Title: Spring Break

By: Tidia

Disclaimer: Borrowing from Disney and the rest is mine

Notes: You should read Persian Empire first, as this starts the Modern AU. This is a story stemming from that. Thank you for all of your kind words and alerts on my other stories.

Sharaman was already seated at the dinner table when his brother arrived. He put away the Financial Times he had been reading to give Nizam his full attention. "I'm glad you were able to come."

"It's unusually quiet, Sharaman," Nizam looked around for the one person who made the most noise.

Sharaman folded his paper back up. "Dastan went to meet his brothers at Padre Island for spring break."

Nazim pulled out a seat. Mrs. Miette would be out with the first course in moments. "And you think that is a good idea?"

"He's going to college next year, and why not let the boys have their little get together." He missed a full house, and soon it would be an empty one once Dastan decided which college he was going to attend. Sharaman knew his youngest son was waiting for his best friend to get his acceptance letter before making a decision. Bis and Dastan would go to school together.

"They'll watch over each other," Nizam nodded in agreement as Mrs. Miette slid a salad in front of them.

Sharaman picked up his fork. "Oh, I'm betting on that."

Nazim did not eat, he stared at his brother. "What am I missing?"

"They aren't going to Padre Island, at least not initially," Sharaman said between bites.

His brother was waiting him out, eating some of his salad, but when Sharaman did not continue, Nazim prompted him, "Where are they going?"

"Paraguay," Sharaman pushed the salad away, and went for the wine.

"Isn't that dangerous?"

"Probably, but they didn't ask my advice on the matter." He was worried about his boys. The only thing that was stopping him from dragging them back was the fact they were together. He could trust Tus, Garsiv and Dastan to watch out for each other, like he and Nazim.

Nazim put his fork down, reached for his wine. "But you know?"

"They are going to track down where Dastan's parents were killed, and they think I don't know." Mrs. Miette entered again, tisked their lack of interest in the food. It did not stop her from putting another plate in front of them. When she left Sharaman continued, "What my smart boys forget is that their money comes from me and I know how they spend it."

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Garsiv jumped out of the helicopter, taking out his machete and creating a path in the deep, lush grass. Dastan was second, joining Garsiv. They waited for Tus, the last to join them and they watched the helicopter, their line to civilization, fly off.

"I arranged for the helicopter to pick us up in six hours. That's all I can give you, Dastan." Tus's hair was tied back, sunglasses in place. They were wearing clothes they would normally wear for hiking, not the so-called beach vacation they were supposed to be on.

Dastan nodded, thanking his brother once again for all that he had done. "Thanks, Tus, it'll be enough."

"Were you able to find some weapons, just in case?" Tus asked. They all had been assigned jobs by Tus. Dastan's job was to find the place where his parents were buried.

Garsiv removed his duffle bag, and began to pass out what he had collected. "You're lucky I am so resourceful. No guns, but I got some knives."

"Like a boy scout," Tus replied, accepting one of the knives.

"This area is supposed to be clear of guerillas, just peaceful villagers a way off." This is where he had spent 6 years of his life. He could only remember snippets now, and of those he wondered how many were memories and how many were dreams.

"You wanted our help, and our help comes with strings and knives attached." Garsiv placed a knife in Dastan's waistband, tapping it.

"I didn't want your help," Dastan answered. "I just needed you to cover for me."

Garsiv shook his head. He had been the first one to know of Dastan's plan. "So you could have this little adventure by yourself? I don't think so."

Dastan wanted to be angry at his brothers for not believing he was capable of visiting his parent's grave by himself. He had fought by their sides when it came to vampires, but they still saw him as their little brother, a charge to be watched over. But, he couldn't be angry as he looked up the lush grassy hill to see the location where his parents were buried beneath a strong tree. He had a lump in his throat, and was glad his brothers were by his side because he was distracted.

"We'll be here if you need us." Tus squeezed his shoulder.

"Having a look around," Garsiv added.

Dastan was only able to nod. He made his way up the hill, coming closer to the worn away wooden cross he at first could barely make out. It was a crude cross, but it had stood the test of time after twelve years. The grass had grown tall with no one maintaining it. Dastan hacked away at it, cleaning up the grave before he sat down, cross-legged.

He was glad his sunglasses were shielding his eyes, but that didn't hide the track of tears.

"I miss you," he placed his hand on the sheered grass, trying to commune with his deceased parents, hoping for the good images.

Dastan didn't look at his watch, he felt tired and his knees popped when he stood up. His brothers were watching him, and when they saw him heading towards them, they met him part of the way.

"Do you know why this area is clear of guerillas and people, little brother?" Garsiv's weapon was out, he was on alert.

"Why?" Dastan looked to Tus for an answer.

"Because we have vampires, and they've been here for a while," Tus pointed to an area of dense vegetation. "We found the evidence there- decomposing bodies, and as you go further in there are animal parts."

