Worth The Price To Live

"Do you still have it?" Ashley directed his question at Sandra.
They were all down in the cellar now. The space was rather quaint so long as you tried not to think about how entrapping it could be.
Sandra only nodded her head, once, toward the far corner of the room.
Without a word, Ashley spun in the opposite direction to yank an ornate silver skeleton key from its cobwebbed home on the wall. Then he crossed the cellar, dropping to one knee to insert the key into an old, equally ornate wooden chest. The hinges groaned in protest as the vampire pushed the lid open. Then he removed something long and thin, wrapped protectively in black cloths.
"What's that," Andy asked in barely a whisper.
Sandra eyed the object in Ashley's hands warily. No one answered.
Cloths were unwrapped from the object, tenderly, revealing beautiful silver and gold filigree. Then Ashley turned to face them, holding out a sheathed sword.
Sandra pointedly looked away as her cousin slowly drew the weapon, wincing at the soft whisper of wood on metal.
"Oh," Andy gasped at the pale birchwood blade. "A vampire slayer."
Ashley turned the blade to split his face, a mix of marvel and disgust on his face. "This will do," he grumbled, sheathing the weapon with extra care.
"Why on earth do you have a vampire slayer?" Andy finally piped up.
Sandra cleared her throat. "My father was a hunter, up until the day he met, well caught, my mother. Once he had her in his trap, he just couldn't understand how something so beautiful could be as dangerous as he had been told. He gave it up for her. He gave up everything for her." Sandra paused for a long moment, then, in a somber voice, she said, "I keep that sword as a reminder: that no matter how deep into the darkness you fall, there is still a chance to follow the light."
Jinxx shifted, leaning back against the wall. "Well that's," he coughed a bit. "I suppose there is a reason the forces of light and dark are in the hands of the women of my species."
Andy snickered.
Sandra just leveled a steady glance at Ashley. "I hope you know what you're getting yourself into," she warned.
"What do you mean?" Andy's question was met with silence. "Ash, what does she mean?!"
The bassist took a long, deep breath. "I will protect my mate with whatever means necessary." His voice sounded distant. Even more, it sounded cold. Andy had never heard such cold in his beloved's voice.
The singer shook his head. "You're not actually saying-" but he couldn't bring himself to finish that thought.
"I have to. Holton will not stop until I have suffered as he has."
Sandra winced. "This is about Ana." It was a statement.
Jinxx whistled. "You told me your brother lost his mate. You never told me he went absolutely insane from it."
Ashley's head whipped around, fast. "That's what vampires do when they lose a mate. We go crazy because half of our soul is suddenly gone."
The atmosphere was heavy and uncomfortable. None of them even attempted to move, in fear of causing the energy to shatter.
Finally, Ashely cleared his throat. "Can I have a moment alone with my mate?"
Sandra and Jinxx nodded slightly before ascending the stairs and slipping through the false wall.
Andy swallowed hard. "You're serious, then," he said in barely a whisper.
The vampire nodded. "This ends with his death. One way or the other. If I can just get to him before he gets to you..."
"You won't."
Ashley's head snapped up. "What do you mean?"
The younger man took a slow, deep breath. "The vision," he stated. "It's of my death. At your brother's hands."
The bassist gulped. He didn't know whether he wanted to swear or scream or start throwing things. "No," he finally said.
"Ashley you know how my visions work. If I see it, it will happen."
"I said no!" Ashley screamed, muscles twitching. "No," he said again, voice quiet. "I won't let him..."
The younger man gently reached out to stroke his mate's arm. "I know you want to protect me, but I have already made my peace."
Ashley's eyes flared orangey red as he drew away. "Made your peace? How do you just make your peace with this?"
A soft smile graced the human's lips. "Because I know you will always love me. And that is all I need to know."
"Andy-"
"No. Don't. It's time, Ashley. We can prolong it. But it can't be stopped."
Ashley shifted uncomfortably. "But what about the other visions? You've had others. About us. About a future."
Andy shrugged. "I don't know. I don't actually know everything. But I do know that your brother gets to me before you get to him."
The air was heavy with tension. Ashley couldn't find the words to add to that. He just glared at Andy, eyes glowing red with a strange mix of denial and betrayal. Finally, he spoke.
"Let me make love to you."
The younger man coughed and glanced up at his mate. "Is this really the time?" he hazarded.
Ashley nodded. "I don't want our last time to be fueled by instinct."
Andy nodded, slowly. He made his way across the cellar to the small bed, laying back on the mattress with a nervousness he wasn't aware he had. Then Ashley was pressing down on top of him, hands trailing up the human's sides as he leaned in and captured the human's lips in a soft kiss. Then Andy was leaning up into his mate, hands tangling in soft, black hair as he kissed back.
"I will protect you," Ashley whispered. "Even if I fail. I will try."
