“What’s that?” Justin watched Lance pace angrily on the stage.
“What?” The older blond stopped for a moment.
“What’s that language?”
“Portuguese.” Lance finally sank down and sat on the edge of the stage. “I use it when I’m really mad or I’m dealing with clan business.”
Justin was quiet for a moment. “Will you teach me?”
Green eyes looked up in shock. “Why?”
“So I’ll know, too.”
He smiled at the young man after a moment. “All right.”
“Boa manhã {Good morning.}.”
Justin fumbled the words a bit, and Lance smiled as he repeated the greeting. The second time, Justin spoke without mangling the word.
During the next two weeks, Lance would pop up when Justin least expected it; quizzing him on words and phrases he had been taught. JC caught them once, his eyes opening wide.
“What are you guys doing? That’s so cool. What did you say?” He sat down next to them in the Quiet Room, his face eager.
Lance and Justin looked at each other, their ability to speak without words growing every day. The younger man grinned.
“Oh, just tossing some words around that Lance picked up on his last visit to Europe. Thought it might be fun to confuse the reporters.”
JC chuckled at the thought. “Can you teach me?”
Lance shrugged. “Sure. If nothing else, I’ll make sure you can get slapped by the ladies.”
The three men chuckled before Lance began again.
Galen came to visit them on various stops on the tour, meeting them in pre-arranged location so they could talk and hunt together, teaching Justin things he needed to know to survive. The first time she visited Justin in his room without previous warning, about six weeks after he was turned, he almost passed out in shock when she suddenly appeared at the balcony doors.
Falling onto the bed, he held his hand to his heart. “Shit, Galen. Don’t scare me like that.”
She grinned, gliding into the room and sitting down beside him. “Justin, you’ve got to learn to listen to your senses. They’ll tell you a lot.”
He studied her for a moment. “So you’re the reason I’ve been feeling a prickling sensation on the back of my neck.”
Gracefully, she nodded her head before wrapping her arms around him in a hug. “How are you doing, menino?”
He leaned against her for a moment and closed his eyes. After a couple of sighs, he looked at her. “Aprovação. Há assim muito a aprender. {Okay. There’s so much to learn.}”
She looked at him in surprise, answering in the same tongue. “Mas você está fazendo muito bem. {But you’re doing very well.}”
“Lance is a good teacher.”
Galen nodded. “And a good friend.”
Justin agreed as he smiled. “So why are you here?”
“There’s been some trouble, and I need to talk to Lance. He wasn’t answering his phone. Do you know where he is?”
The young man shook his head. “He should be in his room. He came back with us. Want me to go get him?”
“No, I’ll just head over there.” Leaning forward, she brushed a kiss against his mouth. “Until next time.”
“Until then.” Justin smiled at her as she disappeared out the balcony doors once again.
Galen sighed as she watched Lance rub the towel over his body. Leaning against the doorframe, behind the gauze curtain, she let her eyes roam up and down his body.
“Are you just going to stand there or are you coming in?”
She chuckled and pushed the curtain aside, stepping into the room. Grinning, she settled onto the bed and stretched out, propping herself up on an elbow.
“Looking delicious, Lance.”
He tossed the towel in the general vicinity of the bathroom and tugged on a pair of boxer-briefs he had laid out earlier. Then he pulled on a pair of jeans, leaving them unzipped and unbuttoned.
“What’s up, Galen?” He strolled to the bed and sat down beside her.
She stroked the bedspread with one finger. “I’m leaving.”
Eyes opened wide in surprise, but he said nothing. She finally looked up at him and smiled with a shrug.
“I’ve been there a long time, and people are starting to wonder. It’s time to go.”
“Any idea where?” He laid his hand over hers, stopping the fidgeting.
“Not sure yet. Haven’t been to Dublin in a long time; think I might go back for a visit.” Tugging on her fingers, Galen fell back on the bed.
“I’m going to miss you. I know Justin will, too.” Lance smiled at her.
She nodded before sitting and up and then standing. “I just wanted to tell you. I’ll stop by before I leave the country.”
Nodding, he rose from the bed and followed her to the balcony. “Be safe.”
Leaning close, she kissed him softly. “You, too.”
