White Collar Fic - The Blood of Helios – Vampire World Chapter X – Honor, Justice and Fate

[elrhiarhodan]

Title: The Blood of Helios – Vampire World Chapter X – Honor, Justice and Fate
Author: elrhiarhodan 
Fandom: White Collar
Rating: R
Characters: Neal Caffrey, Sunlight Agent, Captain Peter Burke, Lt. Lauren Cruz, Master Reese Hughes
Spoilers: None
Warnings/Triggers: None
Word Count: ~ 2700
Summary: Vampire Peter, Shapeshifter El and Neal, who is something more than he ever expected to be. Chapter X – A confrontation and a choice yet to be made

This story is dedicated to gyzym  who has held my hand and encouraged me when I felt this was all turning to shite. I couldn’t ask for a better friend. Beta’d by the awesome riazendira. All mistakes are mine. Feedback is adored.

Prologue | Chapter I | Chapter II | Chapter III | Chapter IV | Chapter V | Chapter VI | Chapter VII | Chapter IX


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The Blood of Helios – Vampire World Chapter X – Honor, Justice and Fate

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“Peter - stop it. You’re killing her” Neal went to grab the Captain’s arm but touching him was like plunging his hand into a tank of electric eels. “Please - she doesn’t deserve this.”

Peter ignored Neal’s pleas. He had interrupted Cruz as she was violating the one unbreakable rule for any member of his cadre - never take blood from the unwilling, whether by force or coercion. This was part of the sworn oath, and the penalty was death. He didn’t want to think about the greater crime she would have committed by taking Neal’s blood.

Lauren was gagging on her own blood, choking on the flesh that was slowing being crushed by Peter’s power. Despite Lauren’s attack on him, Neal felt the same helpless anger he did when he saw someone abusing the weak, those who were unable to defend or protect themselves. He had to stop the Captain and he threw himself in front of Lauren, his body absorbing the force meant for Lauren. He felt a terrible pain erupt through his body, and Neal hoped that Burke would halt before he killed them both.

The Captain stopped and tried to haul him away from the dying vampire. “Neal, what are you doing. You have no right to interfere.”

Neal voice was taut with anger. “Interfere with what? Sadistic murder? I didn’t think you really were the monster that Frank called you - but apparently you are.”

Peter clenched his fists and ground out. “You don’t know what you are talking about. She broke her oath. And why are you defending her - Cruz was about to mind-rape you and take your blood - something you clearly told me you never wanted.” Peter closed his eyes and tried to control the blistering rage that erupted when he first felt that Neal was in danger from one of his own people. “Neal - please, let me finish this. You don’t have to watch.”

Cruz was barely breathing and Peter could see her life force fading. Another pulse of power and she’d be nothing more than dust. He raised his hand and Neal once again interposed himself.

“You can’t do this, Captain.” Neal stood there, a tall, lean column of determination.

“Why not, Neal? She violated her oath - that is punishable by death. Cruz knew that.”

“And what about your oath to her?”

“What are you talking about?”

“What about your oath to Lauren Cruz as a member of your cadre. You beat the shit out of her, wounded her terribly and then denied her the ability to heal. That’s as wrong as what she tried to do to me. Maybe worse, because she trusts you - she admires you. All she wanted was your respect.” Disapproval colored every syllable. “June talks about you as an honorable man - but there is nothing honorable in what you are doing to her.”

Peter couldn’t believe this was happening. Neal Caffrey - who should, by all rights be terrified that he’d get thrown back into captivity for his defiance, was passionately defending a vampire who had tried to bite him. “What would you have me do?”

“Heal her - let her feed, and send her back to where she came from. Or let her stay and take The Gift from lesser vampires.”

“You seem awfully well informed for someone who has spent a grand total of five hours in the upper working of this Kiss.” Peter was making no effort to hide the anger in his voice.

“Four hours, fifty two minutes and twelve seconds,” Neal replied idly, helpless to correct the vampire. “But don’t you see my point? Her judgment was impaired - she tells me deep dark vampire secrets, breaks an oath that she would probably have killed another for doing. You have some culpability here - you can’t fracture someone’s skull, damage their brains, and then kill them because they couldn’t follow the rules.” He paused and straightened his shoulders, like a warrior going into battle. “You’ll have to go through me if you want to finish her off.”

