Author's Note: This is my first story I've posted to the public. I've been writing for a number of years, mostly for my own enjoyment. This isn't the greatest story, but I like it. It needs some work and a bit of a polish, but I thought I'd put up what I have done so far. If there are any grammar or spelling mistakes, I blame my treacherous fingers and eyes for misleading me.
Enjoy.
withering_wings@htmail.cm * = o
Josh waded though the throng of slippery bodies, neon lights and music crashing against him like waves. Random hands groped his body--both of girls and guys, but Josh was intent on not spilling the drinks he was carrying to do anything about it.
He carefully laid the drinks down at the table his friends had managed to snag and before he had a chance to speak they were gone.
Josh felt his face pull into a frown as he slid into the booth beside Aaron. Usually the club relaxed him, made him feel like he was part of something--like he belonged. Usually the girls would be all over him.
Well, they were, but Josh startled even himself by turning them down. And he knew why, he had simply become tired of trying to be someone he wasn't. Play had become work and while he had his back turned it had become a chore to keep up appearances, to play the game.
The young man sighed and stared at the other club goers. The dance floor had become a sweltering mass of flesh intermingling with the fluorescent lights above--the pounding music polluting his every thought.
As his eyes climbed over the various sweaty bodies, they flicked to something strange, something new.
A boy.
Josh watched him move silently as his interest grew. He looked the same age, but the boy was radically different from the sports player. Not just physically but in a way Josh couldn't put his finger on.
He felt drawn to the other boy instantly. It was as if he existed outside the world, was somehow apart from it. The music, the heat, the smothering unity of the dance floor were all lost on the boy. He was beyond it, content to simply stand existing apart from it all, cold ice eyes observing detachedly.
"Hey!" Josh felt his attention shaken and drawn from where the boy stood to his friends now beside him. He couldn't even remember how they got there.
In that split second of time he looked from the boy to his friends and back, the boy had vanished.
"Did you see him?" Josh asked, facing his friends which franticly scanning the faces of the masses.
"HIM?" Cody, the linebacker asked with a raised eyebrow, "You're not fagging out on us now are you Matthews?"
Josh couldn't even bring his mind down to form a retort.
"Hey! Lighten up man!" Aaron yelled. Aaron was always the peacemaker, "We're in a house of debauchery! I say if Joshy-boy here wants rocky road instead of vanilla tonight, let him! You only live once."
Cody frowned, but in moments his face softened a bit and he gave a slight nod and a grunt.
"Alright man. We'll help you look for your boy." Aaron said with a grin before slamming back the rest of his drink. He didn't notice Josh's blush.
"What did he look like?"
"Kinda pale, black hair, blue eyes." Josh shouted over the now blaring music, his eyes scanning the crowd constantly for any sign of the stranger.
"Man! That could be anyone here! Look!" Cody pointed out several guys matching the description.
Josh shook his head. "You'll know when you see him!" He shouted as he slowly made his way through the crowd, nearly becoming lost in the orgy of frenzied dancing and grinding.
In moments he found himself bumping up against the two familiar bodies of his friends.
"Hey!" Aaron pointed behind Josh, "Is that him?"
Josh turned and stared for a moment before nodding dumbly.
"Pretty enough to be a girl." Cody observed. Aaron threw him a sidelong glace.
"What?" The other jock asked, confusion steeping into mild anger.
"How do you even know he'll bend for you?" Cody asked and Josh frowned, not sure if that was what he wanted.
"Only one way to find out!" Aaron exclaimed, pushing Josh forward by the shoulders. "Go talk to him!"
Josh suddenly found his feet walking toward the boy of their own volition, his body weaving and sliding between the dancers, foreign hands sliding over his jeans and occasionally slipping up his shirt.
When he finally got to the boy his face was flush and his stomach lurched. It only took a moment for him to become annoyed at his nervousness. He'd been with tens of girls and this had never happened. Why should this guy be any different?
"Hey." He managed as he came to stand in front of the boy and as the stranger turned to look someone bumped into Josh from behind.
Josh braced himself for the harsh impact that would follow the fall, but none came. It took only a heartbeat for him to realize the pale boy had caught him, and that he was a lot stronger than he seemed.
"Sorry." Josh muttered as the boy pulled him to his feet, and the boy looked at him with mild interest.
"Come on." His voice was deep. He gestured for Josh to follow.
