MULDER THE VAMPIRE SLAYER
Round Three, Part Four

Mulder sighed. "Who then?"

"If I knew, I'd tell you."

Mulder again looked at the undulating, chaotic swirl of lines. He shuddered. "Scenes... of nature, of wildlife... eyes watching. I can't make it out. If I'm right, if it's created by a seer, it must be a prediction of some kind, a forecast. Or a documentation of the past. I just don't know."

Krycek ran a hand down the side of Mulder's face. "If we return it to the Watcher's Council, we'll never know."

"Maybe I can convince Skinner to hold onto it for a little while longer."

Maybe." Krycek suddenly seemed edgy. "Fox, if Spender or even Keiron knows that I came across this without handing it over to the Brotherhood, there's no turning back for me."

Mulder reached out and pulled Krycek into his arms. "Does that bother you, Alex?"

"Er... no, no, it doesn't." Krycek responded hesitantly, closing his eyes. His mind was racing, racing back to the most undesirable and vicious part of his history. The shaded past that he had resolutely kept from his Slayer sprang vividly to mind.

Nearly a century ago, he'd been in a dark alleyway in Paris, sinking his teeth into a sweet Romany boy who'd aroused his bloodlust. He'd drunk too much and killed the lad, no more than a child. Surprised, he'd felt the young body crumple in his arms. Placing the boy gently upon the cobblestones, he'd turned to go, only to encounter the boy's enraged uncle.

"Spawn of Satan! Murderer! You killed my little Tobar as if he were nothing more than a rat beneath the wheels of your carriage! I curse you... you will never know peace committing such evil acts. You will never be content with what you are. You are doomed, vampire... doomed to spend all of eternity cursed with... with a human soul!"

Krycek shuddered, remembering the drunken gypsy's crazed look... crazed with seething hatred towards himself, and the chill that ran through his body at the gypsy's words.

Afterwards, nothing in his vampire life was ever the same. The joy in killing, the hunt, the lust to possess a human both body and soul... it had all been tempered with sadness for the victim, disgust with own uncontrollable needs, weariness with the havoc and tragedy that ensued in his wake, desire to create some good in his life. If he hadn't killed that particular boy, he'd still be content with being a vampire and its gift of immortality, content to join the Brotherhood and looking forward to subjugating all of mankind.

He glanced over at Fox, who was eyeing him pensively. As his old self, Krycek would think nothing of taking the delectable Slayer as his renfield, forcing Mulder into a sexual enslavement that would make Skinner's pale in comparison.

He sighed to himself. Things would be so much simpler. It wasn't easy having a human conscience.

"Alex, what's wrong?"

Krycek ignored him. "You know, Fox, there is one way I can ensure that Skinner won't be a liability."

Mulder looked blank for only a moment. Then his handsome features contorted in anger. "NO! No, Alex, you won't do that!"

"Fox, if he's my renfield, Keiron won't be able to use him. As it is, Keiron and hence the Brotherhood will soon have an open line into whatever we're planning, any defenses or strategies we might—"

"I said NO! Goddamn you, Alex, is that all you think about? Hasn't the poor man been through enough already? He said he wasn't gay—"

Krycek snorted derisively. "He doesn't have to be gay, just as he long as he comes when I call!"

"Fuck you!" Mulder reached into his pocket to pull out his stake, but Krycek grabbed his wrist.

Fearing the worst, he looked up into the vampire's eyes, only to find Krycek looking sheepish. "Okay, okay, have it your way. Are you sure you aren't just jealous, Fox? Sorry, sorry! Look, baby..."

Mulder pulled his wrist away. "Don't baby me! I don't care what we have to do, Alex, you're not making Skinner your renfield. I'll kill Keiron before it comes to that."

Krycek felt slightly annoyed, even though he knew he'd been out of line. "Easier said than done, Slayer! Fox, what do you think happens when vampires fight like Keiron and I did? If you vanquish another vampire, his slaves become yours by right. It's the unspoken vampire code of behavior."

Mulder gritted his teeth to keep from losing his temper. "Well, there's only one vampire here right now, and he's going to be playing by the human code of behavior. Okay?"

Krycek gave him a winning smile. "Okay. But it's your own fault, you know. I mean, if you and Skinner hadn't gotten it on, I probably wouldn't even have thought of it."

"I think you're the jealous one, Alex," Mulder retorted, returning to the book.

Krycek shrugged. "It was just a suggestion. Maybe you'll come up with another, more brilliant plan to keep Keiron from summoning your Watcher once that vampire brat's recovered from what I did to him. If you would let me make him my renfield while Keiron's still weak, then that would take care of that slight problem."

