Chapter Text
They were lucky. The guy who was supposed to be watching the stables got sloshed after a couple of drinks and passed out just in time for the boys to show up. Jasper hated playing the drifter role, but better people only recognized one of their faces after they pulled a job than all of them. He'd just grow a beard later until they were far enough for the law not to give a damn.
He'd just finished rolling his cigarette when he heard them coming, or rather saw. Somehow Paul wasn't making an ass of himself tonight and pissing Marko off. It helped that David led the way and Dwayne followed behind all of them to keep an eye out. The tall grass around them whispered as they approached the stable together, quietly leading their rides, including Jasper's. He licked the cigarette wrapper and sealed it, tucking it behind his ear as he removed his hat and waved three times to signal them closer. Two times would mean 'beat it'.
David moved up beside him, "ready?" His voice was soft, only audible to Jasper, while his eyes were locked on the small corral. Four horses meandered inside it, chewing on hay and grass.
Jasper was the best one for the job, he had a way with them that none of the others did. He was able to get right up to a weary horse and it would be more than happy to let him lead it away. Even ones that were completely untrained became docile under Jasper's hands.
Giving one last look to the passed-out idiot in the stable, Jasper nodded. They'd been doing this kinda shit for about two years now, and it got easier every time. "Are we heading for the border this time, or just the next county?" He asked, taking the cigarette he'd tucked away and offering it to David as he put his hat back on his head. They weren't too far from the coast now. Only about a day or two's ride.
David took it, looking toward the horizon, "next county, should be fine there, do another job or two, then head for the border until things die down."
"You figure out what the first town we're gonna hit is called?" Jasper asked, beginning his approach through the whispering grasses towards their quarry. Should get some good money off of this job. Enough to last them a while.
"Santa Carla, I think. Looks like they got some big money moving in there." David whispered, moving forward with him.
They could easily hock these horses in a town with new money. They weren't even branded properly yet, which made this one of the easiest little jobs they'd ever had.
"Like to get a hot bath when we get there. Fresh shirt," Paul remarked, keeping his voice low, "maybe something soft to snuggle up to."
Marko let out a laugh, causing one of the horses to perk up and look toward him, "yeah, nothin' soft is gonna wanna cuddle with you."
David shook his head, moving past Jasper and holding his hand out to the horse Marko had gotten the attention of. It was pitch black and lean, not a spot of white on it at all.
"Looks like it came from Hell," Jasper mused, seeming to read David's thoughts.
"If I didn't have Triumph I'd take him." The horse nuzzled against his hand before allowing him to run between his ears.
"We'd better get going. If we get a three hour start, that'll give us enough space to get some sleep before we have to worry anybody knows the horses are gone," Dwayne advised. He was right, of course. They'd be moving slower with the extra rides to lead.
David pulled a rope from his belt, looping it around the horse's head, "you are just the sweetest thing, aren't you?" He spoke softly, rubbing the horse's neck, "you got the others?" He asked, not taking his eyes off the black horse. "Soon as you're ready we'll head for Santa Carla."
Jasper frowned, looking around, "where is he?" He directed his attention at Marko, "where'd you leave him?"
Marko scowled, "who?"
"My dog, asshole. Where's Thorn?" Jasper demanded, very nearly raising his voice. "I told you to look after him."
David glared at him, rubbing the horse's shoulder, "easy, easy. You know Thorn is around, damn, Jas, he's smart."
Paul rolled his eyes, "he's back at the camp, relax. We left him some scraps to eat."
"Let's just get going," Jasper said, looking back at the stable, "no telling how long that guy's gonna be out." All of a sudden he couldn't shake this weird feeling of dread gnawing at his stomach. Like something very bad was going to happen.
They worked in silence, rounding up the horses before mounting and leaving without a trace. The owner would be absolutely livid in the morning when he found out the four horses were long gone and his stable hand was drunk. By then they would be long gone and no lawman would be able to cross county lines for a couple of horse thieves.
