THE CURSE OF DARK SHADOWS
Round 5, Part 1With a mighty thrust, the main doors of Collinwood slammed open. Alex hurried inside carrying Mulder's pale, limp form toward the great staircase.
From the drawing room doors Angélique watched her Spencer holding his lover through glacial eyes. She quickly stepped forward and stopped him before he could reach the landing.
"What happened to him?" she questioned, with mock-concern.
"I'm not sure," Alex replied, breathlessly. "I think an animal must've attacked him by the cliff. If I didn't know better..."
"What?" she pressed him.
Alex shook his head and nodded toward the door at the bottom of the stairs. "Go and ask Ginny to bring alchohol and bandages up to his room."
"Of course." Angélique bristled at being ordered. She felt a chill run down her spine, flashing back to the days when she was but a maidservant to the DuPrés family. That is until she married Spencer Collins -and she would have him again. Her eyes blazed angrily as Alex and the unconscious Mulder disappeared through the upstairs doorway.
*****
Kicking open the bedroom door, Alex swept inside the room and gently laid Fox on the soft canopy bed's mattress. He leaned in close to his mouth, Fox's usual full, pouty lips were now as ghostly as his skin.
"Fox? Fox, baby, it's me, Alex. Can you hear me?"
His breathing was ragged and shallow. What the fuck could've done this to him? Alex refused to let the legends of Collinwood take over his imagination. He examined the livid red marks on Mulder's neck. This was definitely the work of an animal. Only what kind of animal?
He looked up as Ginny entered the room with a bottle of alchohol in one hand, and a roll of bandages in the other. She gasped at the sight before her.
"My heavens! Is he going to be all right?" Virginia was all too familiar with Cristoff's handiwork. If Fox Mulder died, he would surely rise as a vampire.
Quickly, Alex took the requested items from her and tenderly began to doctor the wounds. There was no blood flow whatsoever. Only a few dried specs on Fox's collar. He applied the alchohol and Mulder flinched a little from the burning sensation. Alex breathed out a huge sigh of relief.
"Ginny," he said, without looking up. "Bring him something warm to drink. A brandy."
Virginia simply nodded and headed back downstairs. She found her mistress waiting impatiently at the bottom of the staircase.
"Well?" Angélique demanded.
"He'll live," she said, moving past her and into the drawing room. Once there, she opened an elegant crystal decanter and started pouring a glass of brandy.
"Why would Cristoff betray me like this?" Angélique wondered aloud. "It was fitting for him to take Jamison's reincarnation."
"If you recall, he was in love with him all those years ago," Ginny reminded her.
Angélique huffed. "All the more reason for him to remove this Fox Mulder! He could have his Jamison and I would have my Spencer."
"He is a complex man," Ginny commented.
"Vampire," Angélique corrected. Ginny nodded and headed toward the foyer. "Just a moment," Angélique called. "Where are you taking that?"
"It's for Mr. Mulder."
Angélique smiled a wicked smile and took it from her grasp. "Why not let me take it, Virginia? I have another task for you. I want you to track Cristoff down and tell him I wish to see him immediately."
The housekeeper courtsied. "Yes, mistress."
As she scurried away to perform her duty, Angélique laughed a little girl laugh. "So Spencer, you wish to have your Jamison tonight?"
The witch hurried up the stairs and down the hallway. She paused outside of an open bedroom door. How ironic, she thought. The exact same bedroom allocated to Jamison DuPrés. From within she could hear Alex speaking soothingly to his lover.
"Fox, everything will be fine, I promise. Nothing's going to hurt you."
Angélique relished the plan forming in her mind. Holding tightly to the small brandy glass, she raised her left hand to eye level. An obsidian ring sparkled under the chandelier. A gift from Spencer Collins. With one finger she lifted the stone to reveal a hidden pocket. Turning her hand, a fine white power slipped from the ring and neatly dissolved in the drink.
Carefully placing the last gauze strip on Mulder's neck, Alex glanced up with surprise.
"Cassandra, where's Ginny?" he asked.
"Oh, she asked if I could bring the brandy to you. She apologized but had something urgent to attend to."
Alex thanked her for the drink and raised Mulder's head a little. "Fox, can you hear me? I need you to drink this. It'll make you feel better."
On the contrary, Angélique mused. You won't feel a thing.
Ever so slowly, Mulder parted his lips and managed to swallow a few drops of the warm liquid.
