Blood Claim

by Laura Baumbach, Angela Fiddler, Jet Mykles

  "You have no part in this. You may go,” Cory told Marcus's pet. The pet's eyes showed white all around, like a frightened horse, and Luke felt Cory casually break the lines that held him to Marcus. With their breaking, the pet bolted. Luke hesitated, watching Cory watch him go, and there was compassion in Cory's face. Maybe there was more of Cory remaining than he thought.

  "That was my property,” Marcus snarled. His fangs were out. A whole lot of good that would do him, but he stood ready to fight as though Cory were just another vampire. Cory turned to him once the outside door had slammed shut, and he snapped his fingers. Another cold flame appeared just over his fingers, and he pointed casually at Marcus's feet.

  The flame leapt across the distance, making Marcus jump back, and Cory smiled, obviously enjoying this new game. He snapped his fingers again, but this time Luke stood between him and Marcus.

  "Stop it,” he said.

  "Stop what?” Cory asked. The dead in the room leaned toward Cory like a starving man to a piece of roasted meat. The thing inside Cory had grown fat and powerful off their spirits, if that was the right word for it, and the vortex itself had trapped them to this location. The closer the dead were to him, the firmer they looked, and they reached out to grab him with hands that shook.

  "Give me back Cory, and I'll let you live,” Luke said.

  Cory laughed. “How about I keep Cory, and I'll let you serve me. If this is a negotiation, you have to understand what your bargaining position is."

  The dead around Cory looked at Luke, begging in their silent fashion to be allowed to take back what had been stolen from them. “It's not me you have to bargain with,” Luke said.

  "Luke, do not challenge me,” Cory said, his voice flat. Luke took a step closer, so that they were chest to chest, and kissed him first on the lips, then on the cheek, then on the forehead.

  "I'm sorry if this hurts,” Luke said.

  "What are you doing?” Cory demanded. “Stop this nonsense, right this instant."

  "Okay,” Luke said. He looked away. It was the dead man wearing the World War II uniform he saw first. They were hungry as well, as hungry as the vortex was, but inherently timid. They leaned towards Cory, desperately, and looked at Luke with dead, pleading eyes.

  Luke shook his head. There was nothing he could give them. Nothing except ... permission. He opened his mouth, the words failing him, but then found his voice. “Take back what's yours,” he said.

  The soldier nodded. He was the first one to reach inside Cory and pull out something blue and purple. He held it in his fist, going solid for just a second, and then vanished with a flash of light.

  Cory reeled back, but Luke held him. A native man was next, taking a larger piece, then the homeless man Lathe had fed on. One by one, the dead took back what was taken from them, and if Cory could have pushed him aside before, he had lost the ability. He clung to Luke now, and Luke supported them both. Luke became afraid that there would be too much taken, that they would start taking pieces of the real Cory with them, but when the last of the dead left them, the vortex was still inside Cory.

  But it was weakened. Cory blinked and then grabbed Luke by the shoulders. For a moment they both stood there. When Luke looked into Cory's eyes, he saw only Cory. They kissed, lips soft. Luke held still for just a second, questioning more than anything, but it was Cory. It smelled like him, tasted like him, even felt like him. It was Cory. It was all Luke could do to stop himself from pushing Cory down.

  "It's still in him,” Marcus snarled. From his cane he pulled a blade.

  Cory wasn't facing him, and Luke couldn't stop him in time. He tried to push Cory to the side, at least get him out the way, but he knew even as he started to push that it wouldn't be fast enough. The blade was coming down, and it would have separated Cory's head from his body faster than slicing through a piece of paper.

  Cory stopped; his back went rigid. He turned, even with the blade still slicing, and though it should have been faster than Luke's eye could follow, Cory raised his hand and froze Marcus.

  He cocked his head, something Luke had seen the vortex do, and it chilled him. “This one belongs to you,” he said, and it wasn't Cory's voice, not entirely. But when he looked at Luke, his eyes were the same green Luke had always known. “Should I spare him?"

  Marcus's eyes widened. It was the only part of his body that could move. He was trying to shake his head. Luke put his hand on Cory's arm. “Let him go,” he said.

  Cory snapped his head, and Marcus dropped to his knees. Cory stepped back and nodded. “You're lucky,” he said softly and turned to go.

