gonna do for the rest of the day.  He had always
found it somewhat uncomfortable to be out in the sun for long periods of
time, even before his change, so he just sat out on the porch and watched
the comings and goings of the cars that traveled up and down the nearby
highway.  Not long after Cleo headed down to his folks house for her late
afternoon feeding, he walks around his own house, checking to see if the
storm had messed anything up.  His mom calls to see if he was gonna come
down for dinner, and to just see how he was since she hadn't seen him all
day.  He just laughs and says no, that he would grab a bite later on
tonight.  She was curious at why he didn't answer the phone the night
before when she tried to call.  He just bit his lower lip and explained
that he gotten bored and went out to see an old friend and a late nights
snack.  As they were talking he noticed that the sun was starting to set
behind the mountain and he was starting to get restless.

   "Well Mom, I guess I'm gonna get off here and head out for a while.  I
don't know when I'll be home tonight, it might be pretty late.  Anything
you need from the store?"

   "No, I honestly can't think of anything we need.  Just be careful
tonight.  You did hear about the killer on the loose didn't you?  Just
don't stay out long.  You know how I worry about you."

   "I will Mom, don't worry about me.  I'm just gonna look up some old
friends and maybe grab a late night snack.  I'll talk to you tomorrow. 
Love ya mom . . .  bye." He said as he hung up the phone then went to check
on his clothes to see if they were done yet.

   When his cloths had finished washing, he places them into the dryer and
climes into the shower.  As he leans against the wall, the cool water runs
over his shoulders and down his back.  He stretches and unfurls his wings
allowing the soothing water to caress their delicate membranes.  He sways
to the music of one of his favorite cds and lets the water run through his
hair and down his slim thighs.  After his shower he lights a candle and
climes into the middle of his bed, placing the candle in front of him.  He
sits back on his knees, closes his eyes and begins to listen to the rhythm
of his heart beat.  As the sound of its steady breathing fills his ears, he
notices that it begins to slow and become more drawn out.  He had learned
this little trick from a close friend he had met on the net.  His name was
Sebastian.  Sebastian was a quiet guy but always willing to give advice and
help if he could.  Over a time Sebastian and Jev had became close and
decided to try and date online.  Sebastian lives in California and is still
in school, yet he already knows more than some of the people who have
already graduated around here.  It was the first time Jev had ever
attempted this and for a time it went great.  He had taught Jev to use this
method to calm himself and focus his emotions on a particular thought or
event.  Now Xavier would use it to focus his hatred on finding Kevin and
Chris.

   As his breathing slowed he felt a rush of emotions and memories that
were not his own, they were Brads.  As he slowly opens his eyes he could
see images of two of the guys that had kidnapped and tortured him.  This
isn't right he thought.  Where is Brad?  There was Kevin and Chris but no
sign of him.  Then as a new wave of emotions washes over him the images
change and he now sees himself hanging beaten and bloody in the theater. 
He looks down and there in a piece of broken glass notices his refection.
It came to him like a kick to the head.  The reason he couldn't see Brad,
was because he was looking out through Brad's eyes.

   His screams fill the empty house, as the shock of what he sees causes
him to loose his balance and fall backwards off the bed.  As he fell he
managed to grab one of the curtains and pull it from the window.  He sits
there on the floor a bit stunned and out of it, with the curtain partially
covering his naked body.  A soft breeze blows through the open window and
causes the candle to flicker and go out.  As the smoke drifted across the
room he smiles widely and jumps up crabbing the candle and climbing back up
onto the bed.  Relighting it Xavier once again takes his position in the
middle of the bed and begins to slow his breathing and listen to his heart
beat.  This time when the images came to him he, was more relaxed and able
to control what he was seeing, at least to some extent.  The images flow
freely around him and extended back as far as Brad himself could remember.
There was his first kiss with a girl named Sara, the big game against
Tazewell, and many more.  He sorted through what he didn't need to see, and
tried to recall the memories of where their favorite hang outs were.  He
saw the old Richland's High School gym, Broad Way Cinema the new movie
place, an several other local place where they would go after school, or
after a nights run of trouble makeing.  Then came the newest memories of
the past few days.  Xavier can see once again his body hanging helpless in
the theater, and could feel Brads excitement as he circles him with
anticipation of what he was about to do.  Xavier gasps and shivers as he
felt the pleasure Brad took from his torture of his helpless captive.

   It was strange, he knew that he would see what was going on, but had no
idea that he would also be able to feel it as well.  As the feelings came
over him, Xavier's body began to react to what Brad was doing and how he
was feeling.  Arching his back as he throws back his head he grabs at the
pillows that he had pilled around himself, gritting his teeth in pleasure.
As Brad's body reacted to what he was doing to Jev, so did Xavier's.  As
Brad finishes the waves of his pleasure wash over him, this in turn causes
Xaviers body to also release.  Falling backwards onto the bed Xavier gasps
and begins breathing heavily.  It was strange, and a bit exciting to feel
this sort of thing from another's point of view.  "OH MAN!  What a head
rush!" he thought as he lays there smiling and stretching his arms over his
head, with his eyes still closed.  A few seconds pass and the pleased
expression on his face begins to change as a new wave of emotions and
feelings come over him.  Grabbing the pillows again he screams as a bloody
gash tares across his chest and stomach.  Sitting up quickly he knocks the
candle off the bed and up against the wall, but it was too late though, he
had gone to deep and was unable to break the link.  He falls against the
wall and leans there crying and sobbing as several more gashes appear
across his back and legs.  He screams and opens his eyes wide, but still
could only see and feel what Brad was going through.  He now was relieving
Brads torture.  Xavier thrashes on the bed as invisible blades and bobbed
wire tare and wrap across his exposed skin, cutting deep and tightening as
he moves.  He was almost to the point of being dropped onto the spike when
the dryer buzzer went off and caused him to snap back to reality.

   Xavier lay on the bed bleeding and sobbing, trying to recover from his
newest ordeal.  As he begins to calm down, he rolls over onto his back, and
closes his eyes once again.  As he lays there, the blood that had fallen to
the bed begins to move towards him and reenter his wounds, as it did, the
many gashes and tears begin to heal themselves and disappear.  The phone
rang and brought him fully back from his delusions.  It was his dad; he was
calling to tell him to turn the volume down on what ever horror move he was
watching.  They could hear the screaming all the way down at their house
and it was starting to get on their nerves.  He tries to laugh and says
that it was over, and that he would keep it down from now on.  Sitting up
on the side of his bed, he put his head in his hands and shakes his head.
He thought to himself that that too was a head rush, one that he could have
lived with out.  After cleaning up the wax from the wall, he walks through
the house and gets something to drink from the fridge.  Running the cold
bottle over his forehead he smiles, from all those memories he thinks he
has figured out where he could find the others.

   After taking the cloths from the dryer, Xavier gets dressed and pulls
his hair back into a braid.  Walking through the house he finally found his
cap under the couch and adjusts it to fit loosely on his head.  "It's time
to go and see who I can find to play with tonight.  Cleo, be a good girl
and I will see ya in the morning."

   After letting her out, Xavier walks over to the edge of the yard and
looks up into the star filled sky.  Spreading his wings he steps off the
side of the hill and glides silently off in the direction of town.  This
time he had somewhat of a direction to look in.  The closest place from his
memories was the school gym, but at this time of night there wouldn't be
anybody there.  With long steady beats of his wings he begins to circle
around the school trying to figure out a new place to look for them. 
Lazily he makes larger and lager circles as he gains in altitude.  A
familiar sound soon caught his ear, it was the sound of someone sobbing and
mumbling to them selves.  Turning in the direction of the sobs, Xavier
silently glides over the roof tops in search of where it was coming from.
After a few minutes of circling town, he glides over the steeple of the
First Methods Church and notices that someone was sitting on the steps up
against the door.  Banking back around for another pass, he takes a closer
look and noticed that it was Chris.  Landing silently on the roof, Xavier
leans up against the steeple and crosses his arms.  For a while he just
looks down at Chris and taps his finger on his cheek, wondering how he
could have fun with him.

   "Man, I'm so sorry things went too far.  Damn it to hell, I should have
stopped them, but what could I do?  There were two of them and I wouldn't
have stood a chance against them." Chris stands and kicks a rock across the
courtyard then slumps once again back against the church door.  Burying his
face in his hands he starts mumbling to himself and slams his elbow against
the doors.

   "You could have at least tried to stop them"

   Chris looks up to see where the voice was coming from, but there was no
one there.  Only him and his guilty conscious.  Standing up suddenly Chris
cautiously walks out into the middle of the courtyard and starts looking
around.  Leaves rustle and blow across the fence, but still there was no
sign of another person to be seen.  "Who's there?  Jev is that you?"

   "Yeah, it's me."

   Stumbling back up the stairs, Chris tries to pull the doors open, but as
he had discovered when he first arrived, they were locked tight.  Pounding
on them he tries in vain to force his way in, but the old wooden doors
resisted his advances as they had resisted the many years of weathering and
storms that had beaten against their massive faces.  As he tries one last
time to force them open, he becomes tangled up in his shoelaces and falls
backwards to the ground.  Lying there in a ball he covers his head and
tries to remain as motionless and as quiet as he possible.

   "Having trouble with those laces there?  I can relate, it was the only
reason I stopped and you guys snuck up on me.  As you can see now, I don't
have that problem anymore."

   Chris slowly opens his eyes and notices a pair of bare feet standing in
front of him.  Each ankle had a unique piece of jewelry encircling them. 
They were a pair of handcuffs that were eerily familiar to him.  Chris
begins to scramble backwards across the ground, not daring to raise his
head to see who now wore those accursed things.  He manages to scramble
back up the steps and huddles cowering against the door.

   Xavier calmly walks up to chris and squats to his knees in front of him.
Softly he places his hand on Chris's head and repeats the question.

   "Why didn't you try and stop them?"

   Chris begins sobbing uncontrollably and grabs Xavier around the waist,
wrapping his arms around him.  Xavier holds him close and strokes his hair.


   "Hush now and talk to me.  We can't have this; it will all work itself
out.  The scales of justice will be balanced."

   Chris pushes him away and staggers off the steps and out into the
parking lot.  He stops just in front of his car and turns to face Xavier.
Standing up straight, he wipes the tears from his eyes and did his best to
steady his voice.  "No it won't.  How can it work itself out when you're
dead?  Your dead and now your spirit is here to take its revenge.  Well I
won't be a coward this time.  I'll face you and take what is coming to me.
I'm tired of being a coward and having to hang out with those guys.  They
treat everyone like shit and they don't think that the rules apply to them.
I'm going to stand my ground while you take your revenge out on me.  I know
they have to pay to but I won't run like they will."

   Xavier readjusts his cap and walks over to where Chris was standing; he
leans up against the car and just looks at him.  Without a warning he grabs
Chris by the shirt and slams him up against the car door hissing.  "Do I
look like a ghost to you?  Can a ghost do this?" Xavier flicks out one of
his claws and rakes it across Chris right arm leavening a long bloody gash.
Chris tries not to scream, but instead starts sobbing.  "I'll ask you
again. Why did you not try to stop them?"

   Chris squirms and twists in terror as he tries to get loose.  Xavier
just smiles and presses him tighter against the car.  The pressure began to
dint in the side of the door as a crack races across the front window. 
Gasping for breath Chris tried to explain his side of the story, but Xavier
just tilts his head and looks at him.

   "Man, I tried honest.  But you heard what Kevin said to me, if I didn't
help, then I would be up there with you.  I didn't want to die, there were
a few people I was thinking about and I didn't want to leave them.  I was a
coward and I tried to end it as quick and as painless for ya as I could, so
you wouldn't have to suffer anymore.  Please believe me . . .  I did what I
could without the both of us dieing.  I have been trying my best to find a
way to makes things rite.  I just didn't know how at the time."

   Growling and hissing, Xavier garbs him by the arm and takes off into the
sky throwing him across the roof of the church and back up against the
steeple.  "If you didn't notice, I was half dead and not really in a
position to here much."

   Chris lies on the roof and begins coughing heavily from his lack of
oxygen.  He again tries to explain things, but was hardly able to talk. 
"I...I tried I swear.  I even went to the cops after we left, but when they
got there you were gone.  They just laughed and thought we were up to one
of our old tricks.  After they left Kevin beat the hell out of me and
called me a trader.  Brad took over where he left off.  They said if I ever
told anybody what really happened, that I wouldn't ever bee seen again."

   Xavier turns and spreads his wings wide pouncing on top of Chris pinning
him to the roof and growls deeply.  "We will see if that is what actually
happened, or if you are just trying to save your worthless hide."

   Grabbing Chris's right hand, Xavier extends one of his fangs and runs
his index finger across it.  The razor sharp tooth cuts deeply into the
finger as Chris clinches his teeth in pain.  Slamming Chris against the
steeple, Xavier's eyes cloud over as he begins to sort though the memories
that were held in the blood.  Chris's own life-force now flowed through
Xavier's veins, and he could tell his whole life stories and see all his
darkest secrets.  This would be the first time he had attempted this, with
Brad's blood it was by accident, till now.  Xavier had messed around a bit
and became somewhat more able to control it.  As before, he saw through
Chris' eyes and knew all that he had known, up to this point.  He heard the
threats Kevin had made in the theater, and he felt the terror of what he
knew would happen if he didn't do what he was told.  His eyes begin to tear
up as the waves of sorrow wash over Chris's soul for not being able to do
anything for him.  The agony of deciding to finally tell someone about
Jev's murder bit deep into his heart, as did the fear of what would happen
when he finally spoke out against the others.  Xavier stumbles backwards
away from him as he felt the blows of Kevin and Brad's fists as they beat
Chris for trying to get help.  He felt the sting of the rocks as they
slammed into his head and face.  He heard the threats of what would happen
if Jev's body ever was found, and they learned that it was he that lead
them to it.

   Xavier broke the link and sank to his knees by one of the crosses that
ringed the same corner of the roof where they were.  Sobbing he looks up at
Chris who by now was cowering in the shadows of the steeple and cleared his
throat.  "You were telling the truth after all.  I'm so sorry that you had
to go through all that on my account.  "

   Walking back over to where Chris cowered in his corner Xavier slumps to
the ground beside him and pulls his knees up under his chin lowering his
head.  Pulling his cap over his eyes the two of them just sit in mutual
silence.  Chris's nerves finally calm down and he sits quietly beside
Xavier tapping a stick on the roof.

   "What now?"

   There was no answer, only the rustling of leaves across the open space.
Chris looks over at Xavier and just stares at him waiting for an answer. 
Xavier just buries his head deeper into his knees and shrugs his shoulders.
What was there to do, Chris may have been a willing partner in the
beginning, but a simple mugging he could forgive and over looked.  His rage
spent, Xavier just looks up at Chris and shakes his head.  "I don't know .
. .  at first you were a willing partner, but not in the theater.  To you
it was just a prank and no one was going to get hurt.  It didn't turn out
that way though.  You did try to save me, and now I just don't know what to
do.  I'm sorry they put you through that . . .  I just don't know what to
do now."

