The Art of Death: Pittsburgh Vampires Vol. 11

by B. A. Stretke

  "What is it? What's wrong?" Victor ran to the man and leaned over him, trying to take his hands as the man struggled to breathe. Killian moved closer, recognizing an urgency that went beyond the current situation but not understanding what it meant. He knew the man was having a panic attack he'd witnessed them before, and he also knew Victor was not helping by shaking and screaming at him. Unable to stand by and watch the spectacle any longer Killian spoke up.

  "Move aside," Killian stated to Victor as he walked up to the edge of the small sofa and crouched down. Victor stepped back still flustered enough to let Killian take control. The moment the man on the sofa turned and looked at him with large blue eyes filled with fright Killian's heart began to beat faster and his breath caught in his throat for just a moment. He never experienced such stunning beauty before, and he never had a reaction like that to anyone. He narrowed his eyes and studied the man for a moment.

  Killian reached out and placed the palm of his hand against the side of the man's face, and he began to catch his breath. It was halting and shallow, but he was starting to breathe. The warmth and softness beneath Killian's palm caused a spark of awareness that reached to the depths of his being. This was significant, this little beauty was very important of that much he was sure.

  "Breath, baby, deep breaths," Killian instructed using a tone he never knew he possessed. From behind him, he heard Victor say he was calling the doctor, but in that moment all Killian could focus on was the delicate little damaged flower laying before him. This was shaping up to be a very interesting evening.

  Simon was mortified. He tried so hard to stay out of Victor's business and yet here he was putting himself right between him and one of his . . . Friends. . . Simon wasn't sure what to call them. Although by the way, this man was speaking to Victor, he doubted they were friends.

  The man was pissed about something, and that energy helped fuel Simon's already heightened anxiety until he found himself deep in the grips of a full-on panic attack. But damn he wished he'd been able to go unnoticed so as not to become the glaring center of attention as he suffocated.

  It wasn’t his first panic attack usually he was alone and could gradually talk himself out of it but with the conflict at the door and Victor running into the room and screaming caused this attack to go off the charts.

  Shockingly though, he stopped gasping for air when this man put his hand on the side of his face. The touch was amazing and seemed to seep right through to his bones. So warm and gentle and loving. That was a strange errant thought, but it did feel like a loving touch. It halted the escalation of his break down and began the calming of his mind. Breathing was still difficult, and his lungs still felt raw, but his mind was quiet.

  He shifted his gaze to see the angry man from the door kneeling next to the sofa and holding his hand while also petting his hair. “Breath, baby, just breath.” He kept saying so soothing was his tone and his words that Simon felt himself believing.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Killian kept his focus on the little man on the sofa and blocked out the frantic raging of the man behind him. Victor seemed to think that screaming your needs and stating the obvious repeatedly was the way to calm someone down. Finally, the doctor showed up, and Victor was taken aside by one of the medical personnel, to calm and assure him most likely.

  “Who do we have here?” Dr. Langley asked Killian.

  "I don't know, we just met, and he hasn't told me his name." Killian looked at Simon with a soft smile that seemed a little foreign to the hard planes of his face.

  “Simon, my brother, Simon.” Victor supplied while standing off to the side with the medic. With any luck, Killian thought, Victor might find the guy attractive enough to start working his way through the medical staff. He could only hope.

  Killian made to move aside and give the doctor room, but the moment he tried to pull his hand away, Simon grabbed it and wouldn't let go. "It would seem, perhaps you should remain." Dr. Langley told him with an indulgent smile.

  Killian was relieved that he didn’t have to move away from Simon. The contact gave him as much solace as it was apparently giving Simon. The need to stay connected as Simon recovered was becoming strangely powerful. Simon’s tight grip indicated that he too was feeling the pull that Killian was feeling.

  Killian was a virtual stranger to this young man, and yet he was looking to Killian for support and protection. He was hesitant to label it at first, but the sharpening of his vampire nature and the warming of his heart in the presence of this man was telling him clearly that Simon was his beloved. This lovely young man belonged to him. He smiled at the realization, and for the first time, he felt the smile reach into his heart. What a wonderful feeling.

  “You’re going to be fine, Simon.” Dr. Langley stated easily as he completed his exam. Throughout, Killian held Simon’s hand and watched as he slowly settled down and regained control. His eyes were more focused now, and his breathing was rhythmic. The man looked exhausted, but he was out of the grips of the panic attack.

  Simon was a strikingly handsome man, although he had the look of someone who had seen too much and suffered for it. Killian didn't know Simon's story, but he would guess by what he'd just observed that it was disturbing. Dr. Langley crouched down next to Killian and laid his hand on Simon's shoulder, squeezing it before letting go.

  “Simon, I understand that you have been staying with Victor for the past two months. Why is it that this is the first time that I am seeing you?” He spoke gently to the little man lying there. Killian felt Simon grip his hand tighter again as if he found the doctor’s question troubling.

  "I thought I could handle it on my own," Simon admitted slowly.

  "Come see me in the morning, at ten o'clock." Dr. Langley raised an eyebrow and waited for a response. Killian appreciated that he didn't badger Simon for more. The man had been through enough.