  Luke followed him out. Three vampires had gathered just on the outside of the yard; they stood like deer in headlights. Luke stopped, though, just on the porch and shrugged off his jacket. Cory turned to look at him.

  "You're naked,” Luke said.

  Cory looked down. “Oh."

  Luke gave his jacket over, and Cory shivered as though he'd just become aware of the chill in the air. “You're not entirely yourself."

  Cory hesitated, jacket half on, and for a second he looked silly. He looked to where Luke was standing. “What?"

  "You're not entirely yourself,” Luke repeated. “Are you?"

  Cory shrugged the jacket all the way on and snapped his fingers. The blue flame was back, hovering just over his fingers. “No,” he said. “But I think I'm mostly me. I mean, I am me, but not like before."

  "But the vortex is still inside."

  "It is.” Cory crossed his arms. “And I feel the power from it."

  Luke stepped off the porch. “And you're still ... you still love me."

  "I saw you,” Cory said. “When it was in control. Luke, I know how you feel. I felt you, too. You did everything to save me. I felt that inside you. All you can do is believe me when I say I've always loved you. I'm sorry that you'll never know as concretely as I do how I feel about you."

  "Okay."

  "Okay?” Cory demanded. “That's all you have to say?"

  Luke smiled, for the first time since all of this had happened. “I thought I didn't have to say much more than that."

  Cory relaxed. “I suppose you don't.” He motioned to the vampires. “Things are changing here, Luke. The lines are open. It's going to attract more and more vampires to it, and you'll have to build your own family."

  "You're the one who has all the power,” Luke said.

  Cory touched his throat. “But I belong to you, so it's entirely your power. You have to believe that, too."

  "You're asking me to take a lot on faith."

  Cory kissed him. His chilly skin took Luke's warmth, and Luke led him the way to Marcus's car. He took the keys from Marcus's pet and told him to go find his master inside. The pet hesitated, still in the door way and Luke put Cory into the front seat before someone in one of the occasional passing cars called the cops about the naked man standing on the lawn in front of a historic restaurant.

  Cory cranked up the heat and closed his eyes for the entire drive back. He put his head on Luke's shoulder, and Luke stroked his cheek. Once they were home he turned off the engine, closed the door behind him, and came around the car to help Cory out. “We're home,” Luke said.

  Luke tried to step in, but was brought up short with Cory's arm over his shoulder. He'd forgotten that he'd revoked the invitation. Cory looked at him, pain on his face obvious, but only for a second. “You'll be welcome here for as long as you choose to stay."

  "That sounds irrevocable,” Cory said softly.

  "I intended it to be."

  Cory swallowed. “You don't really intend to stay in the suburbs with all that's happening, do you?"

  "It's a great house, Cory.” The argument was old and as comfortable as a good pair of boots. “And I need my fish pond."

  Cory stepped inside. Luke peeled his jacket from Cory's shoulders and went into the sitting room. The fire was gas, something he'd always meant to change. It was worth it, though, at that moment to be able to turn it a
ll the way on. Cory had disappeared, but only to go downstairs and bring up Luke's down comforter. He spread it out on the hardwood and then sprawled naked beside it. He let his legs fall open and put his hands out on his thighs.

  Luke stripped off his clothes. Cory sat up on his elbows. He was so warm, but the blood was sluggish in his system. “I'm hungry. Luke, will you let me drink?"

  "Of course,” Luke said. He began to kneel, but Cory stopped him with his hand.

  "Let me,” Cory whispered.

  Luke nodded, awkward on his feet in front of Cory, but Cory drew himself up on his knees. He put the palm of his hand on Luke's upper thigh. Luke felt the rush of blood, and it left him dizzy. “Would you like me to bite you here?” Cory asked.

  Luke nodded. Cory sat up, bringing his lips to the spot where the femoral artery was closest to the skin. Luke's cock woke up, and so close to Cory's ear that Luke could feel the slight warmth Cory still had. Cory was completely ignoring it. “Cory, please."

  Cory's lips were full, and they pulled back into a smile. He curled his tongue around his fang. “You don't want me to suck you off right now."

  "I assure you, I do,” Luke said, and even tried to take Cory's head. But Cory darted away, sitting back on his heels.

  Cory sucked on his fingers. He nudged Luke's legs further apart and ran his wet fingers up behind his testicles. Luke threw his head back, riding out the whole body tremble. “Can you feel it?” Cory asked.

