MULDER THE VAMPIRE SLAYER
Round Three, Part One

Mulder slowly turned Skinner over. His body violently shook, and sweat glistened on his forehead, as if he were fighting something neither he nor Alex could see.

//*Don't say a word to them*// Keiron's silky voice echoed in Walter's mind. //*Get up and leave now! You cannot resist me! Come!*//

Alex stood, frozen, concentrating. In his own mind he could hear the call of a vampire summoning Walter Skinner. The lure was so powerful, so inticing. He remembered the affect it once had on his victims, and knew it wouldn't be long before...

With a roar of unrestrained rage, Walter pushed Mulder aside. Thanks to his Slayer agility, Mulder fell back on his haunches. But Alex was completely taken unawares as the muscular A.D. pushed past him and raced out of the apartment.

Mulder sprang into action, but Alex prevented the pursuit with a restraining hand. "Wait!" he hissed.

"Wait?" Mulder blinked. "Hello, we've gotta go after him." Mulder was puzzled as Alex held a finger to his lips. "Listen," he whispered.

With a frustrated sigh, Mulder closed his eyes and listened. The whirring of a ceiling fan high above became drowned out by an eerie siren's song. A chill floated down Mulder's spine, giving him the wiggins. A vampire! A vampire was calling out to his Watcher!

Mulder's bright hazel eyes flicked open. "Fuck!" he cried. "They're after Skinner!"

"I think they've already got him," Alex mysteriously replied.

Mulder stood with hands on hips. "Clue me in."

"The only way he would react to a vampire's summons is if he'd been made into a Renfield," Alex explained, a shadow over his eyes.

Growing increasingly impatient, Mulder smartly retorted, "I think I speak for those in our studio audience when I say, 'huh?'"

Alex moved toward a window and stared out into the night. Damnit, Keiron! I hear you.

"A Renfield is a vampire's victim," he quickly explained. "Didn't your other Watcher teach you anything?"

"That's what you're buddy Keiron wanted to make me," Mulder said, slowly. Then the horror of it sank in. Skinner's odd beaviour earlier... and he hadn't noticed. He came up behind Alex. "Is that what they're trying to do? Get to me through my Watcher?"

"I don't know," the gorgeous vampire honestly answered. "But he's had enough time to get down the block. Now we can follow without scaring Keiron off. Come on."

Mulder already held a stake tightly in his hand. "Where do you think he's going?"

"I have a pretty good idea," Alex said, leading the way downstairs.

*****

As if pulled by an invisible string, Walter followed the darkened District streets. The call was magnetic, irresitible. It sapped him of his will, turning him into a puppet for the waiting vampire.

Just a block away, Alex pulled the impulsive Slayer into hiding just as Skinner turned a corner.

"Not that I don't enjoy your body pressed up against mine," Mulder commented, "but he's getting away."

Alex kept his eyes focused on the street. "No, he's not. We don't want to scare Keiron off."

"Oh, I'm going to do more than just scare him off," Mulder replied, with a determined glint in his eye.

"Hey, you've gotta take it easy. Keiron's a very dangerous vampire," warned Alex.

"He's going to be one very dusted vamp when I get through with him."

Peering down the lamplit street, Alex nodded. "Come on, we'd better move."

*****

They followed Skinner until he vanished inside of a surprising structure. Mulder couldn't believe it. The vampire was summoning his Watcher from the Hoover building! Fox held out an arm and gripped Alex's leather sleeve. "Just a minute, I don't get it. Why would the vampire bring Skinner here?"

"Keiron always liked to play dangerously," a cryptic Alex replied.

Mulder frowned. He didn't like the sound of that one bit, nor did he like the fact that Alex shared an intimate past with this vampire.

"Well, fine then," Mulder pouted. "If this is where Keiron is..." He started forward, but Alex held him back.

"You're jealous, aren't you?"

"I am not jealous! Besides, my Watcher is in there somewhere and--" He blew out his breath. "Never mind, come on!"

Alex watched Mulder's back with a hidden smile.

*****

The room was pitch black, but Walter did not need a light to find his way. The voice inside his mind directed him through the maze-like shelves and filing cabinets, covered in sheets of dust from years of disuse.

He paused at the very back of the room, once more trying desperately to fight Keiron's call. A fresh sheen of sweat broke out on the Watcher's forehead, slowly slithering down his neck and back.

Keiron simply laughed.

