Shadows within darkness

A/N: I was just adviced by my awesome beta jsakurachan1 that I probably should say a few words about the European Middle Ages. In my eurocentric mind (I am from Europe….) I did not consider that there might be people around who are not familiar with European history. I said that this is AU, but for the atmosphere and certain circumstances it is important to know, I guess. AND, since I happen to visit a seminar about the Middle Ages right now, I am even a little competent ;) But don´t worry, I won´t disgress (I hope). Everyone who knows about the time anyway can stop reading now and continue with the actual chapter.

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The Middle Ages: According to my prof, the living conditions throughout Europe were very different from region to region but I´ll just shamelessly generalize :) So we have mostly acriculture in Europe and people (90% of the population) live in the coutryside where they work for a lord and kind of belong to him, meaning they are not exactly free, but they aren´t slaves either. There is a strict social hierarchy that says that the priests hold the highest position, followed by the king and his aristocrates. Last came the peasants. Women weren´t even mentioned. Towns are a rare thing and by todays standards they are small (usually they have 1000 to 3000 people living there, some bigger cities inhabitated up to 18.000). Europe is in the iron grip of the catholic church at that time (although there are some struggles with the emperorship, but it doesn´t matter for the story), which means that they have absolute power. Also about 98% percent of the people are illiterates (apart from the clerics, monks and some rich aristocrates), so they have to beliefe what the church tells them about the bible. Even so, books are rare because they have to be copied by hand and are mostly written in latin. People are very superstitious at that time, at least the lower social classes. As I already mentioned the Middle Ages were incredibly dirty. People didn´t have that much time to care and they didn´t know that it was bad for health either (thus leading to the three pest waves that killed approximately 50 to 75 million people). There was no waste water system in the towns and the carbage just piled on the streets. For example at one time people started to feed their children beer as soon as they were weaned from mother milk, because the laws for brewing beer made it cleaner than the actual water from the wells. Needless to say that the life expectancy didn´t exceed 20 to 40 years for women and 40 to 60 for men very often.
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I think that´s been the most important information. If you still have questions, please pm me any time!

I´d also like to thank Golden Kitsune and d0rky for taking the time and review. Thank you!

So, finally, enjoy!
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2

Eventually they stopped in front of a huge, half-timbered house. After the boy had briefed himself that the buildings nearby were dark and no one had seen him, he followed his customer inside. Upon entering the large entrance hall he stopped however, intrigued by all the unknown glamour and expensive interior. A bitter feeling welled up inside of him at the thought that only one of those paintings on the wall or one of those golden chandeliers could easily fill his stomach for a lifetime, though his face didn´t betray any of his considerations.

Giving his guest enough time to take in the beautiful furniture and rich carpets, the man who had introduced himself as Vincent earlier threw his coat over an embroidered chair.

Willing himself out of his admiration and hiding the hoggish, frigid sparkle from his eyes as good as he could, Maria (or so he had introduced himself) faced Vincent again, all businesslike and eager to take this stuff as his. “So, where ya wanna do it?”

On the way here he´d come up with the rudiments of a plan. Make the guy drunk here and then bump him off when they got down to business before he could notice that Maria was indeed a guy… Then he would gather whatever he could carry, meet with his brothers and then they would flee to some place where they could settle down. Or maybe… Yes, maybe he could free himself from their burdening weight and just… disappear by himself…

Really, he inwardly snorted watching the other with cold, indifferent eyes. How dumb (or horny) could one person be, picking up some random guy from the ports, taking him to their fancy house and expecting to live through it?! And on top of that someone who surely could have bought himself someone far more elegant and classy.

Though the boy doubted that the man needed to actually buy anyone at all, he was really rather good looking, now that he could see him cast in the soft light of the candles. Maybe he just searched for the ultimate kick or something. Well, he surely would get one, if only not the one he´d anticipated… Mentally shrugging, ‘Maria’ expectantly looked at Vincent, as the man laughed again in obvious amusement. “Quite eager, aren´t you?”

Not knowing what to say, ‘Maria’ just smiled sweetly.

“Mh,” Vincent hummed, taking a step forward and brushing with a gloved finger over his companion’s dirty cheek. The boy leaned into the touch, eyes half lid, and inwardly prevailing over his almost victory, when Vincent murmured “Not that I am not looking forward to this, but a bath would surely be in order first…”

The complacement demeanor vanished from the boys features at this and he made a step back, asking suspiciously, “Bath?” Now what was this shit?!