“The Wild Hunt take you, Caffrey - she could have killed you and you’d die defending her. What type of crazy are you?” Peter knew that he couldn’t finish off Cruz now. Not only was Neal right - Peter’s own actions precipitated Cruz’s violation, and if he executed her now, Neal may never forgive him, or look at him as anything but a monster.

Neal didn’t say anything.

Peter licked his lips, in an uncharacteristically nervous gesture. “Okay - I’ll fix what I’ve broken. Let me get to her.”

Neal stared at him, trying to determine if Peter was lying - and just using this as an opportunity to get Neal out of the way and kill her up close. He must have seen something in Peter’s eyes, because he stood aside and let Peter kneel next to his fallen lieutenant. He took off his uniform jacket and rolled up his shirt sleeve, then retrieved that small sharp knife he kept tucked within the collar of his jacket. Peter cut his hand, deeply this time, letting the blood pool in the cup of his palm.

“Hold her head back, and if you can, press down her tongue so the blood will flow into her throat.”

Neal followed the Captain’s instructions and watched as the red, viscous liquid poured into the wounded vampire’s mouth. Even with Neal’s pinpoint sense of timing, it seemed an eternity before Lauren started reacting to Peter’s blood. First she gagged and then began to swallow convulsively, and finally her fangs emerged. Peter moved his arm and let her clamp down to suck. Cruz would heal, he’d deal with her and then he’d deal with Neal.

---

Neal didn’t know if what they were doing was exchanging The Gift, but he felt the power flowing from the Captain to Lauren. There was a nearly visible halo wrapped around them, and Neal sensed something like the pull that the Master had tried on him. This time, it made him hungry for something he couldn’t name, it sparked a need within him. And then it ended in a brilliant flash.

When his inner eyes adjusted, Neal saw Lauren still lying on the floor, but the Captain was standing on the far side of the corridor, fully dressed, watching them. The young vampire stirred and opened her eyes, which were mercifully free of petechial hemorrhaging, and the bruising that decorated her face was healed. She sat up and looked first to Neal and then the Captain and then back to Neal.

“What … what happened?”

Peter answered. “By your own oath, you should be dead and dust, Lauren …” Neal was absurdly pleased that the Captain finally remembered Cruz’s first name and used it. “But I was reminded that your judgment could have been … impaired… through my own actions. I was persuaded that you may be entitled to a second chance.”

“Thank you, sir.” Lauren didn’t meet the Captain’s eyes.

“You owe your continued existence to Neal.” She looked at him, startled.

Neal tried to shrug it off, he didn’t want Lauren’s gratitude. What he had wanted was something hard to articulate - he didn’t want the Captain, didn’t want Peter to be a monster, he didn’t want to be attracted to someone he’d have to be afraid of. Something happened to him today - the initial meeting with the Master had been a catalyst, and this latest exposure with Lauren and the Captain was accelerating a change he couldn’t define. He had a vision of himself and Peter, and somewhere nearby, Elizabeth. It was the future - a distant future - and he felt himself irrevocably tied to them. Neal knew, with a bone-deep surety, that had he not interfered with Lauren’s execution at Peter’s hands, that future would never come to pass.

Lauren got up and pulled herself together. “Will there be a trial, sir?”

Neal was startled and looked over to Peter. He had thought the matter was settled.

Peter shook his head. “No, you’ve been punished enough. I am still not certain whether you will stay here or be shipped you back to your sire. But for now, you’ll remain in your quarters until I send for you.”

She looked at Neal - puzzlement and gratitude, instead of blood clots, coloring her eyes, and then they blazed white and she dissolved into mist.

“Caffrey.” It was one word - but filled with a devil’s dictionary worth of invective.

“What?” Neal had an idea of what was coming.

“Don’t ever do that again.”

Neal didn’t say anything, not wanting to make any promises. He was grateful Peter didn’t press him further.

---

Peter escorted Neal back to his office, gave him the wedding photo and instructions to start planning the enamels. He tried to keep his voice light and even, but he was shaken. It had been hundreds of years since any human dared stand up to his power, dared challenge him, dared call his honor and his integrity into question. But Neal isn’t human now, is he? Peter shied away from his own question.