   Chris stands up and walks to the edge of the roof and looks out over
town.  He crosses his arms with his head hung.  "I came here to ask God for
forgiveness for what we had done to you.  To see if he could still care
enough about me to answer me.  As you can see he aint home, and it seems he
isn't listening.  So now where do I go?  If God doesn't love me then what
use is there to go on?"

   As he turns to once again face Xavier, he is met with a sharp back hand
to the side of his face, knocking him to the side.  Xavier stands there
glowering down at him fangs exposed, and wings spread wide.  "You stupid
little idiot how can you stand there and tell me that God isn't listening,
and that he doesn't care for you.  I came out tonight with the express
intention of hunting one or both of you down, to make you pay for what you
did to me, and then to kill you."

   Xavier takes Chris by the collar and lifts him to his feet, then walks
to the far side of the roof and lean against the steeple.  Taking his cap
off he brushes his bangs from his eyes and turns to face Chris again.  The
church had recently had its sides and part of its roof redone so there were
still bits and pieces of tile and rope lying around.  With the tip of his
toe Xavier nudges a loose tile from the roof and watches as it crashes to
the ground.  Turning to face Chris he readjusts his cap and walks back over
to where he was rubbing his swollen cheek.  Xavier takes him by the chin
and gently tilts his head to the right to examine the brose.

   "If God wasn't listening to you, then you would be like that piece of
tile over there.  I would have hunted you down like I did Brad and as you
may have heard; he won't be meeting you or Kevin after school on Monday. 
He . . .  through me . . .  has spared you, and if he can forgive you, then
who am I to go against that?  Besides I now know that you had no real
choice in the matter.  That there should tell you something.  You are
forgiven and you have the choice to do what you want with life.  There is
nothing more I can do.  You were an innocent part of all of this, unlike
Brad and Kevin."

   Taking a piece of cloth that some one had left lying around, Xavier dips
it into a cup of water that had collected over the last night's storm and
carefully wipes the tears from Chris's face and places it over the now
purple brose.  "There . . .  that should stop the swelling and help it go
down.  You are very annoying ya know that?  Here I had worked out how I was
going to spend my night and YOU go and mess it up for me.  Thanks for
noting dude'."

   Chris takes the cloth and steps back a few steps.  He takes a long look
at Xavier and starts to shake all over falling to his knees.  "It was you
that killed Brad wasn't it?  I mean I knew he had died last night, but
didn't know he was killed.  They never told us what happened.  Only that it
looked as he had been attacked by a wild animal.  "

   Xavier just looks at him calmly and nods tipping his cap.  "He chose his
fate and he paid the price for it.  That's all that needs be said about
it."

   Chris steps back and stumbles over an old bit of wood and falls
backwards, but before he could hit the ground Xavier had him by the wrist
and pulls him back to his feet.  After regaining his balance Chris once
again starts to back away from Xavier and stands at a fare distance from
him.

   "You were gonna kill me tonight, wasn't you?  I mean since you found me
before Kevin.  Why didn't you go through with it?  What changed your mind?"

   Xavier shrugs his shoulders and looks at the ground with his cap pulled
down over his eyes.  He kicks another piece of tile from the roof as Chris
walks up behind him and places his hand on his shoulder.  Slowly he turns
Xavier to face him and gently lifts his cap to look him in the eyes. 
Placing both his hands on Xavier's cheeks he asks again.

   "Why didn't you?"

   A tear runs down Xavier's left cheek as he just smiles weekly and tilts
his head.  "Because I forgive you, that is enough to be said.  "

   Chris steps back and shakes his head, a bit confused and shocked by this
answer.  He starts pacing back and forth on the roof randomly sorting
through the left over construction material.

   "No . . .  no . . .  you can't.  I don't deserve it.  You have to kill
me, it's what I deserve.  I have to pay for your death.  Please kill me,
let it be over with."

   Xavier just shakes his head and grabs Chris by the arm, pulling him back
from the pile of broken glass and splintered wood.

   "No . . .  I won't kill you.  You don't deserve it.  You were forced to
do what you did and I have no quarrel with you.  I'm ashamed to say that if
I were in your spot I'd probably have done the same thing.  I know I would
have done it.  I can't blame you, so you are innocent in my eyes and for
that reason I won't kill you."

   Chris breaks free of his grasp and begins again looking through the pile
of leftover stuff.  He finds a long piece of rope and drags it out from
under the mess.  One end of it seemed to be caught on something and
wouldn't come free, no matter how hard he pulled on it.  A cold and distant
look comes over his face as he turns and looks at Xavier.  A small smile
parts his lips and he chuckles to himself.  It's ok man I got this.

   Without another word he steps off the roof and the rope curly tightened
around his neck.  Xavier leaps after him and dives towards his choking
form. Spreading his wings wide and with a sharp downward push he grabs
Chris by the arm and snatches him from death's cold grasp, just before his
neck fully snaps.  Gliding to a soft landing, Xavier untangles the rope and
throws if from the roof as he cradles Chris in his arms rocking him gently.


   "You stupid idiot.  Why did you go and do that?  WHY?  I forgave you! 
What more do you want form me?"

   Chris just smiles up at him and coughs up a stream of blood.  Weekly he
raises his hand and brushes the bangs from Xavier's face.  "There . . . 
that's better.  Can't have the last thing I see a face full of hair."

   He tries to laugh but instead begins to shake violently and spit up more
blood.  Xavier tries to comfort him, but all he could is hold him down so
he wouldn't hurt himself further.  Chris became still as he looks up into
Xavier's face and tries once again to smile.

   "Please help me now.  I don't want to go to hell, so I need you to
finish what I started.  Please.  Don't let me burn with those two.  Help me
now and let me rest at peace."

   Xavier can't hold back his tears any longer, as he slowly rocks back and
forth holding his new friend's body.  Shaking uncontrollably he just looks
into Chris' face and tries to smile a cheerful smile for his new friend. 
"No I won't.  There has to be something I can do.  Something to save you."

   Chris just smiles and gently pats Xavier on the cheek.  "You can't save
my body, but you can save my soul.  Please help me die.  As a friend I ask
you to do this one last thing for me."

   They argued back and forth for what seemed like hours before Chris
starts to violently shake all over again.  Xavier pulls him up into his lap
and looks down into his eyes.  "Why?  I can't do it . . .  there is no way
I can bring myself to help you die.  I should help you live and I need to
take you to the hospital now.  Don't die on me . . .  and don't ask me to
let you die or even help you."

   "Please do it." Chris grabs Xavier by the hair and pulls his head closer
to his face.  "Please."

   "There has to be another way . . .  tell me that there is another way. I
can't just let it end like this."

   "The hospital can't do anything for me now.  Just help me and let me go
in peace.  Please do it."

   Xavier shakes his head in defiance as he tries again to come up with
another way to save Chris.  I...I know.  I can make you like me, a vampire.
That way you won't die.  Xavier opens his mouth and extends his fangs, but
before he can lower his head, Chris puts his hand on Xaviers chin and
pushes his mouth shut.

   Chris just looks up at him and smiles weekly.  "No man, but thanks for
the offer.  I don't think I have the stomach for eternity.' Chris looks off
into the distance and sighs.  "Man I am so tired, but for some reason I
can't seem to fall asleep"

   Xavier slowly nods and caresses Chris's forehead.  Biting his lower lip
and sobbing he looks down at him and smiles.  "Close your eyes and listen
to my voice.  I will sing you an old lullaby that my Mom sang when I
couldn't get to sleep."

   Xavier, through his tears, begins to hum the long lost lullaby of his
childhood as Chris closes his eyes.  Slowly Xavier begins to rock him, as
the humming seems to break into many different voices.  The pain Chris had
felt melts away and is soon replaced by a soft cool sensation.  As the
voices swirl around them Xaveir gently places his hands on either side of
Chris' head and sharply twists it.  There is a slight pop and then silence.
Chris breaths out slowly and his chest became still, all that moved was a
few leaves that silently drift over the sky.  Quietly in a voice almost
lost on the wind Xavier with a broken voice leans down and whispers in
Chris's ear.

   "I forgive you."

   Xavier pulls him close and kisses his forehead softly, brushing a few
stray hairs from his face.  For a long time he just sits there holding him
in his lap and rocking slowly.  As the sun began to rise, Xavier gently and
carefully moves Chris' head off of his lap as he stands and walks over to
the edge of the roof looking out across town.  Wiping the tears from his
eyes he turns and slowly walks back over to where Chris is lying.  Kneeling
beside him Xavier slowly unbuttons Chris's shirt and gently pricks his
chest with one of his claws.  After a few seconds a small pool of blood
begins to form.  Xavier leans in close and gently begins to blow over the
blood; it slowly hardens into a small red stone.  The stone begins to pulse
with the rhythm of Chris's fading heart beat.  After a few minutes of this
the stone stops its pulsing and begins to shine faintly.  Carefully he
picks it up and cradles it in his hands as he takes one last look at Chris
and turns to face the rising sun.  As the first rays of the sun creep over
the top of the church, Xavier steps back into the shadow of the steeple and
folds his wings about him.  The sun bursts over the top of the mountain and
shines fully on the spot where Xavier stands, but all that is left is a
swirl of mist that fades as the sun continues its path across the sky.

   Chris's body lay as if he had just closed his eyes for a short nap.  His
left arm was arranged across his chest with a small piece of tile in his
hand.  It had just a few tear stained words scratched on it.





   UNWILLING PARTICAPENT

   FORGIVEN

   Chapter 6

   Childish Thoughts

   The shadows parted and Xavier steps out into the light of a new day. 
With out meaning to, he now finds himself standing at the top of Christmas
Tree Hill.  It is the highest point in Richland's, and from here he could
see almost the whole town stretching out at his feet.  "How did I get here?
I was heading back to the house." A light breeze began to blow, and the
sound of soft laughter caught his attention.  "I brought you.  I needed to
speak to you before you rested." Nioby steps out from behind the main pole
of the tree and gives him a slight bow.

   Xavier bows his head and kneels on one knee in front of her.  "I am here
to serve ma-am.  What could someone so high want of someone so low?  "

   Smiling down at him she places her hand on his head.  "You have
something that should not be kept." Kneeling down in front of him she
softly places her finger under his chin and lifts his head.  She gently
brushes a lose patch of hair from his eyes and smiles softly.  "You know of
what I speak, do you not?" Looking into his eyes she just tilts her head to
the side and smiles again.

   "Yes, Ma-am." Reaching into his pocket he pulls out the stone and gently
cradles it in his hands.  Looking up at her he made a slight smile and
hands it over to her care.  As she takes it and stands in front of him, he
sits back on the ground and pulls his knees up under his chin.  Pulling his
cap over his eyes, he begins tracing small circles in the sand with his
finger.  "What will you do with it?  That is if I can ask I mean.  I saved
it so he wouldn't die." Nioby walks to the edge of the cliff and looks out
over the still sleeping town.

   Turning back to face him, she runs her hand through her hair and brushes
it back from her eyes.  "I plan on releasing it, so it can finish its
journey to the after life.  It is not to be kept, but set free."

   Xavier pulls his cap further down over his face and looks at the ground.
`I sorry, didn't mean to do anything wrong.  Is it too late to make things
rite?  "

   Nioby walks over and kneels down in front of him and kisses him softly
on the cheek.  "No child it is not too late.  Shall I release him, or would
you like the honor?  "Gently she hands him the stone and steps back and
disappears into the rising sunlight.

   Xavier rises to his knees and places the stone on the ground in front of
him.  After taking a few deep breaths, he traces his finger around it in
the sand making a small circle.  This aint gonna get it done now is it, he
thought as he picks up the slightly gleaming stone.  Sitting back on his
knees once more, he turns his cap around backwards and holds the stone
close to his chest.  With great care and ease he begins to squeeze until
the stone starts to crack and splinter.  With one last tight squeeze the
stone shatters and falls to the ground in front of him.  A strong wind
begins to blow as the pieces are gathered up and begin spiraling around
him. Great dark clouds pass over head and cover the newly risen sun,
blotting it from the torn sky.  Xavier grabs his cap and pulls it down over
his eyes as the pieces whiz by his head with ever increasing speed.  With
out warning the wind stops and the shards drop to the ground, creating a
circle around his huddled form.  The clouds stop their racing across the
sky and small rays of sunlight begin to filter through their torn fabric.

   "Hey man what's up?" The voice was familiar and spoke as if nothing had
just happened.  Xavier slowly looks up from under his cap and sees Chris
standing in front of him with a smirky smile on his face.  Xavier stumbles
backwards to the ground and just looks up at him in shock.  "H-Hey man
nothing much." Chris just shakes his head and laughs.  "Man your jumper
than a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs.  I'm not gonna
bite ya." Xavier nerviously stands to his feet and walks around him looking
him over, then skittishly reaches out to poke him on the arm, but instead
of touching warm skin, his finger goes straight through.  Jumping back he
looks at him wide eyed and just stairs with his jaw dropped in disbelief.
"Your not there I...I mean you are, but your not." Chris just starts
laughing and shaking his head pointing at him.  "Man common, you're a
freaking vampire, and now you freak out when you see a ghost.  This is just
too much." Chris continues laughing as he sits on the ground and crosses
his legs.  After a few seconds more of laughing he wipes his eyes and a
serious looks comes over his face.  Looking up at Xavier he pats the ground
beside him and motions for Xavier to join him "Common man we have to talk."

   Xavier quietly sat on the ground beside Chris and just looks at him from
under his cap.  "What do you want to talk about?" Pulling his knees up
under his chin he just sits and looks at the ground, tracing his finger in
circles.  Chris leans back bracing himself with his hands behind him and
looks up at the sky, which by now was fully lit by the morning sun.  "I
just wanted to know why you did what you did.  Or more likely what you
tried to do.  "

   Xavier just shrugs his shoulders and continues making his marks on the
ground.  "I'm not sure, I just didn't want you to die that's all.  "

   Chris just closes his eyes and smiles sitting back up straight.  "Man
its ok.  Everything dies when it's their time, and I guess it was just
mine. Besides it's not everyday that a person is forgiven for something
they did.  Even if it was against there better judgment or will.  "He
smiles as Xavier just looks at him a bit confused.  Before he could say
anything Chris stands up and looks down at him smiling.  "Well, it's time I
got out of here.  Don't want to keep you out to late in all this sun."
Putting his hand over his eyes, Chris looks up into the sky and smiles. 
"Looks like it's gonna be a hot one taday.  Not really sure, but I kinda
remember something about you not likein the sun too much.  Even before you
went and became a vampire and all.  "

   Xavier quietly stands and brushes the dirt off his shorts, looking at
him still a bit lost and confused." Where are you going?  "He fallows Chris
to the edge of the cliff and they both just look out over their small town.


   "I'm going out there he says as he points up to the sky.  "Not sure
where I'll end up, but now that we have talked, I don't think it will be
any place too bad.  Who knows, might just go see my grand folks or
something like that up there." Smiling Chris turns and puts both his hands
on Xavier's shoulders.  He just looks at him and then smiles shaking his
head.  "Your ok man, that is for a blood sucker I mean." With out another
word he pulls Xavier's cap down over his eyes.