  "Oh, I feel it,” Luke managed.

  Cory bit him, sharply, but pinched the skin rather than drawing blood. “That's not what I meant.” He sat up, off his heels, and took Luke's hands. He put them on his shoulders. “Feel."

  For a moment, Luke couldn't move his concentration from how desperate his cock was. But Cory kept holding him, letting him relax. He didn't have to breathe, but he found himself inhaling. With every breath, he felt the power emerging from the ground. It crept up the ground water, through the hard clay, to the soil. The asphalt numbed it and the concrete of all of the basements and sidewalks blocked the energy for now, but he still felt it slowly permeate through. It would be stronger tomorrow, stronger the next week, stronger yet after a year.

  "It's growing,” Luke said.

  "Yes,” Cory said. “But it's yours now."

  "Only because you're giving it to me,” Luke said.

  "You don't need the reason why,” Cory said and kissed his inner thigh again. This time his teeth did push into Luke's flesh, slowly letting the pain compound and build. Luke hissed, equally slowly. He felt his blood well up, felt Cory's tongue lapping up the drop, and felt Cory go back and tear the wound open.

  He bled freely. Cory was there, drinking up what spilled. It pulled him closer to the energy, closer to Cory, and what was inside of Cory. But he was close enough to see that Cory was completely in control.

  "Cory, please,” Luke said.

  Cory bit higher. A sting followed by release. The heat off Cory's cheek was now from Luke's own body. “I want you to wait for it,” Cory whispered.

  "Compromise here with me, will you?” Luke asked, voice strained.

  Cory laughed softly and ran his cheek along Luke's cock. “I'll fuck you,” Cory said, his eyes bright. “Would you like that?"

  Luke could only nod. The room was hot now, hotter than should ever have been comfortable, even for them, but the heat to Cory's body still felt warmer than the air. Luke moved to the couch, because that was where Cory guided him, and it was the most natural thing in the world to let his legs fall open. Lube materialized from under the couch; Luke had forgotten that that's where Cory stashed it after one too many fumbling episodes. Cory slipped one finger inside Luke, then two, and fucked him with just the two fingers for so long Luke thought he was going to die right there and never come again.

  "Tell me you're ready,” Cory said.

  "Fuck, am I ready,” Luke managed.

  "And that you want this."

  "Are you insane? Why wouldn't I want this?"

  Cory looked at him, lifting an eyebrow to do so, and Luke put his head down. “I want this,” he said.

  "Good,” Cory said and sat up again. The couch was at a perfect angle. Cory pulled Luke half off the seat and up onto his shoulders. It restricted the blood flow to Luke's head, but at that particular moment Luke didn't feel the need to think.

  Cory slid inside him. It burned, but tuned him into the ebb of the earth as well. Just before dawn, as it was, the power of the lines feeding the earth were at their strongest, and if Luke opened himself up for more than just Cory's cock, he could feel everything, from the beating wings of some nocturnal bird to the slumbering roots of the trees out back, already waiting for spring. It had never been like this. There had never been more. And now that the world was opened to him, he couldn't imagine not having Cory there. “Fuck me,” he whispered.

  "If you insist,” Cory said.

  Cory fucked him hard, pulling his body up to meet his thrusts, and when that wasn't enough he manhandled Luke's body down to the comforter. On his hands and knees, digging his fingers into the blanket, was better, and Luke put his head down to the floor, letting Cory's thrusts work him. When his fingernails weren't digging into Luke's hips, giving him a kiss of pain to remind him what they were celebrating, he dragged them down, over Luke's back. A slap on his ass, a kiss that drew blood on his shoulder, and then the perfect stroke catching his prostate was the last bit of stimulation Luke needed. He squeezed his eyes shut and let his body ride the orgasm until he was empty inside.

  He didn't lock down the house during the day, something he'd never done before. Cory had fallen asleep along with him, and when he woke with the sun already heavy in the western sky, Luke just rolled over and dragged a bit more of the comforter over them both rather than getting up to lock all the doors.

  "Safe neighborhoods make for safe homes,” he told Cory.

  Cory didn't wake, but pushed his fingers into Luke's mouth instead. He couldn't have said, “I love you, now shut up” more clearly if he tried.

  * * *

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