Rebirth (Lorie)

[Kitten]

"I heard he killed a Princess right on the dance floor in front of the entire royal family."
"I heard he was executing humans on live television!"
"I heard he told Councilman Aurelius to jump up his own ass and die."

Elijah paused with his hand on the ornate gold door handle. The rumors surrounding his wayward Childe had reached a fevered pitch. Taking on a life of their own and blowing themselves far out of proportion. If a sliver of the truth remained it hardly mattered. He glanced back at Alice and Jorick for strength as he finally stepped through into the overcrowded hall.

The Council of Elders rarely meted out judgment in such a public way, usually an out of control Vampire was brought before them privately and their justice imposed in silence and quiet shame. Paterson was being trotted out in front of the masses as an example. A reminder of what horrors could lie in store for anyone who didn't toe the line.

The murmuring died down, though it hardly mattered if they gossiped to his face. Elijah knew this was a terrible black mark against the family name. Still, his chief concern was his beloved Paterson and the state the other was in. Had he been badly injured during his capture?

The knot of anxiety twisted over and against itself as he strode through the main halls of the Council Chambers and stopped just outside the cell door where he could feel a heartbeat that echoed his own, even if it was sluggish and weak. With a steadying breath, Elijah pushed the doors open and stepped inside.

[Lorie]

Pearlescent hair lay fanned across the floor of the cell surrounding the spoke of devil. His paler complexion and prone position making him look dead. The moment the doors opened, the feeling of a long lost part to Paterson's hectic life of mayhem, deep blue eyes sprung open.

"Come to witness my execution?" elegant voice both lamented and mocked in equal measure.

Much of what the gaggling masses gossiped was false. Well, his comment to Councilman Aurelius was accurate. The truth was far more horrific. Elijah's beast has razed an entire coven, albeit small, just because he could. He murdered simple to watch the life fade from the cattle that called themselves humans. Left cities to burn with out a care. Indeed Paterson was far out of control.

[Kitten]

"Micah," Elijah breathed as he stepped into the room. Alice and Jorick took their places on either side of the door to keep out unwanted intruders or interruptions to their Sire's tender moment. "My love, what have they done to you?"

He sat on the floor beside his beloved Childe, cradling Paterson's head in his lap. "I wouldn't have let you go to your death alone, my love. I didn't the first time."

Elijah combed the beautiful flaxen locks with his fingers. Micah's perfumed hair entranced him as always. "It's been almost two hundred years, Micah. I'd ask how you've been fairing on your own but..." he waved at the inside of the cell discontentedly. "I have my answer."

He tilted the other beautiful face in his dark, callused hands. "What have you to say for yourself? My disobedient little pet."

[Lorie]

Elijah...the one person in the world Paterson wanted and despised. And that name. "I'm Paterson." the Childe argued uselessly. To Elijah's question the wayward vampire simply laughed maniacally until the unwanted visiter began playing with Paterson's longer silvery blonde hair. Much as he wanted to hate those familiar fingers brushing through his silken locks Micah couldn't help relaxing into the touch.

Forced to look into those eyes, the eyes of his sire, Micah felt his chest ache with emotions he had long ignored. The urge to reach up and caress that dark forbidding, handsome, face was so strong the pale creature had to press his nails into the flesh of his hand to stop himself. Once under control of his emotions again ocean blue eyes locked onto the brown eyes that haunted him two hundred years. "I am the angelic devil you carelessly created." voice of smooth anarchy replied as a cold smile slowly stretched across Paterson's sensuous lips.

With a quick tug and turn the willowy vampire was sitting in front of his sire. "What they're saying," he started, "that's the least of what I'm guilty of." the smile returned with a huffed out laugh, "and I did all of it because it was FUN."

...because you didn't stop me.... was left unsaid.

[Kitten]

"No, my Micah." Elijah didn't try to hold him down, hold him still. "I've always hated that ridiculous name." He reached out to touch Paterson's cheek, rubbing his thumb along the soft swell of white skin under his own dark finger.

"Even if that were true," Elijah just looked into the deep ocean of Paterson's eyes. "I would still be here. But you and I both know it isn't."

Not that he doubted for a moment that Micah had done all he was accused of and more.

"I should have come for you, my beautiful boy." He coaxed Paterson in close, just brushing their lips together. "I'm sorry I was such a coward. You seemed too bright to be put out." Elijah sighed against his mouth, almost mournful. "And I'm sorry for what will happen now."