   "Hey man that's not fair." Pulling his cap back up Xavier looks around,
but there was nobody there, just him and the ageing metal Christmas tree.
Hearing sirens, he looks over in their general direction and notices that
the police are surrounding the parking lot of the church.  "Well I guess
they have found his body then.  It didn't take them long this time.  "
Stepping back from the edge, he just watches for a few minutes, then turns
and begins walking down the trail that leads from the mountain.  He decided
to walk instead of risk being seen flying during the day.  This gave him
the chance to mill over in his head what Chris had said to him.

   As he walks through town, Xavier tips his cap to those he meets on the
street and says his good mornings.  As he was about to cross the street
near the middle of town some one yelled out his name, well his human name
that is.  Turning to see who it was he was about knocked over by one of his
friends.  As he regains his balance and pulls his cap back up from his eyes
there was Sara with one of her annoying smiles on her face.  Oh, lord, not
her he thought, as he tries his best to smile and be sociable.  It's not
that she is a bad person, it's just when she starts talking she don't know
when to stop.

   "So bitch, where ya been?  What ya been up to?  Have ya seen Lisa yet,
oh and how was your night?  Interesting I hope.  Mine was boring, all I did
was sit at home and watch TV.  Hey what's wrong, why aint you talking to
me? Xavier just stands there and shakes his head smiling a smile of SOME
ONE PLEASE SHOOT ME NOW.  Sara just stands there tapping her foot on the
ground, arms crossed with her lower lip stuck out in a little pout.  When
he finally got the chance to answer her Xavier just said that he had just
been out for a walk, and that he wasn't up to anything interesting, no he
hadn't seen Lisa yet, and that his night was not to interesting.  Having
answered her questions to the fullest extent that he wanted to go into at
the time he just stood there smiling at her.

   She just stands there and looks at him for a second or too then with out
warning, grabs him and about squeezes him to death.  "Ya know something Jev
I love you." An expression of shock and terror comes over his face as she
grabs his butt and smiles.  "Them there are some firm buns you got there."

   Pulling free from her death grip, he forces a smile and steps back a few
steps.  "UUUmm thanks I think." He looks at the ground a bit embarrassed
and tries not to let her see him blush.  For some reason a few of the
people he knows at the pizza place can't seem to keep their hands off his
butt.

   "Well, uumm, I guess I best get home.  Mom doesn't know I spent the
night out last night.  "

   A wide smile comes across her face as she grabs him by the arm and drags
him into her car.  "So bitch who is he?  What's he like?  Is he cute?  How
big is he?  Did it hurt?  How is he in bed?  Come one I'm dieing here.  "

   He just looks at her surprised and shakes his head.  No it aint anything
like that.  I just wanted to take care of a few things and just didn't get
done till a few minutes ago.  "Smiling embarrassed he just looks out the
window.  "You perv, your getting almost as bad a Kathy and let me tell you
that's bad."

   Sara just squints her eyes and smiles as she hit the gas and off they
went.  The car tires squall as they head down the street towards the edge
of town.

   "Uuumm,, where are we going?  I done told you I have to get home.  `"

   "Geese, you big baby, I have to run some errands and then I'll drop you
off at your place.  That is after I ravish your hot little body." She just
laughs as Xavier scoots as far away from her as he can.  She looks over at
him and smiles a playful smile, then starts goosing him in his side. 
"What's tha matter, nervous?  You know you want me.  " Oh My God she
squeals, as she hits her breaks and skids off the side of the road. 
Giggling insanely she jumps out of her car and runs over to where another
car was parked by a fruit stand.

   He just sat there with his arms braced against the dashboard and his
eyes wide in terror.  After a few seconds, his eyes manage to roll back
forwards in his head.  Xavier now could see what the cause of her reckless
driving was over.  It was Kathy and her daughter Casey that had caught
Saras attention, causing her to go nuts while driving.  After catching his
breath, he noticed that Sara was busy talking to Casey, and that this might
be his only chance to escape her endless questions.  He quietly opens the
door and starts to sneak out of the car when some one grabs his butt again
and yells.

   "Goin some where trelk?  I don't think so.

   Yelping in surprise he turns and sees Kathy standing behind him smiling.
"Please don't do that.  It's embarrassing.  "

   "Aaahhh shut your pie hole.  You know you like it.  " Kathy laughs as
she gets ready to grab him again.

   Casey and Sara start laughing about something and Kathy walks over to
see what there up to.  Seeing his chance to escape, Xavier quietly sneaks
off into the nearest shadow and continues on his way home.  Kathy turns to
say something else and sees that he is gone.  She just scratches her head
and shrugs her shoulders.  "Now I wonder where that trelk got off too.  Oh
well I'll just get him when I see him again.

   The rest of the trip home was blissfully uninterrupted, as he practices
stepping between shadows.  Hey this aint to bad he thought to himself as he
stepped into one shadow and appeared out of another one in a different part
of town.  His last shadow crossing took him to the bottom of his hill. 
Turning around he bumps into his mom, as she steps out of her house to feed
her cats in the back yard.  She just looks at him puzzled and frowns. 
"Where did you come from?  Thought you would still be in bed.  It's not
like you to be up so early.  "She gives him another one of those mom looks
just looks as he shrugs his shoulders looking at the ground.  "What are you
up to?  Better not be anything not right, or I'll take a switch to your
hide.  "She smacks him on the back of his shoulder as she walks back into
the house and made the remark that he still wasn't too old or too big for a
whippin.

   Rubbing his shoulder he just smiles and walks over to pick Cleo up off
the ground.  She had come down from his house when she heard his mom
calling to the other cats for breakfast.  Cleo meowed loudly and began
nuzzling her nose against his neck.  "Come on you sexy beast.  It's time to
go home and sleep.  I've had a long night.  "Cleo just purred loudly in his
ear and continued nuzzling his neck.  Stepping through a shadow by the back
porch he found himself standing in his bed room.  The curtains were still
pulled closed and the room was nice and dark, despite the suns best efforts
at getting in.  He puts Cleo on the bed and walks off into the kitchen to
see what there was to drink in the fridge.  The house was already starting
to heat up so he opens the front door and just stands looking out across
the mountains.  Cleo's meowing brought him back from his musings and he ran
the cold soda bottle across his forehead.  "Well I guess I should get to
bed.  I'm beat.  Wonder who's online.  Guess a quick peak won't hurt much.
"

   As the computer warms up, Xavier walks out and sits on his porch
watching a few dark clouds start working their way across the sky.  He soon
hears the familiar sound of some one messaging him online.  Walking back in
he sees that it is Sebastian.  Smiling he responds and they exchange their
news of the day and what they plan to do the rest of the evening.  Xavier
doesn't mention what he has really been up to lately, or what has happened
to him on the few days he's been off from work.  Sebastian was talking
about how he was considering moving out on his own and wanted to know what
Jev thought about the idea.  Xavier wanted to tell him what really had
happened, but was worried that he might start freaking out.  They had
started talking in a vampire chat room and Xavier had been using the name
Green_Eyes_Vampre, but wasn't to sure if he should reveal his new secret.
Xavier sat and stared at the screen for a bit then nervously asked the
question.  " Hey Sebastian, what would you say if I told you that I had
been kidnapped and killed, then reborn as a vamp?  Then I went out and
killed two of the three people that had killed me.  "Nervously biting his
lower lip he waited for the response.  The response didn't take to long to
come back, and it was a mix of relief and disappointment to read.  (Man how
do you come up with this stuff.  It's great, I mean I know you like all
that stuff, but I don't believe in vamps.  It's a great game to play, but
it's not really my thing.  ) Xavier just smiles sadly and types in his
response.  (Got ya, I just wanted to see what you'd say.  Occurs there's no
such thing as vamps.  Might write a book with that story line in it thou?
Well I best get off here and get some sleep.  I aint been to bed yet and
I'm starting to nod off on here.  ) Sebastian sent back his love and a
little smiley face blowing a kiss.  (Night handsome, or should I say
morning LOL.) Xavier types back his love and good nights then sadly turns
off the computer.  "I was hoping to share this new part of me with some
one, but I guess it's not that easy a thing for some to take in." After
brushing his teeth Xavier stretches out in the middle of his bed and just
looks at the ceiling.  A bit upset that Sebastian thought he was making all
this up.  Looking over at the clock he saw that the time was only 10:00 am.
Looking back up at the ceiling he closes his eyes and just lays there
listening to a song on the radio.

   Xavier woke up as Cleo jumped up on the bed and started scratching him
on the arm.  "I'm up I'm up." Rubbing his eyes and looking around he
notices the time and can't believe what he sees.  The clock now said that
it was 11:00 pm.  "Damn girl, I done went as slept the whole day away. 
Didn't think I was out that long.  "Sitting up on the bed he stretches and
yawns, looking around to see where his cap had gotten to.  Leaning over he
notices it sticking out from under the bed.  Now how did you get down there
he thought as he picks it up and knocks off the dust bunnies that seem to
have taken it over.  Heading into the bath room he starts a shower and
again pops the top off the tooth paste, humming as he brushed his teeth.

   Slipping out of his boxers, Xavier steps under the cool water and just
stands there for a bit, letting its icy fingers run across his shoulders
and down his back.  Turning to face the opposite wall he sits in the middle
of the shower, his legs crossed and eyes closed, just letting the water
wash over him.  After a few minutes he opens his eyes and notices that
small droplets of water are slowly circling around him.  A bit surprised he
looks down and notices that he is himself floating about a foot off of the
shower floor.  Relishing this newly found ability, he lets out a small yelp
and falls to the floor.  "AAAAWWWWW....  My poor backside I think I broke
something.  What was that and how did I do it?" A bit sore but excited he
steps out of the shower and grabs a towel.

   As he is drying off he hears his human name being called and he pokes
his head out of the bathroom door to see who it was.  Standing down the
hall was his mom and dad.  They just shake their heads and cover their
eyes. Ops were sorry.  We just wanted to see if you were ok.  Got a little
worried when you didn't answer the phone.  We tried calling like ten times
or so.  " Smiling embarrassed Xavier shuts the door and asks if they could
hand him his cloths.  As his dad hands the cloths though the door, Xavier
explains that he had fallen asleep and didn't here the phone.  He was sorry
for making them worry and as they could see he was fine.  Just a bit
embarrassed.  His dad said that they were leaving and that they were sorry
for just barging in like they did.

   After dressing and getting a bite to eat he took a bowel of water and
sat it in the middle of his bed.  Carefully he climbs onto the bed and
retakes the position he was in while in the shower.  Closing his eyes he
again tries to make the water move.  Half peeking to see if it was doing
anything he could see that a small spiral of water was starting to rise up
out of the bowl.  Suddenly the water splashes back into the bowl as his
concentration was broken by some one calling his name.  "Hell fire and brim
stones.  What now, can't a guy get a minute's piece around here?  "Turning
around to his horror he sees that Nioby was standing in the door way with a
concerned look on her face.  "Oh great lady I'm so sorry.  I didn't know
that it was you.  Please I'm sorry.  "In his attempt to get off the bed he
knocks over the water, spilling it all over the floor.  He just hangs his
head and looks at the floor.  Nioby smiles understandingly and walks over
to where he was still trying to get his foot free of the covers.

   Sitting on the bed beside him, she carefully untangles his ankle and
smiles.  "Child I have to talk to you, and I fear you will not like what I
am going to ask you." Her expression went from the amused smile of his
entanglement to a more stern and serious one.  Sitting on the floor in
front of her he just looks up and bites his lower lip.

   "Lady why do you look so sad?  Did I do something to upset you?  "Softly
smiling down at him she gently brushes a piece of loose hair from his eyes
and shakes her head.  "No child, you have not upset me in any way.  I just
have a favor to ask of you.  That is, if you will honor my request." Xavier
smiles and scoots closer to her.  "Great lady, all you have to do is ask
and it will be done.......  "Placing her left hand on his cheek, she shakes
her head and touches his lips with the index finger of here other hand,
effectively stopping him from finishing his sentence.  "No ...  you must
hear all before you answer." Sitting back up on the bed she looks down at
him and tries to regain her composer.  "I know that you have been hunting
down those who brought you to your death.  You are within your rites to do
this, and I will not interfere, but I ask that you stop and not go after
the one known as Kevin.  "With those words Xavier's jaw drops and his heart
skips several beats.  Sitting back on his knees he just looks at the floor
confused and is lost for words.  A range of emotions play over his face,
from fear, to disbelief, to anger, then to sadness.

   "But why?  He is the last one.  He was the one that took the most
pleasure out of it." Standing up he begins pacing around the room and slams
his fist into the books shelf at the foot of his bed, knocking over several
of his collectable dragon pieces.  "The other two wouldn't have done what
they did if he hadn't egged them on.  It's not fair.  It's just not fair.
"His eyes begin to cloud over as a strong wind starts to swirl around him.
As he is lifted off the floor the water that remained in the bowel shot
straight up and immediately froze into a sharply pointed spike.  The wind
increases as the frozen spike begins to fly wildly around the room.  Other
things begin to fly about him as Nioby stands and spreads her wings wide.
Gracefully she is lifted off the floor, seemingly unaffected by the
maelstrom swirling around them.  Softly she places her ftngers on his
forehead.  "Enough child, calm your rage and regain your mind.  "With those
words his eyes begin to clear and the swirling objects start to slow and
drop from the air.  After a few minutes he finds himself cradled in her
arms and they are once again sitting on the floor.

   All he could manage to say is, "Why?"

   She looks him in the eyes and turns her head.  "I ask you this to
possible save your life.  The one known to you as Kevin is not like most
humans.

   "Looking up at her confused he softly places his left hand on her cheek
and gently returns her gaze to him.  "What do you mean?  Not like most
humans.  "

   Not wanting to tell him, but fearing that he will find out too late to
save his life, she begins her tail.  "His blood line is almost as old as
ours.  Though he may not know it, his family has hunted our kind for
countless generations.  He may not know why he hates you so, but his blood
knows."

   Xavier sits up and looks at her confused.  "Why does he hate me?  Other
then my lying about a few bucks, he shouldn't have any quarrel with me."

   She just looks at him and calmly tries to explain it to him.  "You see
child, you may think that you were randomly chosen to become one of us. 
Yes, there was a bit of haste to the decision on the account of your age
and the fact that you were dieing before your time.  You see in ages past
there were others of your family that have had their blood mixed with ours.
This could be the reason for your intense fascination with us.  "Slowly
standing to her feet Nioby walks over to look out the window.  She pulls
back the curtain and stares out across the star filled sky.  "Your blood
remembered us and a part of it longed to regain what it had lost.  You may
not have been the one to join us, but instead some far distant descendants.
The choice was made for you when Kevin began his hunting of you.  "Walking
back over to where he sat she kneels in front of him and sits on her knees
to look him in the eyes.  "Like you I could not let a soul that had no
choice in its actions be lost.  Against the will of the other ancients I
offered you the chance to join us, thus bringing your family back into our
lives earlier then anticipated.  And in doing so, places you in the middle
of a war that has raged across time.  For that I am truly sorry.  "Lowering
her head she wipes a tear from her eyes.