Lifting an elegant eyebrow, but continuing in this friendly, calm manner of his, Vincent explained “Oh, there is nothing to be afraid of. You will like it, I promise. If you are unwilling, however, I will gladly escort you back and find someone else to keep me company…” Instantly, the boy´s smile returned, as he said “Dun botha, whateva ya want…”

Pleased, Vincent nodded and taking his guest by the hand, he led him through the large house towards an oak door. “There are clothes besides the tub that should fit you. Please make use of the soap. I will wait for you in the dining hall. Come there when you are finished.” After another polite bow, he took his leave, vanishing in the corridors.

Blankly, the boy studied the door. But remembering the profit, he decided to endure it and with a snort opened the door.

Upon entering the room he first couldn´t make out anything but white, hot steam. Coughing, he stumbled over the cold tiles, until a wooden basin came into view. Taking another glance at the door to make sure that it was closed, the boy unenthusiastically eyed the tub. After a low, exasperated growl he finally peeled out of his filthy rags rather unwilling and stepped into the hot water. He just had to get over this as fast as possible…

Slowly adjusting to the unfamiliar task of bathing, he slipped down into the water, holding his breath at the strange feeling. Once he had sat down, it didn´t feel all that awkward anymore, though. Actually it felt kind of nice, all cosy and warm… Sighing, he leaned back a bit, watching the formerly pure water becoming a dark shade of brown at an alarming rate.

What did he care…

Sitting in the liquid up to his nose, the boy watched with mild interest the small bubbles escaping the water and bursting on the surface. He dived under water to wet his hair, but emerged shortly after and gasped for air, coughing. Now, that hadn´t been funny…

Leaning back again, he enjoyed the feeling of warm water against his skin until he eventually grew bored. As soon as he had settled down somewhere safe he had to do this again… ‘Maria’ quickly drifted into a state of relaxed fatigue, and lazily reached for a piece of good smelling silkiness that was lying on the brim, assuming that this had to be ‘soap’. The boy watched the foam that built on his skin as he soaped first his arm and then the rest of his body. Not even bothering to try to detangle his felted hair, he instead cleaned his skin with little endeavour. With an unfazed expression he observed how his skin turned from something muddy brownish dark to pale and white. This soap sure was something…

He changed his mildly positive opinion though, as some of the not so amazing lye swept into his eyes, burning them like acid. Cursing under his breath, the boy rubbed at his red, hurting eyes, trying to wash them out. Eventually the pain subsided, and miffed, he decided that he´d had enough of this shit. He wasn´t here to fuck the dog anyway.

Rising to his feet quickly, he attempted to leave the tub as soon as possible, but had to deal with his blurred vision and imbalance first. Clinging to the brim, he slowly caught his equilibrium and exited the tub much more carefully. Briefly searching the space around the tub, he found a soft looking cloth, which he ignored and instead grabbed for a black silken robe. After he had made sure that it hid the parts that would have revealed his true sex, the boy carefully moved out of the slippery room, leaving his own clothes behind. He could come to fetch them later. Though maybe he would not, the smooth texture of the robe felt very good against his bare skin, as it naturally slid around his shape. With all the possible weapons laying around he wouldn´t even need the knife. Just hit the man on the head with something…

Still feeling a little dizzy from the hot water, the fake Maria followed the direction where his client had left earlier, eventually reaching the open doors to a candle lit room that was mostly occupied by a large dinner table. Said table was stuffed with delicious smelling food at the one end, where an empty seat was waiting for a guest. Opposite the feast Vincent was residing in his seat in a relaxed fashion, with only a wine glass in front of him.

As he heard the sound of approaching footsteps the dark haired aristocrat looked up with a smile, but upon finally seeing his guest, it somewhat faltered and his eyes widened a fraction.

Feeling strange under the man´s stare, Maria tilted his head in question “Sumthin´ wrong?”

“No,” the man shook his head lightly, the smile being back on his lips, and gestured towards the empty seat. “Sit, please.”

Cynically, Maria eyed the offered chair. What was this now? Couldn´t the guy just want to fuck him so that they could get over with it?! This was becoming so troublesome…

Sensing the reluctance, Vincent explained good naturedly “I thought you might be hungry and arranged for a little something.”