"How soon before the helicopter comes back?" They were not prepared to deal with vampires with just some blades. Vampires were not fully powerful in the daylight, but they could still get around with superhuman abilities. It was at night that they were the most dangerous. But, since they were the only warm bodies in the area, then they would still be sensed and tracked as another meal.

"Three hours," Tus replied, glancing at his watch.

"We've got to prepare," Garsiv announced. "We don't have much to work with." He lifted his machete.

"We'll have to make do," Tus said, already gazing around to see what could be used.

Dastan cleared his throat. "I'm sorry about this." He had brought his brother into a bad situation.

Garsiv shrugged his shoulders. "I really don't like Padre Island anyway."

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They worked for an hour to make a base of operations they could protect until the helicopter came back to retrieve them. They made spears and stakes- the wooden stakes would kill the vampires when they came, better than the machetes and knives.

They took turns keeping watch, looking for signs of activity. Tus ordered them not to go too far into the foliage, but both Garsiv and Dastan liked to tempt fate.

"We could be doing this for nothing. Maybe the vampires are in another area, too far to sense us," Dastan commented as he sharpened a spear while Tus was off investigating.

Garsiv was braiding some of the vines into a rope. "Or they could have seen the helicopter."

Dastan was glad they were having a normal conversation, not one about his parents. There were only so many awkward emotional situations you could have with your brothers. "You just can't be the optimist for once."

Garsiv chuckled. "Not with our luck."

"We have luck on our side," Tus said as he sneaked up on them.

"Where is it?" Garsiv looked around. "Did you find a semi-automatic?"

Tus rolled his eyes, directing his comment to Dastan, ignoring Garsiv. "It's our luck that has given us enough time to get ready. They're coming."

"Luck would be that Dad and Uncle come and swoop into save us." Garsiv stood up, handing the rope to Dastan.

Dastan coiled the rope around his arm. "I don't know if that's luck." His father would be very disappointed in the lies. Dastan tried to shake off the feeling to concentrate on the upcoming attack.

"You have a point." Garsiv nodded. "Remember, don't go towards any lights and don't get killed," he reminded his brothers every time they were about to do something for the Empire.

Tus and Dastan murmured their agreement. This is as far as they got to avoid saying, 'I love you.'

Dastan climbed the nearby tree readying his attack. From his position in the tree he could study the vampires. They were unusually tall and moved with agility. There were theories that they gained height after being changed. Their skin was pale and Dastan wondered how it was possible vampires were able to blend. They looked supernatural and otherworldly.

They had keen senses, again placing them in an advantageous position. It was for this reason the Empire trained them to protect those who did not have the ability to fight back. His aunt had been in that situation, lulled by a vampire, then killed.

The vampires sensed there was a trap, but still they were heady with the scent of fresh human blood. They preferred it to animal blood, although there were those that steered cleared of human flesh.

Dastan followed them, two were underneath the tree. He swept down beheading one vampire, jumping off and surprising another one with a stake in its heart. But another one attacked him from the back and slashed with its nails.

"Ahh!" he yelled out. Dastan slashed widely to recover, losing a bit of ground as he felt the blood dripping down his back. He still had his sword and shifted it to his left, preparing another stake when Garsiv came from behind the vampire and pushed it into the stake Dastan had extended.

"Clear!" Garsiv called out.

"Clear!" Tus responded. "Report. Any injuries?"

"Dastan's injured." Garsiv gripped Dastan's elbow, forcing him to sit down amongst the dead vampires.

"It's just a scratch. I'm fine." Dastan started breathing out through his nose, regulating his breathing as he felt a burning pain on his back.

Garsiv was on his knees, and pulled Dastan's shirt, which had been cut open by the vampire's fingernails. "That's not what I call fine, you idiot."

Tus came to his side too, pulling the med kit from his messenger bag. He looked grim with blood splatter on his face. "How bad?"

Dastan wanted to answer, but Garsiv was quicker. "I don't think that kit is going to be enough."

"I'll take care of it." Tus took Garsiv's place. "Can you burn the bodies before the helicopter comes back?"

Garsiv nodded, then lightly tapped Dastan's cheek. "You always get out of the grunt work, Dastan."

Dastan licked his lips, his voice tight, "You were built for it, Garsiv."

Garsiv did not reply, which let Dastan know how bad his back must have look for the middle brother to stop his teasing.

It was becoming uncomfortable to sit and have Tus tend to him. He wanted to lean against something, but knew that would not be possible either.

"I can't stitch this. Not in these conditions," Tus said as he applied pressure, his face appeared before Dastan. "Father's going to have to know about this. I can't hide this from him."

"I know," Dastan was forgiving his brother. He understood that Tus could not hide an injury from their father.

Tus was trying to be gentle, but once the saline hit the wound the sting was unbearable. Dastan couldn't hide the gasp, but didn't mention that the world tilted around him.

TBC