"There, that's right," Alex coaxed. Putting the unfinished glass down, he looked up at Cassandra. She wore the oddest expression as if she were furious about something.
"What is it?" he enquired.
"Oh, nothing, I'm just concerned about what could have done this," she lied. Actually she was angry that he had not taken the entire draught. He would only sleep through the night with the little he'd taken.
"Well, whatever it is, we're safe in here," Alex told her, escorting her out of the room. "If you'll excuse me."
When the door closed Angélique clenched her palms into fists. Just wait until I get my hands on that duplicitous Cristoff!
Within the bedroom, Alex walked toward the window to close the curtains. For just a moment he thought he saw a flickering light trailing away from Collinwood. When he looked again, it was gone. Dismissing it, he hurried back to Fox's side.
Removing his mud-caked boots, then his shirt and jeans, Alex positioned his long legs beneath the cover and pulled up a heavy comforter. From the sound of his breathing, Alex could tell Fox was in a deep sleep. Hopefully in the morning he could relate exactly what had happened.
In the meantime, he was not going to let his lover out of his sight again. Undressing down to his briefs, Alex slid beneath the sheets and held Fox tightly against him.
*****
Out on the misty grounds of the great estate, Virginia's cloaked figure held a lamp aloft. She had no idea what her mistress intended. If Cristoff had not taken Mulder tonight, he simply had no desire to. She loved Angélique and would abide by her decision.
Making her way through the bramble, she headed away from the mansion toward the cemetery. Nocturnal creatures signalled her arrival. The sea fog was doubly thick and cold here, and Virgina huddle within her cloak.
Pointing the light she eventually found the cracked stone steps leading up to a particular mausoleum. The metal door opened with an ominous creak. Ginny removed her hood and stared into the room in astonishment.
Cristoff's coffin was gone!
*****
Unearthly smoke filled the darkened room and Cristoff materialized. Beside him lay his coffin. He knew that Angélique would be furious and he couldn't risk her wrath. This place would keep him safe... but he may need a servant to protect him during the day.
That would have to wait. At the moment he had more pressing matters. An ancient ritual to invoke...
*****
Angélique stood in the enormous bedroom Ginny had made ready for her. She shut her eyes and concentrated on the sleeping mind of Alex Krycek. She would have to awaken his repressed memories as Spencer Collins. She had to draw him back to her.
"Listen to me carefully," her soft voice echoed. "You will remember the love you felt for Angélique and no one else."
(In their bedroom, Alex stirred in his sleep, muttering the name "Angélique.")
Suddenly the door to her room opened and a breathless Virginia appeared.
(Alex slumped back into his dreams.)
The spell broken, Angélique whirled round.
"Forgive me, mistress," the housekeeper begged.
Angélique noted the distress in her faithful servant's eyes. "Well, what is it? Where is Cristoff?"
"He's disappeared!"
"Explain."
"I cannot. His coffin is missing."
A sly smile spread across the witch's angelic face. So, Cristoff wishes to play games. He thought I would stake him for his betrayal. Clever.
"He cannot hide from me forever, Virginia," she calmly replied. Waltzing across the room, Angélique paused to stare into a gilded wall mirror. She passed a hand over the glass and it filled with an eerie mist.
"Dark forces far and wide show me the one who dares to hide," she chanted.
Slowly the mist parted to reveal a coffin settled within a brick room. Angélique turned to Virginia with a light glittering in her eyes.
"We shall not worry, for Cristoff has hidden himself within the walls of Collinwood."
*****
Morning rays pierced the bedroom and Alex Krycek awoke with a start. He immediately searched for Fox and smiled with relief to find him sleeping by his side. He'd had the strangest dreams last night. However, the mysterious attack on his lover had not been a nightmare. It was real, solid.
Slipping out from beneath the covers, Alex rubbed the back of his head and headed into the adjoining bathroom.
In a little while, he walked back out feeling more refreshed. He stopped in his tracks at the sight before him. Fox had woken and thrown the comforter up over his face.
"Fox? Are you okay?"
"The light," he hoarsely explained. "Too bright."
Alex looked over at the windows. The sun was barely shining through the closed curtains. Fox seemed to be in such distress that Alex grabbed an extra blanket and tossed it over the sturdy curtain rod. The room was pitched into blackness once more.
"Mmm, that's better," Mulder sighed.
Feeling his way back toward the bed, Alex sat on the edge and reached up for Fox.
