Adult-FanFiction.org : Anime

Hounds of Winter	By : galynthia Category: +M to R > Nightwalker: Midnight Detective Views: 5786 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Nightwalker: Midnight Detective, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 5
- 6
- 7
Words used in this chapter:

lalae (La - lay) - literally means "blood sibling". An affectionate term used between very close vampires.

Stepanu (step-on-new) - The master vampire that rules over a court. This word has no gender and is the same for males or females

Thrall � a person who was drained by a vampire but not offered blood in return. After their deaths they rise as a form of lesser vampire and mindlessly serve the vampire that created them.

master vampire - a vampire that is driven to lead other vampires. They are often loners and do not readily befriend other master vampires, though they do make alliances. They possess a viciousness and drive for social power that common vampires do no possess. As they grow older this drive leads many to round up a harem of vampires which they then take with them to form their own court.

fledge-mates - vampires that were created around the same time (er byr by the same vampire or by different vampires) and "grew up" together. They are NOT a mated pair.

common vampire - a vampire that does not possess the power or the drive to become a master vampire. The are considered inferior to master vampires but as they age they get more powerful and an old common vampire can be stronger than a younger master vampire. Common vampires do not mind mingling with other common vampirs ths they are not as suspicious of others as master vampires are. Common vampires may for a harem about a certain master vampire and may leave one court to follow a master vampire who is forming a new court.

court - A loose collection of vampires that are ruled by a stepanu. A court consists mostle of common vampires and as many master vampires as the current stepanu feels safe with keeping in residence. Most fledglings are kept in courts to keep them from revealing themselves to humans during their first few years and to keep them safe. The more powerful the stepanu, the more vampires will be part of that court.

The Hounds of Winter
Chapter 5
By: Delilah deSora
Shido fed while Gaven took care of his squirming mate. Soryo giggled and twisted, making it difficult for the dark haired vampire to get at the various bites and scratches Dirmund�s follows had graced his mate with. Finally the master vampire sighed in exasperation and flipped Soryo onto his stomach, straddling his waist and pinning thin hin wrists above his head to keep him from escaping while he licked the wounds.

By the time Shido had drhis his fill and the grividan had left Soryo�s skin had been returned to its original perfection by the healing properties in the vampire�s saliva. Soryo had somehow managed to roll back over onto his back and Gaven was focused on licking at the base of Soryo�s neck while the green haired vampire cooed in pleasure.

Soryo�s head was flung back and he was ing ing for breath, murmuring something repeatedly under his breath as he clung to his mate�s dark hair. Gaven growled deep in his throat and left the flesh he had been teasing to capture Soryo�s soft in a possessive kiss. Soryo whimpered and arched, rubbing himself against his mate�s larger body.

Shido flushed and turned away, embarrassed by the show of affection and the memories it drew up with it. His eyes scanned the plush room, recognizing Soryo�s hand in the decorations. Gaven was a minimalist and would never have thought to add long skeins of cloth to the walls to soften the stone nor would he have strewn pillows about the room to give it a comfortable appearance.

There was a soft cry of pleasure accompanied by a snarl from the vampires behind him that made Shido tremble. He was assaulted by the sounds and scent of sex and he fisted his hands at the sensations that warred within him. His entire being wanted to enjoy the beauty that was two creatures sharing pleasure but his mind screamed at him that it was wrong. That it was not something he should be witnessing let alone wanting to take a part in.

He licked his lips, tasting the grivadan�s blood and felt his stomach roll. What was he doing? Why was he taking pleasure in the horror of taking life? This wasn�t what he was! This wasn�t what he wanted!

Oh but what a lie that was.

He wanted it with every fiber of his being. He craved it to the point that he was even beginning to believe Cain�s claims that he needed it. With a sob he rose and led, his nails tearing groovn thn the wooden door as he scrambled to grip the metal latch. His feet beat a steady rhythm on the stone floor as he fled through the halls, startling thrall and vampire alike. His stomach churned again and he collapsed, throwing up the blood that had not been added to his system.

