***Blood and violence, don't get squeamish on me now people***

      The evening sun stained the sky blood red with brushing purple clouds. The church sat quiet and beautiful, it's steeple stretching towards the heavens. A lone sister walked along the hall and knocked twice on a plain, aged door.
     "You may enter." A crisp male voice said. She did so, but stopped shortly once in the room.
     "Father Peter, do you know where Father Kelly went? I can't find him anywhere in the church."
     "Yes, he left about an hour ago with Father Romulus and won't be back for some time."
      "At this time? Where is he going?"
     "Hunting. Young sister he was chosen to rid the world of Satan's abominations." Father Peter said simply. She gazed at him with incredible confusion and shock.
     "But....b-but? He is killing?"
     Father Peter sighed. She had so much to learn of the world yet.
      Miles away in an abandoned graveyard a thick, beefy man with shaggy brown hair and a lot of muscle picked his way through the crumbling stones to pause before a crypt. He heaved a sigh and looked up to the sky. The sun was leaning down to kiss the horizon, hiding the act behind a cloud. He supposed it was about time to let Vladimir out.
      He pushed the door open with a grunt and heard a scuffling instantly. He was awake? That wasn't good. He was liable to be grouchy, having not slept or eaten in days was sure to put him in a disagreeable mood. He riffled in his jacket pocket and pulled out a heavy bronze key, jamming it into the padlock that secured the coffin in chains.
     They rattled and clinked to the hard stone floor and the lid was flung open immediately. Sickly white hands gripped the coffins lip as Vladimir sat up slowly. He looked awful. He was thin, his skin waxen, dark shadows under his eyes and his cheeks hollowed, almost gaunt. His red eyes flashed as he dropped his gaze onto the other. The little bastard.
     "Canis, you twisted little fuck," He addressed the other man. Yes, most definitely in a disagreeable mood. Canis watched Vladimir lick his lips slowly. He seemed to have lost the thread of what he ways saying as he gazed longingly at him. "I'm...so thirsty..." He muttered, seemingly to himself. He could see Canis' pulse tick slowly at his throat and Canis watched as the wide pupils of the vampire dilated so the red was near invisible. In a slight movement he was inches away, breathing on Canis' cheek as he let his hands caress the smooth tanned flesh. Vladimir felt the blood rush, heard it pumping, smelled  the metallic, sweet tang of the liquid.
      "Back off Vlad." Canis said gruffly. Vladimir wasn't listening, he pressed his lips to the pulse and felt a rush of adrenaline. It was intoxicating!
     "I haven't eaten in a month, you've kept me locked up, you selfish child. You get to hunt while I sit with my thumbs up my ass, all by my lonesome in this fucking crypt! You're  a big strong werewolf, just,one, bite!" He said in a strained whisper, his voice breaking with need as he sucked on the flesh, the blood being pulled to just below the surface, creating a bruise, tantalizingly close.
     "Vlad, I woke you up because we have a job." Canis said, trying to divert the vampires attention as well as his own as his deathly cold lips trailed up to his ear and down to his collar. He felt a rush of heat move south, but stood stoic. They had a job, and when they were done,  Vladimir was going back into his coffin.
     Vladimir must have felt the rush of blood too, because he dropped to his knees and tongued at the crotch of Canis' jeans, clearly not in his head.
     "I am not food, Vlad."
     "I'm not going to eat it, I just want to taste it." He breathed, dragging his long sharp teeth down the obvious bulge in the denim, his long nailed fingers hooked in the belt loops.
     Canis nearly groaned, but he was not stupid, he wouldn't be fooled a sixth time by the vampire. He took a fist full if the long, curly blonde hair and bucked his hips against Vladimir's face before dragging the vampire up to his feet.
     "Knock it off. If you want to eat we have to leave now." He said letting go and turning away. He could hear the vampire wage an internal war to stop himself from slitting the werewolf's throat and lapping at his blood. Vladimir won and the vampire was forced down into the dark hold of his mind.