  "Yes, sir, I'll try," Simon answered non-committal. The doctor then turned to Killian with a pointed look.

  “See that he rests and drinks plenty of fluids and a little protein wouldn’t hurt.” He said as if he perceived Killian to be in charge. Unable or maybe unwilling to explain the entire evenings events to the poor doctor Killian simply nodded and turned back to look at Simon. He was more than happy to take charge of this little beauty.

  Once the doctor and his support staff had left, Simon sat up and abruptly released Killian's hand looking suddenly ill at ease. "I'm sorry. God, this is so embarrassing." He rubbed the palms of his hands roughly over his face. "I didn't mean to involve you in this, but once the doctor started touching me, I thought I'd lose my shit and gripping your hand helped to ground me." He glanced around the room and then back at Killian with a pained look. "I'm sorry I involved you in my drama." Simon seemed to be under the mistaken impression that Killian didn't want to be there.

  Killian moved to sit next to Simon on the sofa while keeping possession of his hand. The contact was surprisingly pleasant, and he wasn't ready to let go. He stared at Simon for a few moments trying to understand the depth of emotion he was feeling.

  Killian always had, in the past, quickly discarded men who he considered too much work and young Simon had 'critical high maintenance' tattooed clearly across his forehead. But this man was different, this man was his. This was his beloved, and he would fight to the death for this man. He would never walk away for their journey was just beginning.

  "Let me introduce myself." He began with his best 'you can trust me' smile. "Killian Frey, I work for the Club, and I quite enjoy holding your hand, so it was no hardship on my part, I assure you." Simon gave a short laugh, and the sound of it touched Killian's ears like the sweetest music he'd ever heard. The sound of Simon's voice, his laugh, his touch, and that smile were suddenly Killian's favorite things in the world. As he studied this shy, reserved little man, he wondered how he could possibly be related to that insufferable tease Victor Rossi.

  Simon and Victor may be brothers, but they were nothing alike except
for a slight physical resemblance and even that was just slight. Simon was so much more than his brother. Victor's looks were all surface, no depth to his countenance. He was pretty but vacuous like a china doll whereas Simon was handsome and soulful.

  “I’m glad you were here, Killian.” He had a modesty to his tone that was so endearing. “Simon Wielding, Victor’s half-brother.” That explained why he was scenting human from Simon and moreover explained why they were so different.

  Simon was human, but he also had an understanding and apparently a history with the vampire culture. Killian was relieved that he wouldn't have to endure going through a lengthy explanation and acceptance period required by those that were unfamiliar since Simon was already aware of the paranormal. What a relief, he hated explanations, especially those that naturally spawned endless questions.

  “I got the impression, during your exchange with Dr. Langley, that you do not intend to see the doctor tomorrow.” Killian threw it out there wondering how Simon would respond. He watched as Simon released a long drawn out breath before answering.

  "Everyone wants me to talk about it, but when I talk about it, the panic attacks and flashbacks increase. Talking is not helping. When I push it down, hard, it starts to feel better." He stopped and considered his next words. "I'm going to avoid Dr. Langley for as long as I can and hopefully forever." He ended with an uptick to his voice.

  Killian raised an eyebrow but did not chastise. He appreciated Simon's honesty and he wondered what it was that had happened to him. Obviously, it was something grave, but he hadn't heard of anything. Although he tended to let other people's business be other people's business. Something happened to his beloved that has left a very deep and damaging mark, and he would find out what it was.

  "Well, if you're not keeping your appointment with Dr. Langley, how about having lunch with me? I'll collect you at eleven-thirty tomorrow morning." He felt Simon tensing up and begin to shake his head.

  "I'm not good company right now, and I don't feel up to going out but thank you for the invitation," Simon responded quietly and with an expression that indicated he really was sad to turn him down. That was interesting.

  "I'll bring it to you then. Tomorrow, eleven-thirty, lunch here, be ready." Killian stated, and he noticed Simon did not renege this time. He looked as if he were genuinely pleased by the offer. Leaving the apartment was the issue then.

  "Okay, I can do that." He said. Killian looked at Simon, and he saw relief there. What a beautiful sight. Killian got up, squeezed his hand before releasing it, and said his goodbyes.

  "See you tomorrow, Simon," Killian said as he left the apartment.

  Once the door was closed and Killian was gone, Victor launched into the room standing with his arms crossed over his chest, staring down at Simon like he'd said something offensive.

  “What?” Simon asked. “I’m sorry I screwed up your night. It’s not like I have a lot of control over this.” He defended his breakdown as Victor continued to stare with intense irritation.

  “You’re having lunch with Killian Frey here in this apartment tomorrow.” His voice kept getting higher until the last word was but a squeak.

  “Yeah, if he shows.” Simon wasn’t betting on the guy following through. Who in their right mind would want to get caught up in a basket case like him? But he could hope.

  "Oh, he'll be here." Victor rolled his eyes. "Don't you understand, he hates my guts. He thinks I'm to blame for the infighting among his men." Another eye roll and Victor flopped down next to Simon on the sofa. Victor gave him a complete rundown of what was happening between him and Killian Frey. "His men are incapable of moving on. I don't do commitments, you know that. It's not my fault they get attached. I make no promises to anyone."