"What the hell did I drink last night?" Mulder asked.
"Absolutely nothing," Alex told him. "Don't you remember what happened?"
"No."
As his eyes grew accustomed to the gloom, Alex saw that Fox's hands were roaming beneath the covers in a suspicious up and down motion.
"Fox, you don't have a hangover. You were attacked by something out on the cliff last night."
"The cliff?" Mulder echoed.
"Do you remember seeing what it was?"
"I'm telling you I don't remember a thing." Mulder sat up with a start. "My head feels as if it's going to crack open." His voice took on a thick tone. "But I know a way to cure it."
Alex felt hands dragging him down. Mulder moved upon Alex and before they knew it their mouths were locked in a frenzy of passion. Fox embraced him with such ferocity, that Krycek thought the life would be squeezed out of him. Their mouths ground slowly into each other as tongues flicked over teeth, searching for the back of the throat. They pulled away for a moment to catch their breath and then resumed more slowly, lightly kissing each other over every feature of their faces.
Alex resisted, worried about the attack. "Fox, are you sure?"
Mulder answered by pulling Alex to him and thrusting his tongue into his mouth, wanting to taste his lover as much as possible. He was hungry, desperately hungry, for the green-eyed Russian and all the love he offered.
Fox stripped Alex of his straining briefs and now they both lay naked on the bed. The depth of his hunger made him feed on the ambrosia of Alex's body. Mulder kissed the hard nipples lightly, laving them with his tongue as he slid down.
Mulder licked the head of Alex's cock. He heard Alex groaning and this only urged him on as he sucked Alex -wanting to suck the very life out of him. His head moved up and down rhythmically and Alex bucked his hips in time.
Mulder slipped his hands underneath Alex's smooth, ample ass and slid a moistened finger inside. His fingertip felt the warm elasticity of the puckered hole as he applied pressure. His finger slid in to the knuckle. He felt Alex's hips break their rhythm as he adjusted to this new invasion. Mulder rotated his finger in Alex's hole and moved it gently in and out. Alex sighed with pleasure as a feeling of warmth coursed through his body.
Mulder slid his tongue over Alex's balls and made his way down to where the finger joined Alex's body. He pushed up at Alex's thighs and clearly saw the finger penetrating the asshole. He pulled his finger out, and before Alex had time to miss the fullness, slid his tongue in and tongue fucked the quivering hole. He felt Alex's tight muscles clamp, trying to hold the tongue prisoner forever.
Alex gripped the sheets tighter and tighter each time Fox penetrated with his tongue. He lay back with total abandon as Mulder continued tongue fucking his ass, the masculine smell driving him on.
With a groan he twisted his body onto the bed and on top of Alex. His cock rubbed all over Alex's face begging for entry into the warm, inviting mouth. Obediently Alex opened his lips and Mulder's cock slid in. Throbbing flesh and sweet precome invaded the back of his throat.
Mulder had to fuck Alex now. He knew that if he waited any longer, he would literally explode. He disengaged from Alex and Alex reluctantly released Mulder's cock from his mouth.
Keeping Alex on his back Mulder slowly raised his ass. He ran a hand over the nicely formed round ass, exposing the puckered anus which just screamed to be penetrated. He lubricated it further with his tongue as Alex groaned in anticipation.
Mulder reared, his cock pushing between the cheeks, and with a Barbarian grunt he slid in to penetrate Alex. The head slipped in and met some resistance from the tight muscles, and Mulder pushed on his cock. It moved in to about half its length.
Alex hissed through clenched teeth, and he peered into Mulder's wild, lust-crazed eyes.
Mulder licked his lips, relishing his lover's beautiful tensed visage, the neck muscles straining and he pushed again, smooth but firm, so that his cock was buried to the hilt up Alex's ass. Alex moaned loudly and clinged to Mulder's body.
They were joined, entwined, in the ultimate act of desire. Mulder's cock had never felt such exquisite pleasure before. The passage was tight, tighter than anywhere it had ever been. Each movement of his cock sent shock waves to his brain.
Alex loved the expression of pure pleasure on Mulder's face. He was being tightly clasped around the chest as Mulder began stroking his glistening cock in and out.
A warm feeling of ecstasy crept up Alex's body. He'd never felt so turned on in his life. He thrust back to meet Mulder's rhythmic movements to help to take him in deeper.