As they stepped out onto the balcony Josh shivered. The night air was cool and the wind brushed softly against his bare arms.
Suddenly the boy went down to his knees and Josh felt his stomach lurch.
"You're bleeding." He heard the pale boy say as he went about ripping a piece of his own shirt to tie around Josh's knee.
"I'm Josh." He blurted out and immediately felt like an idiot.
"I know." The boy said with a smile.
"Oh." Josh replied dumbly.
"What's your name?" Josh asked.
"Il." The dark-haired boy said after a moment, pulling something out of his pocket and sticking it in his mouth. The teen lit it so fast; Josh didn't even see a lighter.
"Ill? Like, being sick?" Josh asked, eyes lingering.
"No," The boy said with the trace of a smile, "But that works too."
Il took a long drag off the brown rolled paper before blowing out a thin blue smoke over the balcony.
"Cigarette?" Josh asked.
"No." Il replied.
"Weed?" Josh asked.
"Nothing like that." Il smiled gently and offered the brown stick to the muscular boy.
Josh wordlessly took the make-shift smoke from Il's fingers and inhaled.
Suddenly he felt horrible. It took all of his strength not to wretch. Then he felt strong hands thumping on his back as he coughed.
"Gods. I didn't know you'd take such a huge drag off it. Take it slow." Il smiled, his fingers flicking out and reclaiming the brown stick from Josh's trembling hands.
"Drugs." Josh said and Il's rich, cold laughter echoed across the rooftops.
"No, Josh. Just give it a few more seconds." Il said, taking a pull off the stick and releasing a puff of blue tinged smoke.
Josh silently cursed himself for being so stupid, but then the nausea slowly faded away leaving him feeling clear and strong.
Inhaling the night air deeply, Josh became aware of the darkness surrounding him, surrounding everything. It was as if it was alive, moving, whispering and smiling-- welcoming him.
"See?" Il smiled.
"What's in that?" Josh asked, feeling good everything.
"Nothing special." Il smiled again as Josh reached for the stick, "Small pulls, okay? Nothing like last time."
Josh nodded and joined Il leaning on the marble balcony.
"I was surprised you came over to see me." Il confessed.
"Why?" Josh asked, cautiously breathing the strange smoke in.
"I've seen you here before." Il said as he leaned back on the marble railing, taking the smoke back from the bigger boy. "You're a skirt chaser."
"Well, why do you come here?" Josh asked, feeling the burn of shame.
"Them." Il jerked his head back to the mass of bodies on the dance floor before taking a drag off the strange little smoke, "I like to watch them."
"Why?" Josh was so full of questions he thought he was going to bust.
Il turned and stared into Josh's eyes for a moment, icy blue eyes digging into him.
"I find it interesting how often people lie." Il said, passing the stick back to Josh, "Especially to themselves. Sometimes it's nice to see people leave all that shit behind, even if it's just for a night."
Josh silently took another drag off the stick and pondered this.
"Do I lie?" Josh asked.
"Yes." Il said staring into the night. Josh's eyes openly took in his profile.
"Do you lie?" Josh asked with earnest curiosity
Il smiled. "Nothing as big as your lie."
"What's my lie?" Josh asked, amused, as he took a small puff.
"You want to have sex with me." Il said nonchalantly and Josh felt his face flush. "You want to be with me. All those girls, they were lies-to your family and your friends. To yourself. Deep down I am what you really want."
"Am I wrong?" Il asked with a slight smile.
"No." Josh heard himself say after a moment. "You're right."
"Why did you decide on now?" Il asked, "What's so special about tonight?"
"I got tired of pretending." Josh said, his eyes dropping to the floor when suddenly Il's firm grip pulled his chin up.
"Don't cower like a kicked dog. You're better than that." Il said, reclaiming the smoke and blowing a ring.
"I am?" The youth asked.
"Yes." Il said as he looked into the night sky. A small silence passed between them before he spoke again. "Will you run?"
"What?" Josh asked.
"After the deed is done. After I give you the best fuck you've ever had in your life and share my freaking soul and all that romantic shit. Are you gonna freak out and run home-pretend none of this happened?"
"Maybe." Josh said and Il smiled.
"I may make a believer out of you yet, Josh." Il snuffed out the butt of the smoke on the railing before taking Josh's hands into his own.
"What if someone see us?" Josh asked, suddenly fearful.
