Devotion
by Soledad Cartwright
A ''Pathways in the Dark'' short story Happens at the same time as ''Comfort''
Disclamer: Most of the characters in this story belong to their respective creators. Only Sister Grace is mine.
This one started as a Spike/Cameron slash vignette. I wanted the guys to have a good time nad some sweet smut, not to mention irritating a bit Julian. But Sasha had other plans...
Author's notes:
1. This is basically an Angel story, but in strong connection to Kindred: The Embraced and Poltergeist - The Legacy. There are also slight hints to other series, vampiric or not.
2. Timely it happens during my novel ''The Prince of the City of Angels''. At this time, Riley has already been Embraced and his Kindred education entrusted to Spike - who isn't exactly tender with him. Currently Spike is in San Francisco with Alex.
3. As far as it was possible, I followed the canon and the premises set by the online roleplaying game ''Vampire - The Masquerade''. Wherever it get in conflict with the shamefully short-lived, excellent TV-series ''Kindred - The Embraced'', I followed the series' canon.
4. It's firmly established in my universe, that Angel hadn't spent all the hundred-something years after the curse in the sewers, but lived for decades in San Francisco, as a student of Daedalus', but only Archon had known his true identity. He used his mortal name there. Also, the curse hadn't originated by the Kalderash themselves but by their vampiric protectors (and relatives), the Ravnos.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
At the same time as Riley finally found some comfort and peace with the help of his Sire, a few hundred miles away, in San Francisco, Alex Moreau was attending some serious Legacy business with Giles, Rachel Corrigan and Nick Boyle in the temporary House, and Spike was lying in Cameron's arms in the young Brujah Primogen's most secret haven, an expression of total bliss on his angular face. As usual, his friend had been thoroughly submissive toward him, letting him do whatever he wanted and any way he wanted. Now, he was so sated he could barely breathe (fortunately *not* a necessity for a vampire), so he just lay there, wrapped safely in his lover's gentle embrace, listening to the inhumanly slow heartbeat (which still was a hell of a lot more than *no* heartbeat at all; now he could understand why the Kindred called *him* and his kind the True Undead).
''God, I missed you'', he murmured, licking absently one the inviting nipple directly under his mouth, savoring the salty taste of Cameron's sweaty skin. [Almost as good as blood.] ''Never in my whole unlife have I had such a willin' lover.''
Cameron chuckled against the blonde strains under his face, happy and content. ''You mean, your Sire isn't willing enough?''
''That's different.'' Spike bit down on the pebbled nipple gently, careful not to break the sensitive skin, oh but his friend tasted so good... ''He made me to be his fucktoy, and I've never really been much more than that. Sure, he loves me, but it's mostly about possession - which is fine with me, at least that way I get laid on a regular basis again... and he *is* fuckin' good at... well, fuckin', but... at the end, this is a dominance game. He does the shaggin' and I enjoy the ride - or not, depending on the mood he is in.''
''Does he hurt you?'' Cameron asked, eyes burning in silver.
Spike waved his small, strong hand dismissively. ''Not in these days, he doesn't. He's one of the soddin' good guys now, after all. But there were times... better not goin' there, OK? Let's just say, I've got an established place on the bottom.''
Cameron slid his slender hands along Spike's back, admiring the elegant curve of his spine and started stimulating the small of his back, finding unerringly all the hot spots he'd become so familiar with during the last year. ''So, that's why you like me so much on my knees?'' He teased, smiling. ''To work the frustration out of your system?''
Spike slid up on his body and gave him a long, deep, hard kiss. ''Not bloody likely'', he said, when Cameron already felt swooning away. ''I like you any way I can get you. You're my friend... very likely the only real one I have... an' you always make me feel so good. It's not just that sweet, tight arse of yours - not that it wasn't cute, mind you -, it's the way you make me feel...''
''*How*, exactly, do I make you feel?'' Cameron asked quietly, rubbing another hot spot with expert fingers, making Spike arch his back and moan with pleasure.
''Aaahh... just like that... an' much more. You make me feel loved and desired - and even worth it.''