   Lifting her head gently Xavier looks into her face and smiles.  "Great
lady I think I can take him." Standing to his feet Xavier tries to make a
muscle but it doesn't turn out as well as he had hoped.  A bit embarrassed
he hides his arms behind his back and blushes.  Pulling his cap down over
his eyes he begins pacing around the room.  Nioby just looks up at him and
smiles in amusement.  "Child I know you are strong, but I do not think you
are ready to face some one like him.  You are just too young and
inexperienced." He looks at her and makes what seems to be a smile, but it
just doesn't come out rite.  "I know I'm new to all this, but I'm a quick
study.  I've already learned so much, just watch." Running off into the
bathroom, he soon returns with a new bowel of water.  Sitting on the floor
in front of her he again makes another attempt at a smile.  Closing his
eyes he tries to concentrate on making the water move, but all he can hear
are her words and how he was too young to finish his hunt for revenge. 
Seeing that the water isn't going to cooperate, he hisses and knocks the
bowel across the room and sits growling under his breath, "It worked in tha
shower and just a few minutes ago.  Why aint it workin for me now?"
Becoming more aggravated by the second he pulls his knees up under his chin
and barriers his face, trying to hid his growing unhappiness.  Nioby tries
to comfort him as she reaches out to touch him on the head, Xavier hisses
and growls aloud as he smacks her hand away.  "I'm not just a kid anymore.
I'm almost sixteen now.  Well I will be in a few months anyway." Quickly
wiping the tears from his eyes he stands up and crosses his arms defiantly.
"How can you of all people ask me not to finish what I started?" Pointing
out the window he bares his fangs and hisses.  "He's out there somewhere,
and he is the last one that I need to find.  No...No I won't do it.  I'm
gonna find him and make him pay for what he did to me.  No matter what it
takes."

   Sitting back against the bed Nioby just looks at him with an expression
of surprise and disappointment, then begins to shake her head.  "No you are
not ready and I will not let you throw your life away.  Not so recklessly.
There will be a time and a place for vengeance, this is not the time.  You
need to grow stronger and learn your abilities, before going after some one
like him."

   Falling to his knees in front of her he slams his fists into the floor
and just starts sobbing.  "I'm not too young.  I'm not." Slumping over he
rests his head on the floor and starts crying uncontrollably, shaking all
over from his rage.  "He has to pay.  He just has to, and if I don't do it
then who will."

   Pulling him onto her lap she cradles him gently and begins to rock
slowly.  "Child you will have your time to go after him.  But that time is
not now.  You need to rest, and be far from this place and its memories."
Looking up at her confused he quietly asks what she means.  She just
caresses his cheek and smiles down at him.  "SSSHHHHH, child, rest and calm
your mind.  I will take care of you until you are ready." With that said
she stands, with him still in her arms and slowly walks down the hall from
his room and out onto the back porch.  She looks down into his face and
smiles softly, unfolding her great wings she steps off the top step and
they are air born.

   Xavier can see his house fading into the distance, and feels the cool
nights wind blowing over his face.  Where are we going he asks in a small
voice?  "Is it somewhere nice?"

   "Yes child.  Now rest and when you awaken you will be in a place where
you can grow and become all you are meant to be." Nuzzling his cheek into
her chest he smiles sleepily and yawns.  "That's good, I can't wait to wake
up and see where we are."

   A tear rolls down her cheek as she sees his sleeping smile.  She knows
that he will not wake up from where she is taking him.  He will sleep until
the threat of Kevin and his kind has long past, even if it takes a century
for his memories to fade.  Winging her way through the night sky she soon
passes from the world of man and enters into the vale of eternal night. 
The shadows fall away and she now stands in a large dimly lit room.  A
small fire jumps and crackles in a large stone fireplace as she places his
sleeping form on a bed of soft pillows and warm covers.  Kissing her finger
she gently and lovingly places it to his forehead and smiles a sad smile.
Moving slightly, Xavier yawns and turns over on his side, facing the wall.
Still smiling with the thoughts of what fun he will have when he wakes up,
he nuzzles his nose deep into the pillow lost in his dreams.

   Chapter 7

   Betrayal

   The fire dances brightly in the large fireplace and its light gives the
room a warm and welcoming feeling.  Xavier yawns wide and rolls over to
face its inviting warmth.  A small voice catches his ear and he sleepily
begins to wake up.  The voice was familiar to him, but he still couldn't
place it.  It floated and swirled around inside his head, whispering and
teasing.  It urged him to wake up and to follow, follow and see what was
being hidden from him.  Still half asleep and a bit annoyed at being woken
up, Xavier grumbles under his breath and crawls out from under the warm
covers.  "This had better be good.  I don't like being woke up ya know."
Still grumbling he steps out onto the cold stone floor and heads for a
large wooden door on the other side of the room.  The voice ever whispering
in his ear to hurry.  As he came to the door, he found that it was slightly
open and he could see through a small gap between the door and its frame.
As he leans up against its massive frame and peeks through the narrow crack
to his surprise he sees Nioby standing in front of a large floating ball of
light.  Her voice is sad and unsure of itself as she discussed something
with others.  He couldn't see anyone else in the room with her, but he
heard what seemed like voices coming from the ball of light.  For a second
or two he thought his eyes were playing tricks on him as other smaller orbs
of light begin floating around the room.  Shaking his head he knocked his
hand up against the side of his face to jar his eyes back into focus.  To
his surprise the multi colored orbs remained and now they were talking as
well.  He watched as Nioby patiently answered each of their questions and
posed questions of her own.

   Groggy and still half asleep, the voice urged him to wake up and pay
attention.  `LISTEN YOUNG ONE, AND LISTEN WELL.  THESE ARE NOT THE FREINDS
THAT THEY CLAME TO BE." Still half asleep Xavier slumps against the wall
and rubs his eyes, trying his best to shake off the overpowering urge to
sleep.  "My name is Xavier." Stretching and again taking a large yawn he
looks around the room.

   "WHAT DID YOU SAY YOUNG ONE?"

   "My name is Xavier, not child or young one.  So stop calling me that."
The room grew cold and silent, as if a great hatred was beginning to brew
in the very air itself.  The voice spoke again but this time it seems
colder and a bit crueler.

   "PLEASE FORGIVE.  I MENT NO DISRESPECT.  IT IS THAT YOU ARE STILL SO
YOUNG, AND I JUST ASSUMED THAT ...."

   Looking around, but still not seeing where the voice was coming from
Xavier hisses and growls.  "Well that was your first mistake.  Don't assume
anything with me.  I may be young, but I'm ah quick study and I now know
how to defend myself.  So just back off and leave me alone."

   For a time there is silence then with a low growl the voice returns. 
"THEN I WILL LEAVE YOU, BUT IF YOU EVER NEED ME ALL YOU NEED DO IS CALL MY
NAME.

   Grunting and hissing loudly Xavier crosses his arms and leans back up
against the wall.  "Yeah whatever.  What is it then?"

   "WHAT IS WHAT YOUNG...I MEAN XAVIER?"

   "Your name, you idiot.  What did you think I was asking for, a date?"
The voice seems to make what sounds like a mix between a laugh and a growl.

   "NIX"...

   Xavier just shrugs his shoulders and growls.  "Whatever now go away,
you're starting to get on my nerves..." As he looks through the crack in
the door again the chill in the air disappears and Nix is gone.  Noticing
that his unseen guest was gone, Xavier just grunts "jerk."

   The darkness that is Nix's domain swirls and explodes as he appears and
begins pacing back and forth.  Laughing to himself, he begins to sit as a
large throne made of what appeared to be skulls and bones forms out of the
mist behind him.  "HAHAHAHAHAHA.......This is too easy.  The child only
needs to be provoked and he will do whatever I need.  Oh what fun this will
be.  Now all I need do is lead him to where he can find the stone that
holds me." Placing his hand to his chin, he begins to form his plans.

   Xavier meanwhile sits and listens intently to what the others are
talking about.  Nioby paces around the room as the others try and convince
her to seal him in an eternal sleep, or one that is long enough to cause
him to forget his lust for revenge.  A large orb of bright green hovers
nearest to her and the soft voice of a man gently poses the question. 
"Nioby be reasonable, if he continues to hunt these people, then he will be
seen by the humans and we will be exposed.  Are you willing to risk all of
our lives for this child?"

   Shaking her head she stares out an open window and drops her head.  "No,
but I said that I would not interfere in his hunt.  I asked him to leave
them, and the hurt I saw in his eyes cut deep into my heart.  The pain of
my request was almost too much to bier.  That is why I brought him here,
and sought your council."

   The brightly colored orbs begin to circle the larger one as it slowly
rose toward the ceiling.  "Then it is the decision of this council that you
place your young charge into a deep sleep until we have decided that the
threat to us and to him has passed."

   She hangs her head and takes a deep breath.  "Is this the will of the
whole council then?  It would appear then that I have no other choice left
to me then.  It will not be easy, but I will do as you instruct." Unnoticed
by the others, she wipes a tear from her eyes and remarks under her breath
that this was not fair, and that she prays that Xavier can someday forgive
her.

   Xavier growls and slams his elbow against the wall.  "She lied to me,
and I was fool enough to believe her.  Nix was rite she aint my friend."
Quietly he stands up and walks back over to the bed and climbs back onto
it, pulling his knees up under his chin.

   "SO I TAKE IT YOU HAVE SEEN SOMETHING INTERESTING." Nix's voice swirls
around inside his head once more.  "DID I NOT TELL YOU THAT SHE AND THE
OTHERS WERE NOT TO BE TRUSTED?"

   Barring his face into his knees, he tries not to cry and instead takes
his cap off and swings it around his head trying to make Nix go away. 
"Leave me alone you jerk.  I didn't ask for your opinion.  Now go away."
The shadows in the room begin to move towards the bed and condense into a
single deep blackness.  Peeking from under his cap Xavier can see that the
darkness is taking the shape of a man.  In appearance he doesn't seem to be
much older than Xavier, but the feeling Xavier gets from it makes his skin
crawl.  They are feelings of power and rage.  An overwhelming sense of
ancientness fills the room.  Nix now stands before him and he makes a
slight bow in Xavier's direction.  Xavier sits up and just stares at him
with a puzzled look on his face.  "What tha hell?  Are ya ah ghost or what?
I mean I can see straight through ya."

   Nix just laughs and drifts over to where he sat.  "NO I'M NOT A GHOST.
YET I'M NOT QUITE ALIVE EAITHER.  THANKS TO THOSE THAT CALL THEMSELVES YOUR
FRIENDS, I NOW I'M JUST HERE." Smiling slyly he stands behind Xavier and
places his claw like hands on his trembling shoulders.  "LOOK WELL, THIS IS
WHAT THEY PLAN TO DO TO YOU.  UNLESS YOU STOP THEM BEFORE THEY CAN."

   Placing his hands over Xavier's eyes, Nix bids him to look and see what
lays in store for his future.  Slowly Xavier opens his eyes and sees
through the mist that makes up Nix hands.  The sight that greats his
unprepared eyes cause him to fall back against the wall.  Before him there
stretched a large open space, almost as far as his eyes could see.  It was
surrounded along its sides by large crystal columns.  In each, there seemed
to be someone standing or kneeling.  On some of their faces, there were
looks of complete horror, or looks of untold sadness that would move the
most hardest of hearts to tears.  Still others stood in silent defiance. 
"Nix who are they?  What did they do to deserve this, to have it done to
them?"

   Nix just smiles and places his ghostly hands on Xavier's shoulders
again. "OH NOTHING...  SOME WERE PUT HERE BECOUSE THEY WERE INCONVEIENT,
MISUNDERSTOOD, AND SOME WERE YOUNG AND HEADSTRONG." Looking over his
shoulder Nix smiles evilly, as he sees that this last statement has upset
Xavier a bit, he then casually drifts around the room seemingly distracted
by the dust on a few shelves.

   "No that's not true, it just can't be.  Why would they do that to some
one just because they have different ways of seeing things than they do?"
Pulling his cap down, he once again cover his eyes trembling in fear of
what he sees.

   Drifting back over to the bed where Xavier is still trying to figure out
what he has seen.  Nix sighs and does his best act to seem concerned.  "OH
XAVIER WHAT IS IT, DID I SAY SOMETHING THAT HAS UPSET YOU?  I DIDN'T MEAN
TO MAKE YOU CRY.  PLEASE FORGIVE ME."

   Xavier sniffs back his tears and wipes his nose then looks up at him. 
"I'm not crying.  I just got something in my eye that's all so just back
off." He growls and gives Nix a dirty look barring his fangs.  Climbing off
the bed he stands in front of Nix and pulls his cap halfway down over his
eyes.  "What is it to you what I do?  It's not like your gonna get anything
out of this if I listen to you."

   Nix looks surprised and drifts back over to the window and looks out. 
"WELL NOW IF THAT DOSEN'T JUST BEAT ALL.  BOY...I DON'T EXPECT TO GET
ANYTHING FROM YOU, I REALLY COULD CARE LESS IF YOU LISTEN TO ME OR NOT."
Watching him from the corner of his eye Nix smiles an evil smile and then
turns to face Xavier.  "ALL I WANTED WAS FOR YOU TO SEE THEM FOR WHAT THEY
TRULLY ARE, PETTY, JUDGMENTAL, AND FRIGHTENED FOOLS.  IF SOMEONE JOINS
THEIR LITTLE GROUP AND UPSETS THEM, THEN THAT PERSON JUST DISAPPEARS."
Appearing behind Xavier he leans in close whispering in his ear softly. 
"AND IS NEVER SEEN AGAIN."

   A shiver runs down his spin as Xavier hears those last words, and
realizes that such a fate was about to befall him.  Spinning around, he
strikes out at Nix and disperses his shadowy form, as if that would help
stop the feelings of betrayal and hatred that were now building up in his
heart.  "Just shut up.  Stop it, just STOP IT NOW!!" Nix reforms a few
steps away from him and just grins.  He knows that if he can upset Xavier
enough, then he will be ready to defy Nioby and the others.  He just needed
to push him a little further and he would crack.

   Nioby swings open the heavy wooden door and quickly steps inside. 
"Child are you alright?  Who are you talking to?" By this time Nix had
faded back into the walls and Xavier is left standing alone in the middle
of the room to face her.  He just stands and looks at her with an
expression that resembles that of a child that has just realized that there
was no Santa Clause or Easter bunny.  He isn't sure if he is upset at the
idea of what they were going to do to him, or that it was Nioby herself
that had brought him here for it to happen.

   "Child what has happened?  You seem upset."

   He bites his lower lip as he wipes the tears from his eyes and looks at
the floor.  "Why...why did you bring me here lady?  Didn't I love you
enough, or...or, did I up set you some how?  Tell me so I can make it
right. Just don't do this please."

   She just looks at him strangely and steps further into the room.  "What
are you talking of child?  You have not upset me, but you are starting to
worry me now.  I do not know what you are speaking of."

