A/N: I don't own anyone but my OC's….though I wished I owned the rest…*sighs*
A/N: I apologize for the overdue update but I got Season 1 for Xmas and along with reading spoilers for Season 2 I got an infusion of inspiration...
"Do I have to face them again? I think I've about had my fill of the Kingston Trio."
Brooklyn held no desire to see the Dutch again. Being witness to the werewolf fight had been her breaking point with the Dutch as they had once again displayed their annoyance and arrogance before leaving Brooklyn and Bishop in false serenity. The former hunter knew they harbored one last trick up their drab sleeves before retreating back to the cornfield.
"I mean seriously, I haven't scored a single brownie point with them since they set foot here. They hate my guts! They want to kill me!"
"Brook," Bishop caught her wrists mid swing. The younger vampire was crazed as the time for their meeting with the Dutch loomed closer. She didn't care if they could hear her or not as their attitude towards her was perhaps the worst kept secret.
"You need to calm down."
"How can I be calm when they have blatantly thrown their hatred for me in our faces?"
Bishop knew she was right for the Dutch had been nothing short of vocal in expressing their displeasure in his selection of companion. The last time Bishop had dared to let his heart love another it had cost Carlo his life.
"I know this has been difficult for you," he sympathized deeply with her. "I know you haven't rested or fed right since they arrived. You're weak, depleted…."
"Sorry if I haven't had much of an appetite," she jerked free and went to the window. "It's been soured."
Bishop knew she had dropped into a depression since the Dutch showed their ancient faces back in Boston. Michael had alerted him to Brooklyn's abrupt absence after the fight as he couldn't leave in search for her. His stomach had twisted in knots in sickness as he remained with the Dutch until returning to Sapp and Sons. Her vehement refusal to be their slave only served to tear deeper through his heart.
"And anything you say won't change the fact they want you gone as leader of Boston."
Her words stopped Bishop in his tracks.
"How do you know that?"
"I may be young James but I'm not stupid. They don't like the way you're running things in Boston. I could see it in their beady eyes. They're looking for a reason, any solid reason, to remove you from power and I may have done just that."
"Why would you say that? Why would you think that?"
"Because I ran off during the fight," Brooklyn hung her head, feeling slightly shamed for abandoning Bishop. "They probably think I'm some out of control teenager."
"Brook," Bishop placed his hands supportively upon her shoulders, feeling them trembling against his larger hands. "You were angry with me. I promised I would stop the fight and I failed you. You had a right to be enraged."
The light rapping on the door announced Michael's presence. His heart went out to Brooklyn as the Dutch were a real threat to everything she fought for. She and Bishop were made for one another, completing each other as no other could. Brooklyn had proven to be a worthy lieutenant and companion yet the Dutch refused to acknowledge her handling of the clan's affairs.
"They're ready downstairs," he quietly announced. Michael caught the anxiety rising in her eyes as the last syllable passed between his lips.
"Wait what's going on? I thought we were done chauffeuring them around?"
"I'm afraid not," Bishop shook his head with reluctance. "There is one more place we need to take them."
Brooklyn and Aidan traded disgusted looks as Bishop swung the glossy double doors open leading into the Blood Den. Aidan watched as the youngest vampire seethed and pressed her lips so tightly it forced the blood to cease flowing for those moments. They both loathed the Dutch though Brooklyn had a greater reason to hold nothing but the utmost contempt for them. When Aidan admitted he was returning to the family in exchange for Josh's freedom, Brooklyn had been quiet, dangerously quiet as his words took hold.
"I had to do it Brook. I did it for Josh so he could live something of a normal life."
Normal….
The very word tasted bitter upon her tongue. There would be no normalcy in Brooklyn's life ever again.
The Dutch entered first and were quickly greeted with several of the regular feeders: Girls in their mid 20s all dressed in provocative attire which exposed the pulsing rivers of life that flowed beneath their soft perfect skin for the vampires to take.
"After you," Marcus sneered at Brooklyn and Aidan. She roughly pushed him aside taking any opportunity to remind him where he stood with Bishop.
Just you wait….
Marcus reminded himself that she would no longer be the annoying mosquito that buzzed in his face. Bishop caught the tense trade off but said nothing as he continued observing the Dutch. Heggeman looked around but didn't allow his eyes to expose his impressions or thoughts. Brooklyn took to Bishop's side just a Heggeman looked over his shoulder towards them. Bishop simply nodded with a polite smile and gestured for them to go ahead.
"This is one of our better additions to Boston since your last visit. We reserved the entire space for your enjoyment."
"But what about the harbor?"
The smallest of the three voiced their subtle reservations about the selection in feeding.
"We always liked to feed by the water."
"Well the harbor is different now," Aidan quickly stepped in. "There are too many people; tourists and others walk there even at night."
"There is no need to attract any unnecessary attention gentlemen," Brooklyn added. "Besides in these intimate surroundings there is no fear of any intrusion."
The Dutch spied the women noticing none of them were confined by chain or rope.
"They are not chained?" Stolzfus was perplexed at the freedom the women had. "Are they compelled?"