''You *are* worth it - and much more'', Cameron replied, kissing his temple. ''When you first came into his city, less than a year ago, I was full of hatred, spiralling down into eternal darkness a bit more every day. I desperately missed my Sire, my Clan was slipping out of my hand and my whelps were draining all my strength. Then in you came, never minding what Luna's lackeys told you about me. You gave me your blood, your support and taught me what love is.'' He swallowed hard, his pleasantly deep voice becoming even deeper and husky with raw emotion, his dark eyes went totally black with passion. ''When you come inside me, I'm fulfilled in a way I've never dreamed to be possible - and I'm not talking about the physical part of it, or I could wear a plug. You're my whole world, my lifeline... I'm incomplete without you.''
''Cameron, you must *not* become dependent on me'', Spike warned him gently... and a little worried. ''I can't stay, you know that. A few days an' I'm gone again.''
Cameron sighed, caressing his lover's thighs with feater-light touches. ''I can't help loving you... needing you... wanting you. With you, I can lay down all my worries... all my responsibilities... all the pain of being the loathed enemy of a ruthless Prince. When you're with me, my only goal is to make you content. You own me in a way not even my Sire has ever had. When you... take me, make me your own, I feel so... fulfilled, so... whole, so... complete like I've never had. Not as a mortal... not as a Kindred... never. Do you... do you love me, too?''
Spike smiled, combing the sweet-drenched dark locks with his pale fingers. When he spoke, his voice deepened, too, and he lost a lot of his prominent accent, as if it had been the long-dead English gentleman who spoke, not the punk vampire. ''Yes, my strawny wolf, I do love you. I'm as much for a fast, hard ride as your next undead guy, but I can have *that* with anybody. With you... it's different. There are... feelings, true feelings. You're the only one I like it soft and gentle with. Granted, the power thing counts, too'', he admitted with a smirk, falling back into his usual Big Bad routine. ''I've never had anyone yielding so beautifully as you do. Can I ask you something?''
''Sure. I'm yours.'' ''That *is* it, exactly. You're a high-rankin', strong and proud man. How comes you can so totally submit to me - and obviously *enjoyin'* it?''
''I have no idea'', Cameron admitted, rubbing himself rather... distractingly agaisnt the older vampire. ''Letting you make love to me is so beautiful, and yielding to your Dominance more arousing than anything else I've ever experienced. Maybe it's because I know you won't hurt me (only in ways I *want* to be hurt, anyway), unlike all the others. With you, I can affor being vulnerable... It's like being kissed on the more sensitive spots on my body.''
''Like this?'' Spike asked, hitting unerringly one of the particularly hot spots of his lover.
Cameron arched into his touch, hissing with pleasure. ''Yessss... right there... more, please...'' Spike continued his ministrations, driving his lover slowly and deliberately insane with desire. ''Please'', Cameron moaned, ''take me, please, I need you...''
''We used up all the lube, Luv'', Spike murmured. ''We haven't left your bed for two days, ya know...''
''I don't care'', Cameron rolled onto his stomach. ''Use what you can, just take me again, please. I can't get enough of you, as long as you still are with me.''
With a mild shock, Spike realized that he was rock hard again. The excessive lovemaking of the last two days could have worn out even vampires, but Cameron's scent and taste, the way he felt, the sight of his sleek, slender body, his absolute willingness turned him on again, every time.
Without a second thought, he spat in his hand, using his saliva for lubrication and entered the willing body of his beloved friend again. Cameron lifted his hips, arching his back, meeting his thrusts in perfect rhythm. He knew he won't be able to sit properly for days after Spike's departure, but even *that* made him happy - that way, he'd have at least a vivid memory of these days for a short while.
The link between them, restored fully due the extensive blood-sharing of the recent days, opened up instantly, and Cameron dwelt on Spike's passionate feelings toward him. [Love you, my Regnant, my friend, my savior], he sighed mentally.
[Don't call me that], Spike chided him while they rocked together as one body. [You're not my slave. You're my friend, my beloved.]
[Everything you want me to be... and more] Cameron replied; then he just lost any coherent thought when his climax was hitting him. He howled with savage pleasure, offering Spike his throat in a deeply submissive gesture, and climaxed a second time, hard and violently, when the fangs of the older vampire penetrated his skin. [Yours, yours only... take me, drain me dry... just don't let go...]