Their camp wasn't far. Almost all of their supplies had been packed and rolled up, ready to move. The only thing left was a small horse blanket and a chewed pig knuckle courtesy of-
"Where is he?" Jasper exclaimed, looking around anxiously. He couldn't see him, not out in this darkness.
There was a flash of white before a large white german shepherd barreled into him, knocking him to the ground and licking his face happily. He felt the wind being knocked out of him, the grass at his back feeling far more like feather down and crisp sheets than it should.
"Nanook!" Michael shouted, shaken from his mid-afternoon nap as he tried to shove Sam's dog away, "get off." He blinked several times, the clouds of his dream fading second by second. The details were a little fuzzy but he knew it had been a cowboy dream. When was the last time he had seen a western?
"You should go bother Sam," Michael suggested, tussling the husky's fur as he dragged his legs over the side of the bed. What was supposed to be a ten minute snooze had somehow been a little longer than he'd planned. He ran a hand through his hair, leaning forward over his knees and taking a deep breath. This whole house smelled like old man and mothballs. Apparently that was the perfect recipe to knock him out.
Nanook gave one last lick to his face before trotting off, tail held high, to find Sam.
At that moment, Michael almost wanted to go back to sleep. Catch the fading dream and finish it. He reluctantly stood up and grabbed a pair of sneakers and discarded socks from his bedroom floor, nudging an unpacked box out of his way. Had to get ready to go out with mom and Sam tonight. Save a little gas and see if he could find a weekend job. Something to put a little cash in his pocket.
"Michael!" Lucy's voice rank down the hallway, "honey, are you awake yet?"
"Yeah, I'm coming," he called back, hopping as he shoved one sock onto his foot and then the other, before shoving his sneakers on and stifling a yawn.
"Come get some breakfast before it gets cold, I made pancakes."
It was more like lunch, almost dinner time but pancakes sounded surprisingly good. Breakfast for dinner was a rare treat. He figured she still felt bad about them having to move but Michael didn't blame her, not for this. He blamed his old man, the bastard, it was good they had left.
Michael took the stairs two at a time, hurtling past Sam and stopping only long enough to mess his little brother's hair up before rushing to the kitchen.
"Awesome," he exclaimed, taking a seat at the table and just barely restraining himself from digging in after a quick warning look from his mother.
"What are your plans tonight, honey?" Lucy asked, smiling at him as she put syrup on her pancakes.
"Figured I could go with you to the Boardwalk tonight," he said quietly, glancing up as Sam walked into the kitchen smoothing his hair back and giving Michael a dirty look. Better not mention he'd be looking for a job. Then he'd have to get into the topic of school, and Michael wasn't quite ready to drop the 'I'm not going back' bombshell yet.
She smiled, "that would be nice, did you want a ride or were you planning on taking your bike?"
He snatched up a fork just as Sam sat down across from him, "might leave it here. Not sure. Don't have much gas money."
"I could give you a little if you want to take it, I know how much you enjoy it." She said, starting to eat.
Michael took his knife and began to slice into his pancake. If he took his bike, Sam wouldn't cling to him all night. Sam hated the bike. Still, money was tight.
"Are you sure? I won't take it if you can't spare the cash right now, mom."
She nodded, "it's fine, I promise. We can have a nice evening and you can come home when you're ready. You can enjoy your summer before school starts."
"I'll pay you back," he promised, "there's probably a couple of odd jobs kicking around." Never mind that the guy he asked when they first pulled into town that morning said otherwise.
"I wanna find a comic shop." Sam said, syrup dripping from the corner of his mouth.
"There's one or two of them cartoon stores downtown," grandpa called out, shuffling into the kitchen as he clapped his hands together and rubbed them enthusiastically, "breakfast for lunch, eh?"
Lucy smiled at him, "there's plenty if you want some, dad."
