Le Frère de Sang

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GENERAL DISCLAIMER - I do not own any of the characters used.

NOTES ON THE CHAPTER - This is a chapter where Harry establishes a relationship with a new character, one I am sure you are familiar with. Again, I warn you I do not know the Anita Blake characters well and may not have written them fantastically, you will either have to put up with the way I am writing them or find another story. What also happens here is we see the slow development of Harry’s relationship to someone who will become vitally important in his life.

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I woke up feeling strange. I felt like I was floating but I became conscious. I saw a pillow next to my head and lush red blanket next to it. I was lead on my side. I pushed myself upright. I was in a bed and Asher and Jean-Claude were, yet again, in the room with me. Damien was also present and sat at the dining chair and table that were different to my own. It was a different room though it was the same size as the old one had been and the same lay out.

“Hello.” I whispered looking at Asher who offered me a small smile. I looked over at Jean-Claude who looked unimpressed before I looked at Damian who wasn’t looking at me. I looked back at Asher before freeing my hands from the blanket. My stomach hurt, all my muscles felt like they’d been strained more than usual. It felt like I’d pulled my diaphragm as well as all the muscles in my stomach and rib cage. I pulled up all my mind shields, my occulumency shields blocking any emotions though the vampires in the room were not showing theirs.

“Good evening. How do you feel Harry?” I looked at Jean-Claude. He had used my name last night…last time too even though when we’d first met he gave me these French names that I hadn’t understood. At least I could understand what ‘petit magicien’ meant, it was close to English anyway.

“I‘m f…” I stopped. “I‘m sore.” Jean-Claude nodded and uncrossed his legs so he could stand from the sofa. “What happened?”

“You were sick then you passed out. We cleaned you up, I‘m afraid we had to bathe you to remove everything from you and your clothes have been disposed of, they were beyond repair. They were burned. You have been unconscious for three nights. You have been moved from your old room to this one. It is closed to Asher‘s room so he can keep a close eye on you. Your old room was not occupiable.”

“Oh…did I…what did I do to it?”

“Your body expelled everything inside of it, including bodily fluids and your magic. The room is beyond repair though perhaps you could rectify the damage you did when you are better.”

“I‘m sorry. I didn‘t mean to…I‘m really sorry sir.”

“Ah, Mon petit magicien! Do not call him sir, the title will boost his ego. Have no doubt it shall be taken as a compliment and give him a sense of power, any more of that and he shall not be fit to walk around his city for he will not be able to enter or exit a room.”

I couldn’t help it, Asher’s light tone and words made me give a gentle laugh only to make me clutch my stomach as the muscles complained against the action.

“Ow…” I moaned hugging my arms around my stomach. The evidence pointed out that I’d thrown up but from Jean-Claude’s mention of bodily fluids I probably expelled whatever was in my bladder. I hoped I didn’t expel what was in my intestines but I wasn’t going to ask to have it confirmed or denied. God that was embarrassing.

“I‘m sorry.” I apologised again and I heard someone click their tongue in impatience.

“Perhaps what you and Anita will take from this experience is to listen to my advice when I give it instead of ignoring me. You were not ready to have that interview and forcing yourself to go through with it only caused you to take steps backwards in your recovery.”

“I‘m sorry. There‘s just…Miss Blake…she…” I stopped and bit my tongue trying to sort out what I was going to say, what I was trying to say. “Her…she makes me feel sick. Everything about her repulses all of me. I‘m sorry, that‘s so cruel to say but it‘s true. I could feel her in the room, and not her emotions either I could just feel something in the room that repelled everything in me. I wanted to run away, I didn‘t want to be around her. But if I hadn‘t have done the interview then, then I don‘t think I ever would have done it.”

“So her being an animator made you…yes. Would you care to explain.” I bit my lip at his demanding look. He said the word animator and I just saw the graveyard with the caldron in it. Cedric’s body lying to the side of my and Wormtail before me with Voldemort stepping out of the caldron. I flinched at the memory.

“I…” I swallowed and hugged my arms around myself again. “No…no I don‘t want to explain.”

“I wasn‘t asking you what you wanted. You will explain to me why you have a problem with Anita being an animator.” I flinched again but met his gaze straight on.

