With Kevin taking a break and out clubbing for a few days, AJ was on a spree. The second oldest of the group, Howie, was also out relaxing with a few others of "their kind." This left no authority what so ever. He and Kevin were probably out partying until dawn, collapsing at a rented hotel room and sleeping all day, then repeating the cycle until they had to come back and pack up to move onto the next city. AJ was a problem, but Brian was more concerned with Nick. He was no longer the obidient young boy he once was. Nick was growing very independent and distant from the group. He hated what he was, unlike the rest of the others. He was convinced he was evil and wouldn't see what he had to do to survive as anything less than a curse. Even if what he was doing was making him immortal. Nick would disappear for days at a time, all alone and without telling the guys where he was or would be. Then he'd show up minutes before the next show, ususally exhausted and ill. This scared Brian who thought that he should be supervised constantly, shown how to harness his powers and use them to his benefit. The others just labeled Nick's moodiness as "a phaze." Brian knew it was more than that.
Pulling his cell phone out of his jeans pocket, he punched in Nick's pager number and listened to the beep that told him his message had reached its destination. Brian closed his eyes and prayed that Nick would return his page.
Suddenly the curtain was pulled back and light poured in. "Boo." AJ's sandpaper voice said teasingly. Brian dropped the phone on the floor with a clank. He sat up, startled. "...Hey, Bone." AJ got out his crouching position and leaned against the doorframe.
Brian's eyes were fixed on the fresh blood he was wiping off his lower lip with the back of his hand. A drop fell to the floor boards. It was thick and an unusual shade of dark red. To his dismay, Brian felt his stomach growl hungerly. Though he didn't enjoy killing, he did have to eat at some time or another. He pushed the feeling out of his mind. Then, his gaze drifted to AJ's washboard stomach where his newest tattoo was prominently exposed on his shirtless torso. It read in huge gothic letters: MAUVAIS. French for EVIL. Brian squinted, adjusting his tender eyes to the strong lighting in the cabin bunk. AJ noticed his staring and smiled genuinely. "Hey! You like?" he asked, pointing to his abs. Brian shrugged, still avoiding his gaze. "It's not really my taste. But it's not my body either." AJ looked disappointed, but brightened at the thought of why his stomach felt so sickeningly full.
"Oh man.....you shoulda tasted some, Bri. That was the best blood I've had in loooooooooog time," he hissed, an evil smile spread across his face as he licked his fingers. Brian sighed disgustedly and stood up. Just as he was about to go outside the bus, a tattoed arm flew up and blocked his path. "Was I interrupting something, Bri? Was it REAL important?" he asked menacingly, peering over the rim of his wrap-arounds. Brian could smell the stench of death as it clung to AJ from his recent kill. "No....no. I was just leaving," he answered shakily.
Sensing his fear, AJ bared a set of sharp fangs threateningly and growled. Sizing him up, Brian growled back, exposing his animal-like teeth. They were both poised for a fight. Out of nowhere, AJ began to cackle in Brian's face. B-Rok pushed past him, glaring hard, opened the door and jogged out. "You're a weakling, Bri! You'll never have the heart to be one of us!" AJ yelled after him, still laughing nastily.