"I could go for a couple of eggs and some hot coffee. Flapjack or two." He flipped up the lenses of his sunglasses and winked at Lucy, taking a seat at the kitchen table between Michael and Sam. "Elbows off the table, Sammy boy."
Sam shoveled another forkful of pancake into his mouth and glared at him slightly before removing his elbows, "ish naht comfy." He mumbled out around his food.
"Already told you boys we had rules around here," the old man warned, popping his elbows on the table as Lucy set his plate down in front of him.
Lucy thacker him lightly on the shoulder, "dad, no double standards, you keep your elbows off the table too and Sam, stop talking with your mouth full."
Michael quietly watched them, eating his own forkful of pancakes generously slathered with butter and syrup. Things weren't going to be too bad here, he thought. He'd miss a lot about Arizona, but there was something to be said for the beach and the boardwalk in Santa Carla. Now if only grandpa didn't have all the creepy shit all over the walls and tucked into random corners watching them 24/7.
Gramps grudgingly removed his elbows from the table, "you be careful if you're out on the boardwalk at night, ya hear me boys?"
"Sure," Michael agreed. No point in being an ass to his grandpa, never mind the fact that he was pretty sure he could handle himself. Hopefully Sam stuck by mom's side more so he didn't have to worry too much.
She nursed at her growing hunger each night, fighting it and at the same time letting it make her stronger. Once or twice, she'd seen a child lost in the crowd she could easily lead away if she became the monster they wanted her to be. Actually, she'd even thought maybe just bringing one home with her might help as a distraction. She'd immediately decided against that, knowing there were only two options for a kid like that. If David wanted to play a sick joke, he'd feed the child from their wine bottle to teach Star a lesson. If he was mad, well, it would just be one more body. There were so many.
She prided the way she locked the hunger and fear behind a veil of curls, dancing through the concert crowds and trailing fingers lightly over some particularly healthy-looking people. It would be so easy to draw blood, to end all of this, but she didn't. No, Star reached a peak in the crowd where she could see, and smell, and taste the music. She danced, and then her eyes found him staring back at her. Star smiled, then she slipped away.
She could feel him following, his eyes locked on her as she moved smoothly for the crowd, luring him, letting him follow. He looked like a nice young man, the kind she would have loved to bring home to her parents, not that it mattered now, now the only one she was bringing him to was David. That thought gave her pause, he didn't deserve this but she was almost to where the boys were waiting. There was no turning back now.
They'd brought Thorn with them tonight, or rather, he'd eventually found them after they left the hotel. He was the first thing Star saw as she smiled back at the guy again. Hinting that she knew he was after her, and maybe didn't mind. The large dog's eyes weren't on Star as she came into view, they were on the boy following her. She expected him to growl, to raise his hackles, but he looked happy. His tail and ears were up and alert and he was shifting from foot to foot in anticipation. Maybe he was hungry.
Star rushed towards David's bike and hopped up behind him, "I brought you something," she whispered guiltily in his mind.
David smirked at her before looking to see what she'd brought. His smirk immediately faded and his crystalline blue eyes widened slightly as his fingers curled into the white fur of Thorn's scruff.
"Jasper?" His voice came out so softly that if it weren't for her enhanced hearing she never would have heard it.
The brunette in question looked crestfallen when he saw Star climb behind David, and for an instant she wondered whether he'd approach them. His gaze lingered on David for an instant before he turned to leave. Who was Jasper?
"Star, go tell him to meet you tomorrow." David ordered softly but firmly.
She kept her disbelief from showing, hoping this wasn't the first kill David wanted her to make, but knowing it couldn't be anything else. Star climbed off the back of David's bike and went after the human, the spangles in her skirt clinking softly in her wake. Just as she approached, he turned around with a look of surprise on his face.
"Meet me here tomorrow night," she advised, flirtatiously smiling.
He peered over her shoulder, "your boyfriend won't mind?"