   Breaking down in tears Xavier falls to his knees and slams his fist into
the floor.  Leaning over he rests his head to the floor and starts shaking
all over as he continues crying.  "DON'T LIE TO ME.  I CAN'T TAKE ANY MORE
LIES.  Trembling Xavier lifts his hand and points to a dark corner of the
room.  "Just tell me that he is tha one lying and I'll believe you, just
tell me please."

   Directing her gaze to where he was pointing, she sees no one there, just
an empty shadow filled space.  "Child who are you talking about, I see no
one.' Nioby walks over to where he was sobbing on the floor and kneels down
in front of him.  Softly she places her arms around him and pulls him close
to her.  "Child, I will not lie to you.  Ask your questions and I will tell
you what I am allowed." Lifting his head so she can look him in the eyes,
she kisses him gently on the nose and smiles.  "Now dry your tears and calm
your mind.  First, please tell me who has filled your head with the idea
that I have lied to you."

   Xavier begins to calm his sobbing as she gently starts to rock him in
her arms and begins humming a soft song.  He wipes his tears and with a
soft whimper he says the name Nix.

   Nioby briefly stops her song and sits still, and then returns to gently
rocking him.  He looks up and notices that her expression though still
smiling now has a bit of fear mixed in with it.  "When did you talk with
him?"

   Xavier shrugs and messes with his cap.  "Just a minute ago, he was here
and was talking about what yall was gonna do to me."

   Nioby looks down at him as she continues to gently rock back and forth.
"What did he say we were going to do?  That is if I may ask?"

   Xavier sniffs back a few tears and runs his hand across his nose.  "Well
he didn't really say anything, but he did show me something, something
bad."

   "Yes, what was it that he showed you?" Gently she turns him so he now
faces her.  She looks down at him and brushes a patch of stray hair from
his face and tries to smile a reassuring smile.

   Xavier weakly smiles back and pull his cap down over his eyes.  "Well
ma-am he showed me a place that had all kinds of people in it, but they
weren't people.  I think they were like us, vampires I mean.  They didn't
look at all happy to be there.  All froze in place, in big crystals.  Some
were crying and some were just standing there with no expression at all. 
It was awful." Standing up he walks back over and climbs up onto the middle
of the bed.  As he pulls his knees up under his chin, he starts messing
with the covers, then slowly looks up at her.  "He said that you and those
other people were gonna put me there for not being like you.  Not fitting
in, or cause I was not behaving, or something like that.  Wasn't really
sure of what he said now.  Just don't like the idea of being there alone."
Barring his head in his knees Xavier just sits and starts sobbing again at
the thought of his soon-to-be future.

   Nioby quietly sits on the bed beside him and puts her hand on his knee.
"Then ask what it is that you want to know, and I will tell you the truth.
Unlike him I will not deceive you for my own ends."

   Looking up at her he tilts his head to the side and quietly, almost
unheard asks if they are going to put him in that place.

   Nioby lowers her head and with out a word closes her eyes and just nods.


   Xavier bites his lower lip and brushes another loose strand of hair from
his eyes nodding.  "Oh...  ok." Not sure of what to do now, he just sits
and chews on his lower lip, looking down at the covers.  He didn't expect
such a direct answer with no attempt to explain or deny it.

   Nioby looks up and starts to reach out to touch him, but he flinches and
she stops just short of his arm.  "Child please know that we did not come
to this decision lightly.  It is just that we are concerned that you are
not yet ready to face some one like Kevin.  He is too strong for you, even
if he dose not yet realize his bloods calling.  I am truly sorry, please
believe me."

   "When will I have to go?" Xavier doesn't even bother to look up as he
repeats the question a bit louder, knowing full well that she had heard it
the first time.

   "In a few hours, as the moon reaches its highest point in the sky.  I
will come for you and together we will walk to the chamber of silence."
Standing up she turns and slowly walks to the door "Is there anything I can
get for you?  All you need do is ask and it will be given."

   With a weak laugh, he just smiles and asks "Well I'd really like an
extension on my sentence.  That is if it aint too much trouble."

   Smiling softly, Nioby just hangs her head and states that she will see
what she can do, but first she has some one that she needs to talk to. 
Silently closing the door behind her she is gone in a swirl of mist.

   Xavier is now left alone.  For the first time in his whole life he finds
that he is afraid of the dark.



   Chapter 8

   End Game

   The chamber is silent and dimly lit by two flickering candles on a small
stone table in the center of the massive room.  The walls glow faintly from
the many crystal columns that ring its sides.  This place was created
centuries ago.  Its very existence has been forgotten by all but the most
ancient of the immortals.  It had but one purpose when it was created, the
holding and forgetting of the vampire clans' most dangerous enemies.  As
the centuries passed and the number of threats to the clans diminished it
has taken on a secondary role.  A place for those who have broken a law of
the clans were to be placed there until their crime has been forgiven.

   Nioby appears in front of the table and looks down crossly at a small
gem that is hovering slightly above its smooth stone top.  She begins
taping her finger on the edge of the table as she slowly circles it several
times.  Slowly she makes one final circle around the table and stops just
in front of the stone.  "Nix we have to talk.  I know you can hear me.  You
will answer me, or by all that is holy I will bury you so deep that you
will never again see another living soul or a dead one for that matter. 
NOW ANSWER ME." Several seconds pass with no answer, just the moaning of
the wind as it passed between the frozen lips of those kept in this dark
long forgotten place.  Nioby slams her hands on the table and in a voice
much louder than she is used to, she repeats her request.  "ANSWER ME NOW."


   "Temper, temper dear sister.  No need to shout, you will wake the dead."
Appearing behind her Nix mockingly smile and gives a low bow.  "How may I
serve one of the great council?  Or is it that you need something from me?
I wonder which it could be." Silently he glides across the room and
aimlessly inspects one of his frozen comrades, carelessly flicking a spec
of dust from its frozen lips.  Nioby crosses her arms and just stars at him
annoyed.  `You know why I am here, so do not try my patients.  I am not in
the mood for your games." He flicks another spec of dust from one of the
columns and just smiles.  "Oh yes I remember now.  I had a small chat with
a most interesting little fellow just not to long ago.  He was not to happy
to learn of what his great benefactor was going to do to him, just because
he wanted to finish hunting down those that hurt him.  A real shame that he
will never know what it is like to be free ever again.  Is it not?"

   Placing her hand to her head she just looks away.  "You do not know what
you are talking about trader.  If we do not stop him he will die.  This is
not something that I am willing to sit back and watch.  He has so much to
offer, but if he goes off on his childish quest for revenge then he will
fight and he will loose."

   "So I'm being childish?  Is that what you think?" She turns in surprise
when she hears this half sobbing question.  She turns to face Xavier who
now was standing behind her trying not to break down in tears.  His face
was pale and filled with emotions that he didn't understand.  He stands
with his fists clinched and his cap pulled down over his tear filled eyes.
"Nix was rite you lied to me.  You told me that you could understand that I
wanted revenge, but now ya say that it is childish."

   "Please child let me take you back to your room and we will talk there.
This is not the best place for you to be now." She reaches out to take him
by the wrist but he just growls and pulls away from her.  "My name is
Xavier and no I don't think I'm gonna go any where with you ever again."
Wiping his eyes he smiles up at her and starts to walk around her in
circles.  "Yeah I know that's ah bit childish, but hey guess what.  I am
achid.  And as my momma used to say, "Children will play." So guess what
I'm gonna go and play." With that He tips his cap and blows her a little
kiss, then steps back into the nearest shadow and vanishes.

   "Jev wait come back." Reaching into the shadow she tries to pull him
back but is too late he's gone.  Grumbling under her breath, she walks back
over to the table and stares deeply into the dimly shining stone.

   "His name is Xavier, not Jev.  You should try and remember that." Nix
glides behind her and smiles amused.  Nioby slams her hands on the table
and gives him a look that would freeze his soul, provided that he still had
one.  "Will you please shut up?  This is all you're doing anyway.  If you
would have only kept your spectral mouth shut, then we would not be here
now and this would not be happening.  Nix if anything happens to him I
will...."

   Nix stands in front of her and crosses his arms in defiance.  "You will
what?  It's not like you or the others can do more to me than you've
already done.  So what will you do now oh great and powerful ancient?"

   Knowing that there was some truth in what he had said Nioby can only
shake her head.  `You arrogant son of a ......, she just turns her head and
looks him in the eyes if anything happens to Jev then I will personally see
that you suffer for all eternity." As she walks away Nioby stops and looks
over her shoulder.  "And believe me Nix I will find a way to make you
suffer, make no mistake about that.  You are not the only one that can defy
the council and get away with it." Blowing him a small kiss she vanishes in
a swirl of mist and leaves him to figure out what she meant.

   The shadows part and Xavier finds himself once again standing in his bed
room.  As he walks down the hall that leads from his room to the living
room the phone rings and causes him to jump a bit.  Still trying to wipe
the tears from his eyes he answers the phone in a broken voice.  "Hello...

   (Hey Jev it's me Sara.  What cha up to?)...

   UUUmm...hey Sara now aint a good time ta talk.

   (Oh of course it is.  Hey where did you take off too earlier taday?  I
was talking to you and then you were gone.  Talk about rude.)

   Oh I'm sorry.  Just wanted to get home and besides I was tired.

   (Whatever, ya still didn't tell me what happened last night and if he
was cute or not.  So spill tha beans.  I want details.)

   Hey Sara now aint a good time.  I'm tired and want to go to sleep.

   (Well fine, guess I will talk at ya later.)

   Ok see ya."

   Walking out on the porch, he folds his wings and sits quietly on the
bench just looking out across the night's sky.  "I'll show her.  I'll show
them all that I aint a kid anymore." After a few minutes of this he walks
back into the house and starts running a cold shower.  As he sits against
the wall letting the water run over his tired muscles he tries to figure
out a way to find his last victim.  Yawning sleepily he streatches and pops
the bones along his spine.  With a cheeky smile he looks over to the window
and laughs.  "Hey Kev do me a favor, tell me where ya are so we can finish
this tonight." There was no answer.  As if he really expected to hear one.
"Typical, not like he was actually gonna save me tha trouble of looking for
him.  Well I guess I'll have ta just do it myself." Stepping out of the
shower Xavier walks outside into the middle of his back yard under a full
moon.  The way his house was situated on top of the mountain, there was no
fear of him being seen outside naked.  After a few minutes of walking
around the yard he made his way to his intended destination.

   Ya see, some months before he had made a stone circle there and planned
one day to make it into a gazebo, but so far he hadn't gotten around to it
yet.  So far it was only made up of a small circle of stones.  He had read
up on the practice of Wicca and had decided on making it into a small
shrine instead.  The circle was made up of small standing stones and at
each of the four compos points stood a larger stone with a flat top.  On
each alter there sat a bowl, and in each bowl there was one of the four
elements.  Xavier decides to see if he could mix Wicca with his newly
gained Vampire powers.  If the Vampire ancients won't help me, then maybe
the earth's sprits will.  Hey who knows he thought.  It might just be the
extra power boost I need to find Kevin's hiding place.

   Taking his spell book from its hiding place he lights a few candles
around the edge of the circle and sits in its center with his legs crossed.
"Now all I have to do is call upon the sprits to aid me.  And we can get
this party started.  It took a few minutes to find the spell he was looking
for and after studying it for a few minutes more he places the book before
him and closes his eyes.  Clearing his through he lowers his head and
begins the chant.

   O Mother Goddess,

   O Father God,

   Answer to all mysteries and yet mysteries unanswered;

   In this place of power I open myself;

   To your Essence.

   In this place and in this time I am changed;

   From henceforth I walk the Wicca path.

   I dedicate myself to you, Mother Goddess and Father God.

   The candles flare up and a strong wind begins to blow across his naked
body, whipping his hair about him in long flowing spirals.  The clouds race
across the night's sky and soon the moon is cloaked in shadows.  Standing
to his feet he raises his arms and tilts back his head.  In a loud voice
that rivals the howling of the wind he continues his chant.

   I breathe your energies into my body, commingling,

   Blending,

   Mixing them with mine,

   That I may see the divine in nature,

   Nature in the divine,

   And divinity within myself and all else.

   O Great Goddess,

   O Great God,

   Make me one with your essence

   Make me one with your essence

   Make me one with your essence.  W To his surprise the circle begins to
glow as streaks of light circle around him.  Xavier closes his eye again as
he is gently lifted off the ground and slowly begins to rotate.  With each
pass of the lights they would enter him as a bubble of energy begins to
form around him.  As the last of the lights enters into his body the bubble
expands and explodes as he extends his arms to his sides and screams.  As
the energy disperses he is gently lowered to the ground and rests on his
knees.  "Man what ah rush." The winds begin to slow and the clouds move
more easily across the sky.  A small beam of moonlight peeks through the
clouds and brightens the spot where he kneels.  Closing his book he
replaces it in its hiding place and thanks it for its use.  "Now with these
new abilities I will be able to find who ever I want in no time.  But first
I need to ask one more favor of the earth." Walking over to the bowl of
dirt, he lifts it above his head and with a clear voice begins a new chant.


   O Spirit of the North,

   Ancient One of the Earth,

   I call you to attend this circle.

   Change this by your powers, Old One!

   As he says this a greenish mist begins to form around the stone and
takes the form of a person.  The wispy spirit slowly and gently takes the
bowl form his hands and gives a slight bow.  After he bows back he walks
over to the next stone, after softly blowing into it he raises it above his
head.

   O Spirit of the East,

   Ancient One of Air,

   I call you to attend this circle.

   Change this by your powers, Old One!

   As he says this a whitish mist begins to form around the stone and takes
the form of a person.  The spirit takes the bowl and bows.  With a return
bow he moves on to the next stone this time the stone of fire.  In a small
crack just below the stone he removes a box of matches and carefully lights
one, dropping it into the bowl.  Lifting it over his head he calls.

   O Spirit of the South,

   Ancient One of Fire,

   I call you to attend this circle.

   Change this by your powers, Old One!

   A mist of red forms and takes the bowl from his hands with a bow. 
Xavier bows and moves to the final stone.  Twisting a small portion of his
hair over the bowl, he manages to squeeze out a few drops of water into it
then he lifts it high over his head.  Now I call to the last of the great
spirits and complete the circle.

   O Spirit of the West,

   Ancient One of Water,

   I call you to attend this circle.

   Change this by your powers, Old One!

   As the bluish mist takes the form of a person it bows and receives its
bowl.  Xavier steps back and bows in turn.  Now that the spirits of the
stones are here the circle glows brightly and begins to pulse with ancient
power.

   I thank you for answering my call and I need to ask a question of you.
Xavier takes his place in the center of the stones and sits quietly on his
knees.  With one voice they speak.

   (ASK YOUR QUESTION CHILD, AND IF IT IS WITHIN OUR POWER TO ANSWER WE
SHALL.)

   Respectifly he lowers his head before speaking "I ask only this, that
you aid me in the search for the one known as Kevin Helsin."

   The spirits remain silent then slowly replace their bowls onto the
alter. A bit confused by their actions he raises his head and looks at
them. "Have you reached your answer so quickly?  Please tell me where he
is."

   (NO CHILD.  IT IS NOT WITHIN OUR POWERS TO ANSWER.)