Jorick opened the door and coughed uncomfortably. "They're calling," he rumbled.

"And that is my cue." Elijah leaned down to kiss him, just once. "I hope one day you'll understand. See you soon, pet."

[Lorie]

There was that ache again. Such a strong need to press his lips to those of his master. Only, Elijah is not, has not been for hundreds of years, Paterson's Master. Once his dark creator was standing again after a kiss so chaste but still somehow breathtaking vivid blue eyes fell to the floor. "Don't be." angry Childe yelled after his retreating heart, "My death makes no difference to your precious COVEN!" he screamed to the closing doors.

Thankfully those doors did close before black and blue hand slammed down onto the floor. Then the tears. Hundreds of years with pain aplenty and Paterson had not shed a single tear. Now he couldn't stop. Why did he have to be here? Why did Elijah tell him that awful lie...

What they both knew was the grand patient sire that is Elijah couldn't love the trouble Childe he let walk away.

As he fought the flood of tears the porcelain skinned man screamed hateful nonsense. Clutching his white blouse, revealing a scant few of the bruises earned by fighting those who had finally caught him, the broken Childe just screamed.

[Kitten]

Elijah put his hand to his breaking heart, it was one of the hardest moments of his life. Walking away from his precious Micah was just as difficult this time as pushing him to leave the security of the Coven had been so many years ago. Was this all his own doing?

He had several other children out in the world who were flourishing. Had he simply coddled Paterson too much? Dominated him too thoroughly? Let his favored Childe feed from his own wrist for too long? He shook off his ponderings. Ultimately it didn't matter, now all he could do was save Paterson from himself and from the ire of the Council.

Elijah entered the Inner Chambers prepared to beg, bargain, and plead with every bit of influence he had. He wouldn't fail his love again.
***
The Grand Hall where Paterson's sentencing would take place was filled to the brim with curious Vampires, Master's who'd brought their Children to watch the spectacle, and the grim-faced members of House Helvinus.

A hush fell over the crowd as the accused himself was led into the hall, bound hand and foot in iron.

[Lorie]

Paterson made a show of himself as he was led to his doom. Long hair dangled in beautiful face, vivid blue eyes wide and alert, satisfied smirk gracing his lips. Truly the rabid animal the grand hall full of vampires believed him to be.

And yet his movement, even hobbled by irons, were fluid and graceful. Evidence of his years with Elijah. The role Micah was naturally born to play.

For those of the house from whence he came Paterson offered a truly wicked grin when marched by. Among the grim faces where many the wayward Vampire had been a fledgling with. Now they were masters in their own rights but the fair Childe only resented that they had the guts to return. The strength to live under Elijah's rule as full Vampires.

His dark lord had said he was a coward for not bringing the pale devil back to him. If that was so Paterson was just as cowardly for his refusal to return.

[Kitten]

Elijah watched with the others, eyes drinking in each ballerina-like step Paterson took until the other was standing just the right of himself. Center stage. The guards fastened the short chains to a sturdy hook on the ground. His Micah could try to get away, but there was nowhere to go except into the crowd of Vampires eager to see him punished.

Councilman Aurelius stood and a hush fell over the crowd. "Micah Paterson of Helvinus, you stand before us, accused of heinous crimes against your fellow Vampires."

Aurelius unspooled a long parchment, Elijah rolled his eyes at the ridiculous ceremony of it all.

"You have founded no Coven and Sired no children. The senseless, unchecked killing of humans in your wake has brought much scrutiny on us from the outside world. The decimation of House Theopany, small though it was, lies solely on your shoulders."

Aurelius paused to fix Paterson with a searing look of contempt. Elijah didn't realize he'd moved to intervene on his beloved's behalf until Jorick was pulling him back into his seat.

"How do you plead?"

[Lorie]

Cruelly pleasant expression eased onto Paterson's etherial features as his crimes were accounted for the entire court to hear. Like his sire the pale creature rolled his eyes at the ridiculous scroll but remained silent until asked for his plea.

"Well, Grand Ass. I am guilty of all the charges on your supreme scroll and more." came the rebellious reply complete with snotty smirk, "I suppose my bill has come due today. Fun surely can't last forever." he laughed, blond hair swinging out of the way of angelic face, "What a wonderful party you have thrown for me. All these twisted fucks here to witness my demise." cockiness permeated Paterson's coolly casual voice. "I feel quite special." brilliant smile aimed directly to the council.