Star winked at him and shook her head, leaving everything a mystery as she walked away. He looked like he wanted to follow, but only smiled after her. "Name's Michael!" He shouted.
"Star!" She called back, climbing back onto David's bike with him. She liked that name. Michael.
"Michael." David tried out the name as he started his bike, kicking off and tearing off into the night.
The moment David saw the trailing little puppy that Star had brought with her he knew, he knew exactly who it was and Thorn did too. Jasper, back from the dead. He couldn't believe his luck, to find their brother after so long, alive after what Max had done. He had never really believed in reincarnation but this, well, this proved it.
"Did that really happen?" Marko asked, his thoughts piercing through the biting wind as they raced towards the hotel.
"Thorn says yes, that was Jasper, I know it." David replied, eyes locked on the darkness before them. They'd left Thorn behind to scrounge up a meal for himself. Hellhounds were always hungry, and Thorn was no exception.
"Jasper's dead," Paul pointed out.
"Reincarnation dumbass." Marko retorted..
Paul drifted dangerously close to Marko in the trail, just enough to piss him off before pulling aside. Neither of them wanted to total their bikes tonight, "I don't believe it," Paul said simply, "it's been almost a hundred years, do you even really remember what he looks like?"
David glared at him, "you think I don't fucking remember what my partner looks like? You think Thorn doesn't remember the scent of his master? The three of you saw him too, what do you think?"
Dwayne, who had been characteristically silent, sliced through their conversation, "it's too soon. They could just look alike. Wait until tomorrow before you work yourself up, David."
"What about Thorn?" He asked in reply, already a little worked up.
"It's been a long time," Dwayne replied, calm, despite the wind tearing at their clothes and the increasingly dangerous speeds they pushed themselves to, "maybe he fed off of your own excitement. No telling."
"Fine, tomorrow we'll know for sure." He wasn't sure how to test it though, "how do you test for reincarnation?"
"Acid," Paul snarked, "lots of it."
Marko gave the mental equivalent of a snort, "if he's Jasper, we'll know. Just gotta see what he's like. Test him."
"Then we test him, starting tomorrow with a ride."
"Think that's enough?" Marko asked, "what if he's not Jasper? We just eat him?"
"Yeah, I guess so." David knew he was though, knew it in his cold, dead heart, Michael was Jasper. He'd spent far too long searching through the years, and the crowds. It had to be him.
There had yet to be a time when one night did not bleed effortlessly into the other, through the passing weeks and years. He supposed there should be something very depressing about an endless evening, but Dwayne sort of liked it. Even better when they were taking to the air, or riding their bikes until the metal wanted to scream in protest. This race was no different, and David's intense desire to push the mortal to his limits lent an extra sting of thrill to it all.
He wanted to hold his arms aloft, feel the cool air and fog slicing into his fingers. If it didn't mean losing control of his ride and jack knifing, Dwayne might have seriously considered it. They laughed. Howled. Even up to the moment on the bluffs, when Michael very nearly went sailing, his legs kissing gravel, Dwayne wanted to keep going. Over the edge. Hurtling into the ocean. Then, when David seemed to taunt the human, push him further, a fist went flying, and it all became far less about fun. More real. What were they going to do?
David laughed, holding his hand up to stop the others, "how far are you willing to go, Michael?"
Dwayne looked to the others, realizing something very simple that neither Marko or Paul had quite yet grasped. David was right. Only Jasper could throw a right hook like that.
David moved closer, standing toe to toe with him, "let's go."
Not even Max found himself welcome at the hotel, and as of late Star's invitation seemed on the verge of being rescinded, but here David offered a glimpse of their world to the human. He had been waiting for a very long time, they just hadn't realized it. Somehow, Jasper had come back to them.
"Come on," Dwayne nudged Star's shoulder, leading her to his own bike, "you'll ride back with me. David wants some space."
Star looked between them, "what's going on?" She asked softly, climbing on behind him.
