Full Moon Rising

Chapter 11

Before Jean Claude left he politely invited Xander to stay at the circus as his guest until they figured out what was going on, which Xander had interpreted to mean that he was trapped here until the vampire decided to let him go. Xander didn’t really mind all that much, anything was better that the hell hole he was living in before and this place was loads better than some of the places he had been held hostage in before. Spike could learn a thing or two from Jean Claude.

Xander paced the length of the room and thought about what to do next. He wasn’t really tired and they didn‘t have a television. He had already searched the room, shamelessly rummaging through the dresser and closet for anything that he could use as a weapon. He didn’t find anything useful like a stake or a knife but some of the outfits he found did look dangerous if worn. He did find a plain white t-shirt loose enough to worn around his bandages and as he pulled it on Xander wondered what had happened to his own clothes, deciding that they had probably been destroyed during the change, he took a moment to morn his favorite shirt. It had only taken him ten minutes to search the room from top to bottom and now he was bored again.

God he wished Nathaniel was here. They had taken the wereleopard with them when they left and Xander had no idea if the man was okay. Xander found it hard to suppress the protective instincts he had for the man. The brunet closed his eyes and willed himself to calmed down. It would have been easier if Nathaniel was actually there with him. The wereleopard seemed to possess the uncanny ability to keep him calm and maybe they could have finished that game of doctor they started before they were so rudely interrupted. After his fifth circuit around the room Xander had enough. He tighten the drawstring around his sweat pants and headed straight for the door. As soon as he opened the door Xander was greeted by the three weres he saw in the club and a vampire with long blood red hair, guarding his door. Geesh, where was the trust thought Xander bitterly and wasn’t four guards a bit much.

“Hey do you guys have anything to eat around here? I’m starving.”

“Sure, I‘ll go to the kitchen and get you something,” offered Jason as he straighten from the spot he was leaning against on the wall.

Xander tried to look as innocent as possible. “Can I tag along?”

The tall vampire shook his head. “I don’t think that will be a good idea.”

This time Xander remembered to not meet the vampire’s eyes and kept his eyes firmly on the man’s chest. It was a little disconcerting at first, but he didn‘t know if all vampires had the power to enthrall people with their eyes.

“Oh come on. I’m going stir crazy in there and I can‘t possibly get in any trouble between here and the kitchen with the four of you watching me.”

Jason looked skeptical.

***

Xander soon realized that any plans for escape wasn’t going to work as he obediently followed Jason through the twist and turns of the circus. Even if he was conscious when they brought him here Xander seriously doubt he could remember the way out. The place was built like a maze. He had the impression they were underground but other than that he didn’t have a clue where they were and with Jason in the front and the vampire at his back there was no way he was going to slip away unnoticed. Plus he didn’t like the ideal of leaving Nathaniel behind and Xander had no ideal were they were keeping the wereleopard. He could only hope that they will take him to Nathaniel soon.

Once they got close to the kitchen any plans for escape were quickly forgotten by the very real and urgent desire for food. Xander didn’t realize how hungry he was until he smelled food close by. He was so hungry that he could have probably found the kitchen by himself on smell alone.

They turned the corner and Xander stopped short of the kitchen door. Anita was leaning against the kitchen counter talking to Nathaniel in hush tones. Nathaniel’s head was bent close to her face, listening intently at her every word and judging by the look on his face he didn’t look at all like he needed to be rescued. Xander throat went dry and suddenly he didn’t feel so hungry anymore.

Nathaniel looked up as Xander entered the room. He lowered his gaze to the floor and took one small step away from the counter but otherwise remained at Anita’s side. For a second Anita frowned in confusion at the wereleopard’s behavior. Her frown deepen into a scowl when she saw Xander. Then she deliberately placed her hand on Nathaniel’s right arm.

Xander could feel the rage grip his chest like a vice and he closed his eyes as dark fantasies of blood and pain dance in front of his closed eye lids. At the moment the hyena wanted nothing more than to rip Anita’s hand away from his mate and kill the woman for daring to touch what was his.

But he had to remind himself that he had no real claim on Nathaniel despite the hyena’s fierce protest. Just because he suddenly had feelings for the young man didn’t mean that Nathaniel felt the same way. It wasn’t like they were in a relationship or anything. It was just sex, amazing unbelievable sex, but still just sex. Faith had taught him that bitter lesson long ago and he was just being stupid and sentimental.

Anita looked accusingly at Jason . “What is he doing here?”

Jason shrugged. “He was hungry.”

Anita rolled her eyes. “Well I’m going to talk with Jean Claude. When he’s done take him back to his bedroom and make sure he stays there,” ordered Anita over her shoulder as she the room in search of Jean Claude.

“Sure.”

Nathaniel watched Anita leave through lowered lashes then turned from kitchen door without making eye contact with anyone in the room as he silently began to prepare dinner.

“So you and Anita huh.” Xander mentally cringed as the words left his mouth. He didn’t mean to say that out loud, but now that he said it he was more than a little bit curious about Anita’s and Nathaniel’s relationship. At first he thought that Anita and Jean Claude were an item but last night Richard had implied that something was going on between Anita and Nathaniel too.

Nathaniel’s back stiffened but he didn’t turn around from the stove. The only sound that can be heard was the gentle hiss of meat frying in the frying pan.

Jason cleared his throat awkwardly as he began to chip the black nail polish off his finger nails with earnest. Stephen studied the content of the frig with renewed interest. Damien stood stoically by the kitchen door with his face turned slightly towards the hall while Gregory stared openly at them with wide curious eyes.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have ask you that. I mean its really none of my business. Its not like we’re dating or anything right?” babbled Xander nervously.

“She‘s my Nimir-ra,“ said Nathaniel quietly.

Xander frowned in confusion. What the hell was a Nimrod?

Nathaniel turned around and stared at his feet. He didn’t want to see the disappointment in the man’s eyes.

“She’s the head of my pard. She take care of me and keeps me safe.”

“Oh, okay,” said Xander disappointedly, at what he wasn’t quite sure.

They fell silent and then Xander sighed in resignation. He wasn’t exactly sure what all this would mean for them but he had given up on having a normal relationship long ago. He had only to decide if it was worth all the trouble and he looked long and hard into Nathaniel’s long face.

A moment later Nathaniel felt warm gentle fingers on his face and he finally lifted his eyes to meet Xander’s warm soulful brown eyes.

“Okay.”