“I don‘t want to tell you.”

“You will…”

“Jean-Claude…” Asher’s voice was a warning one and Jean-Claude glared at him.

“I don‘t want to tell you! I don‘t want to tell ANYONE! It‘s bad enough I have to remember! I won‘t tell you! I‘ll never tell you!” I jumped out of bed and stood up glaring at the Master of the City.

“We deserve an answer!” He argued back to me.

“No you don‘t! And you can‘t make me either!” Jean-Claude went to take a step forward but Asher was suddenly in front of him and had his hands holding Jean-Claude’s arms. They spoke in French very quickly then Asher looked over at me.

“It would help us understand what happened. It would help us better prepare ourselves for the future in case these things happen again. Please, we do not ask to cause you more pain but to spare you it.”

“No…no! You don‘t care at all! Don’t pretend to care! You want me away from you in some foster home! You couldn’t care less about me! You don’t want me here well I don’t want to BE here! I don‘t want YOU here! I never wanted to be here! I don‘t want to be HERE! In this city! In this country! In this world! I don‘t want to be here!” I raged at the vampires, yelling my anger at them.

“Calm yourself, mon petit magicien. You need to…”

“DON‘T tell me what I need to do! That‘s all people EVERY DO! You can‘t do this Harry, you can‘t do that! Don‘t go with Blaise Harry, he‘s a vampire he‘s evil! Don‘t touch that Harry! Don‘t leave the house Harry! Don‘t leave the cupboard you FREAK HARRY! You need to defeat him Harry! You have to SAVE us Harry! You have to marry Ginny Harry! You HAVE to become an Auror Harry! I want to do as I want for once in my LIFE! I don‘t want to be asked questions about things I don‘t want to remember! I don‘t want to be here! I want to be with Blaise! I want my brother! I want to go home!”

I turned and stormed towards the door which wouldn’t lead to the bathroom. I grasped the handle and went to pull open the door when arms wrapped around my waist and dragged me back.

I screamed. I screamed and grabbed at the hands holding me. I scratched and hit and kicked. Then more hands came and held me down and I lashed out of those too. They overpowered me and I called my magic to me collecting it and then throwing it out of me. The hands left me immediately and loud thuds could be heard from different directions around the room.

I jumped to my feet. Asher was pushing himself up from the floor, Jean-Claude was using the wall to hold himself upright and Damian was moving away from the broken table that’s he’d obviously landed on.

I looked around at the damage and gaped. Then I met Asher’s eyes and a flinched away. He was staring at me in shock and with wariness. I had attacked him. I pulled my magic to me again and apparated to my flat. I’d lost my temper. I screamed. I’d lost my temper and used my magic against people who were trying to help me.

I screamed again, ignoring the pain in my chest and stomach. I fell to the floor and held my face in my hands. They’d been trying to help me…they did deserve answers. They deserved to know everything for what they’d been through looking after me. They’d looked after me. And I attacked them. I lashed out at them.

“Blaise…” I whimpered. Blaise would have known what to do…Blaise would have kept me safe and he would have helped me keep my temper. Why did he have to die and leave me alone?

“Blaise…” I cried again, tears falling from my eyes and down my cheeks in fast rivers. I crawled towards Blaise’s room. I used my magic to open the door and crawled towards his bed. I pulled myself onto it, the small exertion exhausting me. I pushed myself towards Blaise’s side of the bed and clutched the covers to me hugging them tightly.

Blaise’s smell surrounded me. There on the bedside cabinet was a picture of him and me. I picked it up even as more tears fell from my eyes. It was a muggle photo. We were stood next to each other with Blaise’s arm around my shoulder. I was grinning at him and he was laughing. We were slightly facing each other and while he wore gloves my hands were bare and you could see the cut across my palm. I lifted my hand to look at where the scar had been. Now there was just a very thin scab. It was like he was fading away. The smell in the bed had faded, the scar was fading…there would be nothing left of Blaise except my memories and how long would it be until I lost that too.

“Blaise…” I muttered again, wishing he’d answer. Wishing his voice would ring in my ears once again. Wishing his arm would go back around my shoulder. Wishing he’d be asking for a feed. Wishing he’d be apologising for not putting up the silencing charms when he had a guest over. Wishing I could feel his emotions tingling up to my brain from my palm. Wishing he’d just hug me again.