The heaves were so violent it left him trembling and only the two pairs of supporting hands on either side of him kept him kneeling upright. He recognized Soryo�s soft voice and the strong pheromones clinging to his fledge-mate�s skin made him retch anew. �You smell,� he whispered between breaths, �it is too much!�

Soryo immediately distanced himself from him and Shido drew in a breath filled with the smell of his own discarded meal. Gaven, who still had the scent of sex clinging to him but nearly as strongly as his mate�s, lifted him and carried him back, pausing when Shido began to heave again, though there was no more blood left for him to spare. He thought he would pass out when they brought him back to the main room but somehow he managed to survive as Gaven carried him to the inner sleeping chamber where he was left after swearing he wouldn�t flee again.

He curled up on his side, listening to Soryo and Gaven in the next room wash each other. When they returned there was no scent to turn his stomach and hbbedbbed uncontrollably as they slid in on either side of him, cradling him between their bodies. Soryo whispered nonsense words to him while his silent mate stroked his hair and held him with strong arms.

Finally Shido quieted and just clung to his fledge-mates, too exhausted to do otherwise. Soryo tucked the violet head under his chin and peered at his mate in concern. Gaven shook his head and Soryo sighed, biting back the questions that plagued his mind. The dark haired vampirifteifted and reached across them, pulling both mate and friend tightly together in a strong embrace.

After a time Shido began to shift uncomfortably and Gaven released them. Soryo scooted back a bit to give the violet haired vampire some room and Shido stretched. Soryo smiled gently and ran his fingers over his fledge-mate�s face.

�It seems all I am doing is apologizing to you this night,� He murmured, �in my pain I forgot about yours and that is unforgivable.�

Shido shook his head. �No, it was not your fault. You were hurt and frightened, though you tried your best not to show it. It is not for me to deny you comfort when you need it.�

A hand lifted the heavy fall of his hair and Shido shivered as Gaven gently kissed the back of his neck. �Still we should have been more wary.� Gaven replied.

Shido frowned. �Cain has shared my secrets with you as well?�

The master vampire shrugged. �He went into no detail but he stated that you were in need of companionship that you would not feel threatened by to regain some of your lost . . . confidence.�
Shido sighed and found his face captured by Soryo�s hands.

�Won�t you tell us, lalae? It must have been very painful but how can we help you if we don�t understand what has been done to make you so sickened by our touch.�

He closed his eyes tightly. �I can�t.� He whispered and it was the truth. How could he tell them that he was disgusted by what they did? How could he let the cheerful Soryo and the silent Gaven know that what they did was wrong? How could he let them know that he had let mortal values twist his mind so that the ways of his own people sickenem? m?

How could he say such things to them when his own body craved their touch and threatened to turn him into a liar?

�It is alright,� Gaven said, his large hands stroking Shido�s back soothingly, �we will wait until you are ready to speak of it. All we ask is that you don�t flee like that. Your mate has asked us to stay with you at all times. The court is not a safe place for a confused vampire and there are many who would take advantage of your state. The stepanu would be very angry with us should he discover we have failed in our duty and I do not want Soryo to be the one he takes his rage out on. Agreed?�

The image of submissive Soryo facing Cain�s rage sent a shudder through him and Shido readily agreed.

Soryo clapped his hands and smiled brightly. �Good! Now ask Gaven about your missing little one. Go on!�

Shido blinked in surprise, realizing that he had forgotten what had driven them from his mate�s rooms in the first place. He turned to face the dark haired vampire. �Her name is Riho. She was taken from me by a pair of breed in Japan.�

Gaven frowned. �This is a long way from Japan, why come here?�

Shido sighed. �There was the only place I could go. The regional court in Japan has no love for European vampires and they would more likely kill me for soiling their court with my presence than help me. Besides, these breed had a continental feel to them. The breed that are strictly Japanese in origin have a different feel.�

�Ah, so you came here looking for the vampire who could force two breed to work so closely together. But why think they took her to someone? Perhaps they killed her.�

Shido shook his head. �No. They would have just killed her there after they had incapacitated me. Instead they took her and left me alive. Besides, I would know if she were dead. She is my childe.�

Soryo gasped and caught his hands in his. �How horrid! You did not tell me she was your childe.�

�Soryo.� Gaven said reproachfully.

