BOYS OF THE NIGHT - #17


The Boys watched Barb carefully for a week, occasionally waking her so she could be fed liquids to replenish her strength and get her blood back up. She slept peacefully for the most part, Nick constantly by her side. He attended to her every need, fulfilling them. The others noticed his attentiveness and love, but were quiet about it - he'd have to let go of her when she was completely healthy again. Kevin had given him a lenient ultimatum - either turn her, or take her back. And even if she was turned to the darkside, there was no way she could ever go into public. It would wreck them. And so Nick, being as selfish and hurt as he was, decided maturely that letting her go would be the best route to take. They all dreaded the day she would come around, because they'd all developed some what of an attachment to her. But they all knew it was coming, and very soon.

One night, Barb woke up and was fully conscious of where she was, unlike when she was weak. She looked around the room, finding herself surrounded by Cindy Crawford and Pam Lee posters.
"What's going on? Where am I?" she asked groggily, sitting up on Nick's bed. She came face to face with a smiling AJ.
"WHOA! Check this! She's awake!" he yelled laughing. She looked at him with widened eyes.
"Oh... my... God...," was all she could mumble.
"Ha-Ha!! Look at this! She talks too!" Bone yowled, as if he'd never been in the presence of a human. "Wow. You really are fucking alive!"
Nick walked into the room, to see his human, awake and appearing quite well. His heart sank and rose all at once, confusing his senses. He was glad she was well, but also sad she was nearing the time to leave. "Barb?" he asked carefully, gaze at her.
"What?!" she replied scooting away from AJ fearfully while staring straight into his pair of sunglasses. The Gangrel chuckled in amusement and lurched at her, trying to scare her more. She recoiled, afraid of him.
"Don't touch me!"
AJ rolled with laughter. He poked her with his index finger teasingly, as if she was a toy or an animal. She grabbed his hand and bit him, hard.
"You little SKEEZE!" he laughed again, pulling it away to inspect the teeth marks.
"I said don't touch me for a reason, asshole!" she growled back defensively.
"Damn Girl!" AJ replied, sucking his injured finger. "Nick, dude, this one was MEANT to be a vampire! Come on, man! Let's bite her!"
"Shut up Bone. How do you feel?" Nick asked meekly as he turned to Barb. She shoved AJ away aggressively.
"I'm fine. Now where am I??"
"Hell," AJ hissed through clenched teeth, a smile spreading over his face.
"Fuck you!" she yelled throwing the blanket off of herself and standing up. AJ jumped back, giving the angry girl ample space. He thouroughly enjoyed teasing her.
She suddenly grabbed the bedpost. She felt the urge to throw up, her legs were giving way on her and she felt dizzy. Nick rushed to her side, gently supporting the rest of her weight.
"It's just the bloodloss. Don't move too fast. You need to sit down." He picked her up and set her down in the chair at his desk.
Brian and Howie stood in the doorway now, watching carefully.
"Hi!" Howie said cheerily. Everyone turned to look at him. Barb glared. "What? What did I do?" he asked, raising his hands. AJ shook his head, sighing disgustedly.
"So, Barb," Bone started, emphasizing her name, letting it literally roll off of his tongue. "I see you know who we are."
"No, I don't. I shut myself off from the rest of the world in a cave, without a TV or radio, and I've never seen you people. I don't know who you are, and I've never heard of the Backstreet Boys. Ever. In my entire life, 'cause it's not like you guys run your music into the ground and you never have done anything public, like every TV show and it's mother," she shot back sarcastically, straining against Nick's gentle hold.
"Ooooo. FEISTY. I like it. ME-OW!" AJ taunted.
"Alex, stop harassing her. Now," Kevin's voice commanded, startling them all. The tall Ventru stepped into the light of Nick's desk lamp. Nick backed away from her as Kevin approached. She regarded him with immense fear, almost as if she could sense his authority. Barb flinched when he reached out with a slow hand and stroked her jaw line with tips of his fingers. He then lifted her chin so their eyes met. He could feel her strong will, it practically seeped from the pores of her skin; it was one of steel. She was an old soul, with much experience. Kevin stifled a gasp as he realized he'd known this girl, at one point or another, in his extended life. He'd met her before, he knew her soul, and would know it anywhere. It was unlike anyone elses'.
"You remember, don't you?" he asked quietly.
Barb nodded shakily. "What did he do to me?" she questioned softly, her eyes darting to Nick. Kevin looked over his shoulder at the blonde and then to her. Their eyes locked again. He cleared his throat uneasily.
"I think there's a few things we should go over, before this goes any further," Kevin said slowly.