To Tame a Demon

Drake answered his phone when it rang. “What?” Drake listened for a moment and an evil smile began to form on his face. “Oh yes we have the perfect place, the lower levels. Scud and I will meet you.”

“Was that B?” Scud asked as he continued rubbing Drake's shoulders. “Yes it was. He wanted to know if we had somewhere nice and private to talk to Mr Ayers.” Drake stood up. “Come on lets go. Since we never did finish remodeling down there, all of Danica Talos' little 'play' rooms are still there. I think they might come in handy for a little chat, don't you?”

Scud gave a shudder. “I hate those rooms.”

“Exactly why we're taking him there.” Drake said. “Come on lets go meet Mr Ayers.”

*****

Blade was dragging Ayers along by his arm. When he reached the center of the room he released his hold. “I got there just in time. Seems Hassan sent Ayers here a pink slip in the form of one of his 'lesser' vamps.”

“John Ayers, do you even realize the trouble that you are in?” Drake asked. “Did Hassan bother to tell you just how deep you would be getting?”

“I didn't have a choice! He threatened to kill me.” Ayers protested. “He ordered me to find out who you were seeing!”

“Did he order you to leave two children without their mother too?” Scud asked. At his words everyone turned to look at him, shocked at the growling deep voice coming from Scud.

Everyone except Drake, that is. “Control your anger, Scud.”

“I can't. All I can do is think about two children stripped of their mother. I know what this pitiful excuse for a human has condemned them to.” Scud spat.

Drake looked at Scud for a moment. “Yes you do know, and that little tiny speck of the demonic in you senses it.” Drake thought for a moment, “King take the girl and leave, wait outside.”

As soon as the door had closed behind the two Nightstalkers Drake turned back to Ayers. “Dying would have been the better option for you Ayers. You don't have any idea of the hell Hassan sent you into.

Let him out, love. Show Mr Ayers here what he was looking for.”

Scud began to shift into his demonic form. Drake wrapped his arms around the emerging demon. “You will tell us everything we want to know. If not, I'll feed you to him.” Drake said looking at Ayers and kissing the struggling demon's cheek as he shifted to his own La Magra form.

*****

Hassan stood up abruptly. A shiver went down his spine. Drake, he thought. Hassan smiled for a moment.

The smiled faded from his face. This was not Drake, it was just as demonic as Drake but different. Drake was there like an afterthought in the background. Another demon? But it couldn't be, could it? Demons had to be brought into the world through specific routes, either birth to a human woman or...

Drake wouldn't have. He had sworn an oath on the grave of his human father than he would never pass that part of the gift on. Hassan had begged him numerous times to give him that gift and been left wanting. Had Drake given the gift Hassan had craved for so long to this Josh? What other gifts did this Josh enjoy that had been denied to Hassan?

Hassan dialed Milos number again. The vampire should have been back by now. How long did it take to stage a human suicide?

*****

Drake tucked an exhausted Scud into bed. The shift had taken a lot out him this time. Maybe it was the reason he shifted with that touch of the demonic over taking him.

Drake was wasn't angry but he was stressed, Hassan had to know who he was looking for now. Scud' anger had bled all over Drake when he had shifted, Hassan had to have felt it too. And Hassan would have another reason to justify his hatred.

How many times had Hassan begged on bended knee for a touch of the demon and Drake had withheld it. Had gone so far as to swear and oath over his father's grave to get the man to stop asking, and Drake had broken that oath for Scud.

“I'm sorry.” Drake said.

“For what?” Scud asked reaching out to lay his hand on Drake's arm.

“For everything. Hassan is hunting you now and it's my fault.” Drake sighed. “If I hadn't turned you, you wouldn't be in danger.”

“If you hadn't turned me I would never have had the chance to be happy, and I am happy with you Drake.” Scud pushed himself up to lean against the headboard. “I might also be dead already. You keep telling me I am in danger, but how much more danger would I be in if I was human?

You didn't bring me into this world Drake. Reinhardt did, a long time ago. He gave me false promises and I fell for them. I bounced from owner to owner never knowing which one would finally kill me. You saved me from all of that.

So Hassan hates me. He's not the first suckhead that has hated me, actually pretty much all of them have hated me and the funny thing is, I'm still here and they are all dead. Maybe fate likes me.

But there's one thing I think you are dwelling on, and you shouldn't. Sehkmet.”

“She died because of me, Scud. Don't you understand that?” Drake said pained.  "I couldn't protect her, and now I'm living the nightmare all over again with you.

“You loved her, and she died. You feel guilty because she couldn't protect herself, you think you failed her and now you've just decided that you have failed me too. You haven't.” Scud told him. “You have given everything you could to protect me. You sought out a truce with Blade to protect me. And you are planning on killing Hassan to protect me. How much more do you think you can do Babe? You are doing everything that you can do. Now all we can do is just hope fate still has a soft spot for me.”

*****

Abby and Hannibal were waiting for Blade when he returned to the subbasement level.

“Well?” Abby asked looking at the daywalker.

“Get some rest, we go out first thing in the morning.” Blade said. “Ayers gave us the location of three nests, we'll clear them out during the day.”

“What happened to Ayers?” Hannibal asked.

“I let him go. There wasn't much left after Drake and Scud got through with him.” Blade said. “He probably won't last until sunrise.

*****

Scud's eyes opened. He hadn't been resting for very long. He could feel Drake spooned against his back. He could also tell that Drake was deep into his rest by the leaden arm laying across his hip. He carefully slid out of the embrace. Walking over to the closet he pulled on a pair of jeans and a wife beater. Pulling them on he made his way out of the room.

The hallway was brightly lit telling him it was not yet midnight. The lights in the corridor were set to dim at midnight. He made his way to the training room.

Picking up one of the wooden swords he swung it through the air. He concentrated on the intricate moves that Drake had been trying to teach him. Again and again he practiced the thrusts and parries.

“I thought you would be resting, not in here sparring with shadows.” Blade said.

“I can't rest. Guess I'm the first Suckhead in history to get insomnia.” Scud said.

“You know it works better if you have someone to spar with.” Blade said picking up the second sword and attacking only to find Scud blocking everything he threw at him.

Scud wasn't worried about getting hit. He blocked and parried and then even went on the attack. It took a few minutes for him to realize that he was faster than Blade. Not by much but still a bit faster. Blade grunted as Scud's sword connected with his ribs. Scud looked at Blade in shock.

“That is what you need to do to Hassan.” Blade said. “Want to tell me where this Scud has been hiding?” Blade barely blocked Scud's parry.

“I don't know.” Scud lowered his weapon. “I think I just decided it was time I take responsibility for myself. I mean I thought I was doing that when I ran away from the orphanage. I ended up on the streets turning tricks till the vamps found me.

All they did was pimp me out from the first one all the way to Damaskinos and when he pulled me off the streets, and sent me to spy on you, I was still letting someone else control my life, depending on someone to make decisions for me so I didn't have to be responsible.

When Damaskinos died I could have walked away, but I didn't I just let myself get sold again to Danica Talos. Then Drake came along, he was kinder than the rest. He cared about me.

If I just sat here and cowered, he wouldn't say anything. He'd protect me. He loves me, unconditionally. He's worried, B.” Scud looked at the wooden sword in his hand. “He's worried because I have never in my life stepped up and taken responsibility for myself. He deserves better than that from me.”

“Scud,” Blade said shaking his head. “Do I look like Oprah? Shut up and fight.”