The music in the club pounded through his body, and he grinned. He followed his friends out onto the dance floor losing himself in the rhythm of the crowd. Not surprised when the slim hands settled on his hips, Lance simply pressed back into the body behind him. Galen smiled. Moments later, he felt another presence join them and knew Justin was on the woman’s other side. The three of them danced, losing themselves in the music and the heat and rising adrenaline of the crowd.
Joey’s eyes widened as he caught sight of his friends, and it made him shiver. He didn’t understand the dynamic of the trio, but he knew they were connected by…something. He moved closer to Chris, nudging the older man with his elbow and nodding towards the threesome. Chris cast dark eyes towards them, looked surprised, and then turned back to his dance partner with a smile at his friend. He forgot them within seconds as the blond pressed her scantily clad curves against his body. Josh was lost to the music on the other side of the dance floor, and Joey knew he wouldn’t be concerned. When he turned to look at his younger band mates, they had disappeared from the throng of sweaty dancers surrounding him. A tall redhead planted herself in front of him, winking suggestively, and he allowed himself to forget.
The three vampires headed out into the night, looking for a quiet hunt away from prying eyes. When they finished, sending their prey off to their beds with smiles on their faces, the trio headed for the nearest rooftop. Once seated on the patio chairs adorning the posh hotel, Galen looked at the two men.
“It’s time.”
Justin sat up, looking at the woman. “Time for what?”
“It’s time for me to leave, Justin.”
He knew instinctively that she didn’t mean for a short trip. “But why?”
Galen reached out and stroked his cheek before resting her hand on his. “I’ve been in Chicago for 15 years, and people can only suspend their belief for so long. It’s time to find a new playground.”
He sighed and leaned back against the cushion, staring out over the city lights. “Where?”
“Dublin, for now. I have many wonderful memories and a number of friends. Maybe I’ll open a new club.” She rose, and they rose to stand in front of her.
Justin wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. “Will I ever see you again?”
Pulling back, she cupped his face with her hands. She studied his face before leaning forward and gently kissing his mouth. “We are family, and family is never really gone. I’m sure our paths will cross again soon. Take care of yourself, Justin, and listen to your sire.”
He nodded, accepting another hug from her before she moved to stand in front of Lance. The older man took her hands in his and held them to his chest. She smiled at the gesture.
“Meu príncipe. Esteja livre seguro, vivo, poço do amor.{My prince. Be safe, live free, love well.}”
Nodding, he leaned forward and kissed her on each cheek before leaning forward to kiss her softly. “O caro coração, seja forte, vive bem, amor profundamente.{Dear heart, be strong, live well, love deep.}
The two men watched as she smiled once then departed into the night. They were silent for several minutes as they stared at the stars.
“I’m going to miss her.” Justin sighed as he rested his hands on his chest.
“Me, too.” Lance agreed with weary nod.
Months passed, and the new vampire worked hard to learn everything he could from his sire. In between his studies, he worked on his music and he visited with his family, storing up memories for the time he would have to leave them behind. Early one morning, he watched as Jonathon curled around him after an all-night cartoon marathon. He cried silently for the years he would miss, but he was grateful for the chance to watch from afar. As he looked down at his little brother, he stroked the blond hair and sighed.
Lance realized their time was nearing when he found Justin standing in the alley in front of the biggest man he had ever seen. He thought they were fortunate that the others had left so that he wouldn’t have to try and wipe their memories as Justin tossed the man against the brick wall with a mere flick of his wrist. The young man had become more and more irritable, picking fights with strangers and using them to release his frustrations at being forced into another promotional tour and keeping him away from his family. Justin had a feeling their time was short, and every moment away from his loved ones was another memory lost.
Rolling his eyes in frustration, he picked Justin up by the scruff of his neck and carried him out into the alley. Justin’s yelps distracted him as he pushed the young man against the wall and explained, yet again, why he couldn’t just pick fights with humans.
Neither of them noticed the brown eyes staring at them in shock.
“Jon!” The cry erupted from his throat as he raced forward into the street.
Lance looked up to see Justin push the child out of the way right before he was struck by the speeding car. The young man’s body flew up and landed with a sickening crunch on the trunk before sliding off into the street. The driver never stopped.
Racing forward, Lance knelt beside his friend as Jonathon crouched beside his big brother and cried.
“Shh, Jon. He’s going to be okay.”
Moments later, Justin moved, rolling over with a groan. He sat up quickly, looking around. “Jon!”
