Two months flew by in the blink of an eye... and without any sight or sound from the former blood captain. 

"Captain!"

Ari ran up to Wallace, bowing his head before reporting. He had come with them when Wallace needed several new men for his next voyage... one to find, and rid the world of, the previous blood pirate, James. 

Alexandre had eagerly offered his services, though he hadn't really been given a choice in the mater. He didn't want to be away from Wallace. He was the only one who could control him without being harmed. He had also made sure that he got several extra crew members in order to keep him fed,  but not inflict lasting harm on any one person.

"Captain, I noticed the missing ship several leagues to the west, they appear to be heading for Blood Port."

Wallace and Alexandre both grimaced at the mention of the terrible place. No one from the royal navy ever stepped foot on that island. It was crawling with the most disgusting, demonic pirates and murderers one could think of.

So why does no one bother to raid the peninsula and take every man in for the reward on their heads? Simple, no one without a pirate's seal or tattoo has ever left with their life.

Wallace nodded back to Ari and Alexandre felt his hand, which was currently on his waist, gently tug him closer against him. He knew the gesture well and looked up, meeting his eyes.

"Well, what do you say, Alex?"

Wallace leaned down, pressing a kiss to his lips right before Alexandre spoke.

"I think we have a pirate to catch... and if he is at Blood Port, then that is where we need to be."

His arm moved farther around his waist, turning him with his own body as he reached with his other hand for the helm wheel. "Aye, no wonder James kept you well." 

Alexandre's heart gave an extra quick pump at hearing the man's name, surprising him into a quiet gasp.

"What is wrong, Alex?"

Wallace's hand rose from his waist to delve into his hair, calming him.

Except, it didn't. He preferred James' attention. 

Alexandre gave another gasp, this one in surprise at his mind's disobedience. To stop himself from being questioned, and to keep his thoughts quiet, he pressed his forehead against Wallace's chest and sighed when he felt his lips gently move along his hair.

"Are you hungry, love?"

Love.

Alexandre's eyes darted up to Wallace's, but for a split second he couldn't help but see James. Wallace never called him love... it was always Alex or Alexandre, nothing more. He didn't even technically have a job on the ship, either. He called him his first mate, but he had a feeling that had more to do with him gracing his bed most nights over any kind of actual job on the vessel.

"No, Captain. I... I do not feel very well."

 "I see. Go get some sleep, we will be close to port come nightfall and I want you well rested."

"Yes, Captain."

Alexandre dismissed himself and began heading down to his room. He slept there everyday, once Wallace was content with his body. When they had set out two months ago he had given him his own cabin and he was to use it whenever he was not needed. Well, he hardly ever found himself needed for anything relating to the ship, but he supposed that he should just be grateful that his execution had been suspended indefinitely... as long as he obeyed everything Wallace commanded of him.

Falling back onto his uncomfortable bed, he stretched out and gave a wide yawn... then realized that he was not the only one in the room. It was nearly pitch black, but he didn't need to look up or light a candle to know who was there. He remembered his scent.

"Ria."

The young human boy hesitantly took a step closer, his hands clasped in front of him nervously. He didn't look anything like the skeleton he had saved several months ago. With three square meals a day and no one draining his blood, he had gained a good twenty pounds and filled-out quite a bit. Granted, he still could use another forty or so, but he looked so much better.

Pushing himself up against the wall to sit up, Alexandre gave him a small smile and spoke quietly.

"How are you doing, hun?"

He watched as the boy nibbled at his lower lip, unsure how to really begin speaking to a vampire. He still highly disliked them, and he couldn't blame him. He had seemed to do his best to not treat him any differently from other humans, but Alexandre knew that he scared him. Hell, he scared himself some times.

"I am good..."

Alexandre nodded. The boy had grown a lot, but his voice never really raised much more than a whisper. It was likely from his time with James' crew and the trauma he had suffered there. His heart hurt as he looked into his haunted eyes.

"Ria?"