He let a soft smirk curl his lips, waiting for her to wrap her arms around his torso, "I'll let you know when I've figured it out."
She leaned her cheek against his back, "what are we going to do now?"
Star was all too human, even as a halfie straddling the line. Her questions sometimes irritated David, and even Dwayne struggled to really answer many of them. 'Living in the moment' was not a phrase in her vocabulary, and maybe that was why it was so difficult to get her to make a damn kill. He humored her tonight and decided to try and answer with something more than a shrug, "we're giving Michael the grand tour." He kicked into gear, knowing Michael was too far ahead now with David as they all began their rides towards the hotel, "he'll be safe tonight. Just let things happen."
He could hear her swallow against his back, "is David going to…?" He knew what she was asking, would they give him the bottle.
Dwayne thought about that for a moment. It wouldn't be difficult. Ply the kid with enough weed and booze, he'd probably do anything. If he really was Jasper, he'd probably drink the whole thing. Dwayne hadn't forgotten how easily their old brother could go wild if he was allowed the chance. "No," Dwayne decided, "I don't think he will."
"Do you want him to be my first? Is that what this is? What am I supposed to do?" Her voice was quiet, borderline panic.
"Just let things happen," he advised, "trust me. David's not going to make you eat him."
She nodded mutely, slowly relaxing against his back. Dwayne had the sneaky suspicion that this was going to become a regular arrangement. At least he wasn't on babysitting duty for a kid. Max was always threatening to bring one into their little family. David had managed to prevent it so far but Dwayne wasn't sure for how much longer. Maybe with Jasper back they would take the fight to Max. It was about time they took out dear old dad.
June 15th, 1880. Santa Carla.
There were few things Max enjoyed so much as knowing that every plan he laid out, every choice he made, was always the right one. His hotel ran like a well-oiled machine, and this burgeoning town that had been almost nothing when he arrived was truly beginning to thrive.
This evening, with a glass of brandy on his desk, and several invoice requests to peruse, Max awaited his supper in his office, each bauble and painting that decorated the walls lending to his sense of pride. This hotel was his paradise, this town his kingdom, and the man who came stumbling in, bleeding profusely from a shot to the gut, was his daytime eyes and ears. This was not what dinner was supposed to be.
"Sir…" he stumbled forward, dripping blood on his pristine carpet.
"Andrew?" Max asked in disbelief, standing up from his chair, "what happened?"
He slumped to the floor, "sir, they, they shot me, five of them. I'm so sorry."
Max was in shock, pressing for details, "five?" He crossed around the side of his desk, swiftly approaching his loyal servant, "were they trying to rob you?"
He shook his head, "I tried to bring you dinner and they followed me."
The clicking sound of a hammer being pulled back drew his attention to the door. "We weren't planning on robbing you but since we're here, well, we might as well." A young blonde man with piercing blue eyes stood in the doorway pointing a pistol at him. This did complicate things.
"Ah, well, then I suppose we should talk first," Max replied, feigning a frantic, nervous act. "Would you like to sit down?" He gestured towards a lounging sofa pressed up against the wall with one of his prized tapestries as a backdrop.
The young man shook his head, the gun unwavering, "I don't think so. Marko, go see what you can get out of his desk."
Another young man appeared at the threatening blonde's shoulder, a little shorter. Some might say cherubic with his neatly trimmed curls and oversized coat. Max picked up the scent of blood on him, noting a small cut at the bit of his throat that poked out from his cotton shirt. He made his way quickly over to Max's desk. It was difficult not to flinch when he spilled that wonderful brandy all over the beautiful mahogany.
"I'd be a poor man of business if I kept my valuables there, young man," Max remarked. His eyes flitted over Andrew, who had crumpled entirely to the carpet now, his breathing becoming more strained. Of course he'd have to replace the damn things, servant and rug.