“Oh dear Harry.” It wasn’t Blaise’s voice but it was a voice. I flicked my eyes over to Asher who was stood in the doorway to the room looking at me with sorrow in his eyes. I stayed clutching the blankets to me and gripped the picture frame harder to me bringing it to my chest.

“Blaise…” I whispered. Asher sighed almost silently and crossed the room towards me. He sat down on the bed and reached a hand towards me slowly as if I’d attack. I’d already attacked him; it was possible he thought I’d do it again. I sobbed and squeezed my eyes shut turning my head away.

A hand brushed through my hair and Asher began to talk soothingly to me. I heard another voice join his and then footsteps going away from me. Asher put his hand on my shoulder and gave me a little shake.

“Come here Harry.” I made to sit u p like he was trying to urge me to do but I didn’t have the strength. Asher sighed again and let his hand go back to petting my hair while he urged me to calm down.

It took a long time but I did calm down though I hiccupped frequently and my eyes felt sore and swollen. My face felt itchy and I wiped away the dried tear tracks, finally finding the energy to sit up.

“I‘m sorry…”

“You have little to apologise for.” He didn’t say I had nothing to be sorry for this time. I flinched. He sighed once more. “I am not a stranger to grief Harry. Though I am still a stranger to you am I not? You know Jean-Claude less than you know me and we have given you little reason to trust us, as you have given us little reason to trust you.”

“You have done a lot for me…I‘m sorry I can‘t repay you, I would like to but…but I won‘t tell you about my past…I don‘t want to think about it. I just want…I wish Blaise was here. He was my brother. If I was having problems he‘d just hug me and keep me company. I have nobody left…”

“Come, let us go back. It would not do for you to dwell here for too long. You will not get through this rough bit in your life if you are here, you are not yet ready to face this again. Let us help you find somebody to rely on, a friend, so you have somebody to help you through everything. Not a replacement for Blaise, never that, but somebody else for you to rely on.”

“You want me to go back with you? Even after I used my magic on you?”

“You caused no damage to any of us. Only the table suffered.”

“But I could have killed you! I could have murdered you! There are spells that can recreate sunlight! I could have KILLED You! And you are saying it‘s okay for me to come back?”

“You could have but you didn‘t, that‘s the difference. Besides, I could have killed you, Jean-Claude could have killed you. But we didn‘t. We are all dangerous, in our own little ways.”

“Bu-but…”

“No excuses Harry. Let us help you, come back with me.” I sighed and looked at the hand Asher held out to me. I hiccupped again then reached my hand out to his. He wrapped his fingers around my hand and helped pull me to my feet. “Come, I will carry you back. It shall be quicker. Do you have any objections?”

“No.” I let him put his arms around me. I tensed at first as the vampire carried me with unnatural speed that made my skin sting with pain. I ignored the pain and let myself relax in Asher’s arms, resting my head against his chest.

“Here.” Asher announced and I looked around to notice us in the room. I blinked a few times and wiped my eyes, trying to wipe the tiredness out of them. I stepped away from Asher who stepped towards the bed and sat down on it. He beckoned me closer. I looked him over before stepping forwards, uncaring of what would happen.

“You are tired. Rest.” I sat down on the bed but Asher wrapped an arm around my shoulder and encouraged me to rest on him. Blaise had done this with me sometimes. I’d lead down with my head in his lap. Asher petted my hair while his other hand stayed on my shoulder applying no weight just resting there.

“There‘s someone I‘d like you to meet mon petit magicien. His name is Nathaniel. He‘s very gentle, will pose you no threat. He couldn‘t hurt a fly. But he is nearer to your age and he is calm. He cannot relate to your grief over your brother though he has suffered in his life. You and he would get along well I believe.” I sighed, hiccupped and signed again.

“If you want me to meet him I will.” Asher laughed very gently.

“Meet him if you‘d like Harry, not if I‘d like.”

“I‘ll meet him then. Is he a vampire too?”