Soryo�s face fell and Shido saw true sorrow fill his face, making him look older and far less like a silly maiden playing at being concerned. �Sorry,� he murmured, staring up with true emotion in his eyes, �sometimes I forget not to be so theatrical.�

Shido smiled and kissed his forehead. �It�s alright. How would we know that something was bothering you if you weren�t so superfluous the rest of the time? I know you do not mean anything by it, lalae.�

A smile tugged at Soryo�s lips. �That�s the first time you�ve called me that since you got back.�

Shido laughed softly. �Now it is my turn to apologize. Old terms are slow to return to my tongue.�

�Tell me more about these breed that have taken your childe.� Gaven said, reclaiming Shido�s attention.

�They looked like a form of canine. Almost exact matches for the hounds of winter, but these two were pure white.�

Gaven considered the information. �I have never known the hounds to be any other color than black. Herne is usually very careful when choosing new hounds or steeds. They are always black with red eyes to strike fear in his prey.�

Shido shrugged. �These were white with blue eyes. I had never seen anything like them before.�

His fledge-mate shook his head. �I fear I have no information for you but I will ask around and see if anyone else has heard of your white hounds or your missing childe. What was her name again?�

�Riho.� Shido provided.

Gaven repeated her name. �She is Japanese?�

Shido nodded. He noticed the master vampire�s troubled look and sat up straighter. �What is it?� He asked.

The dark haired vampire sighed, reaching out to tug on his mate�s long hair. �There have been troubles with the Japanese regional court of late. You know of the stepanu�s plans for his �golden dawn�?�

Shido grimace and nodded.

�Well the council has taken a liking to what he has to say. They are helping him go forward with those plans and have been pressuring those who speak against it. His biggest rival, however, has been the Japanese regional court. They want nothing to do with the plans of European vampires and they were most aggrieved with the stepanu�s presence in their land. They tried to have him removed but the council atenatened them and they backed down.�

�Perhaps they took your childe to chase out your mate.� Soryo suggested.

Gaven shook his head. �No. The Japanese court would never sully themselves with anything from the continent.�

Shido sighed and rested his head on his crossed arms. �I don�t care about alliances and politics. I just want my childe back. I have failed her in more ways than one. I could not protect her and I failed to teach her the society of our people. She won�t understand what has happened to her or the world she has been brought into. It was foolish of me, I know, but I thought to spare her from the death of what made her so brilliant as a mortal.�

He was aware of the look that passed between the mates and mentally cursed his slip.

�The court is every vampire�s right, lalae,� Soryo said slowly, �why would you seek to deny her the company of her own kind?�

Shido laughed humorlessly and stared at him. �How can you ask me aft after what just happened? How could I want to bring her to a world where anything could be taken from her just because she wasn�t strong enough to protect herself?�

Soryo shook his head. �How could you not?� He asked gently, �How could you want her to develop in a world that hates her? Where she would never be allowed to be herself? She would live in fear every day of her existence in the mortal world and would never learn to be strong! Her senses would dull from neglect and there would be no one she could turn to if she needed companionship. Yes, she would be weak for a time here at court but there would be people here to protect her and eventually she would learn to make alliances and be strong.�

Shido shuddered and buried his face in his arms, unable to meet the confused look in Soryo�s violet eyes. �You don�t understand,� he whispered, �I didn�t want her to become a monster! I didn�t want her to lose her innocence. I couldn�t bare the thought of her taking pleasure in the kill.�

�Those were not things for you to decide, Shido,� Gaven said evenly, �If you did not want her to lose her humanitu shu should not have brought her across.�

�It was not my choice.� Shido replied heavily.

