What if Liam and Ollie had never broken up?
As of late, Liam was annoyed. He spent his days training and going to school, his evenings at work were an annoyance because of the assholes in the department, and he consistently came home to an apartment devoid of an Ollie. Tonight was no different, and the silence in the apartment was practically deafening.
He sat on the edge of the bed, and put his face in his hands, processing the hurt he felt at Ollie once again not being there. He barely saw him anymore. Sure, Ollie had school as well, but as far as Liam knew, Ollie had more free time than Liam himself did these days, yet he never seemed to be home. There had been instances of multiple days when it appeared as though Ollie’s side of the bed had never been slept in.
After taking a few moments, he got up and went about getting a shower, followed by a bite to eat before calling it a night. It was late, and he was too tired to try to make a phone call to Ollie before passion out, so he just sent a quick text to let Ollie know he was home and headed to bed. After a few minutes and no response, he sighed and just set the phone down, then climbed under the covers to get comfortable.
Tomorrow, he told himself. Tomorrow, he had the day off of work. He could put aside his training, work on school and submit homework from home. Ollie had to come home eventually, right?
By morning, Ollie still wasn’t home. Liam sighed, got himself breakfast, then set himself up at his laptop before grabbing his backpack in order to begin schoolwork. It was well past noon, and heading into the dinner hour, when Liam really began to worry — he still hadn’t heard from Ollie. He emailed his homework out and then called him. He used to check location sharing, but it had been turned off, so he no longer knew where Ollie was. It took several rings, but Ollie eventually answered.
“Hello?” he answered, sounding a little panicked.
“Is everything okay?” Liam wondered.
“What makes you ask?” Ollie asked.
“Is something wrong?” Liam continued
“Nothing’s wrong.” Ollie promised.
“Are you sure?” Liam asked.
“Yes. I’m just… I’ve just been working, and studying hard.” Ollie sighed.
“You didn’t come home today.” Liam pointed out.
There was a long bout of silence on the other end before Ollie responded. “I forgot it was your day off. I’m sorry. Look, I… I’ve just been busy, and I was tired, so I crashed at a friend’s.”
“For how long? It looks like you haven’t been here in a week at least.” Liam stated.
“Don’t interrogate me.” Ollie started. “I’ve just been busy.”
It was at that point that Liam heard another man’s voice in the background. “Just answer me two things, okay?”
“Okay, but hurry up.” Ollie said, his voice sounding slightly panicked again.
“When will you be home?” he asked.
“I don’t know.” Ollie said.
“Are you seeing someone else?” Liam asked. It was a difficult question, but he couldn’t think of any other legitimate reason Ollie was gone so much; any other reason he wouldn’t come home.
“No, never.” Ollie replied, his voice serious.
“Alright, just….stay in touch, okay?” Liam said.
“I’ll try.” Ollie said. The voice sounded in the background again, and then the phone went dead.
So that was that. Liam stared at the phone in his hand for a moment before setting it down. Did he believe Ollie? Or did he believe the voice in the background of the call, and the whispers in the back of his own head? He didn’t know. In the end, he decided to go out in order to grab a bite to eat, then maybe a couple o f drinks and some dancing to help clear his head. He needed to eat anyway, otherwise he might have gone to the gym for a little while.
Liam had taken an Uber out, knowing he was likely to get drunk, and took one home, stumbling into the apartment hours later. He hoped Ollie would be there, but the apartment was dark, and quiet. Sighing, he locked up and made his way to the bedroom, where he promptly lay on the bed, hoping for the room to stop spinning. Was he drunk? Most definitely. Was he likely to have a hangover? Probably — hopefully it would be gone before his shift.
~
Time had passed. A lot of time. Ollie had come home a couple of times that Liam had noticed, but not often, and was always elusive about where he’d been or what he’d been up to. At this point it had been some months, and Liam’s patience was wearing thin. There came a day when, just as Liam was coming home, Ollie was on his way out.
“We need to talk, Ollie.” Liam said.
“I can’t. I don’t have time.” Ollie replied.
“You never have time anymore.” Liam pointed out. “At this point, we’re barely roommates, let alone partners.”
Ollie flinched. “You don’t understand…”
“You’re right, I don’t — because you never talk to me anymore.” Liam stated.
“That’s not fair. You don’t – “
“Understand? I would if you would just talk to me, Ollie. I can’t keep doing this.” Liam said, half pleading.
“I can’t.” Ollie said.
“Why can’t you? What are you hiding?” Liam asked.
“Give me some more time.” Ollie pleaded. “A few days. A week at most. I promise I’ll have answers then. I’ll call you, I swear.”