Reaching out, Skinner heaved a cabinet away from the far wall. His arm brushed up against what felt like an iron grate.

//*That's right. You're almost there.*//

With an agonizing groan, Walter opened the gate and descended a wide flight of steps. Struggling against Keiron's control, the veins on Walter's neck stood out and his breathing became ragged. He thought that his heart would burst at any moment.

From somewhere up ahead, he could make out the beginnings of a flickering light. He knew that Keiron was very close. The pull was so powerful it was as if he were no longer controlling his legs.

"There you are, my beauty," Keiron exhaled.

His voice called out from across the vaulted chamber. At the bottom of the stairs, Walter cast his eyes about. He had no idea this place existed, and guessed that few living souls did either.

Keiron slinked toward him, licking his lips. "Just look at you. Why do you continue to fight me, Watcher? You know it's futile."

"Just get it over with," Walter snarled through gritted teeth. If only he could get his hands on a stake, he'd ram it into the vampire's chest himself. But as Keiron tauntingly put it, Walter Skinner could not resist the vampiric lure.

Running a hand along the surly man's shoulders, Keiron smiled. "You had to walk all that way, I bet the blood's just pumping. You got it all hot for me." Rolling up the right sleeve of Skinner's dress shirt, Keiron exposed the first wound. He knelt down, and when he looked up at the A.D. again, Keiron's face morphed into its true vampire features. "Just a little taste before we get down to business."

Walter cried out as a pair of razor sharp fangs bit into the soft flesh of his forearm. It was soon followed by sucking sounds as the vampire drank his precious life giving fluid. Walter rocked back on his heels; a wave of dizziness taking hold.

Then he felt something different, a tantalyzing warmth spreading through his body and -- damnit! -- straight down to his crotch. He shut his eyes, willing himself to stay in control... but it was no use. His body betrayed him as a large bulge swelled in front of his trousers.

Keiron's bright, yellow eyes lit up at the mouth watering sight. He took one last lick, being careful not to drink too much, then slid a hand up the inside of Skinner's leg. Suddenly, the vampire's face changed back to his normal countenance. "Oh, Watcher, my mouth can do wonders with that."

Walter would not suffer humilation at the hands of this fiend again. He desperately tried to shake him off, but found himself frozen in place; the vampire's presence loomed large in his mind. Before he knew what was happening, Keiron had removed his leather belt, and was slowly unfastening and unzipping Walter's pants. The white briefs strained against the hardening cock, a circle of wetness crying out with sexual hunger.

Keiron could barely contain himself. The only thing he craved worse than warm blood was a nice, thick prick. With one swift movement, he pulled down the tight briefs and Walter's full, hard cock bounced into view. Instantly, Keiron licked his way along every inch of the shaft, pausing only to savor the delicacy awaiting him at the crown. Soon, he wrapped his wet lips around the dripping head and began to suck earnestly.

With a sharp intake of air, Walter found it hard to stay on his feet. Sweat trickled in new streams down the side of his face. He screwed his lips up until they resembled a fine, white line. He refused to let himself come. His mind urgently thought of other things, anything to deter it from the delicious sensations pulsating through his cock. Fuck! Why did it have to feel so good?

He focused on the shame he felt at betraying the Watcher's Council, and Mulder. For some reason the thought of his arrogant Slayer seemed to only heighten his arousal.

Keiron swept his hands along Skinner's inner thighs. Reading the proud Watcher's mind, he delighted in the struggle the man was putting up. //*Oh, you're going to come for me and you're going to enjoy it*//

He stuck out two fingers and ran them beneath Skinner's tightening ball sac. In response, the man above him let out a weak little yelp. Keiron knew that he was on the brink, so he wrapped one hand around Skinner's firm ass and gave a quick squeeze.

Walter inadvertently thrust deeper inside the vampire's mouth, which only served to milk his swollen cock further. Keiron moaned against it, and slipped his tongue up and over. Skinner could not hold back any longer. He threw his head back, bellowing loudly as he spilled his molten seed down the vampire's eager throat. Keiron lapped it up, not missing a single drop.

Control momentarily slipping, Walter's knees collapsed out from under him and he fell backwards to the cold floor. Keiron stood imperiously over his Renfield, massaging his own hard bulge.

"I'm not done with you yet," he told him. "Do you know how beautiful you are, Renfield? You tempt me to bring you over now."

Walter's exhausted eyes widened in terror. His heart beat shot up a notch.