�Whose was it?�

Shido sighed. �She was hurt, dying. I . . . I didn�t know what to do because I did not want her to die but I didn�t want her to be a vampire either. In the end she made the choice for me and asked to be brought across.�

�Than is truly wasn�t your choice at all whether or not she changed. She entered the eternal contract of her own will and from the beginning all options should have been opened to her. You treat her like a young child by forcing her on paths of your choosing and not letting her learn her own way.�

Shido sat up, bowing his head. �I did not know what else to do,� he whispered, �I was not ready to sire my own childe. I do not have your inner knowledge of how to deal with a childe, Gaven.�

Gaven caught his face and placed a kiss on the crown of his head. �That is why I am a master vampire and you are not, lalae. You do yourself a disservice in saying that you do not know how to deal with people. I think you and Soryo know how to deal with other people much better than me and mine. Master vampires know instinctively how to order and protect but we cannot compromise. That is why we are weak when we are together. We do not know how to deal with each other. However, common vampires are very comfortable together. There is little bickering and even less when there are times of trouble.

�I do not agree with the claim that common vampires are lesser than masters. True, we masters are individually more powerful than individual common vampires but as a whole I fear that you common vampires would tear us apart if you all turned on us for we could never work together as well as you, even to protect ourselves. Not to mention the fact that we masters are outnumbered by one to ten.

�I think, perhaps, it is better to say that we are two halves of a whole rather than say one is more powerful than the other. Without each other our flaws hamstring both master and common vampires alike but together we are strong. So do not feel so sad about your failure with your childe. You can admit your errors and are trying to correct your mistake and that makes all the difference.�

Shido smiled. �You always know that right things to say.�

Soryo latched onto Gaven�s waist and giggled. �That�s why everyone loves him so much! I have to chase away flocks of interlopers who want to take him from me on a regular basis.�

�That reminds me! Who was Dirmund and what did he want from you?� Shido asked, turning to stare at his fledge-mate.

Soryo�s eyes darkened and Gaven gathered the suddenly subdued vampire into his arms.

�Dirmund,� Gaven answered, �is the childe of a council member and one of Cain�s strongest supporters.�

Soryo snorted and nuzzled Gaven�s neck. �He wants one of his followers to be Gaven�s mate.�

Gaven nodded, stroking Soryo�s hair. �He has pushed his followers into challenging Soryo but I have refused to allow a formal challenge. I don�t want to pair with any other and I have told him so a number of times but he doesn�t seem able to understand that.�

Soryo gave Shido an annoyed glare from under Gaven�s dark hair. �He thinks that if he can chase me off Gaven will take one of his followers as his new mate.�

Shido cocked his head. �Why not just kill you to get you out of the way?� He asked Soryo.

�He can�t,� Gaven replied, �I had already confronted the stepanu with my grievance. Cain refused to do anything about it but the grievance had been placed before the court, as had my claim of Soryo. Dirmund couldn�t challenge him, for any such challenge must go through me first, and with my grievance announced he couldn�t use the excuse that he had killed Soryo in a fit of blind rage since the court knew he had already tried.�

Shido nodded his understanding. By announcing his grievance Gaven had proven to the court that Dirmund had ill feelings towards Soryo and as such it was Dirmund�s responsibility to stay away from Gaven�s mate if he couldn�t control himself. If he killed Soryo he could no longer use the excuse that he had struck out in blind anger for everyone now knew that he already harbored hate for the common vampire that allowed him to premeditate the killing. Killing a submissive mate without issuing a challenge or without the excuse of self-defense carried heavy penalties that no vampire was willing to pay.

�So he was trying to get you to flee the court?� Shido asked.

Soryo nodded. �Cain wouldn�t let Gaven kill him, in fact he�s made it quite clear that he�d be extremely angry if a master vampire killed another for any reason at all. Therefore Dirmund�s been harassing me nonstop whenever he can catch me alone because he knows he needn�t fear for his life as long as he doesn�t try to kill me. He has been gone these last few weeks and he wasn�t supposed to have returned until next month so I thought it was safe to take the private halls rather than through the public rooms like I had to do when he was here.�

�Well he is gone now, though I�m disappointed that Cain didn�t help you sooner!� Shido growled in annoyance.

Gaven shrugged. �He is weaving a very delicate web right now. Break one string and it the entire thing may fall apart.�

�It doesn�t matter!� Shido snapped, �a stepanu is master of the court before anything else! The needs of his court should come first.�

The dark haired vampire smiled and drew him forward to join the embrace. �Now you are thinking like a master vampire.�

Shido laughed. �No, I am thinking like an angry common vampire whose stepanu is not doing his job.�

Soryo laughed as well and kissed his cheek but Gaven just shook his head. �Do not antagonize your mate, Shido. Even you are not free of his anger.�

Shido reluctantly nodded his understanding.