A little something?! The boy hadn´t seen such types of food ever before!

As his stomach grumbled rather unashamedly and since he was hungry (his last meal had been about 2 days ago), ‘Maria’ estimated that it wouldn´t hurt to at least try it and slipped onto the seat. Ignoring the cutlery that rested next to the plate, the boy started to stuff himself with the food hastily as if he feared it might be his last.

All the while he was aware of the odd stare that lasted heavily upon him, but he tried to carry it off well. Frankly, the man was giving him the creeps now. He hadn´t noticed in the dark streets, but now in the candle light, Vincent’s eyes seemed to be an odd shade of…red? He´d never seen anyone with red eyes and somehow he could have done without it. And it wasn´t only his eyes that seemed strange, it was as if he was cast in an ethereal, almost inhuman aura, with his skin so very white it was almost translucent. And the way Vincent looked at him… It was kind of an avaricious look, but not like the men usually would look at him. Vincent watched him like a predetor stalking its prey (that much ‘Maria’ was used to), but his mysterious gaze seemed to bore into the boy´s very soul, making him feel very uncomfortable. Just something about the man now made him wish he had made a run for it as soon as they had met…

Frostily shaking off these silly thoughts, the boy sensually licked some drippings from his long fingers, for once totally unaware of the maddening spectacle he was providing.

Noticing the hungry eyes that were glued to his face, the boy let go of his hand and with an arched eyebrow nodded at the empty table in front of Vincent, asking “Ya ain´t eatin?”

Smiling that cryptic smile of his again, Vincent slid his still gloved fingers along the shaft of his untouched wine glass. “I will. Later.”

“Hn.” Not knowing what to make out of that, but not really caring either, for he was rather certain that Vincent wouldn´t get another chance to eat anything anymore very soon, Maria bestowed his attention upon the grilled chicken again.

As he was sinking his sharp teeth into the delicious white flesh, Vincent’s smooth voice filled the room again, as he, with a fathomless expression marvelled, “It is astonishing what a little bit of water and soap can do to a persons appearance…”

Maria looked up from his feast, momentarily stopping at tearing apart the poor chicken. Not getting what the man wanted from him, he just gave an agreeing grunt and continued to wolf down his meat.

Vincent continued to watch the boy eating until he sank back with a satisfied sigh. Assuming that he was done now, Vincent elegantly rose to his feet and strode around the table, never leaving his eyes from his guest.

“Are you done?”

“Yeah…” came the idle response, followed by a hearty burp. Unfazed, Vincent crouched down next to the chair, carefully taking ‘Maria’s’ chin between long fingers and with a silken, embroidered handkerchief softly wiped away some cream from his face.

“Shall I introduce you to my bedroom then?”

“Sure.”

Finally. Had taken the fella long enough… But it hadn´t been that bad when he thought about it and stroked his full stomach lazily.

Taking the boy by the hand, Vincent helped him up from the chair and led him to another door that connected the dining room directly to the bedroom. The latter was lit by candles as well and was dominated by a huge, elaborate four-poster bed. A large number of cushions were draped on the sheets, making it look very cosy and inviting.

“Please, make yourself at home,” Vincent bid, and Maria obediently crawled over the blankets, taking notice of the heavy candle bearer sitting on the nightstand next to the bed from out of the corner of his eye.

Rolling on his back, he placed his head against the soft cushions, making sure that he rested in a position from where he could easily reach the golden candle holder. Casting his eyes downwards in an attempt to appear shy the long haired boy waited for Vincent to join him, inwardly preparing himself for what was to come. The other however didn´t seem too eager to follow his inviting gesture and instead took his time to drink in the sight before him, with a slightly distanced look.

Hiding his impatience perfectly, ‘Maria’ softly inquired “Ya aint´t comin?”

Shaking his head as if to free it, Vincent smiled and followed him on the bed.

It struck the boy somewhat weird that he didn´t take his clothes of, but then it was only better. Would be quite disgusting otherwise. Though Vincent was beautiful, probably the most gorgeous person he had seen apart from his brothers, the boy was far from an age where he might have welcomed that beauty. Right now all he saw in the man was someone disgustingly rich, naïve, and easily deceived.

