7Warning: This contains slash. Pairings by prominence are as follows: Tommy/Adam, Tommy/Jason, as well as mentions of Billy/Tanya and Rocky/Catherine, with a friendship pairing of Adam/Rocky.
Disclaimer: I don't own Power Rangers or any of the established characters. Duh.
Author's Note: Little secret: this was supposed to be a one-shot. So much for that idea.
Thanks: Thank you to everyone that hit the story up thus far. It makes me smile. Now...REVIEWS would be nice...
Last time on "The Devil You Know"…
"Who are you?" Adam caught himself asking aloud, almost groaning the question.
"I am Antoine l'Dráq," the handsome youth reasserted, placing a gentle cool hand against Adam's reddening face. "And yes, I am a vampire."
And now, back to the show!
The Devil You Know pt. 2: The Vagabond
Zen'Aku Lati
Wait…what?
"That is what you were pondering, was it not?" the tall youth enquired, smiling pleasantly enough.
"Vampire?" Adam posed quizzically, wondering how long this joke would run on—but secretly wondering if his handsome leader could somehow read his mind.
"Would you like me to show you?" his trusted friend offered, taking his hand. Giving the confused teen that heart-stopping gaze, the mystifying youth placed one of Adam's fingers between his glistening teeth, and gently bit down until they pierced flesh.
Oh my God! He just bit me! Adam thought frantically as he tried to pull away, but this stranger, who looked so much like the Red Ranger he was hopelessly in love with, wasn't through.
There was no way that his guy could be who he said he was. This 'Count Antoine l'Dráq'. But as the young Count continued to lavish the seeping finger with that unbelievable tongue, and then press the smaller teen into his body, Adam couldn't help but believe that this gorgeous guy before him, his friend, his dream lover, was indeed a vampire.
"I shan't hurt you," the Count promised between kisses to the passive youth's palm. "In truth, I love new friends," he stated, kissing along the wrist and then switching his focus to Adams parted lips.
"I must confess, I get rather…lonely," the striking Count whispered, leaning into the other's neck.
But before contact could be made there came a low throaty growl not far from the both of them.
Both boys looked in the direction of the sound where two glowing eyes in the darkness greeted them, and stepping out of the shadows was another young man sporting hair longer than even the Count's, a slight beard and an ominous snarl.
This new arrival had a crossbow loaded with thick, silver-tipped wooden arrows leveled at the Count's head. How'd he get so close without either one of them hearing him?
"Unhand him, you monster!" the intruder demanded. Upon closer inspection, the new arrival looked a lot like—Rocky! Although this Rocky had a bigger build than what Adam was accustomed to.
The Count gave a feral snarl and replied, "You're one to talk!" then simply disappeared into the night air. Teleportation was one thing, but that was just freaky.
"Do not be fooled by his charms. He is a demon in the truest sense of the word!" Rocky snapped, sheathing his large crossbow. It was a little unsettling to hear one friend refer to another like a threat. Like a stranger.
"Rocky?" Adam asked with a touch of apprehension. After all, this Rocky was much larger than the Green Ranger was used to seeing and there was none of that playfulness that was so ingrained in Rocky's persona.
"Come again?" the broad fellow asked, furrowing his bushy brow.
"Oh nothing, you just look like someone I know," Adam replied hastily. For some reason, he didn't think it was wise to get on this guy's bad side.
"Hmm, perhaps you knew me from before…" the stocky fellow trailed.
"Before?" Adam pried. He couldn't help it. This was his best friend! Now that he thought about it, Rocky kind of looked like Sabertooth from X-Men! Yes, folks, it's true. Adam read the occasional comic.
"It is not safe for you to be traveling alone, especially during a full moon," Rocky redirected. Adam looked up at the stark white orb. This was the first time he had noticed!
"A lot of strange things happen in these woods. You must take great care. Arm yourself," Rocky warned and pulled out of his long coat a large engraved wooden cross and pressed it into the perplexed teen's hand.
"A cross?" Adam asked in disbelief. The larger boy took the relic and pulled at the crux to reveal a silver blade hidden within.
"The wood of this cross is soaked in holy water and the blade is made of pure silver. Not even I can bear to keep it," Rocky confessed, then sheathed it and returned it to the increasingly nervous boy. "You mustn't hesitate to use it, for your good friend the Count is on the prowl for his next victim—and you're ripe for the picking."
"I have to get out of here," Adam muttered, clinging to the weighty relic.
"Indeed. These woods are home to many creatures such as myself," Rocky stated, popping his collar. Adam furrowed his brow.
"You're a vampire, too?"
"No, my friend. I am what the doctors call a lycanthrope," Rocky corrected sadly.
"A werewolf…" the lost youth gasped, backing up slightly.
"And that is what the villagers call me," Rocky confirmed with a wry smile, the sadness seeming to creep all the way to his eyes.
"Fear not. I want to see you safe," he assured kindly. "Take the weapon and go now to that chapel over yonder. You will meet a good friend of mine. She will give you lodging until the full moon passes. Now go!"
"Thank you," Adam said, preparing to speed walk in the direction of the large steeple, but then stopped. "I don't know who you are!"
"I am Rodrigo…and I am the forest's loyal and reluctant servant," he replied, turning to look up almost longingly at the ever-waxing moon. "Now go to her. She was a friend to me when no one else was."
Adam clung to his gift tightly and began making the trek to the chapel and after a while, looked back to see the fellow who looked so much like his best friend still staring sorrowfully up at the moon.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011