"Didn't figure you would but Marko knows his way around secret compartments. Guys like you always have them." He stepped forward, letting the others in. Max was massively outnumbered and these young men seemed to know what they were doing. They weren't the most polite group, but he highly doubted any of them was older than nineteen at best. Young minds. In fact, not just young minds, but vicious ones. There was an interesting thought.
"To be frank, I much prefer to write checks if I can. The cash valuables I have will be in our safe. Now," Max swept a hand around the room, "I do have quite a few valuables in plain sight, if that is what you're truly after."
"Paul, Dwayne, take what you can, we leave in one minute. Jasper, watch the hall." This one was obviously the leader of this ragtag band of thieves.
"Now now," Max held up his hands, trying to calm them, "I know you don't want to do this, boys. I'm a respectable man, after all," he smiled, allowing the distasteful show of power to finally happen. His fangs descended, his brow cracking ominously as his face shifted to make room, "I'd like to ask all of you one more time to reconsider, take a seat."
The young man didn't blink, didn't scream in fear, he just pulled the trigger. There was a loud shot, a bit of smoke, and a tragic destruction of his perfectly good vest and shirt, but Max was otherwise only minimally damaged. He placed a hand over the gaping wound in his chest, suddenly very concerned, "I suppose silk means nothing to you," he said, finally feeling some degree of anger. "Sit," he commanded, using the full force of his influence and projecting it at the foolish leader of wayward teens.
He fought, oh, how he fought, Max could feel every second of it as he was forced to sit on the couch. His gun grasped firmly in hand like a lifeline.
"David," Marko called out to the young man. Dwayne and Paul stood frozen in place, each of them thrumming with a tense energy. Max didn't doubt they were weighing whether or not to try to shoot him as well. The last member of their group stood at the door, hand hovering over his holster. Charming.
Max calmly removed his glasses, pulling a handkerchief from his vest pocket and calmly polishing the lenses as he focused most of his attention on David, "I'm a fair man. Honest. I won't lie to you, David. You boys are making quite the scene in my hotel. I don't appreciate that."
David's lip pulled back in a snarl, "wouldn't have been a scene if your man there hadn't tried to abduct Marko. Why don't we call it even and we'll take our leave?"
"That is an enticing proposal," Max admitted, directing his attention to Jasper at the door, "come inside, close the door behind you. If you please." He used just as much force with this command as he had used with David. The struggle was just as fierce, and throughout it the young man's hand hovered over his pistol.
Max looked back at David, "what's the old saying? Something about putting something back in a bottle. It doesn't matter. What's done is done. Tell me about yourself, David. I might be lenient."
David glared at him, struggling to his feet, "we're leaving. I don't have to tell you jack shit, old man."
"Really now?" Max smiled, looking over at Marko, the small one, "if you don't mind, pull out your gun and put the barrel in your mouth."
Paul was the first to react, grabbing Marko's hand, struggling with him as they tumbled to the ground.
"What the fuck do you want?" David hissed angrily.
Max replaced his glasses, allowing his face to shift back into something of a more human appearance, "stay at my hotel for a few days. Enjoy the finest suites I have to offer. Dine on what you like, and as soon as you're ready, come back to my office. I have an offer I'd like to make you. All of you." Max looked back at Marko, "you may release your gun."
"And if we just up and leave?" He asked as all of the boys glared at Max.
Max adjusted the lapels of his coat, "I own this town, boys. Everything and everyone in it. You won't get far." His smile grew wider, "I don't make the same offer twice. So, are we agreed?"
"And if we refuse your deal, whatever it is, the next time we meet?"
"Then I will set you free," Max replied simply, "I am a man of my word."
"You're not a man, you're a monster." David said firmly.
"There is a very fine line. So do you want to eat your bullets tonight, or will you stay and enjoy yourselves?"
"We'll stay, for now." It was obvious that David cared for his crew and Max was more than happy to use that.
"Wonderful. I'll have Andrew cleaned up and take care of you boys. I'm glad we're in agreement. It's so nice when no one fights."