   "But why not?  I need your help.  He has to pay for his actions."

   (CHILD WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO INTERFEAR.  YOU MUST FIND HIM YOURSELF.)

   With this said they slowly and silently disappear.  "No wait, why won't
you help me?  It's not fair!' With his outburst he stands and knocks
several of the bowls off there stones.  Falling to his knees he growls and
slams his fits on the ground.  "Who need them anyway?"

   "Oh poor baby, what ever is the matter?" Nix drifts up behind him and
smiles.  "You didn't really expect them to help, did you?"

   Xavier looks up at him and growls, taking a swing at him.  He was too
upset to realizes hat Nix's body wasn't really there, his fist just passed
through a cold mist.  "Man shut up.  I'm not in the mood for your little
jokes.  Leave me alone."

   Nix just smiles and drifts over to the only bowl that still is sitting
on its stone.  "Pity, I guess you didn't know that those so called spirits
were really vampires.  And that they were sent by the council of ancients."


   Xavier looks up in disbelief and bares his fangs.  "What are you talking
about?  How can they be vampires if they are elementals?"

   "You poor witless fool, if you had taken the time to study up on your
vampire history then you would know that all so called elementals are in
fact vampires."

   Xavier grunts and crosses his arms.  "You're lying.  It's not true. 
I've read all the books I could find about elementals and they didn't
mention anything about that." Nix just chuckles and drifts around the
circle inspecting the condition of the other dislodged offerings.

   "You poor small minded child.  You of all people should know that you
can't believe everything you read."

   As Xavier sits growling under his breath, Nix contuse to float around
the edge of the circle chuckling.  "Well if you need help finding him, all
you had to do was ask, and I'd tell you where he is."

   Looking up at him with a frown, Xavier brushes his bangs from his eyes.
"Then why didn't you tell me when we were talking earlier?  Why did you
wait until now and let me go through all this before you said any thing?"

   Turning to look at him Nix just smiles.  "You had to learn the truth for
yourself.  That the others will not stand up to the council.  This should
show you that you are truly on your own, that is if you don't want my
help." Nix drifts around the circle again and bumps the remaining bowl off
of its stand, sending it crashing to the ground.  As the bowl smashes and
its contents spill out a small spark of light explodes and for a second
Xavier could see Kevin.  From what he could see he thought that he saw him
sitting among some large flat faced stones.

   "Wait, wait where was that?  Do it again, I saw him, but couldn't tell
where he was."

   Nix agrees to show him again, but states that he can't because he is
weak, and needs to be near his soul stone.  "If you retrieve it for me and
bring it here then I will be able to aid you in your search."

   Xavier sits and just looks up at him, trying to decide what to do next.
He had just learned that he couldn't count on the other ancients for help,
so what was the deal with Nix wanting to help?  "Ok man but if you are
trying to trick me, then don't think that I won't take it out of your
hide." Concentrating on the place where Nix's stone was kept, Xavier slowly
reaches into his shadow on the ground and after a few seconds pulls out a
smalls shining stone.

   Nix smiles and begins rubbing his claw like hands together.  "That's it
my boy.  Now I have the power to show you were that whelp Kevin is hiding.
Now be very careful and place it in the center of the circle."

   Xavier smiles slyly and begins tossing the stone from hand to hand and
high into the air.  "Ops I'm sorry I guess this aint what you meant by
being careful now is it."

   Nix gives out a screech and tries to catch it as it falls dangerously
near the ground.  "You clumsy brat, that is not a toy now be careful with
it." Smiling even more he tosses it higher into the air and catches it just
as it was about to hit the top of one of the stones.  "Oh chill you old
goat, I aint gonna drop it, besides it's just an old stone aint it."

   Nervously Nix regains his former composer and slicks back his spectral
hair.  "It's not just an old stone you little twit.  It's the only reason
I'm still here.  Drop that and I will cease to exist." Looking back over
his shoulder he notices that Xavier has a sly grin on his lips.  "Oh and
don't go and get any ideas, got it."

   Placing the stone on the ground Xavier just shrugs and mumbles under his
breath, "Yeah whatever dude."

   Nix instructs him to sit and hold the stone up in front of him.  "Now as
you clear you mind, try and visualize Kevin and the powers of the stone
will lead your minds eye to where he is.  Understand?"

   Sighing heavily Xavier just rolls his eyes and waves him away.  "Yeah...
yeah...I got it now back off your invading my personal space.  Gggeessss
what ah nag."

   Reluctantly, Xavier does as he is told and closes his eyes.  As his mind
clears itself of the recent happenings, he begins to think of Kevin and
where he might be found.  The stone begins to pulse in his hands and he
feels the rush of air past his nude form, as if he were moving through it
at high speeds.  He can here Nix voice in his head as the air begins to
move more slowly around him.

   "Now, open your eyes and see.  Open them I say."

   Opening his eyes slowly, he finds that he is moving through the streets
of town.  It was as if he was flying but he knew that he was still sitting
firmly out in his backyard because he could feel the soft touch of wet
grass beneath his naked skin.  He darted up and down different ally ways
like some bird searching for its nest.  Finally he flew over the stone
gates of the local cemetery, and as before darted among its weathered
headstones.  Soon he sees a large bond fire burning in the far corner of
this hallowed place, and to his surprise there stood Kevin boozing it up
and knocking over some of the stones.  Circling high above him Xavier's
heart begins to pound as the long suppressed anger began to boil up, ready
to be released.  "Come back now child.  You have found what you were
looking for."

   Before he could strike Xavier felt his sprit being pulled backwards, and
along the same path he had just taken.  He is knocked backwards as his
spirit reenters his body, and he just lays there cussing and pounding his
fists on the ground.  "Why did ya do that for?  I was about to finish this
and you go and stop me.  I thought you were gonna help me find him so I
could get this over with."

   Nix just rolls his eyes and mockingly places his hands on his hips.  "Oh
calm down before you go and have a heart attack.  I did what I said I would
do didn't I.  I said that I'd help you find him and find him you did. 
Besides what were you gonna do?  You were a spirit like me.  And like me
you had no physical body.  So what was your plan, gonna rattle some chains
and moan real loud?  I'm sure that would have really made him pee his
pants."

   Hissing and growling loudly, Xavier jumps to his feet and snatches Nixes
soul stone form the ground.  "Ya know something, I'm really getting sick
and tired of your smart mouth and tha way you're constantly putting me
down. You're no better than the rest, I should just put ya back where I
found ya and be done with it." Walking back into the house Xavier tosses
the stone on the bed and starts digging through his closet for something to
wear.  "Hell Fire and Brim Stones.  Where are those cloths?  Just had em a
few minutes ago, oh there they are.  How'd they get all the way under there
I wonder." As Xavier flops down on the floor after getting dressed he
accidentally bumps the bed and causes Nixes stone to roll off and hit the
floor.  "Ops sorry man didn't mean ta do that.  Heheh." As he begins to
braid his hair Xavier lean back against the bed and asks Nix how he got in
tha stone in tha first place.

   Caught off guard by his question Nix begins to nervously drift back and
forth.  It didn't take him long though to think up something and he turns
to face him with a slight grin on his lips.  "Well like you I was betrayed
by those I thought I could trust." Xavier looks up at him confused as he
holds the end of his braid in his mouth while he feels around on the floor
for the hair band that he had just dropped.

   `What ya mean betrayed by those you trusted?"

   Nix drifts over beside him and sits on the bed looking down at him.  `It
was a long time ago and I was once a member of the high council of
vampires. I was one of its founding members along with your mentor Nioby.
Well to make a long story short, I did as you I upset cretin members of the
counsel and they trapped me in this stone."

   Picking it up Xavier closely examines the shining stone that now pulsed
in his hands.  "But you said that if it was cracked, that you would die.  I
though that if something like that was cracked, then the one inside of it
would be set free.'

   With a sly smile Nix places his hand on Xavier's should and shakes his
head.  "No young one, I have been in it for far too long.  You see my body
has long since turned to dust and only the magic found in this stone can
keep me from the land of the dead."

   Xavier finishes tying up his braid and spits it out looking up at him
with and expression of fear on his face.  "Wait ah sec.  They did that to
you and now they wanna do it to me.'

   Nix just looks down at him from the corner of his eye and shrugs his
shoulders.  "It looks that way to me."

   Xavier quietly stands to his feet and pulls his cap down over his eyes.
With out another word he walks out of his room and down the hall mumbling
under his breath.  As he passes Cleo sitting on the counter he scratches
her behind the ear and remarks that he will be back later.  He has
something to take care of tonight.  Slamming the screen door behind him,
Xavier walks out on the porch and climbs up on to the roof.  Nix silently
passes through the roof and stands beside him as he attaches the cuffs to
his ankles and writs.  "Why do you still wear those awful things?  They
will only serve to remind you of your shame and loss of innocence.' Shewing
away a small bug that had started flittering around him Nix just looks over
at Xavier.  "I'd throw them away if I were you."

   Xavier looks back at him and just grunts.  "Well your not me and I want
to remember what happened.  If I forget for just a second then Kevin and
the others will have won.  I don't want to forget till either he or I am
cold and dead.  I will show them that I'm not a child." Holding his fist
over his head and looking up into the clear night's sky he yells "I'LL SHOW
YOU WHOS AH CHILD.  I'LL SHOW YOU ALL."

   As he spreads his wings and takes off in the direction of the cemetery.
Nix just smiles and fades back into what ever realm he now holds as his
own. "How easily I move my new piece around the board.  I only now have to
think of a way to trick him into breaking the seal around this prison."

   Xavier waists no time as he soars high over the sleeping town, he now
knew where to find Kevin and sorely wanted to put an end to this nights
hunt.  As he reaches the great stone arch that marks the entrance to the
Clinch Valley Cemetery he can already smell Kevin's sent.  As with Brads it
was mixed with the unmistakable sent of alcohol and hopefully like Brad,
this wouldn't take to long to finish.  Gliding low over the head stones he
calls upon his newly acquired gifts to form a thick mist that silently
covers the ground as he passes.  Landing on one of the larger crypts that
dotted the landscape he crouches and bares his fangs looking down at
Kevin's late night picnic.  Kevin unaware of this stumbles around the bond
fire and kicks over several near by tombstones.  "Dang thing almost made me
fall.  Well now who was tha one that fell?  Huh...  tell me that smart guy
HAHAHAHA." Slumping against an old oak tree he tosses the empty bottle over
his shoulder and burps.  "Ops excuse me.  Hahahah.  Hope I didn't wake
anybody up.  Hahahah" After popping open the lid to another bottle he takes
a gulp and spits it onto the fire causing it to flare up as he laughs
wildly.  `Yeah baby burn, burn baby burn."

   Xavier hisses loudly and jumps down silently from the crypt folding his
wings behind him.  As the mist covers the ground he silently walks around
where Kevin was seated, just out side of the reach of his fires light. 
When the mist had completely covered the whole of the cemetery, he quietly
leans up against one of the nearby tombs and purred softly.  "Now we will
have a little fun with him before he is taught not to disturb such a
peaceful place." Stepping out into the mist he raises his arms and
disappears in a swirling wave of the cooling vapor.

   Kevin mumbles and grumbles about something as the mist silently begins
to cover even thefire, causing it to flicker and grow dim.  "Hey what tha
heck is goin on here?  Hahahah I must me drunker than I thought." As he
tosses more liqueur on the fire to boost its blaze he hears some one
calling his name, but as he looks around there isn't anyone to be seen. 
"Who's tha wise guy messin with my fun?  Common now show yourself or
there's gonna be some real trouble.  You can count on it." From the depths
of the mist an inhuman voice, seemingly made of the wind retunes the answer
to his question.

   "Oh yes there will be trouble, but I do believe that it will be you who
bares the full brunt of it.  Not me, my boy, no not me." Kevin staggers to
his feet and does his best to steady his shaking legs.  `Then bring it on.
I aint scared of nuttin, or no body ya hear." The voice begins to laugh as
it circles him on all sides then begins its eerie chant.

   Darkness falls across the land.

   The midnight hour is close at hand.

   Vampires fly in search of blood.

   To fall upon their victims from above.

   And who so ever shall be found.

   Desiccating such sacred ground.

   Must stand and face the wrath of Hell,

   And rot inside a corpses shell.

   The foulest stench is in the air.

   It surrounds you every where.

   Grizzly ghouls from every tomb.

   Are closing in to seal your doom.

   And though you will fight to stay alive.

   Your soul begins to shiver.

   For no mere mortal can resist.

   The soft embrace of a vampire

   Kiss.

   Kevin stumbles backwards to the ground and cusses aloud.  "Who do ya
think ya are huh?  Think that some fog and a scary voice was gonna scare
me? Besides I've already heard that song before, and man that aint how it
goes.  So screw you, it aint working tuff guy.  So why don't ya just get
your happy butt out here and face me like ah man." Xavier's voice begins to
laugh as it swirls about Kevin causing him to spin in place like a top. 
"Stop all this messin around and face me."

   Xavier's voice quiets its laughter as he responds to this newest demand.
"So you want to face me then?  Well I think I can accommodate you on that."
Appearing in front of Kevin suddenly Xavier back hands him across the face
knocking him up against one of the nearby head stones causing him to loose
consciousness.  Xavier squats down in front of him and just frowns.  "Now
I'm gonna have ta wait till he wakes up.  Oh nice goin there hair fer
brains real nice." Xavier passes the time by walking around the grave yard
looking at the dates of when some of the people died.

   Kevin moans and rubs his soar jaw.  "What hit me, ah truck?" As he takes
a long drink from his bottle he hears something behind him on one of the
stones.

   "Hello lover."

   Kevin looks up from his bottle and smiles a drunken smile.  "Hey man
what's up?  Hey didn't I kill you already?" Xavier just looks down at him
smiling and tips his cap.  Kevin just grins back and hands Xavier the half
empty bottle.  "Ya want ah drink?  Got plenty ta go round."

   Xavier just sits squatted on the top of a nearby stone looking down at
him shaking his head.  "Na I'm fine.  Might have a sip or something later,
oh if that's ok with you?"

   Kevin just laughs and nods.  "Sure thing dude, sure thing no worries."

   Kevin just looks up at him and grunts.  "So you're here to kill me then
I take it.  Ya know, I won't go as easy as the others did.  Oh yeah, didn't
think I'd figure that one out now did ya." Stumbling to his feet Kevin
smacks the dirt off of his pants and leans up against the stone beside
Xavier.  "Hey dude, ya have to understand that it wasn't any thing
personal. Just couldn't have you running off and telling people that we
tried to mug ya.  You understand don't ya?  Besides, we did have a blast
out of ya so I guess that's all that matters."

   Xavier just laughs and nods.  "Yeah yall sure did have fun.  I guess it
could be considered by some, that kidnapping, torturing, and then killing
some one could be fun.  But far be it from me to argue."

   Kevin just looks at him and shrugs.  "Yep guess it could be."