“No.” Asher admitted though there was a slight hesitation in his voice. “He is a were-leopard. He is part of Anita‘s pard, she is pack leader to the St Louis bunch of were-leopards. He is Anita‘s favourite, you will probably sense her over him. She has been…reluctant to let him come despite his agreement but he shall be here within ten minutes if you agree to meeting him.”

“I don‘t mind.” I sighed again, my hiccups calming down.

“That is not an answer Mon petit magicien.” I groaned in frustration and looked up at the vampire holding me. He gave me a barely there smile. His hands stopped moving. I reached up and put his hand back on my hair.

“Will you be there?”

“Non. I am sorry. The sun will rise soon and I shall go to sleep for the day.”

“Blaise said my blood gave more energy to him than any other blood did…it could help you stay awa…”

“How kind but I don‘t think you should make any offer of the like until you are better.” Asher smiled gently at me. I felt strange and warm and soft. I felt calm, completely drained but soft and unstrained. I felt soft, I didn’t know any other way to describe it.

“Nathaniel will come. Anita needs your promise that Nathaniel shall come to no harm in your presence.”

“I have to see Miss Blake?” I shot upright and pulled away from Asher. Asher lowered his hands into his lap and looked at me, half his face still hidden by his hair.

“No. It will be enough for you to give me your word that you will not harm Nathaniel.”

“I wouldn‘t hurt him. I didn‘t mean to hurt anybody!” I cried at him feeling tears start to well up again. I thought my tears had dried up.

“I know you didn‘t mean to hurt anybody.” Asher’s hand lifted towards my cheek. I glanced at it, it was scarred horrendously. I looked back to Asher’s eyes and saw him frozen looking for my reaction. I could see self resentment in his eyes. I glanced back at his hand before giving him a watery smile.

“I have my fair share of them as well.” Asher gave a rueful smile and let his hand continue to my face. He wiped the tears away. It was nice to have such human contact. Asher had offered me a lot. Hugs, gentle petting and close contact.

“He is here.” Somebody knocked on the door. Asher pulled away from me and walked over to the door. I swallowed my nervousness down and my fear. Asher turned to me. “If you do not feel able to do this then do not worry, we can try it another day.”

“No. It‘s okay. I just don‘t know what to expect.” Asher gave me a nod and turned to the door. He opened it and in stepped a young man, about the same height as me, with the longest hair I have ever seen. It went past his hips, almost to his knees, and it was loose. It was a stunning chestnut colour and against his white top it stood out in great contrast. He wore tight trousers that clung to every part of him. His outfit showed off his body and his body showed off the clothes. His eyes were pinned on mine but he did glance away to give a shy smile to Asher who nodded to him and left the room closing the door behind him. We stared at each other and I carefully let my mind shields down to test his emotions.

I found reading him as easy as an open book. Sorrow lingered in the background of everything but in front of it was a small amount of fear, happiness, love, curiosity and anticipation that set my nerves prickling with readiness for anything. Anticipation feels like paranoia only it’s warmer and it’s in the body instead of the mind.

“Hello.” I offered him, closing my mind off to his emotions.

“Hi. I heard about you from Damian, Anita and Asher. Don‘t worry, none of it‘s bad. I‘m sorry about your brother. I was there that night too.”

“I didn‘t see you.” I offered quietly and looked away from him.

“I‘m not surprised. If I were you I‘d have only had eyes for one person as well. How‘ve you been feeling? I heard you were ill?” I looked back at Nathaniel and gave him a weak smile. He took a few steps forward, coming towards the bed. AS he came closer I could feel Anita on him. The nauseating feeling clung to his skin and his hair though it was only a lingering feeling, like an impression left on a piece of paper. It was hardly noticeable and easily looked over. It was like having mud on you, but having a shower and only specks of it remained.

“I‘m okay. I just…I‘ve been going through a lot.”

“Mm. Stress can do that. So, what was school like? Did you have a favourite subject or what?” I wondered whether Nathaniel had been briefed on what to say and what to ask. He’d come right up to the bed now and was lowering himself to sit down. I scooted back a little, both to give him room and to create a little space to make me feel comfortable.

“I liked the sport.”

“That was the part I hated about school. I‘d purposefully forget my gym clothes so that I couldn‘t join in.”

“We‘ve only done running so far and football I think it‘s called? I‘m not good at that but I enjoyed hockey. I just loved the running. It‘s like flying only a little bit harder because you are doing all the work and not the broom.”