Keiron fell upon him, inching his way toward the Watcher's face. "No, not yet. The Brotherhood still has a use for you in your Watcher capacity. You're needed to distract that delectable little Slayer." He ran a finger down Walter's nose and over his lips. "Just thinking about him gets me so worked up, how about you?"

"I won't let you hurt him, you sick bastard," Walter growled.

Keiron laughed, stuck out his tongue and licked the salty water from Skinner's bald head. "Now it's my turn for some fun!"

*****

Amazingly, Mulder and Alex found one of the side doors unlocked. It was concealed from prying eyes, and the perfect place to slip in unnoticed. The pair carried on, Mulder in a half-crouch just ready to spring into action. He was angry and terrified for Sinner. Plus, he was furious was Alex.

How could he think he was jealous of that vampire? Sure lovemaking with Alex had been great -- ok, incredibly amazing (Mulder, you're still mad!) -- but he was absolutely, 100% not jealous!

Alex pointed down one shadowy, deserted corridor. "This way."

Mulder eyed him curiously. Alex seemed to know exactly where to go. The vampire's call had ceased some time ago, which frightened him more. However, he was the Chosen One and his Slayer instincts could still sense the danger close by.

Step by the step, they caustiously took a flight of stairs leading deeper into the building. Only a few lights illuminated their way. Mulder involuntarily shivered.

"This place gives me the wiggins," he confessed. It reminded him of the bureau back in Houston, just before a horde of vampires attacked.

"Yeah," Alex agreed, which surprised Mulder. "Have you noticed there's no security?"

"Hey!" Mulder exclaimed, then lowered his husky voice. "That's right!"

They rounded a corner a came face to face with a Hoover Building Security guard!

The first thing that struck Mulder as odd was what the hell was this dude doing in the bowels of the building...

"Halt, right there!" The guard shouted, flashing a torch in their faces, causing Alex to wince. Mulder hastily hid the stake behind his back, then fished for his FBI badge.

"Special Agent Fox Mulder," he announced, producing the identification. "I'm here investigating a case." Which was halfway true.

But the security guard was not impressed. "No one's allowed in this part of the building."

...The second thing was the stench of evil radiating off the man. Alex must of sensed it, too, because he lashed out and sent the guard sprawling backward. With an unnatural switfness, he leapt back up, displaying his snarling, vampire features.

Alex pounced as the vicious guard lunged at Mulder, who jumped over their heads to land neatly on his feet. He whirled round, stake in hand.

Gaining the upperhand, the vampire guard twisted Alex's arm and sent him reeling over the steps. He landed heavily at Mulder's feet.

"Hey, ugly!" Mulder called, drawing his attention. The guard turned with a growl, spittle dripping from his fangs. "Didn't your mother teach you it's not nice to hit people?"

Mulder struck out with his right leg, hitting the vampire neatly in the stomach. He tumbled back against the wall. The guard shook his head, and looked up to find the Slayer looming over him.

"Say you're sorry," Mulder told him. The vampire just gaped at him. "No?" With that, Mulder plunged the sharp wodden stake into vampire's chest. Within seconds, the guard disinitegrated into a pile of ash, still wearing a surprised expression.

Mulder shrugged his shoulders. "No one has good manners these days." Hearing a groan nearby, he hurried to the slightly dazed Alex's side and helped him up.

"Nice moves," Alex commented, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Thanks," Mulder grinned, glad to see that his lover was all right. "So, what do you think pretty boy was guarding?"

Alex pointed to a door tucked away in a corner of the darkened hall. "That," he suggested.

"Just a minute!" Mulder snapped his fingers. "We're close to the room where that young intern was murdered."

"You noticed that, huh?" Alex cocked an eyebrow at him.

"Don't be cute," Mulder chastised. "Come on, Alex, this is me you're talking to. What aren't you telling me?"

But Krycek decided to remain broodingly quiet. What is he hiding, Mulder wondered, following close behind.

A few feet ahead, Alex tried the door and found it locked. Mulder folded his arms and watched him twisting the knob back and forth. "Here, let me," offered Mulder. Twisting the handle, it fiercely came away in his hand, bring part of the door with it.

"Oops!" He shrugged and dropped the doorknob.

Alex shook his head and couldn't help but smile. Mulder obviously still didn't know his own strength. Once more, the reluctant vampire took the lead.

The room was so dark that when Mulder moved forward he bumped into Alex's back. "There's nothing in here," he hissed.