   Xavier calmly picks at his teeth with one of his fingers and sighs. 
"Well if we're gonna sit here and talk about having fun, then I guess I
should tell you that I found it loads of fun to hunt down and some what
messily send Brad off to the next world.  Hahahah...  ya should have heard
him.  He squealed like a stuck pig when I dropped him on that fence pole."
Xavier looks up from under his cap to see what Kevin's expression was.

   Kevin just looks at the bottle as he swirls the remaining liquid around
inside of it.  "Yeah I'm sure he did, but I bet he put up one heck of ah
fight before ya took him down.  He was ah good fighter.  Hahahah...I can
remember one time he...he beat tha crap out of three guys, just cause they
bumped into him at tha ball field.  What ah guy." Wiping a tear from his
eye Kevin takes another swig from his bottle.  "Yeah what a guy.  What ah
guy."

   Xavier frowns and places his hand on Kevin's shoulder.  "Kev, sorry ta
break it to ya man, but he cried like ah baby.  He only got one good shot
in and that was just out of dumb luck, after that he begged like a little
baby."

   Kevin just looked at him and sneered, wiping the corner of his mouth
with one of his sleeves.  "Well I'm shore he put up more of a fight than
that wimp Chris.  He was always ah loser, never wanted ta have any fun."

   Xavier pulls his cap over his eyes and growls in a low voice.  "Chris
was a good guy.  If either of yall had half tha back bone he did, then we
wouldn't be here now.  But I guess it's too late ta change that now. 
Besides he learned his lesson before he died." Making the sign of the cross
along his chest Xavier bows his head and looks at the ground.  "God rest
his soul"

   Tapping the empty bottle in his hands Kevin just sighs and looks at the
ground.  `Yeah I guess he learned his, but it sure is ah pity that you
didn't learn your lesson the first time.  Looks like I'm gonna have to
teach it to ya again." With out another word he smashes the bottle against
the side of Xavier's head knocking him from the stone and to the ground. 
Calmly Kevin walks around the now vacant stone and stands beside Xavier's
bleeding head just looking down at him smiling.  "Aaahhh now that's more
like it, your back where ya belong, at my feet.  So tell me Jev how's tha
view from down there?  Does it bring back any memories, or maybe I need to
refresh them for ya." Stunned Xavier just lays there moaning and holding
the side of his bloody head.  Kevin just laughs and kicks him in the side
hard enough to cause him to roll over on his stomach.  Kevin just laughs
and gives him several more kicks to the stomach before walking back over to
the fire.  Xavier starts coughing up small drops of blood as the blood from
his head begins dripping on the ground.  Resting his head on the ground
moaning and gasping for breath he holds both his aching stomach and
bleeding head.  Kevin just grunts and begins digging around in the ashes of
his dying fire.  "Jev I have ta tell ya that this is more fun tha second
time round.  Hahahah...  don't ya thing so?  I figured that by now you'd
have gotten tha hang of it and be more of a willing partner.  Well I guess
I'll just have ta teach you all over again won't I?" Kevin walks over to
the far side of the flames and begins messing around one of the small tombs
that ringed the clearing.  Xavier tries his best to stand up but when he
does he becomes light headed and falls back to his knees.  He couldn't
figure out how Kevin could move so fast while he was drunk.  All he knew
for cretin was that if he couldn't stop him soon, then there might be a
good chance that he wouldn't see another sunrise.

   Finally staggering to his feet Xavier leans against a stone and tries
again to shake off the dizziness in his head and clear the blood from his
eyes.  "Crap that hurts.  Can't see where he is, but I think I hear him."
Finally Xavier manages to wipe his eyes clear of blood and steady his legs.


   Kevin meanwhile is squatted in front of the fire poking away at it with
several metal cross that he's broken from off the tops of the tombs. 
"Won't be long now Jev and we can have us a real nice time. 
Hahahah...remember how ya squirmed when I poked that first hot peg in ya
back?  Hahahah.  I sure do, thought you were gonna pee your pants with that
one.  Oh my bad, just remembered ya weren't wearing any. 
Hhahahahaah...just that stupid cap ya always have on."

   Xavier growls and pulls his stupid cap down over his left eye and
grunts, "My name is Xavier, not Jev so remember it."

   Kevin stops his digging in the ashes and looks up surprised.  "Excuse
me, what did you say to me?  I don't think I herd that freak." Standing he
takes one of the small red hot crosses from the fire and walks over to
where Xavier is slumped against a headstone.  "Care to repeat yourself
freak?  I don't think I heard you correctly."

   Xavier looks up at him and grins exposing the tip of his right fang.  "I
said my name is Xavier, Not Jev."

   Kevin just frowns and holds the glowing cross up in front of Xavier's
eyes.  "Well Xavier, or Jev, or who ever you are it's time to see if those
roomers about crosses and vampires are true.  Oh ya should know that this
is gonna hurt." A look of fear comes over Xavier's face as Kevin moves the
burning cross closer to his chest.  "Oh look you are afraid of a cross;
well I guess it is true after all.  Now lets see if you turn to dust when
it touches you.  Hahahah." With the burning tip just inches above his chest
Xaveir grabs Kevin's wrist and snaps it backwards.  Kevin gives out a yell
and let's loose of the cross and stumbles backwards cussing.  Before the
sacred relic hits the ground Xavier grabs it and rams it deep into Kevin's
right side just blow his ribs.  As Kevin screams the smell of burning flesh
fills the air while Xavier just pushes it in further.  "That feel good
baby? You're rite that does look like it hurts.  Oh, and for your
information, I'm not afraid of crosses I only recoiled out of respect of
what they stand for, not out of fear of it." Pushing him away Xavier does a
back flip and regains his place atop one of the larger head stones.  Kevin
meanwhile is cussing and stumbling around some headstones a few feet away.
After a few minutes he manages to pull the now smoldering cross from his
badly burnt side.  Stumbling to his knees Kevin braces himself with his
left hand as he covers the bleeding wound with his other hand.

   Xavier laughs as Kevin crawls across the ground towards the brightly
burring fire.  "Oh where ya goin Kev?  Don't tell me that you're giving up
so soon.  Tha fun is just starting.  Hahahah." While he laughs Kevin
manages to take another cross from tha fire and throws it in Xavier's
direction.  Xavier nimbly does a cartwheel out of its path and lands on the
top of another nearby headstone.  As he watches it fly harmlessly off into
the distance he doesn't notice that Kevin has managed to walk up behind
him. As he is turning around he's met by Kevin's smiling face and a sharp
stab to the stomach.  Kevin twists the small knife deep in his stomach and
drags him from the stone slamming him to the ground.

   Xavier gasps and screams as Kevin yanks the blade out and rams it deeply
into his right shoulder.  "Now this time I'm gonna make sure you die ya
freak." Kevin drags him over to the fire and picks him up ready to throw
his small frame into its greedy flames.  "Any last words freak?" Xavier
hangs in his arms half conscious and just groans.  "I guess not, well then
its time that ya go to your sweet release AGAIN." The flames eagerly lick
at the back of Xavier's legs and as they caress his pale skin he comes to
and screams out in pain.  "Oh, so ya aint dead yet, guess we can have ah
little bit more fun before I finish you off." Xavier fully comes to and
with his knee manages to hit Kevin between the legs causing him to fall to
his knees and release his grip on him.  As Kevin coughs up blood and holds
his aching groin Xavier kicks him in the side of his head and knocks him to
the ground.

   `I'll not be tha one dieing tanite, It'll be you Kev.  Brad has already
taken a message to tha devil for me, telling him to keep tha fires nice and
hot for ya." Taking him by the head Xavier slams it into the ground
breaking his nose then stumbles off a few steps away before collapsing. 
The back of his legs still aching from the fire and his stomach gushing
blood Xavier just lies there looking up at the clear night's sky.  "So this
is how it's gonna end eh?  What ah joke?" A soft wind blows across his
battered body and a sweet sent greets his nose.

   "Yes child it would seem that this is how it will end.  Not just for you
but for all of us."

   Xavier manages to turn his head and before his astonished eyes there
Nioby sat on a nearby head stone.  She just looks down at him and shakes
her head.  "Oh hey ma-am didn't see you there."

   She just smiles back and him and makes a small wave.  "Hello child, no I
can tell that you did not see me.  You were too busy being reckless and
acting like a wild animal."

   As he begins coughing heavily the small soul stone rolls out of his
pocket and Nix appears just behind him.  "Oh Nioby leave tha boy alone.  If
you and the others would have just let him do this in the first place then
we wouldn't be here now."

   Nioby walks over to where Nix is standing and looks him straight in the
eyes.  `If it was not for you're meddling, then this child would be safely
contained now.  When he awoke then this would all have passed from his
mind. But no, you had to encourage him to defy me and seek his vengeance.'

   Nix just smiles and drifts over to where Kevin was laying half conscious
on the ground.  "Well by the looks of this one, it seems that your boy
there has had fun, and done what you and the others said he couldn't.'
Nioby kneels down beside Xavier as he passes out again and softly caresses
his cheek.

   "As you can see he is not dead.  If he had been one of the others then
he would be by now.  If you care to remember he is a descendent of a slayer
family and will not die so easily."

   As she continues to care for her young charge, Nix drifts over closer to
Kevin's bloody body and looks down at him smiling.  "Ah slayer you say, hum
very interesting.  Does he know that he's ah slayer?"

   Nioby shakes her head and looks at him crossly.  "No he dose not, and
thank all that is holy that he is unaware of that fact.  It was hard enough
for Xavier to fend him off this long.  Who knows what will happen if he
ever finds out the truth."

   Nix smiles slyly and drifts back over to where Kevin lay.  He knew that
this was the perfect opportunity to eliminate one of his most hated rivals
from the council.  Seeing that Nioby has all of her thoughts bent on
healing Xavier he Kneels beside Kevin and places his ghostly hand to
Kevin's forehead.  Closing his eyes he enters Kevin's mind and attempts to
wake him.  "You, boy listen to my words.  Have you ever heard of ones known
as slayers?" Kevin twitches and groans slightly.  Nix looks from the corner
of his eye to see if his movements were noticed.  To his surprise Nioby
still was unaware of his actions.  Digging deeper into Kevin's mind Nix
continues his conversation.  "I will take it that you do, so listen
carefully.  You my boy are a slayer and have more than enough strength to
take care of this little pup.  So get your butt up and send both of them to
the grave." There was no answer from Kevin's seemingly lifeless body, just
a small twitch and heavy breathing.  Nix repeats his command more
forcefully this time.  "I said get your sorry butt up and kill them."

   Kevin comes too with a sudden jump and groggily raises his head looking
around.  He doesn't see Nix, but he knows that some one was talking to him
and has forced him to move.  "AAAwww, what hit me?  Feels like I have been
run over by ah truck or something." Stumbling to his feet he notices that
some one was kneeling beside Xavier and trying to wake him up too.

   He grabs the sides of his head as the strange voice fills his head
again. "What are you waiting for?  Their distracted, now is your chance. 
KILL THEM BOTH.  Trying to shake the irritating voice from his head Kevin
slowly picks up another hot cross from the fire.  Quietly and carefully he
walks up behind Nioby, she is so bent on saving Xavier that she did not
hear his approach.  "I will send you both to the grave demon." Before she
could react Kevin thrusts the burning cross deep into her back causing her
to scream in agony.  Her screams were those of several women all screaming
at once.  This sound made Kevin fall to his knees and cover his ears. 
Nioby's cry's also brought Xavier back from whatever safe place his mind
had retreated to.  He fully came to as Nioby fell to the ground beside him.
He couldn't believe his eyes as he looked up and saw Kevin smiling down at
him with an evil look on his face.  "Now that was a scream, Brad would sure
have loved ta hear that one.  Hahahah."

   Nioby groans loudly as Xavier pulls the still glowing cross from her
back and tosses it aside.  `Oh great lady, what have I done?  Are you ok,
please be ok."

   She just weakly smiles and caresses his cheek.  "Dear child I will be
fine, I promise.' With this said she slowly lowers her head and vanishes in
a swirl of leaves.  All Xavier can do is grasp at the drifting leaves as he
breaks out in tears.  Looking up he sees Nix silently drifting between the
stones.

   Xavier looks up at him, tears streaming down his face.  "Where did she
go?  She said that she was gonna be ok.  Please Nix tell me where she
went."

   Nix just frowns and crosses his arms.  "She has been taking back to the
others.  They will heal her.  So easy your mind and be at peace child."
Looking over at Kevin he growls and disappears.

   "Don't worry man; you'll be joining her soon, that I can promise ya."

   Kevin steps towards him but before he can raise his knife again Xavier
has a hold of the discarded cross and rams it deep into Kevin's stomach.  "
HOW DARE YOU TOUCH HER.?  I WILL KILL YOU." With the cross still embedded
deep within Kevin's stomach Xavier lifts him off the ground and throws him
over his shoulder and several feet across the graveyard.  Turning to face
him Xavier bares his fangs and growls.  "You will suffer like no other
human in history.  This I promise you." Kevin gasps and coughs as he tries
to pull the deeply embedded cross form his stomach, but it won't budge.  He
tries to crawl towards his car as he looks back to see where Xavier was. 
To his horror and amazement, he could see Xavier standing in front of the
fire facing him with a small smile on his lips.  As he watches Xavier
begins to change, he doubles over in pain as large heavily tattered wings
burst from his shoulders slinging small droplets of blood in all
directions. He could hear what sounded like Xavier's bones cracking and
popping as they rearranged themselves and pulled apart.  He watched with a
mixture of horror and amazement as Xavier's feet and legs become more bat
like and his hands became long and thin, tipped with sharp claws on each
finger.  A long tail forced its way out of the back of his loosely hanging
shorts and coils snake like about his feet.  As the madness overtakes him
Kevin can see Xavier's fangs grow longer as more pointed teeth take their
place in his now gaping jaws.  In disbelief Kevin rubs his eyes and when he
looks again Xavier is no where to be seen.  A cold wind moans through the
trees and stones as Kevin painfully stand to his feet still looking around
for some sign of Xavier's whereabouts As he stumbles towards his car he
trips and falls over a large cross wedged between some loose stones on the
ground.  As he picks it up to his astonishment, he recognizes it as the one
he had thrown at Xavier earlier that night.  His rough movements caused the
one that he still had buried in his stomach to move and become lodged under
his ribs.  He covers his mouth as he screams and falls to the ground on his
back.

   "Can hardly breathe?" The very air around him seems to loose its warmth
as a large shadow silently passes over head.  Kevin reaches for the nearest
headstone to pull himself up when his hand is suddenly pinned to its top by
a great weight.  Screaming in pain he looks up to see what at one point in
the night had been Xavier staring down at him growling and hissing lowly.
Where there had once been a pair of bright willow green eyes there now were
only two ebony spheres staring back at him.  Kevin could see his reflection
in those empty staring holes and for the first time in his whole life he
was truly afraid.  Xavier's once neat and combed hair now flowed tangled
and twisting from under the cap that hung crooked from the top of his head.
Still growling and hissing Xavier bares his fangs and in a rasping voice
half speaking and half growling calls his name.  "Kevin, wretched human
filth!!  You will suffer, pay for your deeds.  You will pay and then you
will die." Reaching down Xavier picks him up by the neck and lifts him of
the ground to look him in the eyes.  Kevin does his best to make a brave
face even though his lower lip had begun to shake.  Xaveir tilts his head
to the side and looks down at the bloody cross sticking out from under
Kevin's shirt.  "This is not for you, it don't need to be anywhere near
filth like you."