“Broom? You‘ve flown on brooms?” Nathaniel looked completely flabbergasted.

“Um…” I looked to either side really quickly before playing with the pattern on the blanket. “Yeah. It was my favourite thing, flying. Can‘t do it now but when I could I loved it.”

“It sounds good but I like the idea of running a lot better. Did Asher tell you that I was a were-leopard?”

“Yeah…was that okay? He just told me…”

“That‘s fine. I don‘t like people to know normally, it‘s embarrassing. But we all thought that it was better for you to know what you were getting yourself into before meeting me. In case something happened like it did with Anita.” I flinched at the memory.

“Yeah…that was a…um…surprise. Is were-leopard like…like were-wolf but you turn into a leopard on the full moon?”

“Yeah. Sometimes we can change when it‘s not a full moon though. Depends.” He didn’t elaborate and I didn’t ask him to.

“So, what do you do?” I figured it was better to stay on safe topics. That meant topics that weren’t around each of our special status.

“What?”

“Do you go to school or work?” I asked crossing my legs on the bed and holding my shins.

“Oh I work at a dance club, Guilty Pleasures.”

“I heard about that club, apparently the dancing was brilliant. Blaise and me were going to go when we were actually of age and when I got a bit better at holding my shields up.”

“You like clubs then?”

“Yeah. I can loose myself in the music.”

“That’s what I do…course I lose myself in other places to.” He offered with a slightly guilty and embarrassed look. I frowned at him not understanding why he was looking like that. Still he just gave me a half hearted shrug and I allowed the subject to drop.

We talked for a while then he went to go and get some food for us both. When he came back I thanked him for all the cooking he’d done for me before. After breakfast I fell back asleep, overly tired.

When I woke up I found Nathaniel asleep on the bed next to me. His hair was all over the place. I slid out of bed and wandered into the bathroom. I showered and cleaned my teeth before emerging from the room. I looked in the wardrobe hoping the clothes I’d brought to the other room had been brought into this one. In the wardrobe I found some trousers hung up. I moved to the drawers instead and pulled out my jeans and a brown t-shirt. I pulled out some underwear and socks before taking it all back into the bathroom to dress. When I came back into the bedroom I found Nathaniel brushing his hair. I couldn’t imagine having hair that long. Any longer than just past my shoulders was bad enough.

“Hi.” Nathaniel said offering a small smile. I gave him one back and moved over to the bed again. I slid onto it and sat back on my shins.

“I‘m sorry I fell asleep.”

“Heh, staying up all night usually makes you fall asleep. Happens to me all the time.” I laughed at Nathaniel’s easy going words and his joking smile.

“So, what do you want to talk about.” I asked.

“Don’t‘ mind. I‘m just here to keep you company.” I frowned slightly at him.

“Well what do you want to do?”

“Don‘t mind.”

“Don‘t you have a preference? Don‘t you have any idea?”

“I‘ll do what ever you want to do.” I looked him over and opened my shields to let in his emotions. I know it was invasive but as I looked him over I checked all his emotions.

“You…I…” I looked away. Nathaniel slowly move back towards the bed.

“You okay?”

“Blaise always told me that…that I needed to make decisions. He said I needed to be more assertive and not just go along with whatever he said just because I was…loyal to him. He said it was submissive behaviour.” I looked up at him and Nathaniel moved slightly nervously away from the bed. “I‘m sorry. But if neither of us make a decision then we aren‘t going to do anything.”

“What do you mean?”

“Two people who do things to please other people instead of making their own decisions will never work out what to do.” Nathaniel grinned at me and held his hand out to me.

“Perhaps you‘d be up to leaving the room then.” I looked at him.

“I‘m allowed to leave the room?”

“Sure. Come on. I heard you like to cook. Show me?” I grinned and took his hand.

-

When I returned to the room later I found Asher there waiting for me. Nathaniel looked at the vampire and smiled nervously. I looked him over.

“Good evening. I trust you‘ve enjoyed your day?” I smiled.

“Mm.”

“How do you feel?”

“Better.” I nodded to him. Nathaniel took a step backwards toward the door.