Before Mulder could exclaim in outrage, Krycek cut him off with a smug smile. "Anyway, what do you think we should do with this book in which you see all sorts of mysterious happenings?"

Mulder abruptly turned his attention back to the page,happy for the distraction. "I think I need to show it to some good friends of mine, maybe they can make something of it. God, Alex, if you could only see it the way I do! Even now, it's changing..changing shapes, lines, scenes of nature. And all the while those eyes are peering out at me, like some god overseeing the planet. It's almost as if it's a living, breathing document. But as to what it's describing, I still can't tell."

Krycek peered down at the drawings. Nothing had changed as far as he could see. However, what Mulder said made him nervous. "Jesus, Mulder, if it's changing constantly then it can't be a documentation of the past! It must be of the future."

"Meaning that every breath we take could potentially change the course of the future that it's describing," Mulder agreed, pensively chewing his lower lip.

"Fox, you're scaring the shit out of me." What did Mulder see? The end of the world for everyone? Alex couldn't imagine.

Looking over at Krycek with an impish grin, Mulder fondly tousled the vampire's hair. "Relax. Now and then I have a flair for the dramatic. You'll get used to it. Now let's go plead our case for keeping this book to Skinner."

***

Spender entered his darkened study and angrily threw his car keys onto his desk. A chuckle greeted him from a corner of his room, and he spun around to face Xanax.

"Things not going well, Charles?" the Deign greeted him.

Not bothering to turn on the light, Spender settled into an armchair. His vampire night vision allowed him to see his demon friend as clear as day.

"Keiron's temporarily lost control of Skinner," he told his friend peevishly. "Francois informed me after the fool hobbled over to his apartment. Apparently he was a little too greedy and more than a bit hasty, summoning the Watcher right after a run-in with his Sire."

"I see," Xanax responded thoughtfully, coming forward. "Well, we knew that there was a risk involved when Krycek took Mulder under his wing. After all, he made Keiron."

"I'm not interested in the particulars of their relationship, Xanax," Spender responded neutrally, careful not to offend his friend. "Keiron offered to do a job for us before Krycek was even a gleam in Mulder's eye. As far as I can tell, the only difference in the result was that Krycek didn't destroy Keiron, which he might have done if it had been any other vampire."

"Maybe," Xanax replied. "But don't you see, Charles, how this can work to our advantage? Krycek's reluctance to kill Keiron?"

Spender was silent for only a moment. "If Keiron becomes too much of a nuisance, he'll overcome any sentimentality about the lad soon enough. He drained Keiron to near death as it was. If the boy hadn't been as old a vampire as he is, he would be comatose for days."

"My heart bleeds," Xanax chuckled, "no pun intended. Did Keiron report any reaction to his message to Krycek to cease in his protection of the Slayer?"

"No," Spender responded, with a surly expression, "other than that Krycek threatened to kill him!"

Xanax started to laugh uproariously.

"What's so funny?" Spender asked, barely restraining his temper.

"Your Slayer is aptly named, old friend, for the way he slays hearts!"

"I fail to see the humor in this situation that you do."

"Oh, Charles," Xanax sighed, going over to stand by the vampire. He put his arm around Spender's shoulders to reassure him. "You'll get him eventually, don't worry. Didn't I swear an oath to you that you would have your heir and lover by your side before this year is out? Do not worry about this Krycek. What match is he against me? Against the entire Brotherhood?"

The Deign then picked up a couple of cigarettes, passing one to Spender. Reaching forward, his forefinger burst into flame as he placidly lit his friend's cigarette and then his own.

"My advice to you, my friend, is to try and enjoy the ride!" the demon chuckled as he smoked.

***

Manus reached out and turned off the jets to his Jacuzzi. Enough soaking in the tub, he was starting to shrivel like a prune. These modern inventions were getting more and more seductive, he sighed to himself as he reluctantly got up from the steaming bath. He could lie in this tub with its pulsating jets for a century.

Suddenly his front buzzer sounded. "Damn! Who can that be at this hour?" he grumbled.

Wrapping his robe around him quickly, he left the bathroom, mist wafting around him as he swung open the door.

"Coming!" he shouted as the buzzer sounded impatiently again.

He opened to the door to admit his visitor. "Finn! It's so good to see you!"

"You too, Manus," a young man with dyed black hair and earrings stepped into the apartment. "Did I interrupt anything?"

"Not at all! Not at all!" Manus responded jovially. "You're always welcome in my abode."