�Do you think you can feed again?� Soryo asked suddenly, clasping Shido�s hands in his.

Shido hesitated but nodded dutifully at the measuring look Gaven gave him.

�Good! They are having a court feeding soon, let�s go!�

Shido blanched and suddenly understood why Cain had not chosen to bring him to court that night. He would go crazy being forced to watch the court hunt a group of humans who didn�t understand what had happened to them and that they were to give up their lives to feed the court in a group ritual. Soryo was tugging at him and he jerked his hands back in panic, earning a confused look from his fledge-mate and a searching one from the master vampire at his side.

�I . . . I . . .� He stuttered, trying to come up with an excuse.

�. . . am to too tired to participate, how silly of us.,� Gaven finished for him, �Soryo, go round up a grivadan would you?�

Soryo hesitated but Gaven sent him a pointed look that had sent out the door without another word. Shido flushed when those hazel eyes came to rest on him. �Thank you.� He murmured.

�You won�t be able to avoid court feedings forever. People will start to wonder why the stepanu�s mate isn�t there to get first choice, as is his right.�

Shido glanced up and froze. Somehow, he realizes, Gaven knew. �I won�t kill.� Shido stated, his voice quivering slightly. �I will never kill again and I won�t force anyone who does not wish to give me their blood.�

Gaven frowned, shaking his head. �I do not know how you will get away with such a thing.�

Shido shrugged. �I don�t either but Cain said he knew a way around it. Don�t . . . don�t tell Soryo. I don�t want him to worry that I will be disgusted with him because he enjoys it.�

The dark haired vampire nodded. �I don�t know what happened between you and your mate but I suspect a few things. If I am correct this will not be easy for you. All I ask is that you are careful with Soryo. He won�t understand some of the views you may now have. Even during his mortal life he never had a mortal�s sense of right and wrong. All he knew was his current master�s pleasure and none of them bothered to teach him to be ashamed of the things he did.

�I understand why Cain wishes him to be with you and I agree with his choice. You should not be ashamed of your body or shrink from our touch. We won�t hurt you, lalae. I explained to Soryo that you were to be treated like a new vampire just coming to learn his new world. He has had experience with this before, in his mortal life. One of his masters used him to teach their son the pleasures of a man�s body so that he would be able to take his pleasure when he willed but wouldn�t need to fear creating a bastard child. He will be careful with you but I must ask you to be the same. Soryo lives to please and he takes failures hard. Do not fight him lest he come to think you don�t find him desirable. You know it eats away at him to think that one of us is angry with him.�

Shido nodded. �I will try. It is hard, though. I know that there is nothing wrong with it but . . . part of me screams that it is perverse. That such actions should be kept only between those that have given themselves exclusively to each other and that is should never be done in public.�

�A consequence of living with mortals. Fight it, Shido. You are a creature of sensation now. If you don�t indulge it will eat away at your control.�

Shido opened his mouth to reply but Soryo returned with a grivandan in tow who was more than willing to let three vampires feed off of him, though neither Soryo nor Gaven took much. Most of his blood went to Shido who feed deeply to replace the blood he had lost in both battle and in his body�s reactions.

Gaven slipped out with him and Shido found himself suddenly fixed by mischievous violet eyes. He frowned suspiciously and Soryo gave him an innocent grin.

�What are you about?� Shido demanded.

Soryo�s innocent grin turned suggestive as he raised a few fingers to his lips and licked them. �Oh, nothing.� He purred, sliding the wet digits over his bottom lip and down his throat, leaving a thin wet trail behind on the skin they passed over.

Shido swallowed heavily, the new blood flowing through his dead body and the sight of the vampire before him slowly stripping off his shirt sending sharp signals of desire through his body.

�Soryo . . .� He whispered in protest.

�Shhh.� Soryo interrupted, crawling towards him like some large hunting cat, his violet eyes deep and determined as he came to lean over his prey. �I�ll be oh so gentle.� He promised a breath away from Shido�s lips.