"No," Bishop answered. "We have made an agreement to feed as some hope to be diners themselves someday as others have issues. We feed but don't kill."
He flashed a brief knowing smile at Heggeman who remained emotionless in his posture.
"We do not feed on blood. We feed on life. This is appalling."
Brooklyn bit her tongue at Heggeman's nasty remarks. Just because these three were throwbacks from the Dark Ages didn't mean they had to spit on Bishop's hospitality.
What a bunch of ungrateful…..
"Well times of changed," Bishop carefully chose his explanation. "But that doesn't mean you can't retain your Old World traditions. You asked to see how we lived in Boston and this is it: Fenway Park, Federal Hall, and Lola."
Brooklyn motioned for the petite brunette to approach. She knew that Lola was one of the regulars who frequented the Den and hoped to become like her someday. Brooklyn had sampled her blood a time or two finding it semi-sweet when compared to her favorite green eyed feeder. Thankfully Bishop had enough sense to keep him away on this night.
Heggeman watched as Brooklyn presented her along with the other waiting girls for them to choose from. She was striving to be the perfect little hostess; keeping her mouth silent when it was to be kept silent while maintaining her place alongside Bishop. Aidan had to hand it to Brooklyn; she was pulling out all of the stops to keep the Dutch interested. She knew their strong thunderous pulses beckoned them like the flame that enticed the moth.
"I hope our selections will appease you," she took a step back and allowed the Dutch to corral the girls into one space.
"We have all of the cubicles set aside for your disposal," Bishop reminded them but the Dutch chose to ignore his gracious offer.
"We will do it our way," Heggeman growled as his eyes bled ebony and fangs shot out. Lola and the other girls screamed in sheer terror as the Dutch pounced like sharks. Blood splattered the screens and flooded the narrow trough. Brooklyn couldn't watch as the helpless humans clawed and fought to get away. Shadows danced across the cubicle like a dark macabre theater. It was like Dracula meets Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
This is barbaric! No manners! And they think we're uncivilized?
"Disgusting," Brooklyn muttered beneath her breath.
"They have their ways," Bishop watched as the Dutch carried on in their orgy of blood and death. "But it is nice having Aidan back now on our last day."
"What do you mean last day? What are you not telling me James?"
Bishop knew he had to tell her as he couldn't hide it from her any longer. She needed to know.
"Someone has told the Dutch about our plans Brook. There is a traitor amongst us. Everything we have worked for was for naught. We are all going to die."
"How can you be so sure?" Marcus asked nervously. Brooklyn raised an eyebrow at his uneasiness.
"Because it's part of the endless cycle of this life," Bishop wistfully sighed as he looked over at Marcus. "Aidan remembers what happened the last time don't you Aidan?"
"Okay talk now," Brooklyn cornered Aidan upstairs. "What happened the last time they were here? And please don't spare me the details either because I'm getting pretty tired of being kept in the dark."
Brooklyn was two seconds from kicking Aidan's ass if the older vampire didn't start spilling. After Morgan's little confession and now being the last to know about the Dutch's insight of their plans, the vampire had just about had it with the secrets.
"Fine," he resigned. "When the Dutch came here 50 years ago Bishop was in my position."
"What the Hell do you mean your position?"
"He was in love with a human and refused to turn her. Carlo allowed the relationship to go on despite the fact it was heresy to the Council. When the Dutch learned about it they killed Carlo for allowing it to continue."
"What?" Brooklyn suddenly felt sick all over.
"That's how Bishop got control of Boston. Heggeman handed down their edict: Boston for the girl."
"And he chose Boston," Brooklyn's head was violently spinning at this latest bombshell.
"What happened to her?" She wasn't sure if she wanted to hear the answer.
"She died," Aidan didn't delve into the truth behind Jane's demise.
"Did James kill her?"
Aidan didn't answer and stayed silent. He watched her slowly break down as the emotional rings swirled in a storm of turmoil.
"Damn it Aidan answer me! Did…James…Kill…Her?"
"I don't know Brook," he lied. "All I know is I read about her death in the paper and that she was found in the hospital dead on a bed. She wasn't drained or bitten."
Brooklyn leaned against the wall and banged her forehead into the smooth polished wood trim.
"Brook stop," Aidan slid his palm between her and the wall then pulled her back.
"I'm so tired of the lies," she sighed with defeat. "I'm sick of being the last one to know!"
"I'm sorry you had to find out this way."
"You know I had to find out about some of James' other skeletons by Morgan? A complete stranger who happens to be a vampire that brought up Montreal and Baltimore! What the Hell happened there? Why won't anyone tell me?"
Her voice strained as it grew louder and higher pitched. Tears were running down her face but she didn't care. Betrayal ran like a raging river through her veins blocking out all other senses and emotions.
"You know what? I don't want to know! Fuck it!"
She ripped away from Aidan and rushed up the stairs, wanting to be away from the Dutch and Bishop.
"Smooth," Rebecca appeared from the doorway.
Morgan sat on the fire escape, listening to every scream cry and shout. He shook his head and fought back the urge to slip through the window and fill in the blanks for her.
"James you truly have dug a deeper hole for yourself."
Well we're getting closer to confrontation time with the Dutch!