Chapter 9I had always wondered at mine and Brian’s relationship.
Sometimes, I was big brother. Sometimes he was. Sometimes something shook him so much all he could do was sob into my shoulder as I stroked his hair and kissed him gently. Sometimes, he’d hold me as I’d scream and bitch at the world and everyone in it.
Even when I used to torture him for fun when we were kids, he was always there for me. Even when I didn’t want him to be.
Right now, he was there for me.
I just laid there in his arms and whimpered in pain and confusion. He was stroking my hair, it felt good.
Really good.
I closed my eyes and settled against his chest. I remember once hearing his heartbeat, thudding in my ear. But not now. Now there was only eerie silence. I moved my hand up and stroked the place where his heart was.
Finally, one advantage of being a vampire. No more heart problems.
Because you were already dead.
“I hate this.” I mumbled. Brian squeezed me in his arms. “I hate what we’ve become. What I am.”
“If it helps, I don’t hate you.” I snuggled against him.
“Yes you do.”
He did. I saw it when I’d reappear in the morning limping from Nick’s room, or when Nick would push me down and kiss me in front of the others. I saw it in his eyes, when Nick would force him to watch us fuck. He hated what I was.
So did I.
He remained silent after that. Just stroking my hair.
I’d read somewhere that vampires are the cursed undead. I’m inclined to agree.
I looked up at Brian and studied him.
Why were we existing like this? It wasn’t even living. We weren’t alive. We breathed, and moved and talked and fought and made love. But we weren’t alive.
“I think I hate him.” I said slowly, stroking Brian’s cheek gently. He shivered.
“So do I.” His voice was sad, distant.
“What did he do to you Brian? You still haven’t told me.” His blue gaze met mine.
“What did he do to you?”
I sighed. “He drank from me. Made me watch as he ate someone, a woman from room-service.” Brian tightened his grip around me. “My god Bri…” I whispered. “I hate this. The hunger...” I stopped. He understood, I could see. He had been there.
“He…” Brian started, then stopped, swallowing nervously. “He described how he’d hurt you. Everything. He said…” I stroked his hair, leaning up to kiss him gently on the lips. “He said he’d make you scream. Said…” He stopped and whimpered gently in remembrance. I sat up and pulled him into a hug.
“Brian, I’m okay, he didn’t, I’m right here and I’m fine.” I whispered, rocking him gently. He shuddered.
“Then… he said he’d fuck you, make me watch as he tortured you.” He sobbed and buried his face in my chest. I bit my lip. I wanted to kiss him, to make him see I was alright. That Nick wasn’t going to do that to me.
But he could. If he wanted.
“He touched me.” Brian’s voice was muffled into my t-shirt. “Hurt me.” He went quiet, and I felt his hands on my stomach. “Said he’d get you to fuck me so hard I wouldn’t be able to walk.” He looked up; his eyes filled with unshed tears. “That I’d pay for having you, when you belonged to him.” I wiped the tears off his cheeks.
I wanted to kill Nick. Kill him and make him pay for doing this to us.
That bastard deserved to die.
“Then he tied me up.” Brian continued, pulling away from me, turning towards the window. “He… got a bag from his room.”
I watched him warily. I knew which bag he was talking about. I’d seen Nick get it before, when AJ had sex with some fan. I’d heard the screams from the floor below.
Hell, I think everyone in the lobby could hear the screams.
“There were toys… sex toys…” He gulped. “He said that he’d use them on you. But he had to show me how they worked.” I saw him shudder. He turned to look at me.
God those eyes. I could see the pain shimmering in them.
I felt tears drip down my own cheeks. I ignored them. Brian gripped the hem of his jumper, then slid it up slightly, exposing his back.
Good god. Fuck it, I’m gonna kill him. Right now with my fangs if I have to.
I moved closer. Scared of hurting him. I placed my hand gently on his back, I could feel the ridges of the scars. Whip scars. Long and diagonal across his pale skin. I gritted my teeth, anger consuming me.
“Fuck it.” In an instant I was out of the room, staring at Nick asleep on the bed.
I felt my fangs lengthen slightly in anticipation.
Growling quietly, I advanced towards the bed.