"Yes, there is," Alex replied, in his own enigmatic way. Taking hold of Mulder's hand, Alex brought toward a far wall. Along the way, he ran his thumb over Mulder's fingers.

Peering over Alex's shoulders, Mulder's eyes grew accustomed to the gloom and he could just make out an entrance. "Well, you're just full of surprises, aren't you?" he asked.

"I'm a surprising guy," Alex told him, dead serious.

Mulder tensed. Another vampire's presence was close by. "Well, if you're old boyfriend is down here," he said, marching toward the old gate, "then that's where we're going."

Alex placed a restraining hand on the wrought iron. "Mulder, it may be more than you can handle." He fixed his pericing green eyes on him. "These tunnels are a rabbit's warren for vampire's beneath the district."

"Yeah? Well, it could the New York subway for all I care. That's my Watcher, and a potential friend down there." Mulder whirled around and kicked the gate open. "Case closed." The Slayer started down the steps, turning with a determined glint in his eye. "Are you coming?"

Alex held his hands up in defeat. They'd come this far, and there was obviously no stopping Mulder. Alex just hoped that Keiron was the only threat awaiting them. He'd deliberately neglected to tell Mulder exactly where the tunnels led.

The steps round several corners, almost like a lighthouse in structure. They continued to descend deeper until a low moaning, gasping sound floated up to their ears.

"What's that?" whispered Mulder, instinctively reaching out to Alex.

Another groan came up to meet them. Alex knew that sound anywhere. "It's Keiron," he replied, in a hushed voice.

Mulder listened to the animal-like grunts, and was once more overcome by a hot pulse of jealousy. Then, the realization took over. Keiron was fucking someone... and that someone was...

"Oh, great!" he exclaimed, impulsively hurrying ahead.

"No, Mulder, wait!" Alex hissed, but it was too late.

Mulder bounded off the last step and emerged into a torchlit brick chamber, with several tunnels leading off beneath the city. A musty smell of damp straw permeated the air. Boxes were strewn about, and the deep sounds of sex came from just beyond a nearby stack.

Venturing forward, Mulder's eyes widened at the sight of his Watcher being mounted by the vampire Keiron. Skinner's legs were in the air, while Keiron relentlessly plowed deep inside of his ass. There was a look of total anguish on Walter's face. For a moment, Mulder could not move. Then, hearing Alex moving up behind him, Mulder stepped forward and cleared his throat.

"Sorry to interrupt your little party."

Keiron looked up, his face instantly changing to his harsh vampire features. He'd let his defences down while fucking the Watcher. His still hard cock slipped out as Keiron stood, snarling. "The party's just getting started, Slayer!"

Mulder blinked. Somehow Alex had appeared behind Keiron, and was slowly creeping up on him.

"Caught with your pants down, Keiron?" Alex taunted. Keiron spun around to face his Sire. "That's really not a good look for you."

Growling savagely, Keiron lashed out. Alex jumped back just in time to miss the swipe. A voice from behind distracted the enraged vampire.

"Hey! That's my Watcher you were screwing!"

Keiron turned, and Mulder's first sent him flying through the air. The half-naked body impacted with a pile of boxes, reducing them to splinters.

Alex quickly glanced down at Skinner, who seemed to be in a dazed state. "Mulder, get Skinner out of here. I'll take care of Keiron."

"But--" Mulder protested.

"Do it, now!"

With a wounded look, Mulder knelt beside his Watcher while Alex stalked toward Keiron, who was slowly regaining his senses.

"Skinner, hey, it's me. Can you hear me?" Gently, Mulder lifted him into a sitting position. He could see the livid red puncture wounds on the A.D.'s muscular arm. Mulder helped him to his feet. Skinner swayed a bit, then swiftly pulled up and fastened his slacks. A look of shame filled his face.

"Mulder, I'm so sorry," he began, his strong voice trembling. "I failed in my duty to protect you. I should have been more careful. I..."

"Skinner, it's all right. Everything's going to be okay now." Mulder turned just in time to see Alex land a solid punch in Keiron's chin.

Walter lunged forward, anger blazing in his eyes. Mulder held him back. "Whoa, big guy, calm down."

Holding a hand to his aching head, Walter realized Mulder was right.

Across the room, the lust-filled undead figure skittered against a wall. Alex was gaining the upperhand. "You make me sick!" Keiron spat. "You could have joined me, and we could have taken them both!" Keiron's yellow eyes appealed to him. "You can't tell me that tender morsel hasn't tempted you. To taste the blood of a Slayer!"