[Never, pet... let yourself fall, beloved, I'm here to catch you]; Spike, too, went over the edge, holding the convulsing body of his lover in a tight embrace, before they both passed out from the intensity of their passion.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Julian Luna *had* noticed, of course, the lack of Brujah activity in his City, and it made him nervous. Cameron had grown to a worthy opponent in the last couple of years, and every time his Anarch lover of L.A. visited him, the Brujah reached a new level of confidence. Julian didn't like it at all.
''What's Cameron plotting again?'' He asked Daedalus, irritated. ''I haven't seen that oily little snake for days. I don't like it. I prefer him *very* visible.''
''I don't thing you'd have to worry about him'', the Nosferatu replied with dignity, but his dark eyes sparkled. ''Since Spike's been in town, he's probable very busy - in the most pleasurable way.''
Julian grinned. That was something he *could* imagine. Actually, the thought alone made him envious. ''Yes, I'd never have thought they'd develop such an all-consuming passion for each other - although I certainly can understand Cameron: Spike's relly beautiful. Alone those magnificent eyes... I'm surprised, however, that his Sire tolerates his little... frivolties. Liam had always been the jealous type, never liking to share what was his.''
''He's giving his Childe some leeway'', Daedalus guessed. ''It won't last too long anyway. Alex is done in a few days and they'd have to return to L.A.''
''Leaving a royally pissed Cameron behind for us to deal with...''
''Well, first he'd float around in absolute bliss. *Then* he's be pissed. After the memories start to fade away.''
''I wonder what Spike's done to get him so completely enthralled. One could almost think they have a Blood Bond.''
''They have. One that fades necessarily every time they part, but doesn't break. I don't think Spike had willingly dominated Cameron, however; it might have happened accidentally during their frequent blood-plays. But the fact remains that Cameron is obviously Spike's submissive - even if Spike probably isn't even aware of this.''
''How couldn't he...?''
''He's a True Undead, Julian; his kind doesn't get enthralled as easily as ours. It took Liam years - and a lot of beating - to make Spike submissive. Maybe he thinks that's the only way.''
''It's still strange that Spike has rejected *Lillie*, just to jump in bed with *Cameron*'', Julian remarked with obvious disgust.
''Well, Lillie would never submit to him'', Daedalus pointed out- ''And being *Angelus'* love toy, this might be an important part of their relationship. Besides, Julian, your hatred shouldn't make you blind for Cameron's physical beauty. Those liquid eyes, that soft mouth could be very appealing for someone like Spike. Some people are attracted to seemingly fragile types.''
''Well, all this certainly had made *Lillie* horny for Cameron'', Julian grinned. ''She probably wants to find out what Spike had seen in him. Unfortunately for her, Cam doesn't seem to be interested any more.''
They laughed, with the typical smugness of men who'd just caught an annoyingly strong and independent woman having a weakness. None of them spotted Sasha, who stood upstairs, leaning against the reiling. The bitterly beautiful young Brujah girl had shortly returned from L.A. where she'd been visiting her mortal cousin, Virginia Bryce, for a while. She didn't meant to eavesdrop, but hearing his ''uncle'' and Daedalus mention Spike's name, she immediately got interested. Their recent break-up still hurt; now, listening to the private conversation she finally understood why her relationship ith Spike didn't work out: Spike loved someone else... besides his Sire, of course.
Sasha missed Spike and could understand all too well, what it had to mean for Cameron to let his lover go, after a few days of shared blood and passion. He'd got lucky, after all - only to be left behind, lonely and needy, waiting for the next short time, not knowing when it would come - if ever.
She'd learnt to see Cameron in a different light during the last couple of years. Her rage about her forced Embrace set back a lot, after she'd accepted the fact that there was nothing she could have done about it. And, actually, being a Brujah matched her own rebel personality. Besides, Cameron wasn't that bad as uncle Julian liked to see him. The young Primogen accepted Sasha, despite her being of Eddie Fiori's bloodline, taught her like a fledgling of his own, even forced her back to school, repeatedly stating that he didn't want only brainless muscle in his Clan. Sasha'd struggled against this order for a while, then she realized that Cameron was right. If they wanted to be respected by the other Clans again, they had to show that not all of them were brutal idiots.
To be perfectly honest, Sasha could never emphasize with uncle Julian's grief and hatred. She hadn't known Archon that well, and the little that she'd seen of him made her skin tingle with nervosity. She could feel all too well what a ruthless person the former Prince had been (even more ruthless than uncle Julian himself, who wasn't the proverbial lamb, either), and secretly she felt relieved when the old man was gone.