"Then they'll be jealous." Il smirked and suddenly cool, soft lips were pressed firmly against his. Josh felt his eyes droop as he melted into the kiss, the music of the club blurring and fading into the dark. Il pulled away after a moment and Josh followed in a deep stupor.
"Where're we going?" Josh asked as they trotted down the steps, completely enamored as he watched the black tee shirt cling to the skater's back.
"To get my board." Il said, slamming his foot down on the ground and reaching out with his free hand to grab a skateboard.
"You skate?" Josh asked.
"Sometimes." Il said.
"Can I see?" Josh took the board and flipped it over, admiring the artwork on the bottom.
"Who did it?" Josh asked, fingers running over the elaborate design.
"I did." Il smiled, sharp teeth flashing in the moonlight.
"What is it?" Josh asked.
"A reminder." Il suddenly laughed loudly into the night at some unseen joke and Josh smiled at his joy, his curiosity forgotten. Suddenly Il looked sad.
"What's wrong?" Josh asked.
"Nothing." Il said, "Just remembering."
"Where do you live?" Josh asked, taking the tall boy's hand.
"Just down the road, by the beach." Il said.
They walked in silence for a few moments, a comfortable, lulling silence.
"Are you sure you want this?" Il asked earnestly.
"Yes." Josh flushed and Il nodded with a serious expression plastered across his face.
"Sex with me," Il said and Josh's interest sharpened to a point "Is not something to be taken lightly."
"To have sex with someone is an act of exchange." Il said, "Do you get it?"
"I think." Josh said, giving Il's hand a little squeeze.
"Good." Il smiled and led him down the thinning grass to the beach. There, nestled in the sand was a beat up old house.
"You live here?" Josh asked.
"Yes." Il said, opening a large wooden door and stepping through the boards that were supposed to keep intruders out.
The house was as empty as it looked on the outside. The entire thing had fallen into disrepair, but it looked safe enough to live in. The only furniture in the entire place was two queen size mattresses stacked on top of each other. They looked like they had seen better days.
Newspapers and magazines littered the floor.
"Nice place." Josh said.
"It does the trick." Il retorted.
"Shouldn't we close the door?" Josh asked as the skater's hands wrapped around his torso.
"It's just us." Il said, cool hands slipping under the football player's shirt, running over taunt skin and hard muscle. "There's no one else here."
Josh tilted his head up and kissed the taller boy deeply, his hands caressing the milky white skin of Il's back.
It was unlike anything Josh had experienced before. With girls it had always been over faster than it had begun, leaving little emotion to be stirred within him. But Il was painfully slow in everything he did, almost to the point of agony.
"Relax." Il kissed the hollow of Josh's neck. "You need to be more patient."
It seemed hours had passed when suddenly the dark-haired boy pulled Josh on top of him, naked bodies sliding together.
"I want you now." Il said simply with a whisper as he bit gently on Josh's shoulder.
"I--" Josh began, "I mean I've..."
"Don't worry. I'll help." Il said.
With the taller boy guiding his movements, Josh picked up the basics quickly. Moments later his tanned body was stretched out beside Il's long pale form, both chests heaving with exertion.
"Thank you." Il said with a smile, his head tilted to see his lover's face.
"You're welcome." Josh said, his fingers interlacing into the other boy's as their sweaty shoulders touched, basking in bliss.
"I want you now." Josh said, voice quivering.
Il remained silent.
"What?" Josh asked, touching the boy's chest.
"Nothing," Il said with a sad smile, "I'm just afraid of what it would do to you."
Josh looked at the Il's face for a moment before deciding that Il wasn't kidding around.
"What do you mean?" Josh asked.
"It's hard to explain." Il said, "I'm...not like other guys."
Josh laughed again, but when he saw the sadness on Il's face he grew serious.
"What are you?" Josh asked with plain curiosity.
"A vampire? A werewolf? Some kind of Frankenstein monster? That would explain your huge--" Josh stopped as Il's hand covered his mouth.
"None of those things," Il said, touching Josh's face with a loving hand, "I am Ob."
"What does that mean?" Josh asked.
"I'm a necromancer or sorts." Il said as Josh stroked the boy's soft, white neck, "The dead and dying are my ilk."
"You're cold." Josh suddenly noticed. Il pushed him away.
"You're not...alive, are you?" Josh asked carefully.
"Not exactly." Il muttered.
"Look at me." Josh leaned up in bed after a moment, "Sit up and look at me."