     Most would think Canis insane for turning his back on a starved vampire. To be fair he wasn't the brightest crayon in kindergarten, but he had a lot of faith in Vladimir. Canis knew Vladimir would never kill him. He loved him, and so, trusted him. If Vlad wanted to kill him, he'd have done so a long time ago.
     "Who are we sending a message too?" He asked appearing beside the werewolf and crossing the graveyard aside him.
     "Some drugs lord or another, dealing in Big Toni's turf. They have a warehouse of stuff and a few guys. Toni wants us to taken 'em out, torch the place and make sure the bodies are left as a warning." Canis said, casting a sideways glance at Vlad.
     It was common knowledge to all who'd meet the vampire, and lived to tell the tale, that he was a little unhinged. He had been trapped inside a dead body too long, locked away in the dark and buried deep. He had slowly lost his mind over a millenia, splitting into two minds. They were both Vladimir, but one was controlled by the vampire, hungry and burning up with the blood lust, driven by the hunt, and craving for the kill. The other could function with minimal difficulty within the realm of the sane, but slipped on occasion.
     "Stop watching me or I'll rip your eyes out." He quipped pointing a threatening finger to the werewolf. Canis rolled his eyes, thankful Vladimir hadn't seen him do it. "Are you going to tell me where this warehouse is or are we walking?"
     "Scared the sun might come up before you've finished having your fun?" Canis teased.
     "Are you stalling to give the moon time to rise?" Vlad countered. "Or are you waiting for the priest to get into position and snipe me."
     "That's not funny Vladimir." Canis said seriously, frowing.
     "I know you're not really. I just like to watch you get all pissed off. Why would you keep me locked away if you wanted to kill me." He said suddenly bitter, his lip curling as if he had a bad taste on his tongue.
     Canis said nothing. Vladimir was to obvious, the priest knew what he looked like, knew how he acted. The thought of him killing Vald made Canis' stomach churn. Canis had decided long ago, while watching Vladimir stand outside and watch the sun rise, that he would keep him safe. He was a danger to himself.
      The warehouse was dark when they finally came on it, the moon rising slowly. Even though it was a few days till full, Canis felt it's power invigorate him. Like a rush of warmth that spread through his body and tingled in his muscles, building a dull, heated ache in his chest, the ache to transform.
     Vladimir locked eyes with him, holding up four fingers. Canis shook his head and held up five. Vlad frowned.  The wolf pup did have a better sense of smell then him. It didn't really matter; more for him in the end. He drew his knee to his chest and kicked the door open none to quietly. A man started and gave a yell for his companions.
     It was cut short, a gurgle as Vladimir rushed him and sunk his teeth into his throat and pulled back, shaking his head and tearing his windpipe away. Blood spurted from the gaping hole and the man closed his hands over it, trying to staunch the bleeding. Vladimir reached out and took his wrists, pulling them slowly, almost lovingly apart as he dipped his mouth to the torrent of crimson, catching the man against him as he fell.
     Canis looked away, striding past to meet the others as they rushed to see what the sounds were. It almost made him a little sick, listening to the slurping wet sounds and the occasional crunch of cartilage as Vladimir feasted.
     When the others burst through the doorway they were met with a fully transformed, four hundred pound werewolf. They came to a screeching halt, flabbergasted. Guns were drawn, but Canis took a swipe, knocking them aside like dominoes, bullets ricoching harmlessly as the men fell.
     It was almost pitifully easy. These men were chickens with their heads cut off. They had no equipment suitable for any sort of supernatural  and what they did have sure as hell wasn't going to do anything. Well, to be fair, the fifty caliber magnum probably would have hurt, if the sorry basterd hadn't been dropped on by Vladimir and turned into the second course.
     In the end they all lay dead and broken, the warehouse sprayed with droplets of red, courtesy of Vlad. Canis winced as he wiped one, or more, of the men's blood off his cheek with the heel of his hand. Why must Vladimir insist on making the biggest mess possible? He felt the ache return as he shrank back to human form and looked around.