“Justin!” The boy threw himself into his brother’s arms. “I thought you were dead. You were bleeding and everything.”
“I’m okay, Jon. I’m just a little bruised. Are you okay?” He looked at the boy, checking him for injuries.
“I’m okay.”
“I think we should get both of you into the house.” Lance helped them both up, and the three of them headed into the house.
Justin took a quick shower then allowed Lance to look him over. The older man patted his friend’s shoulder.
“You’re going to be fine in a few hours.”
Justin nodded, his face grim. “But I should be dead, right?”
The other man shrugged. Jonathon peeked around the doorframe then carefully entered the room with a glass of milk and a handful of cookies.
“Here, Justin. This always makes me feel better.”
Justin grinned as he took the milk and cookies, settling his brother against him as he shared the treat. The three of them settled down on the bed to watch a movie, and Jonathon eventually fell asleep, his mind eased by his big brother’s presence.
When Lynn returned home from her evening out with friends, she smiled at the two young men.
“Everything go okay?”
Justin looked at Lance for a moment before turning to his mother. “Well, someone was driving a little fast down the street and almost hit Jon, but everyone’s okay.”
She stared at her oldest son for a moment before rushing upstairs to make sure her youngest was okay. When she returned, she wrapped her arms around Justin.
“Thank God you’re both okay. Did you report it?”
Lance nodded. “It’s being taken care of.”
She nodded in relief before walking to the bar and pouring herself a drink. “What is the world coming to; you can’t even let your children play outside.”
“Its okay, Mom.” Justin gave her another hug before he and Lance got ready to leave.
She followed them out to the driveway, kissing each of them on the cheek. “You boys be careful, okay?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Justin kissed her again, and Lance nodded with a smile.
Once the pair had gotten on the road, Justin’s hands tightened on the wheel. “What did you mean it’s taken care of?”
“I got the address of the driver and will be paying him a visit this evening.” Lance stared out the passenger window.
“No matter how much I want to, we can’t kill him.”
The chuckle from his friend made Justin’s neck hair stand on end.
“I don’t plan on killing him, Justin, just showing him the error of his ways.”
David Williams, age 32, occasional afternoon drinker and driver, woke in the night to find someone sitting on his bed.
“What the?!?!?”
A hand wrapped itself in his tee shirt, tightening the material as he was pulled forward to stare into pale green eyes.
“Mr. Williams, if you persist in speeding through residential neighborhoods and leaving the scenes of hit-and-run accidents, I will be forced to take drastic measures.”
“Get the hell out of my…”
His words were cut off as the hand released the material and encircled his throat. David’s eyes grew wide with terror as the face in front of him contorted into a fiendish mask.
“I assume you will no longer drink and drive and put people in jeopardy?” The voice was still soft.
Even as he wet the bed, David nodded his agreement, unable to speak because it felt as if every organ in his body had settled in his throat. Suddenly, he was released and fell back against the pillows. The hand patted his face, and he flinched.
“Good. Do it again, and you’ll find yourself living in a steel coffin.”
David nodded once more and watched as the pale man walked out of his bedroom. He pulled the bedspread over his head and began to pray.
“It’s time.” Lance looked around Justin’s house, wrapping his arm around the young man’s shoulders.
“I know.” Sighing, he looked around at the memories then grabbed his bag. He had left most of the pictures, only taking a couple to remember his family.
Having friends in various walks of life made things like “dying” easy. Someone in the gas department arranged a convenient leak at Justin’s new house, and the resulting explosion due to several highly flammable materials would make the burn incredibly hot and destructive. Someone else in the county morgue would validate their dental records.
The two men sat in a hotel room on a tiny island in the Pacific and watched the funerals. They both sniffled at the sight of JC, Joey, and Chris crying during the service. When the camera panned to his family, Justin got up and walked out to the balcony. Lance followed a few minutes later, carrying a bottle of Scotch and two tumblers. Cracking open the bottle, he filled each glass with two fingers of the amber liquid and handed one to his friend.
“To Justin Timberlake. A true friend, a shining talent, may he rest in peace.” Lance saluted his friend and downed the alcohol.
“To Lance Bass. A brother, a protector, a hero. May he be remembered for the true gentleman he was.” Justin returned the salute and swallowed the Scotch, his breath catching in his throat as the liquid burned a path to his stomach.
They watched the sun set on the first day of forever.
Table of Contents
Chapter Two