  Victor had a habit of moving from one man to another rather fast and not ending one relationship before he started another. More than one man has been left hurt or angry or both. It’s been his pattern since high school. But these men weren’t high school students, they were trained soldiers, guards, killers even. He should be careful.

  If Victor was sleeping through Killian’s crew, it was understandable why he showed up at their door so irate. Like his men, Killian was not someone Victor should be playing with.

  Victor continued with his explanation. "Killian Frey is the leader of the guards who patrol the private areas of the Club. They're special trained to handle difficult and violent situation and keep everything beneath the eye of the law. His men are also . . ." He paused and cupped his hand around his mouth as if there were someone else in the room who might hear. ". . . trained killers." He whispered. "It's so exciting. He scrunched his shoulders. "I love dangerous men."

  Simon would tell his brother that he was playing a risky game or that one of those men could end up hurting him. But he'd said the same before, and Victor would not be swayed when he was having a good time. He was incapable of looking ahead to visualize where his behavior could lead, he lived in the moment.

  Teasing and agitating trained killers and their leader was Victor's entertainment of late. Simon shook his head in defeat. He loved his brother and normally gave his behavior a pass, but this time, he was worried.

  "Be careful." That was all Simon had left, and Victor nodded absently and then continued to regale him with exploits he'd had with the guards. It was going to be a long night.

  …

  The night turned into a long one for Killian on top of finding his beloved and having all of his thoughts wrapped up in that sweet man the Data One bunch decided to test him and his men. The tech crew turned out to be more trouble than a thirsty assassin on leave.

  No one had to be killed, so Killian saw that as a win although several were left with severe injuries and others with a valuable education. Never take on a vampire guard who has been specially trained to kill you silently and leave not a trace.

  The job was turning out to be more interesting than he'd first anticipated. The Imperial Club attracted some hardened and skillful clientele, not the Data One group, they were a pushover. Those men were down before they even thought about getting up.

  An out of town vampire CEO proved to be the trial they were trained for. He had to be restrained, and it had taken both Kash and Michael to bring him down. It made for some true skill testing. It was a great workout for his men.

  After a couple hours of sleep which was sporadic at best due to the ever-present desire to search out his beloved and bring him home. The need to have Simon near was growing, and he hoped the lunch date would help to propel their relationship forward. Waiting patiently was not one of Killian's strong points, especially when it involved something he desired above all else.

  After meeting with Kash that morning and helping the man to get his priorities straight, Killian requested a personal meeting with Josef. He would explain he found his beloved and ask if he had any information regarding what happened to Simon Wielding. He needed to be informed if he were to help Simon and if there was information out there, Josef would have it.

  …

  Simon was up showered and dressed by nine. He slept on and off throughout the night. It was thoughts of that kind yet deadly looking man, Killian Frey that kept dominating his thoughts and keeping him awake. Simon wondered if he would come for lunch or if it had just been an excuse to leave. He had little to offer someone like Killian, and he couldn't fathom as to why the guy would want to have lunch with him, but he really hoped Killian showed up.

  Simon hadn't felt expectant or excited over anything since before leaving for that construction job in Toledo. That had turned into the biggest mistake of his life. That job was supposed to introduce him to the world outside of Pittsburgh, but all it introduced him to was pain and misery and the worst of what the world had to offer. He should be afraid of a powerful vampire like Killian Frey, but he wasn't.

  There was something about Killian that made Simon want to know him better. It was almost an obsessive need to understand him. Killian burst into the apartment l
ast night tense and angry and then turned on a dime to kind and caring when Simon had his attack.

  Killian took the time to take care of him when he could have just walked away. He wasn't Killian's responsibility, and he didn't have to stay, but he did, and he did it with heart. Simon was willing to fight through his fear and paranoia to find out what this was between them.

  Simon checked himself in the mirror one more time and tried to get his hair to lay down, but the way it was growing out made it impossible. There was a barber not far from the Club, but would he ever be brave enough to step outside? He'd been hiding in this apartment for two months now. Hell, he couldn't even bring himself to go to the restaurant that was inside the Club. He bent over the sink and splashed some cool water into his face. It would all come back in time, he tried to tell himself but was not convinced.

  After quickly picking up the apartment and folding the blankets and sheets from the sofa and stuffing them in a closet, he sat down with a cup of coffee and waited. Killian should be arriving within the next thirty minutes if he was coming.

  …

  "Congratulations," Josef said as Killian entered his office. He shook his hand and motioned for him to take a seat. "What's your beloved's name?" He smiled, appearing truly pleased with the news.

  “Simon Wielding. We met last night when I was searching for one of my guards who’d gone on an extended break.” Killian offered easily and was surprised by the instant frown he received and the concern that clouded Josef’s expression. The abrupt mood change was a little disconcerting.

  "Simon hasn't left his brother's apartment since the day he was brought back from Perrysburg," Josef stated with that frown still firmly in place, and Killian wasn't sure where this was going.