Shido gasped as his fledge-mate licked his lips. Soryo�s tongue took advantage of the parting and slipped inside a moment before he sealed their lips together in the softest kiss Shido had ever experienced. He groaned as Soryo�s tongue teased his fangs, swiping over them until they tingled.

He felt Soryo�s hands on his shirt, working the buttons through the loops until it fell away. Fingers ghosted over his chest to his stomach and back up against, making him tremble. His head fell back when Soryo pulled away from his mouth to kiss under his chin and down his throat. A new set of shivers coursed through him when Soryo licked his sternum, his tongue moving slowly but firmly along the center of his chest until he was gasping in pleasure and trying to angle his fledge-mate to more sensitive flesh.

Soryo relented and when his warm mouth closed about Shido�s nipple the violet haired vampire cried out in ecstasy. Soryo�s tongue was rough a rough presence against the nub and it sent his mind reeling. When Shido feared he could take no more Soryo moved lower to lick at the soft skin of his navel. His fledge-mate growled deep in his throat as he devoured the pale skin, sharp teeth and twisting tongue mapping every straining muscle until Shido sobbed in frustration.

Soryo paused and studied him intently with narrowed eyes gone golden with a vampire�s desire. �Ah, I see now.� He whispered, idly finger Shido�s ribs.

�See what?� Shido asked breathlessly.

The predatory grin returned to his fledge-mate�s lips. �What troubles you so. It is not the act itself . . . it is what it represents. What it produces.�

�And what is that?� Shido demanded trying to sound disinterested to hide the sudden upwelling of nervousness that coursed through him.

Soryo bared sharp fangs and lunged up overtop of him, driving him back against the bed and pinned under his fledge-mate�s weight. Soryo�s hips ground into his and a ragged cry was torn from his throat as raw pleasure sang through him.

�This!� Soryo hissed, bringing their faces close together as he repeated the motion, �you fear this connection, this clash of being to being. You�re afraid to get close to us again but I do not know why. We won�t harm you, Shido. We won�t force you. All we want to do it make you happy and whole again. What you chose to do with that gift is up to you.�

Shido�s voice caught in his throat as he clung to the green haired vampire, his eyes closed as he tried to deny the pleasure that was building within him. He felt an arm wrap about his lower back, pulling his hips up against Soryo�s.

�S . . . stop.� He breathed, biting back the moan that trip to slip past with his words.

He heard Soryo�s soft laugh against his ear. �Look me in the eye and say that.� His fledge-mate whispered.

Shido cried out in frustration, knowing that once he opened his eyes he would be lost. �Please!� He pleaded.

�Open . . . your . . . eyes!� The vampire above him hissed and Shido responded without thought.

He felt as though he could drown in his fledge-mate�s eyes. They were dark with desire and he shuddered, feeling the other vampire�s want for him. They were eyes he could drown in and Soryo was creating sensations within him that he feared he could never escape from. They belonged to a man that was determined to rebuild bridgeido ido had burned long ago. A man that refused to let him sever ties with those he had once belonged among. Soryo was the embodiment of everything that Shido craved. He was understanding and pleasure. He was safety and family. He was vampire. With a sob Shido reached up and caught handfuls of the loose green hair, dragging Soryo�s red lips down to his own.

�Damn you.� He hissed at his own failure.

Soryo laughed. �Only if I can take you with me. It is so much more fun with two, you know.�

Shido flung his head back with a single, sharp, animalistic howl. His legs wrapped about his fledge-mate�s, pinning Soryo against him as he was coaxed into releasing his pleasure. Soryo�s tongue plundered his mouth, deftly avoiding his fangs as he thrashed in the final throws of climax. He clawed at Soryo�s bared back, earning a satisfying cry from the vampire atop him. He his fangs found purchase in Soryo�s mouth, sending the green haired vampire into his own throes of pleasure as precious blood was spilt between them.

The moment passed and they both collapsed limply back onto the bed amidst the scent of sex and blood.

-End Chapter 5-
- 5
- 6
- 7
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Hounds of Winter