"Oh, fuck, yes!" Mulder cried out, his voice deep and throaty.
The molten heat in Fox's balls threatened to erupt, and he knew that it would not be long before he came. He wanted to fill Alex's ass and he now started banging away deep and hard.
With a sharp thrust Mulder started pouring all of his ecstasy into Alex's waiting ass. It seemed to go on forever before the throbbing died out. He slumped onto Alex, sweating and panting away. Alex was gasping in great lungfuls of air, literally blown away by his lover.
As Mulder withdrew, he lay side by side with Alex. He leaned over and kissed him tenderly on the mouth.
Alex felt down for Mulder's cock and saw that it was still hard and wet. They looked into each other's eyes and Alex saw the hungry desire that lay festering in Fox's eyes. Mulder stroked his lover's cock gently; he did not want him to come yet, but keep him occupied while he gathered his breath. He looked at Alex who waited expectantly for the next move. Mulder swung himself on Alex's chest and watched delightedly as Alex lapped at his cock before engulfing it in his mouth.
He slid backwards now and his ass cheeks touched Alex's erect and red-hot cock. Alex couldn't keep his eyes off Mulder as he raised his ass above his cock. Holding onto Alex's cock he positioned it below his own hole. Mulder felt the tip of the cock caress his ass before he let himself down.
"Oh, yes!" he cried out, sliding down the entire length of the cock.
He soon got used to the fullness and he started riding Alex's cock. Alex gasped from the exquisite pleasure. The hot friction of Mulder's tight ass was driving his senses into overload. It was tight, really tight. He gritted his teeth as he tried to upend Mulder off the bed with his cock. He held onto Mulder's ass with one hand, grasping his cock with the other. Mulder loved every second of it.
With a shout of triumph, Alex erupted in Mulder's sweet ass. He kept on shooting till his insides felt as though the life had been drained out of them. Never before had he blown such a load. At the same moment, Fox cried out with a guttural roar, exploding for a second time, wetting Alex's chest. Mulder collapsed on him and kept Alex's cock trapped inside.
They lay like that -Mulder on top of Alex- for sometime glowing after their intense lovemaking. Eventually Mulder rolled aside and lay next to Alex, not wanting to ever let him go.
*****
Dana Scully stifled yet another yawn as she finished her rather overabundant breakfast. She'd slept like the dead after such a long drive. But there was just something about the nearby sea air that made you drowsy.
She's tried again, numerous times, to reach Mulder's cell phone. Unfortunately the damn thing kept repeating the same irritating message over and over: 'out of the calling area.'
"He is too in the calling area," she mumbled before slipping the phone into her blazer pocket.
Wiping her mouth and draining her coffee, she headed downstairs. Worry had begun to set in and she was determined find this supposedly haunted mansion that fascinated her partner.
The bar was deserted this time of the morning, all except for the hearty bartender, Bob. He looked up from reading The Collinsport Star.
"How'd 'ya sleep, miss?" he asked, as Scully approached.
She smiled. "Best night sleep I've had in a long time."
"You here visiting relatives, miss?"
Dana reminded herself this was a small town and gossip traveled fast, best to let him think so.
"Yes," she replied, sitting at the bar. "I'm just stopping through." She fixed him with a curious look, trying not to be obvious. "Actually, I'm wondering if you've seen a friend of mine."
Bob paused in his reading.
"He may have been going to a place called Collinwood."
The man's friendly demeanour changed in an instant. "Not too many folks go up there."
She fixed him with a pleading gaze. "Please, it's very important that I find him."
Taking pity on her, Bob heaved a sigh and leaned across the counter. "There was a young gentlemen here not too long ago. He was looking for a place to stay, and I told him about the caretaker opening. He didn't seem bothered by the legends at all."
Sounds like Mulder, Scully thought. Move into what he thinks is a haunted mansion and doesn't bother to tell anyone.
"How do I find this Collinwood?" she asked, already fishing for her rental car keys.
Bob seemed lost in thought. "It was like he was on the run. Not the type of guy to settle in with the ghosts, if 'ya know what I mean."
Scully arched an eyebrow. "No, I don't. Perhaps you'd better describe him."
"Dark hair, green eyes, wore a lot of black."
For a moment, Dana forgot to breathe. Alex Krycek! Dammit, Mulder! Why didn't you tell me you were tracking him down?
The Blue Whale proprietor studied her concerned face. "Something the matter, miss? Wasn't that your friend?"