It was after Archon's Final Death that she started hanging out with her own Clan. She even had a short affair with Cameron - a fact that made uncle Julian howling with rage -, but at that time they couldn't give each other what the other one needed. Now, contemplating the discussion between uncle Julian and Daedalus, Sasha believed, she could make it work.
She ascended into her room again, rummaging in a drawer to find that dusty old book about Kindred traditions uncle Julian wanted her to read. At that time she found it extremely boring, but suddenly a memory emerged in her mind, and she wanted to make sure she remembered correctly.
She found the tome in the bottom of the drawer, slapped it a few times to clear most of the dust and started searching. After about ten minutes she found what se was looking for. She read it twice, then smiled and put the book back into the drawer.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Four days after Spike had left for L.A. once again, pleasant memories started to fade, and Cameron sat in his office, trying to cath up with his neglected paperwork. He looked up rather sourly when someone knocked on the door and one of his Childer, a big Oriental named Kenny, put his head in.
''Sasha is here for you, Sire'', he reported. ''Can you see her? she says it's urgent.'' Cameron sighed and shuffled his paperwork aside. Whatever it was, he knew Sasha well enough to know that she'd be persistent, until he listened to her. On the other hand, Sasha never visited him without a good reason. They weren't close friends or anything, so this had to be about clan business. ''Send her in'', he instructed his Childe.
Kenny retreated and in came Sasha Luna, in her usual black leather-high heeled boots-outfit. Cameron watched her fondly. Despite everything that had happened between him and the Prince's family in the recent decades, he genuinely liked Sasha. Albeit a Luna, she most definitely was a Brujah by heart. If he weren't so cofused and insecure at the given time, it might even have worked between them. The affair had certainly pissed off Julian royally, and that alone made it worth in Cameron's eyes. The fact that Sasha was a beautiful and passionate young woman, was only a bonus.
''Sasha'', he greeted her friendly, rising and taking her strong, elegant hands in his. ''What can I do for you?''
''We need to discuss a matter of... some privacy'', Sasha replied. ''Can you turn your stupid listening devices off for a moment? I have a proposal to make and I wouldn't like it to be recorded.''
Cameron grinned, realizing how well Sasha did know him already. ''All right'', he said, switching a hidden taste under his deck with a barely audible 'klick'. ''We can talk now. What's it all about?''
To his surprise, Sasha pulled a dusty, old, leather-bound book out of her pocket and laid it onto his desk. ''Do you know this?''
Of course he knew the book. His late Sire, Juan Diego Sorrel, had made sure that he became a proper Kindred education. ''Sure'', he said. ''It's basic knowledge. 'Childer of the Dark'; a good script. Why do you ask?''
''I read something about Kindred tradition'', Sasha replied. ''Soemthing that might solve the problem of power struggle in the City. Something that could settle the animosity between you and uncle Julian parmanently.''
With that, she opened the book near to its middle and pointed at a certain paragraph. Cameron narrowed his eyes, reading.
<< It is not common for two Kindred to enter the state of betrothal, wether they are of the same gender or not. Commitment for Caine's Childer isn't an easy thing to make, due to our passionate nature and the length of our existence. Betrothal is a sacred and rare ceremony which bonds the two individuals for the rest of their unlife. It can't be broken again, albeit it doesn't force the participants to become monogamous.>>
Cameron looked up from the rusty old page and glared at Sasha in stunned disbelief. ''Are you thinking what I think you are thinking? Are you really proposing that we get married?''
Sasha carefully touched the page with an elegant fingertip. Nowadays she started to adopt a more feminine look and even had regular manicure sessions -- when in human form, anyway. ''According to this, it's called 'bonding'''.
''I know what the official term is'', Cameron growled. ''I just can't understand why you've come up with the whole thing. Are you hoping to win Spike back from me, or what?''
The young woman gave him a sad little smile. ''No one will ever be able to take him from you, unless you fuck it up royally'', she answered. ''But no, I'm no more interested in him. It was... stimulating, but we never really cared for each other.''
''And you're planning to tell me that you're interested in *me*?'' Cameron asked sarcastically.
Sasha shrugged. ''Well, in a way... It's not that I expect you to fall in undying love with me. I've had it with Cash and it didn't work, either.''