A sharp tug at his will reminded him that it was a full moon tonight and he had obligations to Master Hughes in the South Tower. Outsiders, and even the newer members of his cadre were always slightly appalled at the enthusiasm Peter had for sharing The Gift with the ancient vampire. He supposed, from an aesthetic perspective, intimate congress with the ancient vampire was not a pleasant picture. But Peter didn’t really care, his bond with Hughes was inviolate - as important to him as the one he had with his wife. It was more than just vampire sire and child, more than Master and Captain - it was a connection forged by time and friendship and joint purpose, and strengthened with each full moon. He expected (and hoped) that Clinton and Diana would someday feel for him what he felt for Reese.

Peter materialized in the outer chamber, just as Hughes opened the door. The smile that rarely graced the Master’s lips was fully alight in his eyes, and he held out a welcoming arm for his Captain and Peter went in.

Hughes’ chambers occupied the topmost levels of the South Tower, and they were the only ones with windows in the entire Whryccrid fortress. Peter followed Reese out to the balcony that wrapped around the tower and breathed deep, the mingled scents of jasmine, moonflower and petunia calming him. Over the thousand years of his existence, Reese had developed a number of interesting hobbies, which most vampires did, if just to stave off the crushing ennui of immortality. His current obsession was creating a garden of night blooming flowers.

The moon was just clearing the tops of the towers on the western edge of the City, a fat orange ball that was the focus and fascination of his entire race. Many of them had been angry that the humans would dare travel there, but Peter had been enthralled, half wishing he could have the opportunity to set foot on Mother Moon, to give her his respects.

He heard Reese puttering a bit in the garden, doing whatever he needed to do to attract the nightflyers that would pollinate his plants. As the moon rose and turned from orange to the bright silver of a new coin, Reese came and stood behind him. Peter leaned back, absorbing some of the energy that spilled over from the Master, who gathered and release power with each breath. Hughes’ breath ruffled his hair and sent small shivers through him.

“Relax, my friend. You’ve had a trying night.” Humor and exasperation colored the Master’s voice.

“You could say that.”

“Caffrey did the right thing.” Hughes unbuttoned Peter’s uniform jacket and slid a cool hand over his slowly beating heart. “I haven’t interfered with your management of Lauren, and I wouldn’t have - but killing her would have created problems.”

Peter rested a hand over Reese’s. “I know - her sire would have been furious, and you are depending on him for his support in Council.” As he uttered the words, Peter knew he was wrong.

Reese extracted his hand and took off his own uniform jacket. “Delude yourself if you want, but don’t think to lie to me.” The last words were whispered against his neck. “This has everything to do with the Helios. You are going to have to make a decision eventually. Just make sure it’s one you’ll be able to live with.”

“Sire …” Here, in this chamber, on this balcony, in front of the bright moon, Peter could let his fear show. “I’m not ready. I don’t know if I ever will be.”

Hughes held Peter tight, a gesture meant to give comfort, not to arouse. “There is still some time yet. But for now, take strength from me and the we’ll talk some more. Maybe the power will give you clarity.”

Hughes replaced his right hand over Peter’s heart and lifted the other to his mouth. Peter sunk his fangs deep into the ropey veins of his Sire’s still strong and muscular arm. As he fed, the power that was uniquely a Master’s flowed into him, filling the spaces that had been drained during the past month, strengthening and expanding his own abilities. Unlike other nights in Reese’s arms, the Master did not feed from Peter and complete the circuit, taking back some of Peter’s own strength and power. Now, the flow of energy went unchecked and Peter struggled to absorb and contain it. He hadn’t felt such an on-rush of his Master’s power since he had been made, five centuries ago.

Relax. Just let it come, don’t fight it.  Reese whispered in his head.

His heart beat fast and hard, filling with an unnameable brightness. Peter didn’t know how much more he could take, but this power was beautiful, seductive and different from anything he had tasted before.

This is the power of the Helios, this can be yours. Are you willing to forego it?

Peter’s world shattered.
 
Go To Chapter XI - There Is Always A Choice