Inwardly smirking as the man crept towards him, ‘Maria’ flexed his fingers. Though he felt slightly dizzy and light headed, which he blamed the bath and the meal for, he was totally focused on his task… Vincent’s eyes captured his gaze and refused to let go, as he slowly hovered over the boys scrawny body. Red orbs bore into green, and suddenly the boy thought that he could hear faint noises… It sounded almost like… music… sweet and enticing… where was it coming from?… he needed to focus…

Distantly he felt his skin tingle as Vincent´s gloved fingers brushed over his neck and craned his head back softly, but decidedly.

Shit, what was happening? His head was spinning and he had trouble thinking clearly…

There hadn´t been anything in the food, had there?! On the verge of a panic attack the boy forced himself to calm down and, despite his swimming head, to not forget about what he had come here for. Anxiety turning into ire, ‘Maria’ reached out for the candle holder. Honestly, he had initially decided to just kill the man quickly and take his belongings, since he had been kind of nice and all, but after the stunt he had pulled just now he would punch his fucking head into friggin bits of brains and bones!

Finally his fingertips made contact with the cold metal and long fingers wrapped mercilessly around the hilt as Vincent´s lips ghosted over the sensitive skin of his nape.

The music had become deafening, relentlessly drawing the boy into a maelstrom of chimes and distant, alluring voices that told him to let go, that it was alright to loose himself in their dance, that nothing else mattered but the sweet swirling melody that filled every fiber of his being…

In a last, determined attempt to withstand the intoxicating music, ‘Maria’ gathered all his mental and physical strength and lifted the candle bearer from the nightstand to let it fall down on his abuser’s pretty head.

Before he could make it only halfway, cold fingers wrapped around his wrist and held his arm in place. After a bone crushing squeeze the boy let go of the item with a weak scream and it clattered down beside the bed.

Still holding the boy in place without so much as looking up, the calm, but strangely cold voice of his former victim (for somehow the roles had been replaced suddenly and much to the boys fury) penetrated the swirling cacophony in his head. “Now, now, aren´t we a naughty little boy…”

Icy lips brushed against his bent neck again, teasing and tasting the soft white skin.

A strangled sound came from the throat Vincent was holding onto. The bastard knew that he was male?! Since when?! Did it matter…?!

‘No, it does not…’ the voice that sounded like Vincent said in his head. ‘But if you must know, I knew since the first time I saw you. That is for quite a while now. I have been watching you…’

So this had been the source of his uneasiness recently… But why?!

Holding the struggling boy down firmly, the ebony haired man continued to speak in his head in a strange sing sang voice that went in perfect harmony with the alluring melody.

“I must admit that you and your brothers are quite skilled with that little fraud of yours. But unlike your siblings you strike me to be a little too indifferent where the fate of your victims is concerned… I do not approve of your relentless actions. However, I am willing to forgive you, considering the circumstances you are caught in. That is, if you promise to refrain from such actions in the future. You will not kill. And do not even think about lying to me, I will continue to watch you…” the man purred dangerously into his ear.

A bitter laugh erupted from the boy’s throat, ridiculing his attacker’s words.

“What is so funny?” Vincent asked calmly, leaving his victims neck be and looking up into the half lidded eyes with his own narrowed.

“What da hell are ya, da blessed virgin or sumthin!?” Snorting, the boys dizzy gaze focused into a sharp, indifferent look “Mind ya own fuckin´shit an get da hell off me!”

Unblinking Vincent held on to his victim. “It pains me greatly to hear such words coming from an angelic face like yours, it really does. But I am afraid you are beyond redemption now… See it as a gift that I will release you from our wretched existence as long as you are still resembling something vaguely human.”

Ignoring the furious mental insults that were directed at his person, Vincent tightened his grip at the boy’s arms, and threw his neck back. Under the shocked stare of his victim, razor sharp canines emerged from his jaw.

And with a sudden thrust, the teeth bore into the boy’s neck, making him arch into the man´s lean body. Gasping and with hazy eyes, the boy whose name was not Maria, slowly felt his life getting drained out of his body, as the vampire sucked his sweet blood greedily, but it didn´t really matter because all he felt was utter bliss.

The last thing he remembered before everything disintegrated into exploding colours and all consuming siren songs was a short, sullen silver head and a teary eyed bulky boy.

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So, that´s it. Storie´s finished.

Just kidding. There are at least 50 more chapters to go (that´s as much as I´ve written now).

So, the more feedback, the sooner the rest of the chapters will be up ;)

Besides I´d really like to know what you people think of this!