"That's very generous of you, Manus," the boy responded, amused. "It wasn't always the case."

"It's always been the case," Manus said firmly. "It's your own problem if you don't believe it."

Finn walked into the lush apartment and looked around with satisfaction. "I see you've done well for yourself!"

"So have you. I saw your rock video on television the other night."

"You're watching television now, Manus?" the boy said in disbelief.

"Finn, I'm not some old fogey, contrary to your expectations," Manus responded exuberantly, "I've just been in the Jacuzzi to prove it!"

"Wonders will never cease," Finn retorted, going over to the bar and pouring himself a drink.

There was a pause as Manus watched his young friend admiringly. "Care to join me in it?"

The boy flashed him a brilliant smile. "Of course! But I think we need to discuss what's going on first."

Manus frowned, his mood darkening immediately. "You mean, with the Brotherhood?"

"Of course, with the Brotherhood. You remember the blood oath we swore, so many centuries ago. What good is this immortality if we cannot protect our charges?"

Manus sighed. "I knew it. It's always business mixed with pleasure. Just once I'd like you to visit me when—"

"Manus! For goodness sake! Mankind's future is at stake and all you can think about is a bloody roll in the hay! You're a Druid priest, man! We didn't take the blood oath so many centuries ago, sacrifice our souls to gain this precious immortality just to loll about when the fate of humankind will be either sustenance for the vampires or sex slaves. We must do something!"

"For your information, I already have," Manus responded, tightlipped. Even after all these centuries the boy never failed to get under his skin, in more ways than one. "I have seen to it that the Watcher has my text."

Finn stared at him. He whistled. "I apologize, Manus, you move faster than I give you credit for."

"Surely you jest," Manus said sarcastically. He went over to the bar and poured himself some cognac. Sitting down on his couch, he took a sip. "I told David to give it to him. The journal, which describes in great detail the future that awaits mankind if evil triumphs."

"How did David react?"

Manus shrugged. "He knew enough not to question my intentions. Sadly, he is no longer with us, my love. But he agreed that the time is near, Finn. The time when the chosen one will be called upon to triumph against the greatest of odds."

Finn was quiet. He went over to the black leather couch and settled down on it. "Manus, far be it for me to ever question your impressive capabilities, but are you sure? I thought the showdown wouldn't occur for another millenia at least."

Manus snorted. "Your optimism is misguided. No, Finn dear, it will be soon... much sooner than you think. I just hope he will be strong enough when the time comes."

He walked over to an enormous globe that stood on wood bureau. "See this work of art that I created? When I turn the globe, you see the ebb and flow of black liquid against white. Now when I turn it back again, the white overtakes the black, overwhelming it. Around again and the black is the greater mass. Such is the fate of the world, in many countries, at many points in history... evil triumphs but almost always recedes to the good, then when good reigns for the greater part, it is overtaken by evil. We have had many dark periods in the history of our fair planet, but frequently good conquers over evil, and humankind carries on. The struggle is constant and everchanging, but if we are too complacent, too smug in our security, well..."

"Evil will triumph once and for all!"

"Exactly," Manus sighed, spinning the globe. The black liquid spread out to create a completely shining, black sphere, spinning on its axis. "There are no guarantees he will be successful."

"But you can see the future, Manus! Can't you tell what will happen?"

"All I know is that the Chosen One will face many tests, of his bravery, his strength and skill... many temptations as well. I know that the Brotherhood wants him. He will be sorely tried."

Finn thought for a minute. "So far the Brotherhood has been unaware of our existence. We can't call attention to ourselves."

Manus nodded. "If they learn of our existence, they will destroy us, immortality or no."

"How can we help the Chosen One, then?"

"We can still try. My first step has been sending him our journal. Only he will be able to read it. He has the genetic capability. He will use it in his mission to overthrow the Brotherhood once and for all."

Finn stood up and walked over to the older Druid priest. He smiled and put his arms around him. "I see you have been busy."

Manus snorted as he pulled the younger man close to his chest in a fierce embrace. "Did you ever doubt it, my love?"

"Not really."

"I'm bowled over by your enthusiasm," Manus said sarcastically. "Come, my love. I haven't seen you in far too long. Let us retire to my bedroom. I want to see if you picked up any new tricks along the way, especially given your newfound status as a singing rock idol."

Finn's response was to hold Manus' head still as he pressed his mouth firmly against his Druid lover's lush lips. Manus was right, he reflected as the priest guided him towards the bedroom, it had been far too long. It had always been his philosophy that too much work and no play made Finn a dull boy indeed.

Chad's next!