VAMPIRUS

ENTER THE INFORMANT

Broderick abruptly stopped upon entering the living room, finding Blake having metamorphosed into a bat and a tall, slender black gentleman standing by the hearth; calm, well-poised and mannered. The mysterious gentleman cocked his head in Broderick's direction with an amused glint in his eyes.

"Well," he replied, taking in Broderick's lack of dress. "I didn't realize it was that kind of party."

Broderick snapped a quick eye in Blake's direction who was tensed up and ready to fight, then redirected his focus on the stranger.

"Who are you?" he demanded.

"My name is Craig." He placed his hands in the pocket of his black velvet dress pants. He
wore a gold and black button-down shirt of the same material. "I was hoping for the opportunity to meet with the both of you for quite some time."

"For...?" Broderick pressed.

Craig smiled revealing perfectly shaped teeth with gold caps covering the main front ones. "Are you against alliances?"

"Why should we seek an alliance with you?" Blake hissed through fanged teeth. "You invaded our home, posing a threat."

Craig nodded in affirmation. "True. I invaded your home. Perhaps I should've rung the doorbell instead of slipping in through the trickery of smoke." He chuckled. "Still, you'd perceive me as a threat regardless, would you not?"

Broderick eased his muscles, siding up alongside Blake. "Relax, Blake. If he intended to do anything threatening, he would've done it already."

Blake hesitated but considered Broderick's statement. After a brief moment, he transformed back to his mortal-like form but kept a suspicious eye on Craig, regardless.

"I seriously pose no threat to you, Blake," Craig soothed. "I came here to offer you my help."

"Help?" Blake growled. "Help with what?"

"It's concerning Nesdal."

"Nesdal's dead."

"Oh, I know. I know." Craig slowly made his way to the loveseat, placing a hand on the back of it. "But the threat is far from over."

Broderick placed an arm around Blake's shoulders. "What threat?"

Craig looked at Broderick. "It involves your past, Broderick."

Blake shot Broderick a look. "What is he talking about? Is there something you didn't tell me?"

Broderick shook his head. "We dealt with everything."

"Then what the hell is he talking about?" Blake insisted, staring hard at Broderick, his blazing eyes imploring answers.

"Blake, you're familiar with the Vampire Lore, correct?"

Blake took a moment to tear his eyes from Broderick, who stood there calm and collected although his eyes longed for understanding from his partner.

"Yes. I know of the Vampire Lore," Blake answered. "Legend."

Craig shook his head. "Not quite."

"Blake, we talked about it," Broderick cut in.

Blake held a hand up to Broderick's face, shushing him. "Regardless. What does the Vampire Lore have to do with any of this?"

"It was the Vampire Lore that was used to bring Nesdal back from the depths of Tartaurus," Craig explained. "That means that someone has this supposed legend in their possession."

Broderick thought hard a moment, recalling the time he boarded the ship setting sail to Africa from America, and that strange fellow cursing at him viciously and spouting words of revenge.

Blake placed a gentle hand to Broderick's bare chest. "Wait...I get it. The person you're thinking of planned for all this to happen. He wanted to hurt you but Nesdal thought differently. That's why he took you away in seclusion to settle matters. He wanted to reconnect with you but wanted me out of the way."

Broderick said nothing; he only stared at his long-term lover with eyes pleading for help and understanding.

Blake turned his attention back to Craig. "How do you know all of this?"

"I stayed in the dark but kept tabs on things," Craig confessed. "I can tell you that after that bout you had with Nesdal, the person who was connected to him is alive and well."

"That guy all those years ago," Broderick recalled.

Craig nodded. "Yes, but he's keeping his identity a secret. He's been blocking mental telepathy to prevent anyone from finding him out."

"Who else?" Blake asked.

Craig shrugged. "Other vampire clans, other covens."

"Why aren't they coming forward? Why just you?"

Craig smiled. "You have a reputation, Blake. Your own coven turned you away because you defied them. You killed an Ancient, bringing up an army of zombies to do your bidding to pull it off. You allowed witches of the black arts to inhabit you to kick his ass. You can now walk in the daytime, a Daywalker. The word has gotten around about you, buddy! Other vampires are afraid of you. You're a bad ass, son!"

"But why you?" Blake wondered. "Why aren't you afraid of me?"

"Oh, I'm leery of you. Don't think I'm not," Craig insisted. "I, like yourself, work alone for the most part, calling my own shots and doing what the hell I wanna do." He chuckled. "You've pulled some doosies, boy! I envy you." He turned serious. "Plus I highly respect you. I want to help."

"Aren't you putting yourself in danger, though?"

Craig considered. "Perhaps. But I'm worried about what this mysterious bastard could do to the entire vampire families and such. He had access to the Vampire Lore, a magic far ahead of the Ancients. It's a scary situation, to be honest."

"But we're vampires," Blake objected. "We're immortal, the undead. What the fuck could kill us!? I mean, seriously!"

"Who knows how powerful the Vampire Lore is," Craig said. "It could take out the whole world, for all we know. My main concern is how the hell Nesdal's little bitch found it, found out about it and how he learned to use it."

Blake looked at Broderick and smiled. "Looks like I gotta protect you again, huh?"

Broderick hung his head. Blake lovingly placed his hand to the back of Broderick's neck and brought their foreheads gently together.

Craig smiled. "Well, I believe I'll take my leave now. But if you need or want my help..." He mentally injected a thought into Blake's mind.

"I'll know where to find you," Blake replied. "Thank you, Craig."

Craig gave a salute then evaporated into smoke, wisping away in between the balcony doors and into the night air.

Broderick sat down on the arm of the nearby sofa, forlorn. Blake telepathically moved a chair close to himself and sat down in front of Broderick, briefly studying him. Broderick avoided his gaze, staring out through the nearby bay window.

"Broderick?"

Broderick sniffed. The tears were close.

Blake lifted Broderick's face gently by the chin. "Hey, big guy."

The tears cascaded down Broderick's handsome face. He wiped away at them, still avoiding Blake's gaze.

Blake soothingly walled his hand against Broderick's face. "You're my baby," he wooed.

Broderick broke into heavy, uncontrolled sobbing. Blake stood and protectively seized him, cradling him like a mother to a child. Broderick in turn grabbed Blake, his body shaking and his skin hot.

"I gave you my life," Blake strongly assured him. "I got you. I got you."

Danny suddenly entered the room with vampire-like speed and rushed over to his maker. "What's wrong with him?" He cradled Broderick from behind, placing kisses on the back of his head.

"When he calms down, we need to talk," Blake replied, tussling Danny's hair. "There's lots to tell you."