Chapter Text
Zac curled on his side in the bed as far away from Caruso as he could get in a full size bed. Caruso lay next to him arms cross over his chest palms down still like a corpse lying in a coffin. Few vampires went into the complete
shutdown sleep any more unless they were injured. Zac had never seen it in his vampire life. His mother had never slept like that. Thinking about his mother tears slipped down Zac’s cheek.
The night Zac met Tsarina he had been to the drive in with a couple of his buddies to see Marlon Brando in the Wild One. He was walking home when he saw the most beautiful woman he had ever seen standing on the bridge looking at the river floating by below. The moon light shimmered off the water she seem to be watching each twinkle. Dark chestnut brown hair hung in waves around her milk white shoulders. She was dress classy red gown like she just came from one of those country club parties on the hill. She had enthralled him from that first moment. Tsarina loved him more
than the woman who gave birth to him ever did. She always told Zac he reminded her of son Alexi.
Caruso felt the bed gently shake as the boy was crying again. “Stop crying you sniveling little bitch.” Caruso snapped shoving Zac off the bed onto the floor. He watched the boy crawl across the floor toward the bathroom. “Take a fucking shower while you are in there you reek.” Pacing the room Caruso called Milo. The little shit should have checked in by now.
The Wolves and the Tigers armed themselves. Steve, Christian and Jared were huddled around Jensen who was still a little shaky. For a moment Jeff felt like he was on the outside looking in. Dominic was hovering around the tall green eyed wolf with ink black hair Jeff couldn’t be sure but he thought the guys name was Wentworth. Eddie and J Donovan were bonding with Riley and Jason.
Steve looked up walking over to Jeff he wrapped his arms around Jeff’s waist letting his chin on the man’s shoulder. “You up for this fight Papa?” Jeff chuckled “With all the hardware I don’t know if I am needed.” Steve kissed Jeff’s neck “We have always need you even when we didn’t want to.” Another pair of arms slipped around him another set blue eyes looking at him. Then to his surprise Jensen came to stand in front of him putting his arms around Jeff neck Jared wrapped his arms around them all. “Not that I am complaining but I think we should postpone this little cuddle fest and take care of business.” Jeff kissed each one of them.
The sun was just slipping behind the horizon leaving the sky on a soft pink and purple twilight. Caruso was prowling the room like a caged lion. When he had came out of the bathroom Zac was surprise to three decomposing animated bodies standing in the room. Through the part in the curtain’s he was three more stood outside the motel room. Caruso had called his Ghoul army.
Outside a wolf howled Zac cringed back as Caruso’s head snapped around in the direction the howling came from. Another howl came from behind them followed be more from the right and left. The alarm on Caruso’s car started wailing the Ghouls outside looked around but saw nothing. A loud thump came from the motel roof. The door started to rattle hard enough to hear the wood crack.
Everything went silent then the voice came. “Caruso. I believe you were looking for me.” Jeff’s deep whiskey raw calm like he was ordering a latte.
“Morgan! Fuck!” Caruso shoved his hand into his pacing the room weaving between the Ghouls like they were stone pillars. If Morgan was here then Kane was here and Milo fucked up. Caruso didn’t like surprises unless he was the one giving them. Closing his eyes he took a deep breath centering himself clear his thoughts. Caruso needed to take out Morgan and his family they were the last of the Prince’s bloodline.
Grabbing Zac by the back of his head Caruso put a knife to the boy’s neck. Using Zac’s body as a shield Caruso stepped out of room flanked by his Ghouls. A foul stench floated in the air ink black blood dripped down on them from the awning that was coated in ghoul blood. Bits and pieces of the outside Ghouls lay scattered around.
Jeff stood alone in the parking lot lighting a cigarette. Taking a deep drag he blew the smoke out his nose. “You always were a dumbass Caruso. Taking out bloodlines so you can be Prince. Not your smartest moment. But you don’t have too many of those do you?” Jeff spoke calmly his eyes locked with the boys letting Zac know that he was going to be ok.
“Someone has to restore order. Stop upstarts from becoming leaders before their time, making their own rules. Mating with Lycon’s. The Prince is
nowhere to be found.”
Jeff threw back his head laughing. “That’s your problem? You don’t like change. It’s called evolution Caruso. Everything has the change adapt or it becomes extinct.” Jeff took a last drag of his cigarette before crushing it under his boot. “The Prince is
nowhere to be found? News flash. It’s hard to find things that never existed in the first place. There has never been a Prince.”
“Bull shit Morgan. My father met with him.”
Christian and Steve stood on the awning waiting for Jeff’s signal. Jared and Jensen had slipped into the room standing just inside the door ready to grab the boy once Caruso was taking out. The others took out the remaining Ghouls.
“Myth a fairy tale like the Tooth Fairy, Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny. The Prince is an idea created like a boogey man by elders to keep us in line.” Jeff took out another cigarette as soon as he flicked open his Zippo Christian and Steve jumped down from the awning.
Steve grabbed the arm holding the knife to Zac’s neck ripping it completely off. Caruso’s scream was cut short by Christian taking his head off. The door to the room flew open two long arms grabbed Zac pulling him back into the room. Zac struggled until Jensen stepped in front of him cupping his battered face in his gentle hand. “It’s ok baby. We won’t let anyone hurt you again.” Zac sagged in Jared’s strong arms his aqua blue eyes filling with tears. “Daddy.” He whispered reaching his hand out to Jensen.
Zac woke up surrounded by warm and cool bodies draped around and over him. His nose was buried in a long tan neck that felt like a furnace. He clutched a cool hand over his heart. The scruff of a beard tickled his thigh, someone’s thick mane of hair was gripped in his other hand and his feet seemed to be tucked underneath
someone else. Peaking open one eye Zac saw the men who had saved him all piled on the extra large bed with him.
Jared woke as Zac stirred he stroked a big hand through the boys hair. “Go back to sleep sweetheart.” Jared kissed Zac’s forehead. “MMM Dad.” Zac murmured before closing his eyes again.
****Epilog 1 year later****
Zac stumped over to the bar where Paulie and Beth were setting up before the doors opened. It had taken a while but in the past year the Netherworld had become his home, filled with his family. Zac loved living there but sometimes it had its low points.
“What’s with the sour face Zac-a-roo?” Paulie asked leaning over the bar.
“I went in the back to a case of cocktail olives Dad Jay had Daddy bent over a keg of beer.” Zac gave a shiver of disgust as the two girls laughed. “So that’s where they have been sneaking off too.” Beth said.
“That isn’t even the worst of it. I went to see if I left my Iphone in the office. Papa Jeff, Papa Christian and Papa Steve were having some sort of weird yoga orgy. I so didn’t need to know Papa Christian could bend that way.” Zac glared at the girls who were now laughing so hard they had tears in their eyes. “Stop laughing it’s not funny. I need to have my eyes balls bleached now. I may need therapy.”
Beth got her laughter under control putting her arm around Zac. “Sorry it’s just there are many people who would pay good money to see what you saw.” Zac continued to glare. “Your Dads and Papas were just physical expressing how much they love each other. You sleep with Teddy D and Cody don’t you?”
“Yeah but we don’t do that. I like to snuggle in Teddy’s soft fur and Cody licks my neck. We kiss sometimes too. I am still a little afraid of doing it. They said they love me and can wait until I am ready.” Beth smiled understanding Zac had come a long way from his ordeal with Caruso but he still had a ways to go.
Over the next few days “NO SEX” signs appeared all over the club.
THE END