   With one swift pull he dislodges the cross and breaks two of Kevin's
ribs as it comes loose." Kevin tries to scream but Xavier just squeezes his
through tightly effectively stopping him before he could make a sound. 
Throwing him across the graveyard Xavier leaps into the air and soars over
to were the fire was dimly burning and about to go out.  As he lands beside
it he lifts one of his hands and chants something unheard by Kevin and the
fire rekindles brighter and hotter than before.  Respectfully Xavier kneels
before the flames and places the blood soaked relic in to its brightly
dancing flames to burn away any trace of Kevin's vile blood.

   Kevin groans loudly as he rolls over onto his stomach, and then manages
to stand to his feet.  "Hey ugly, did ya forget about something?  Common is
that all you got?  My granny hits harder than you and she's almost eighty."
Though he tries to make a joke he knows that Xavier hadn't forgotten him,
he was only biding his time until he was ready to end this.  As Kevin
stumbles from stone to stone leaning against them to steady his walk he
leaves a long trail of thick dark blood behind him.

   Xavier looks up from the fire and growls.  "If you're so ready to die,
then I will gladly oblige you." Standing he folds his wings and leaps onto
the nearest tombstone.  Like a great cat he skillfully and silently leaps
from stone to stone, not once allowing himself to touch the ground.  When
he was a few stones from Kevin he spread his wings and takes to the air,
skimming just over the top of Kevin's head as he passes.  With a laugh that
seems more like a growl he circles high over head in large lazy circles. 
Kevin just laughs as he coughs up a clot of blood and waves his arms around
like he was signaling to some one in a low flying plain.  "Ah com on man,
I'm getting bored here lets play some more.  No more teasing."

   Xavier makes one last wide lazy circle then tucks his wings diving
straight for the spot where Kevin is standing just smiling up at him.  As
Xavier draws closer he reaches out with his claws and as there bodies meet
he pins Kevin to the ground with a bone crushing thud.  Kevin just groans
and smiles up at him as he starts coughing up streams of blood.  "Hey there
beautiful, what took ya so long?  I was getting lonely with out ya ta hold
me tight." Still coughing up large clots of blood Kevin leans up and softly
kisses Xavier on the cheek and smiles.  "Gotcha!"

   Xavier's eyes grow wide as he looks down at his chest and discovers a
very large iron cross sticking out of it.  In disbelief he rears back and
stumbles up against a nearby tree.  His wale's and cries fill the humid
summer air as he claws at the tree in agonizing pain.  Kevin just lays
there coughing and laughing.  "What's tha matter there dude didn't think
you'd get a cross jammed in your heart when ya came out tanite now did ya?"


   Xavier hisses and thrashes on the ground trying to pull the rusted metal
from his heavily bleeding chest.  Wedging the arms of the cross among the
roots of the tree, Xavier braces himself and with one great downward thrust
of his wings dislodges it from his chest bone.  The force of this hurls him
backwards and into the side one of the large tombs nearby.  The side wall
suddenly gives way and collapses as he passes through it.

   Kevin leans up on his elbows and smiles as he watches the other sides
collapse on top of Xaveir motionless body.  "Now if that don't finish ya
off, then I guess nuttin will." Lying back on the ground Kevin smiles and
thinks to himself "That's for you Brad.  Now ya can rest in peace.  I got
him man, I got him." Closing his eyes he makes ready to let go, but before
he can the sound of cracking rocks and breaking timbers reaches his ear. 
Looking over towards what was left of the tomb he sees that Xavier was
lifting a large section of its roof and throwing it off to the side.  Kevin
just sighs and closes his eyes, shaking his head in disbelief.  "Ah com on
man, just die already.  This is really starting to get on my nerves."

   Xavier stumbles from the mass of broken stones and falls to his knees a
few feet from where Kevin was lying.  Bracing him self with both hands on
the ground.  He starts coughing up large gushes of blood as the gapping
hole in his chest continues to allow massive amounts of that crimson fluid
to freely pour out.  Kevin watches as Xavier falls onto his back and
slowly, painfully begins to change back into his more human form.  Kevin
sees his chance to finally kill him and starts painfully crawling over to
where he now lay in a large pool of blood.  As Kevin inches closer to
Xaviers shivering body his hands slips on the blood soaked ground, and as
falls forward on top of him their lips meet.  Xavier's eyes spring open and
for what seemed like an eternity they just stare deep into each other eyes.
Kevin starts shaking his head as he pushes away from him rolling over on to
his back as he starts spitting and wiping his mouth clean of Xavier's
blood. "Ah man that's gross.  I got your blood in my mouth, gross I thing I
swallowed some.  Man now I'm gonna have ta get a rabies shot or something."


   As he continues to wipe off the blood Xavier starts laughing.  "Kev, man
if ya wanted ah goodbye kiss all ya had to do is ask.  Ya didn't have ta
sneak one in like that.  Hahahah.

   Kevin's heart starts to race and his body jerks as the very blood in his
veins felt like it wanted to freeze.  The sound of Xavier's laughing
brought him back to the present and he started shaking his head to stop
this new feeling from dragging him down.  "Kiss you, kiss you.  Who in
thier rite mind would want to kiss ah freak like you." Holding his stomach
Kevin rolls over and climbs up onto Xavier.  Sitting back on his hips Kevin
looks down at him and leans over pinning his bleeding shoulders to the
ground.  `Even before you changed into what ever you are now, no body would
have wanted ta kiss you.  But I know some one who wants ta give ya ah big
kiss now though.  My fist, so pucker up baby." Kevin sits back up and
punches Xavier in the jaw hard several times causing his head to jerk from
side to side.  Leaning back up on Xavier's hips he gasps and starts
coughing up more clots of blood.  As he coughs he starts bouncing up and
down on Xavier's hips.

   Xavier starts laughing and looks up at him.  "Man get off me.  NOW's not
a good time, and besides I'm not really in the mood any way.  So can we do
this some other time?"

   Kevin stops coughing and looks down at him sneering.  "Man shut up.  It
aint what ya thing it is."

   Xavier just smiles up at him and winks.  "Oh no, then why are you
getting all excited?" He motions for him to look down and Kevin sees that a
large bulge was starting to from in his pants.  Kevin cusses and backhands
him across the face.

   "I'll show you what makes me excited, but I'm sure you remember it
already" Kevin stiffly reaches into his back pocket and pulls out his small
knife.  Unfolding it he leans over to show it to Xavier and smiles.  `Now
I'm gonna show ya what makes me real happy little boy." As Xavier looks up
at the small glinting blade his eyes cloud over and he makes a small
crooked smile.  `Not this time big boy." As Kevin rears back to drive the
knife deep into Xavier's chest something wraps around his wrist and yanks
his arm back breaking it and dislocating his shoulder.  As he screams he
looks down at Xavier's smiling face as he is pulled backwards off of him
and slammed against the trunk of a large oak tree.  By now he has figured
out that the tree its self had reached out for him, and now was wrapping
its roots about his mangled body holding him tight.  "What is goin on here
let me go NOW."

   `You're not going any where Kev, so just chill.  I got stuff to do
before I let you go.  So just hang around why don't ya." Sitting up on his
knees he pulls Nixes stone out of his pocket and places it on top of a near
by rock.  "Nix....Nix get your sorry see through butt out here.  Got
something for ya ta see.  Nix; I know ya can hear me so just come on
already."

   Nix appears behind him and crosses his arms unhappy by the rude way he
was summoned.  "What is it Xavier I was busy."

   Xavier points over at Kevin and smiles weakly.  "See I told ya I'd get
him didn't I.  Now ya can go back and tell Nioby that I won."

   Nix just grunts and floats over beside the tree.  "Yes.  Yes I will tell
them all that you were rite and they were wrong."

   Kevin looks at Nix then Xavier and starts pulling at his bonds.  "Hey
man get me out of here.  I did what you said now it's your turn.  Get these
things off of me."

   Xavier looks up at Nix and growls.  "What did he mean when he said he
did what you told him to do?"

   Nix just nervously smiles and drifts over beside Xavier.  "Don't listen
to him child.  He would say anything if he thought it would save his skin."

   Kevin starts cussing and pulling at his bonds again.  "That's ah lie man
and you know it.  You told me to kill him and that woman that was here
earlier.  You said that if I did that you would make sure he would suffer.
So I did it and now you're trying to make it all my doing."

   Xavier stumbles to his feet and looks at both of them hissing.  "Is that
true Nix?  Did you tell him to kill Nioby?  Answer me demon."

   Nix boldly stands in front of him smiling.  "And what if I did pup. 
What will you do about it, not much I think?'

   Xavier bites his lower lip as the tears of hurt and anger start to wale
up in his eyes.  "You lied to me; you've been lying to me all this time. 
Well demon I'll show you what I can and will do about it." Xavier falls to
his knees and picks up Nix's stone.  "You said that you made me suffer,
well now I'm gonna return tha favor.  I guess you'll be saying hello to tha
devil tanite too." Nix gasps and shrieks as Xavier picks up a large rock
and smashes his soul stone into thousands of small pieces.

   In a place far removed from what we would call reality, the shock wave
caused by the shattering of the stone reaches a dimly lit room.  In this
room there are several robed figures clustered around the from of a weak
badly injured woman.  As they stagger from its passing Nioby stirs and
lifts her head.  "No...Child what have you done?" Weakly she lowers her
head and starts to cry, burring her face in a soft pillow.

   Nix begins screaming and darting back and forth among the grave stones.
Clutching at his throat he leans against one and starts laughing.  Xavier
looks up at him confused and staggers to his feet.  Nix continues his
laughing as he floats over to him and places his hands on Xavier's
shoulder. "Hahahah...  I'm sorry child I just couldn't resist.  Thanks for
setting me free though, I couldn't have done it with out you."

   Xaveir just looks up at him and falls to the ground on his back.  "But,
but I thought you said that if your stone ever broken you would die.  I
don't understand."

   Nix floats over and lies on the ground beside him looking up at the
stars.  "Well ya see I needed some one dumb enough to fall for my little
sob story and let me out.  I couldn't just tell you that it would free me
if you broke it; I had to trick you into it.  Other wise that do gooder
Nioby would have stopped you.  Now that I am free again, I'm going make
sure she is the first to pay for entrapping me." Nix smiles and kisses
Xavier on the head.  "Well kids I'm off, got me a new world to create, or
an old one to recreate." With a low bow he disappears in a swirl of dead
leaves and laughter.

   Xavier just closes his eyes and starts cussing under his breath.  "She
told you not to trust him, but oh no you had to go and help him, nice goin
ya hair brain."

   Kevin just stares with his jaw dropped in disbelief.  "Ok now I'M lost.
What is goin on here?"

   Xavier half dead manages to make it to his knees and he just looks up at
him from under his cap.  "I'll tell you what's goin on here Kev old pal. 
I'm about to send your sorry butt straight to hell, and there's not much
you can do about it.  So shut up and let me concentrate." Kevin begins
squirming and trying his best to break free of the tightly constricting
roots.  Having lost so much blood, his struggle were no more than small
jerks and twitches.  He didn't have near enough strength to move let alone
break free.

   "Common man this aint funny anymore.  Please I'm beginning ya here.  I
won't tell anybody I promise." Xavier looks up at him and bars the tips of
his fangs.

   Staggering to his feet he stumbles over to Kevin and looks him in the
eyes.  In a weak gasping voice he slowly begins to speak.  "I seem to
remember not too long a go a boy saying those same words to you.  He was
begging for his life, promising not to tell, but you didn't want to hear.
You just wanted to have some fun with some one weaker than you.  Well now
you're weaker than he ever was; now he wants to have some fun with you."
Kevin starts crying and begging for his life again but Xavier places his
finger to his lip and a small root snakes along the side of Kevin's head
forming a gag to shut him up.

   "Now let's play.  I seem to remember you liked this part of the game."
Stumbling over to the fire he pulls out the cross that he had lovingly
placed there some time ago and turns to face Kevin once again.  He stares
at him from under his cap as he staggers back over to him and holds the
brightly glowing cross up in front of his eyes.  "Let's play!" Smiling
Xavier pushes the hot metal deep in to Kevin's stomach and slowly twits it,
so it could burn its way further in.  Kevin's muffled screams ring out as
the smell of burning cloth and skin fills the air.  Xavier falls to his
knees exhausted from all the fighting and the loss of so much blood. 
Leaning against Kevin's waist Xavier holds onto his belt to keep him from
hitting the ground and softly sighs.  "I'm so tired.  All I want ta do is
sleep, so tired." After a few minutes he manages to stagger to his feet and
walk a few steps towards the fire then turns to face Kevin once more.  With
the fire burning brightly behind him Xavier stiffly raises his left hand
and his eyes again cloud over.  Kevin could see the fire behind him blaze
up brightly as small sparks start to whirl around it.  At first he thought
they were sparks caused by one of the burning logs, but as they drew closer
he could see that they were shaped like small bats.  The small fiery
creatures darted nimbly among the headstones as they spared out form the
flames.  They circled around Xavier in large waves, as if the fire itself
had risen up to join them.  Xavier's hand dropped to his side as he starts
to loose his balance.  In a weak voice he gives his last command, as his
eyes roll back in his head he falls to the ground.



   "End this"

   Kevin screams as the thousands of small flaming creatures begin to swarm
the tree, causing it and him to burst into flames.  As they tear at his
cloths they burrow their way inside of his body causing him to begin
burning from the inside out.  Kevin's scream ring out even thou he was
gaged, there could be heard his begging and cussing.  The tree blazes
bright as more of the fiery creatures fling themselves into its burning
branches.

   Xavier's lifeless body lay before this brightly burning pier, and just
before it collapse onto him a tall robed figure steps from the shadows and
gently scoops him up into his arms.  "Rest child, you have earned it." As
the tree crashes down the robed stranger steps back into the shadows and is
gone.

   The local fire department waists no time in responding to the blaze and
after a few hours they have it well under control.  As they put out the
last of the flames one of them notices a charred body among the ashes. 
"Hey sarge, take ah look at this.  Guess someone nodded off while smoking
or something.  Poor guy, oh well guess it happens some times." Soon after
they place the badly burned body into the ambulance a dark whips of smoke
filters across the body bag.  A softy voice whispers into the almost burned
away ear.  "SSSHHH, I'm here.  Rest now you have much work ahead of you."
The voice fades as the emergence personnel shut the ambulance doors and
head off to the local morgue.

   On the other side of the Vail between worlds a similar event plays out.
Several robed figures, one barely standing, gently place a badly battered
body onto a small stone platform.  As they start their low chanting, small
crystals begin to grow all around this sleeping form.  As the chanting
grows louder the crystals become larger until they have completely encased
Xavier's body in there eternal embrace.  Nioby softly kisses the newly
formed column as she leaves and whispers.

   Sleep well child.  Sleep well.