“I‘d better go then, I had better go home.” He said and Asher turned to look at him even as I did.

“Do you have to?” I asked. I liked his company, he was fun and he was close to my age. At least he wasn’t as old as Asher was…how old was Asher?

“No Nathaniel, there is no need for you to leave. Jean-Claude is feeding Anita and visa versa so you haven‘t got a lift.”

“Damien…”

“Is at work I believe. Come now, we have much to discuss.” Nathaniel looked very uncomfortable, it didn’t look like he and Asher got along very well. However, true to form he wouldn’t displease anyone and nodded his consent to stay behind. I frowned in confusion but didn’t question it. Then something occurred to me.

“Jean-Claude is feeding Anita? But I thought Jean-Claude was the vampire.” I looked between my two companions but neither looked very forthcoming. I sighed in frustration. They hardly knew me so they couldn’t trust me with things but the least they could do was make it so I was a little less confused.

“Jean-Claude is a vampire.” I looked at Asher, surprised by him answering me. He looked slightly hesitant but he ploughed on. “He requires blood among other things to survive. Because he and Anita share a bond Anita shares his need for such other things too.”

It was a very loose explanation, not giving enough information away and yet still answering the question. I frowned. Other things to survive?

“Like Blaise you mean?” I asked and Asher pinned me with his blue eyes, eyes that seemed to pierce me on the spot and read me though I knew enough about vampire mind tricks to know that my occulumency shields would stop him from invading my thoughts.

“Elaborate, mon petit magicien.”

“Blaise always needed more than blood to survive. He fed from me, occasionally from others, and I cooked for him and most of the time he‘d find a partner for the night as well.”

“He found a partner?” I frowned at him, he wasn’t going to make me say it was he? Oh yes he was, the look on Asher’s face clearly told me he would take no implications to the truth.

“Yeah. I always thought he was joking when he said he lived off sex but I suppose it was true. He would become erratic but after he’d had sex he‘d be better.”

“Blaise had the ardeur as well?”

“Ardeur?”

“What did Blaise call this need to feed of sex?” Asher enquired stepping forwards a pace and ignoring my question. He was only about a meter from me now.

“He didn‘t call it anything. He just said he was dying for a shag.”

“Did you ever feed him?” I reared back in shock.

“No! Course not! He was my brother! He‘d just take blood from me. He‘d always do a big feed before he took care of his other needs so I would sleep through it.”

“I see.” Asher offered and then turned to look at Nathaniel.

I ignored them for a moment, caught up in the memories of Blaise feeding. Blaise would feed from me, warning me he’d take more than usual. He’d always convince them with his hypnosis that they needed a shower or something so he could visit my room. He’d feed from my blood and take so much that the only thing I could do was sleep, I’d be so drained. Then he’d leave the room. Once or twice I’d feel the lust and pleasure seeping through the walls but other times I’d just pass out straight away.

“Do a lot of vampires need sex to survive too?” I asked not realising I interrupted a small discussion.

“No. Only those from the line Jean-Claude and I were borne from. Nathaniel, Jean-Claude and Anita are finished now. Jean-Claude should be made aware of this.”

“Okay. Bye Harry.”

“Bye.” I waved slightly to him and he left. I looked back up at Asher who was giving me a considering look. “What‘s the matter?”

“If your brother‘s father was sired by those from my sire‘s line then you could belong to his sire.”

“But I told you, Blaise‘s father had no sire.”

“Mm. That may be true…”

“It is true! Look, in the wizarding world there are hundreds of spells and some of those spells show family heritage. Blaise‘s family tree, paternal family tree showed that all his relatives on his father‘s side are dead. These family trees show the status of all family members, vampire or were-wolf or dead or…or…I don‘t know but it shows who was alive. It shows all blood links. I was on his family tree! His sire, sire‘s sire were dead. Blaise had nobody.”

“Then I cannot explain it. Let us just hope that what you say is true and that in no way you become my mistresses ward, I doubt your existence would continue if that were to happen.” I snorted.

“I won‘t be anyone‘s ward who tries to hurt me. And I can protect myself, though I don‘t want to have to.”

“I know mon petit magicien. Now, how was your day with Nathaniel?” I threw away my anger and smiled.

“I like him.”

“Good.”

-