With a tug from the athlete Il reluctantly sat up, the covers pooling at his waist. Josh stared into the skater's eyes for a moment and seeing no lies, let his gaze fall over Il's body.
"You're beautiful, for a guy who's not quite alive." Josh said and Il smiled.
"I trust you." Josh said.
"Josh, it's not that, it's...I'm not sure what would happen." Il said.
"I don't care. If I die, then I'll be like you right?" Josh said.
Il forced a nod but still looked unsure.
"Hey Il, look me I the eye." Il did, "Good, now-I want this. I choose this. I want you to be my...first."
Il nodded and smiled softly, rolling over on top of Josh, moving down his reclining figure slowly, mimicking the very actions Josh himself had done not long ago.
It had hurt a lot more than he had expected it to, and he almost felt like quitting, but he quickly pushed the thought from his mind, clenching his teeth against the pain.
He felt Il's hands digging into the muscles of his back deeply and Il's sharp teeth raking along his shoulder and down neck but the pain it caused slight.
In seconds Josh felt the familiar feeling in Il he was so accustomed to feeling in himself, and with great heaving breaths the tall boy collapsed onto Josh's back.
Suddenly Josh felt his insides lurch. He became aware of all the sounds and smells around him, all magnified to the point of discomfort. A sudden panic ripped though him and he sat up violently.
"Here." He was aware of Il's voice seeping into his mind as something was pressed to his lips. "Take a pull."
Josh inhaled and the sweet taste of Il's strange smokes filled his lungs, but it helped little. Intense pain jolted along his spine.
"Oh Josh, I'm so, so sorry." He head Il pleading at his side. Josh tried to open his mouth to answer but only a chocked groan escaped. He felt like he was dying.
As Josh lie helpless Il sat beside him, holding his hand, sobbing. "I didn't mean for this to happen. I didn't want you to die."
Il felt cold tears stream down his face as he watched his lover convulse and gasp for air his lungs were struggling to draw. Suddenly he reached out and grabbed the little brown smoke, sticking it in Josh's mouth.
"Listen to me Josh, do exactly as I say." The other boy squeezed Il's hand. "When I light this I want you to breathe it all in. All of it, like you did earlier. That should be enough to do it."
Josh was unable to reply but stared to take a long drag off the vile little stick. When he finished the ash was burning his lips and the strength drained out of him only to be replaced by a terrible nausea and a still cold in his gut.
"Good, good." Il took the remainder of the smoke from Josh's lips as the boy slipped into sleep, his breathing steadied but he felt so cold. The last thing Josh saw though his heavy eyelid was Il grabbing a large pillow. He couldn't hear the skater, but he could read his lips well enough. Trust me, he said and then everything went black.
Il forced all of his strength down on top of the pillow covering Josh's face. Even though unconscious the athlete's body fought and squirmed but Il was very strong. After a minute Josh became still and Il drew back the pillow from his face.
Staring at Josh's empty eyes, Il drew a breath and whispered the funeral rite.
Sunlight came crashing into the room through broken windows. The light glared on Josh's eyes through closed lids, forcing him to wake.
"Welcome back." Il said from his perch at the end of the bed.
"How long was I out?" Josh asked, rubbing his head.
"You weren't out. You died." Il said, drawing closer and checking Josh over. "I brought you back."
Josh felt the urge to throw up suddenly as the memory came back to him in vivid detail.
"Whoa, easy." Il said, "Best not to think about it for awhile."
Il grabbed a pillow and held it out and suddenly Josh was afraid, but Il only propped it up behind Josh's head.
"Lie back." Il guided him. Josh felt different. Cold. Shivering he moved into the sun and was surprised he couldn't feel its heat.
He looked to Il in confusion and the pale boy was holding a familiar brown stick to him. "Small puffs. Go on."
Josh took it from the skater's hands and did as he was told. He was pleasantly surprised that suddenly he could feel the warmth of the sun again, and the softness of the mattress and pillows. But it faded as quickly as it began.
"The smokes are only a temporary fix. They allow us to indulge in the pleasures of the living world. You're one of us now Josh." Il gave a sad smile.
"Well, at least I won't have to go through that again." Josh said, kissing Il's sweet lips.
The skater looked doubtful.
"I won't will I?" Josh felt a paralyzing fear at having to repeat any part of the process.
"The first death is always the hardest." Il smiled.