"What? Oh, yes. Yes, it is. Can you give me directions to Collinwood?"
"If you're sure you wanna go traipsing up there-"
"I'm sure."
"Just a moment."
Bob discarded the newspaper and searched for a pad and pencil. Meanwhile, Dana fumed. Searching for ghosts had just been an excuse. Mulder was so obsessed with finding Krycek... She dreaded to think what might have happened. She hoped he was all right.
Inhaling deeply to calm her mind, she let her eyes drift over the paper. The headline immediately grabbed her attention:
LOCAL GIRL FOUND ON THE SHORE
Snatching it up, Dana quickly scanned the article. Cause of death unknown, body completely drained of blood. She bit her lip. Seemed there was more going on here than Krycek.
Bob returned with the scribbled directions. "You wanna be careful on the cruves beside Widows' Hill," he advised. He paused, seeing what the young woman was reading. "Yeah, poor Rose. We're all going to miss her. She should've never been out alone that night."
Dana flashed her eyes at him. "That's what I was told last night. Exactly what's going on here?"
"If you're going to Collinwood, you'll find out," he replied, cryptically.
Thanking him for the directions and advice, Scully hurried out of the bar and toward the parking lot. She had the nagging feeling she'd better find Mulder ASAP!
*****
Alex Krycek was worn out.
The marathon sex session -not that he was complaining-had been magnificent, but he was concerned over what brought it on. Fox just couldn't get enough. As much he he'd like to keep him company, Alex was also worried about what could be stalking the estate -what attacked his lover last night.
It had taken some coaxing to make Fox remain in bed and rest. Thankfully he'd finally drifted off back to sleep. If he was still in the mood after his trek across the grounds, then he'd be happy to oblige.
Strangley as he made his way downstairs, Alex had not come across either Ginny or Cassandra. He wondered if the strange visitor had managed to get her car running again and just left?
From an alcove, Virgina watched him as he left the house from a back way. "He's gone," she said.
"Keep an eye on him," Angélique ordered, revealing herself from the shadows. Soon afterward, she opened a door and descended into the basement.
Her journey took her to a sealed off door. With a dusty clatter, the long disused entrance swung open. Angélique grinned and, brushing a carpet of cobwebs aside, took another staircase down into a warren of secret passages.
Cristoff had chosen a excellent hiding place.
However, she was much smarter. She would force Cristoff to take Fox Mulder. He'd tasted his blood, therefore he could not resist biting him a second time.
Her journey ended before another locked door. Angélique's eyes shone with power, and like the door before, it opened. Before her lay the vampire's coffin. Now all she had to do was lure Fox Mulder.
Closing her eyes, she concentrated on the sleeping figure upstairs. "Come to me," she called hypnotically. But it was not her voice, but Alex Krycek's that summoned him. "I am waiting for you. You cannot resist. Come. Come."
(Mulder's eyes opened with a start. Alex was calling and the yearning inside of him screamed. He wanted, no, he needed to be with his lover. Standing, his half-naked form left the bedroom.)
Angélique smiled, sensing his presence approaching. "Yes, that's right. I'm waiting for you," she continued to call.
"No. You must stop, Angélique. You must stop." A ghostly voice echoed around the brick walls.
Momentarily stopping her spell, Angélique looked around the passage. "Who is it? Who's there? Answer me!"
In the shadowy gloom, the ghost of Danielle Collins appeared. "You must not hurt him," she warned.
Angélique's eyes grew wide. "You will not interfere, Danielle Collins!"
Ignoring her, the spirit stepped forward.
Angélique held a hand up. "Return to your grave! I command you, return to your grave!"
Slowly, Danielle faded away.
Angélique breathed deeply. In life or death, she would not allow Danielle to prevent her from being with Spencer. She quickly returned her attention to the task in hand.
"Come to me, Fox. I'm here, alone, waiting for you."
Hearing his bare footsteps, Angélique ducked out of sight behind the door.
Mulder could not control his actions. Alex was inside the room and he had to be with him.
As soon as he entered, Angélique slammed the door closed.
Shaken from the trance, Mulder whirled round in the darkened room. "Hey!" he shouted. He ran to the heavy door and began to pound. "Let me out of here!"
Angélique leaned against it with a wicked smile. Tonight Cristoff would rise thirsting for blood. And his hunger would be sated with Fox Mulder.
*****
Demi's next!!