Mulder wrapped one of Skinner's arms over his shoulder and lead him toward the staircase. At Keiron's last sentence, Mulder turned. Alex gave the vampire an uppercut which sent Keiron fleeing down one of the side tunnels. Mulder choked on a gasp. Alex's face had transformed into that of a vampire, which brought reality crashing down around him again.

"Get Skinner out of here!" Alex growled, then took off after Keiron, leaving his silent lover behind.

*****

Some time later, Mulder had made it back to Skinner's apartment with the exhausted A.D. Walter had not talked much during the journey back, and Mulder could only think of lame things to try and comfort him. He himself felt an enormous sense of guilt for not recognizing the signs sooner. Skinner's attitude that morning, the way he fiddled with his shirt sleeve. Way to go, Slayer!

Emerging from the kitchen with a hot mug of tea, Mulder found Skinner exactly where he'd left him; sitting on the sofa with a blanket wrapped round his shoulders.

"Here you go," he said with a little smile.

Walter thanked him, took a few sips, and winced.

"Uh-oh, not enough sugar?" asked Mulder, sheepishly.

"No, no, it's fine," Walter told him, sitting the cup on the coffee table beside his wirerims.

Mulder awkwardly moved closer and sat down opposite his Watcher. "So, how are you feeling?"

"A little better."

"Are you going to stop beating yourself up? Skinner, you didn't do anything wrong."

"Is Keiron, is he--" Skinner fought to find the words.

"Dusted?" Mulder opined. "I'm not sure. Alex went after him as we were leaving."

The subject of Alex gave Walter an excellent change of conversation. Anything to stop thinking about the vampire who'd ravaged him.

"Alex is t-the vampire who helped you?"

"Yeah," Mulder nodded. "Actually, he's what I wanted to talk to you about earlier."

"Oh?"

"If you feel up to it, that is." Mulder hoped he was. Not only because he was anxious to learn more about Alex, but also he would do Skinner good to talk.

Walter saw the concern gleaming in the Slayer's eyes. He didn't feel fit to be Mulder's Watcher anymore. To be taken over by a vampire so easily. He exhaled deeply. "Tell me all about him."

He listened carefully as Mulder related all he knew. Walter had to admit he found it fascinating.

"And you say he no longer feeds on humans?" Skinner said, curiously.

"Never heard that one before?" Mulder wondered.

"No, I must say he's a rare beast." A sudden thought hit Skinner. He put on his glasses, stood up, and hurried over to one of the many bookselves lining his living room. Mulder thought that the Watcher's apartment resembled a library than a home. Walter found a well-worn book and began flicking through the yellowed pages.

"Yes," he mmbled, half to himself.

Mulder got to his feet and hurried over. "Found something?"

Walter pointed to the text before him. "There's reports in here of an infamous vampire named Alexei, the one with an angel's face."

"That's him," Mulder said.

Walter continued to read. "It seems that Alexei became a vampire in the late eighteenth-century. He rampaged through most of Europe for the next hundred years..."

'Rampaged?' Mulder didn't like the sound of that. Alex was a gentle lover, and the torment in his eyes meant there was a lot more to the story. He was right.

"...then suddenly."

"Suddenly, what?" Mulder broke in.

Walter gave him a reproving look. Good, the Watcher was feeling better. "Alexei came to America, and there's no record of him attacking humans. Indeed, it appears that he went into hiding and was actually shunned by other vampires."

"An outcast vamp, huh?" Mulder was still curious. What happened to change him from the vicious Alexei to the Alex he knew?

Walter discarded the book and peered hard at Mulder. "How exactly did you meet Alex?"

Mulder blushed. "He introduced himself after I knocked him flat on his back -- which is entirely a different story." He shrugged, realizing he was rambling. "Look, Alex gave me the same spiel you did, that something big was coming." Mulder waved his hands and produced his stake, making up and down motions with it. "You know, the big bad Brotherhood."

Walter's face filled with alarm. "The Brotherhood. Mulder, this is serious. Why didn't you tell me about this earlier?"

"I tried, too," he said, suddenly feeling like a little boy in trouble.

Striding over to a set of windows, Skinner looked through the blinds at the gloomy D.C. streets. "As soon as your friend Alex makes contact again, we must find out all we can about the Brotherhood."

Mulder sighed. He was more worried about Alex fighting Keiron than the Brotherhood at the moment...

*****
Bertina's next!