The boy blinked several times, seemingly lost in thought. He had probably been thinking back on something he shouldn't. Alexandre never wanted him to have to look back on what had happened in his short life. He wished that he could just erase those memories and let him start over with positive ones... but that was impossible. Ria took a slight step forward, making him tilt his head in question.

"A-Alexandre."

The faint sheen of tears in his eyes had Alexandre reaching forward slowly, offering him his hand. Surprisingly, he took it in both of his. They were shaking, making him want to pull him closer. He wanted to tell him everything would be fine now, that he would never go through what he had in James' hands, but his thoughts were interrupted as Ria literally jumped toward his arms!

Alexandre reached out to keep him from hurting himself. Obviously, the light in the room wasn't quite good enough for human eyes... he'd almost jumped right into the wall! When Alexandre pulled him into his lap his body tensed and began to shake, but he had a feeling he had come just for this. So, deciding to see what happened, he gently wrapped his arms around him and pressed a soft kiss to his hair.

"It's okay now, Ria. No one will ever hurt you again."

At the sound of his whispered words he felt the boy slowly began to relax until he felt his shoulders jerk once... then twice. "It's okay..." Alexandre's hand rubbed his back as the sobs began, this being the first time that he had actually seen Ria cry. He knew that he was afraid of him, but he was so grateful that he had come to him for comfort. 

"I'm so scared of you..."

His words were muffled by Alexandre's clothing a little, but he could still understand enough to reply.

"I'm sorry."

His arms loosened, figuring that he would want to leave, but when he reached up and wrapped his own smaller arms around his neck for a tight hug Alexandre couldn't help but smile and return the gesture.

"It isn't your fault... he changed you."

Alexandre nodded, not really sure what to say to that. He had been changed against his will and was now what he hated, but there was no way to change him back so he tried not to dwell on the thought.

They stayed that way for a long while until Ria slowly drifted off to sleep, the gentle rocking of the boat eventually persuading him to join him.

"Capt'n?"

"Mm?"

Desden gave a tired sigh, shaking his head as he dropped some coins on the table and carefully began lifting his father from his seat. He had done nothing more than drink since they had dropped anchor there two days prior. Granted, he deserved to relax after healing from all of the bullet wounds he'd sustained while escaping the city, but he had a feeling that he was now trying to drown away something completely different.

He was thankfully able to walk enough to get back to their room upstairs, but then collapsed onto the cot with a drunken grunt.

"I'm surprised you can even get anymore alcohol down, Capt'n."

He had told him to start calling him father again while they were alone, but he just couldn't get that word wrapped around his tongue after so many years. Granted, he did owe his life to the man, in more than the obvious way, but he had always been his captain first, and his father second.

 "Alright, well, since I assume you are going to be out for a good while, I'm going to get something to eat."

James' eyes watched the ceiling of the old inn with disinterest. This is not where he should be... nor in the state he should be in. He was the feared blood pirate, James. Not some drunkard who drowns his sorrows in disgusting human poisons. He had consumed enough alcohol to easily kill ten humans, but he was barely ready to stop. Sitting up, his vision swam for a moment before clearing, fueling his anger. Sometimes he wished he were human once more, if only to indulge in the affects of losing one's mind in drink.

Feeling an urge he had not in a very long time... the need to relieve himself, he got to his unsteady feet and found his way out of the room. Since the second floor walkway was outside, he just unbuttoned his pants and watered the plants below. He may have hit someone but it was their fault for being drunk and passed out on the grass. When he had finished he buttoned his pants and turned to head back downstairs. The alcohol was already wearing off and that meant that he would begin thinking about things again... and he did not want that. Not yet.

His feet took him to the end of the hall but abruptly stopped when a familiar scent drifted into his nose. Instead of looking up, he growled under his breath.

You know he is not here. Stop causing yourself more problems!

But when that scent hit him again, he couldn't keep his eyes from rising and seeing the one person he had been trying to drink away.

Alexandre saw him seconds before he noticed him, giving him ample time to settle his hand upon his sword, the length of it having been coated in holy water for just this occasion. Captain Wallace had sent him specifically to dispatch James... and he would not have had it any other way.
He expected to see him draw his own weapon and face him for their fated fight, but all he did was mumble something that stirred something in his mind.