''Then what *is* it you're after?'' Cameron inquired, truly curious now.
''Company'', Sasha answered simply. ''Attachment. I've finally come in terms whit what I've become. I accepted that I'm a Brujah and that Brujah nature actually *does* agree with me.''
''Took you long enough'', Cameron remarked.
Sasha nodded. ''Yeah, I know. But you must admit, I wasn't exactly asked if I wanted to be Embraced. Eddie only had me raped into unlife to get to uncle Julian. No one of our Clan really cared for me, as a person -- until you came along. You accepted me, taught me, treated me like one of your kind.''
''It wasn't *that* selfless on my side'', Cameron admitted. ''You've always been avaluable source of information. You're a Luna, after all.''
''I know that you used me'', Sasha said. ''I've known it all the time. And I never told you anything that would give you an unfair advantage over uncle Julian. But with you, a felt like a *person*, not a nuisance. That was why I agreed to try a more... intimate relationship with you.''
''It didn't work, though'', Cameron remainded him. ''What makes you think it would work now?''
''It didn't work, because we tried to get something from each other none of us was able to give at that time'', Sasha said. ''I wanted a replacement for Cash and you wanted a replacement for your Sire. It couldn't have worked that way. But now, you have Spike who can give you everything I couldn't... except being with you all the time. And *that* is something *I* can give you.''
''Maybee'', Cameron agreed hesitantly, ''But what's in it for you? What could I prossibly give you?''
''A place to belong'', Sasha said. ''A home. Companionship. A stable position inside our Clan. Something useful to do.''
''What about love?'' Cameron asked. ''You know I can't give you *that*. We can have a lot of fun together, but I'm owned. Can you live with that?''
''Yes, I can. What I really need is commitment. No one else in this City can give me that.''
Cameron thought about that for a few moments. What Sasha said had its merits, for sure. His passionate affair with Spike nonwithstanding, he needed a constant partner, a consort who'd be on his isde all the time. Not to mention that being bond to a close blood relative of the Prince would stabilize his position in the City in an extent he never hoped to be possible. Sasha would benefit from a formal bonding, too; no one would dare to question her position among her own Clan any more if she were married to the Clan Primogen. On the other hand... ''Have you thought about what Julian would say to this?'' He asked.
''I'm sure he'd be fuming.'' ''Most likely'', Sasha agreed. ''But I don't really care about his approval. After all, if it weren't of him, I'd never have been forcibly Embraced. And his people have always looked down at me. I was never good enough for the haughty Ventrue and the Gangrel hated me because of the Blood of our Clan in my veins. No, I don't feel obligated to make *him* and his lackeys happy.''
''I see your point'', Cameron said. ''But you must not forget he nurtures a personal hatred against me. I *have* killed that bastard of his Sire, after all.''
''And he killed yours'', Sasha shrugged. ''I never liked Archon. He treated me like some insect. If it were for him, I'd have been destroyed the very day of my Embrace. Do you think I'd shed a single tear for him? I'd never be respected in uncle Julian's house. But I still can gain the respect of my own Clan... with your help.''
''And what if you meet someone later?'' Cameron asked. ''You're still very young as a Kindred, even younger than I am. You might fall in love again.''
''The book says, we won't have to turn monogamous'', Sasha replied. ''I'll keep my right to take other lovers, if the need (and the opportunity) should present itself. But I promise to stay loyal to you. I won't leave you for anyone else. Can *you* live with that arrangement?''
Cameron hesitated for a moment longer; then he slowly nodded. It was an honest and open proposal, something that could be expected from Sasha. And it would serve both their benefit. ''I... I have to discuss it with Spike'', he finally said. ''But if he doesn't object, I'll accept your generous offer.''
''Good'', Sasha rose from her seat, ''go on, talk to him. It would never work without his approval; but I think he won't object. He wants you to have an unlife on your own... as long as he has his place in it.''
''He does. He always will.''
''I know. I respect that. We still are going to have enough left to share, you and me, aren't we?''
Cameron nodded again. ''Yeah, we are. Thank you, Sasha.''
''This one is for both of us'', Sasha replied. ''Call me when you got it cleared with him.''
''I will. Take care.''
''You too. Bye.''
Sasha left and Cameron stared at the phone for long moments before calling Los Angeles. unlife just had taken a *very* interesting turn. One he didn't mind a bit.
The End