Liam sighed. “Alright. But Ollie, as much as I love you, if you don’t follow through, this is it. I can’t keep doing this.”
“I’ll call you. I swear I will.” he said. He picked up an overnight bag, and leaned in for a kiss, wincing when Liam hesitated for a moment before allowing it.
After Ollie left, Liam got himself a drink. Truthfully, he wasn’t expecting much. This behavior had been going on for a few months at this point, and his depression was only getting deeper. For his own sake, he had to cut things off with Ollie if his promise didn’t pan out, then probably seek some therapy.
A few days later, Ollie called.
“I need you to come meet me.” Ollie said after Liam answered.
“Where are you? I’ve got work soon.” Liam said.
“Albuquerque.” was the response.
“What the hell are you doing in New Mexico?” Liam asked.
“I can explain when you get here. Please, Liam.” Ollie begged.
“I can’t leave tonight. I’ll have to take some PTO, but I’ll be there as soon as I can.” Liam promised.
“Okay, good. I’ll see you soon.” he said, sounding relieved. “I love you.” he added.
“I love you too.” Liam said after a moment. “I’ll let you know when I get to Albuquerque. It might take some time to make arrangements with work.”
“Okay. I understand.” Ollie responded.
“Liam said goodbye, and then hung up. He was more puzzled than ever, and was distracted at work that night. His partner noticed and inquired, but Liam just mentioned that it was more of the usual, and went about his night, and put in for time off. It took some doing, but he was able to get some time, but not for a while. He texted Ollie with this information, and set about trying to not think about why Ollie might be in New Mexico.
When his time off rolled around, he packed, and began the seven-hour drive from Phoenix to Albuquerque. His first order of business was to check in to a hotel before calling Ollie.
“I’m here.” he said when Ollie answered.
“Good, good. Can you meet me tonight?” Ollie asked.
“Yes, of course. Give me a time and an address.” Liam replied.
Ollie gave him a time for late in the evening, as well as an address. “I’ll see you then. I promise, I’ll have answers.”
“Alright. I’ll see you later.” Liam said before hanging up. He checked his phone for the time, and decided to get some rest until later.
After sleeping for a couple of hours, he spent some time grabbing dinner, and largely staying in his hotel room until it came time to meet Ollie. He ended up being a little late to the meeting, being unfamiliar with the surroundings and relying on GPS. He’d pulled up to a somewhat rundown apartment building. Ollie was pacing back and forth outside.
“Sorry I’m late.” Liam said as he got out of the car.
Ollie looked over, relieved. “It’s okay. You’re here, that’s what matters.”
Liam looked at the building beside them. “So…you promised a talk?”
“Yes. Let’s head inside.” Ollie said, waiting for Liam to follow before heading into the building, and down a flight of stairs to a basement apartment. He pulled out a set of keys and unlocked the door, ushering Liam inside before closing the door and locking it behind them.
“What’s with all the secrecy?” Liam asked.
“That would be me.” said a vaguely familiar voice from the other room.
“Liam, I want you to meet Nathaniel.” Ollie said.
“I thought you weren’t seeing anyone else?” Liam said, sounding angry.
“I’m not! I swear. He’s my… I work for him, okay?” Ollie protested.
Nathaniel chuckled from where he stood.
Liam turned and snapped at Nathaniel. “I’m glad you think this is funny.”
Nathaniel’s tone went from amused to serious. “I’d be careful if I were you, boy.”
“Liam please. Don’t make him angry. Give me a chance to explain.” Ollie asked.
“Alright. I’m sorry.” he said to Ollie. “I’m sorry.” he said, turning to Nathaniel, who once again seemed amused.
“Promise you’ll let me finish before you say anything.” Ollie began.
“Alright.” Liam said.
“Say it.” Ollie stated.
“Alright, alright. I promise.” Liam said with a little sigh.
Ollie took a deep breath. “I wasn’t lying when I said I was working for Nathaniel. I’m kind of like his assistant. See… Nathaniel’s a vampire, and I’m his Renfield, for lack of a better term. I’ve been busy doing things for him the past few months — whatever he needs or wants.”
Liam just stared at Ollie for several minutes. “This is some kind of sick joke, isn’t it?”
“No, no joke, I swear.” Ollie insisted.
“You expect me to believe that bullshit?” Liam snapped.
Nathaniel laughed. “I told you he wouldn’t believe it.”
“Help me convince him.” Ollie begged, but Nathaniel just shook his head. “Liam…” Ollie began.
“Forget it Ollie. We’re through.” Liam said, turning to head for the door.
Ollie was crushed, and Nathaniel sighed. “The things I do for you, young one.” he said. He stepped out of the shadows of the dimly lit apartment and put a hand on Liam’s shoulder to stop him. “I believe a proper explanation is on order.”