"Come here..."

When he didn't move, James' eyes narrowed and he felt him slowly inch his way into his thoughts.

Come here, Alexandre.

"No."

"Come here..."

"No!"

Even as he declined each request, he felt his feet moving slowly towards him. It felt like there was a chain around his thoughts, beckoning him forward, telling him to listen to him. He could smell the alcohol on his body from where he stood and silently thought of the amount he would of had to drink to drown out his true scent... Alexandre looked him over and noted that his clothing was disheveled and his eyes blood-shot.

"You are drunk."

"Come here, Alexandre."

His feet took another step forward, nearly putting him within arm's reach of the man.

"You have half the royal navy hunting you, and here you are at the most predictable port, drunk to such a state." 

James' cocky sideways smile had Alexandre grunting with annoyance.

Come here, love.

His body moved immediately, taking that final step before James' arms pulled him into a bone-crushing hug.

Kiss me, love.

He obeyed.

You are mine.

He didn't argue. 

Love me.

Alexandre's eyes blinked open and he shoved at him, but James only took one step back before returning to standing straight.

"Never! You are a murderer!"

"The ones you defend are far worse than I," James replied calmly, the alcohol, perhaps, not affecting him as much as he'd thought it would. 

"You lie!"

"I do not lie."

"You lied when you spoke of the number of crew you had killed months ago!" Alexandre retorted, trying to find a way to break through his own unwanted affections for the man before him. 

He saw him pause, eyes going wide in slight surprise. At first, he thought that he had actually won and he would at least back off trying to speak through his thoughts, but when his smirk returned and he gave a deep chuckle, Alexandre knew he wasn't even close to letting him go.

Wait a second, I have a damn sword in my hand and my vampiric powers. 

Giving his own smirk, Alexandre began to withdraw his blade. He just had to strike him down, and then he could end his own life.

"You will not strike me with that weapon."

Alexandre's teeth ground together as James stepped forward. He was fighting with the order, wanting to finish their fight here and now...

"Drop the sword, love." 

He did as told, but only because James was now pressing him against the wall, his mouth devouring his. He wanted to scream at him to stop, but he couldn't find the thought, let alone the words to do so. They were lost in his mind as his own lips hesitantly began to respond to the kiss. 

Love me...

His right hand was holding Alexandre's waist painfully tight while his left one eagerly dove into his pants. He tried at least turn away, but the stubborn man kept repeating those damned words into his head, softening his resolve... Alexandre eventually managed to push his hands against his chest to try and move him back a little, but they just began exploring beneath his jacket, the fabric of his worn white shirt soon bunching between his fingers.

Love me.

The sensation of being lifted ran through his mind, but he dismissed it.

Love me.

They were moving... then James' body fell upon his own and their limbs tangled in hurried actions.

Alexandre was naked, his clothing torn from his body as James' hands touched everywhere. The sounds coming from him were not his own, or at least he would have sworn they weren't... even though he would have been lying. He remembered laying with Wallace. He was rough but hid it as best he could. But not James. He could feel blood run along the areas he had already scratched while tearing off his clothing. He wasn't holding him tenderly or trying to prepare him for what he knew was coming. No, he moved inside of him with a hunger he felt boiling in his own chest, the pain of his actions making Alexandre gasp and arch for him.

The invitation was not overlooked. Fangs were soon sliding hungrily into his throat, no gentleness to be seen even in the delicate area. James pulled at his skin roughly, growling as he worked his lower body with his own.

Alexandre began to leave his own marks on James' strong body, dragging his claws down his skin as muscles contracted beneath them. He soon felt his climax coming on strong and just barely managed to get in a breath before he screamed the name that had truly been on his mind the past two months. 

The click of a gun being cocked moments later made his heart jump into his throat.

"I'm so glad that you have enjoyed my toy. I thought it would be nice of me to allow you one final round with him before I end the pathetic life you have made for yourself, James."