Andy chuckled a little. "You wouldn't be you if you didn't." He reached to hold his mate's head steady, pulling it down to reconnect their lips. His back arched as bass callused hands slid up his back under his shirt. The motion lead to Andy reflexively lifting his arms to allow the shirt to be peeled off. Then he dropped his hands back down to dance across his mate's bare skin.
Ashley reveled in the deep moans that he drew up with soft, open mouth kisses down the singer's throat. He lingered with his lips against the carotid artery, feeling the blood pulsing under the skin. He let out a little growl, struggling to keep his instinct at bay.
A sharp gasp escaped Andy's lips as fangs sunk into his throat. He moaned, low and loud, muscles tensing as his tight black jeans seemed to grow even tighter. He pressed himself up, needing friction against the hardness growing between his legs.
Deft fingers quickly freed Andy's hardened cock from the constricting denim, then wrapped firmly around it. Ashley pumped him slow and steady, reveling in the soft moans it earned him. At the same time, he trailed gentle kisses across the singer's alabaster skin, stopping occasionally to suck and nip at a spot until deep purple and pink marks blossomed his mate's chest, neck and shoulders.
"You are mine," Ashley whispered softly. He shoved at the rest of Andy's clothes, and his own. Then he pulled his mate's long leg up over his hip, exposing that tight, still slick hole. "And I want to make sure that no matter what happens, you know that I love you."
"Oh fuck!" Andy cried as two callused fingers plunged into him. He rutted himself down hard against those torturous fingers, head cast back so his mate could trail soft kisses along his throat. He relaxed as much as he could, making himself pliable as Ashley slowly stretched him out again.
A third finger invaded and Andy lost control. His body shook as his release spurted out over Ashley's hand and chest. The older man simply scooped up the fluid and used it to slick down his own aching cock. "Are you ready?"
Andy took a deep breath, nose nudging softly against Ashley's. "Kiss me when you do it," he whispered. With a soft nod, Ashley closed the millimeters between their lips, guiding his cock slowly into the smaller man.
Andy gasped against his mate's open mouth, back arching and toes curling as he was filled. He tangled a hand in Ashley's dark hair, pulling slightly as the kiss deepened. His other arm was pinned firmly under Ashley's rib cage, hand hooked over a muscular shoulder and fingers digging into flesh.
Ashley's hands held Andy's hips, keeping the younger man steady as his cock slowly dragged out before plunging roughly back into him. Low cries of pleasure and the soft sound of skin meeting skin echoed off the stone walls of the cellar.
"More," Andy gasped. He raked his nails down Ashley's bicep. "Need to feel more of you."
The vampire plunged in harder, thrusts picking up speed. "Like this?" He barely got the words out before Andy screamed as Ashley's cock found that bundle of nerves deep inside him.
"Yesyesyes," the singer hissed. Another low moan rolled from deep in his chest, muscles clenching up in anticipation. "Bite me," he insisted.
A dark chuckle escaped Ashley's throat. "I think I'll hold off," he whispered, trailing kisses along the human's jugular. "If I do that, you'll cum too soon." His thumb dug into Andy's hip as if to punctuate his statement.
Andy helplessly moaned. There was so much friction, hot and hard and fast. He needed so badly to be touched, to reach climax again. He leaned down and bit, hard, at Ashley's shoulder, hoping to muffle his whines of frustration.
"Fuck," Ashley gasped. That bite sent sharp pleasure through his body, pooling between his hips. He was close. So close.
"Ple-ease!" Andy whined. He shifted forward a bit, his cock pressing between his stomach and Ashley's, finally relieving his need to be touched there. But still he needed more. "Blood" he gasped.
"No," Ashley growled. He wasn't ready for this to end. He needed just a few more minutes to feel his mate. Wanted the moment to stretch as long as possible.
Andy let out a strangled moan, breath catching in his throat. "Need-"
Ashley finally gave in. He sunk fangs into flesh, moaning as metallic sweetness flooded his tastebuds. The younger man screamed, release taking over at the sudden intrusion of fangs in his skin. Ashley's release was close behind, the tightening of Andy's muscles and the nails raking across his back pushing him over the edge.
Andy released his hold on his mate, falling back against the hard mattress. He whined at the loss of Ashley's cock slipping out of him.
Ashley sat up, wiping cum off his chest with the edge of the sheet. "I hate to end this way..." he trailed.
The singer took his mate's hand. "Whatever happens, is meant to happen. We were meant to happen. You will go on. You must. For me..."
"Andy-" the vampire's voice broke.
"Don't. Don't you dare die out there. Don't you let this be the end for you."
"Your death is the end for me, Andy..."
"No!" Fear filled Andy's eyes. "No," he finally said, voice soft, almost inaudible.
Ashley just looked away. He pulled himself up out of the bed and dressed silently. He waited, patiently, for Andy to dress as well. Then he grabbed the vampire slayer and bounded up the steps and out of the cellar without so much as a goodbye.

Notes

I'm sorry???