Liam growled. “Let go of me.”
Nathaniel removed his hand and stepped back, watching as Liam turned back around, and stared. Before Liam stood an oddity of a man. He still appeared as a man, but something was off — his skin was too smooth, his eyes too bright. Just enough was off to give that uncanny valley effect, and it was clear that it was bothering Liam.
“You’re important to Ollie, so I am attempting to have patience with you.” Nathaniel began. “He is not lying. I would be happy to demonstrate.” he said with a smile, giving off a pointy grin.
“What is wrong with you?” Liam finally asked.
“Hold him.” Nathaniel finally said. Instead of Ollie tried to hold him, like Liam had expected, two others came out of the shadows to grab him. Instinct kicked in, and Liam went into action, hip tossing one into the coffee table, while grabbing the arm of the other and jerking it up behind the guy, twisting it to break it when he struggled. The first guy got back up, lunging at Liam, and he sidestepped, letting the guy crash into the wall. The second guy took a swing, his broken arm dangling uselessly at his side.
The fight continued, while Nathaniel watched, and prevented Ollie from interfering. Liam kept up as long as he could, but eventually began to wear down. The guys just kept coming, when they should have more than stayed down on more than one occasion, he estimated. Eventually, one of them bared fangs and growled at them, forcing Liam to back up. He scrambled, trying to get as far away from him as he could muster in the tiny apartment.
“Enough.” Nathaniel said, and they backed off. He walked over to the corner, crouching down in front of Liam. “You see, we’re all vampires here. Most of us.” he said, looking at Ollie. “Now…what have you learned?” he queried Liam.
“Psychos! All of you!” Liam yelled back, attempting to get up. Something had a tight hold on him, however, and he tripped, falling back and hitting his head against the wall. Looking down, he saw something wrapped around his ankles. He desperately wanted out of the apartment, so he tried to frantically disentangle himself, only to watch in horror as dark tendrils crept up his body, slowly encasing him until he couldn’t move.
“Don’t hurt him.” Ollie pleaded.
“He won’t be harmed.” Nathaniel promised. “I think however, he needs a demonstration. I think….yes, it’s time, Ollie. You’ve been quite the loyal little servant. Now to become the diligent son.”
Ollie looked up at Nathaniel, his eyes seemingly shining, in a look akin to love. “Really?”
“Oh yes.” Nathaniel said, brushing Ollie’s hair away from his face, before tilting his head to the side and baring fangs, biting deep so that the blood would flow well. Liam watched in horror as Nathaniel watched him watching. Ollie grew paler as this continued, and Liam screamed for Ollie, trying to break free to help him.
Liam slumped down in shock when Ollie’s body went limp. Nathaniel simply grinned at him before licking where he had bitten Ollie. A bite into his wrist later, and it was pressed against Ollie’s mouth. At first, there was nothing, and then — there! Movement. Ollie was swallowing, red trickling from his mouth. Ollie gripped Nathaniel’s arm tightly, supping at the blood willed forth before it was taken away.
“There, child, that’s enough for now.” he said soothingly. “I promise we’ll hunt soon. Unless, of course, you want this one.” he said, gesturing to Liam. Ollie thought about it a moment, eye glazed over, but he eventually shook his head.
Clapping sounded from the shadows. “Well done, Nathaniel. I was beginning to think you’d never make him. And now, we have a new brother in our fold.”
The voice was like silken, something you wanted to hear over and over, never stopping. Liam looked in that direction. Stepping out of the shadows was an average looking man, but one with a commanding presence about him. As he stepped out, the things around Liam loosened and retreated into the shadows. After a moment, the man offered Liam a hand. Unsure what to make of things, he reluctantly took the man’s hand. It was cool to the touch, and paler than his own. Everyone but him was pale, he now noticed.
“It’s real?” was all he could manage to ask.
“Every bit. You, my dear boy, are lucky. It’s been suggested you might be one for our ranks, and I must say, that was a very impressive display against Dale and Arthur. I should like to keep you around, at least for now. We’ll talk more after your shock wears off. But first;” he said, biting into his wrist and pressing it to Liam’s mouth.
“Drink.” came a command, and Liam found himself drinking for a bit, until the man pulled his wrist away. “You will stay in the city until I tell you that you may go back to Phoenix. Is that understood?” Liam slowly nodded. “Good.”
“Now this is certainly unexpected of you, Cornelius.” Nathaniel said.
“Perhaps.” Cornelius responded. “But I am intrigued nonetheless. Now, let’s get out of this dump. Your child needs to hunt, and my protégé needs rest.” He turned his attention then to Liam. “Welcome to the first day of the rest of your existence.”