     The vampire sat up and drew on the air with a gasp. He was sitting with his knees in and ankles splayed. Blood dripped sticky and slow down his chin to gently splat in his lap. He no longer looked gaunt and sickly. Vladimir had filled out, his skin no longer waxen, his cheeks not hollowed. Blood matted his ringlets, making them cling to his throat, and ran down his front, washing him in red. He looked to be in ecstacy.
     "Mmmmmmm," He hummed, trailing his tongue from elbow to wrist, catching droplets. "Fuck, I needed that."
     No, what he needed was some table manners, or a briefing on personal space, because in the next second he had wrapped both hands to the nape of Canis' neck and pulled him down to meet his tongue. That could only mean one thing....Canis had blood on his lips. He didn't pull away from Vladimir, no matter how grossed out he was. He wrapped his long strong arms around him and pulled his body closer, feeling the cold lifeless form against his own and grabbed his bottom with both hands. Vladimir laved Canis' lips with his tongue, dragging it up to his smeared cheek and kissing his scruffy chin before returning to his lips. Canis parted his lips and tasted blood. Metallic and tangy, like what an old copper penny smells of. Vlad sucked on the bottom lip with relish and Canis let his eyes flutter shut, before Vlad bit down.
     "Ouch! You fucker!" He barked shoving the vampire hastily away. "God damn you!" He held at his bleeding lip.
     "Too late." Vlad breathed darkly.
     "Fuck you. Come on, help me find something to light this place up and let's go home." Canis growled, ignoring the hungry look on Vladimir's face.
     "Don't be so sensitive, Canis." Vlad deadpanned. "What ever happened to the Canis I used to know?" Canis didn't speak, he just glared at the drenched man before him. "Do you remember the good days? When we used to rob banks and museums, running from town to town, chasing the rising moon? What were you? Sixteen? Seventeen? You were hardly a baby. We cut down anyone who go in our way and now you run and hid, bitch about a little nip and some blood, locking me in that fucking coffin, because of what? A priest?" Vladimir said, starting to laugh. It was strained and high pitched, hysterical bordering on insanity.
     "It was dangerous. I grew up." Canis said, grabbing a corps and hauling it to the door. "I suggest you do the same."
     The laughter stopped abruptly. A cold filled the room as Vladimir stiffened indignantly, his face twisting in a snarl.
     "Is that what we're calling it. So you've out grown me then. How long until you just stop showing up to open the lid all together?" Vladimir drawled slowly. "It was dangerous, or I am dangerous?"
     "Why do you feel the need to always pick a fight?" Canis snapped angrily.
     "I've had a month in an eight foot by three foot space alone, just the two of us, and he agrees that we are a little pissed off with you."
     Did he just say we?
     "You're so eager to clean up and go home, I don't wanna. You're gonna put me back in the box until pocket money runs low and come hoofing it back to let me do your dirty work. Well fuck you too." Vlad spat, practically throwing another body out the door. "I'll torch the place, give me a fucking match."
     Canis pulled a lighter from his ripped jeans and pressed into the cold palm of the other, holding scorching eye contact.
     They watched, side by side as the flames rose high and engulfed the building, casing a golden glow to the surrounding gloom, like an angel's halo. The structure creaked and the fire weakened it, gnawing at the supports hungrily, snapping their jaws.
     "Why don't you stop me?" Canis whispered, his voice soft and raw. The vampire was more than capable of stopping the werewolf from doing, well, doing anything, but he never did. He screamed and begged, clutching his shirt front, holding his wrists, wringing his hands and tearing at his own hair, pleading him not do it, 'don't close the lid!'
     "This is the pain I am forced to know." He answered, just as softly. "The first time I saw your face, you pried the lid open with your bare hands and looked down at me from somewhere so high above me. I couldn't reach you even if I tried." He whispered, entranced by the dancing flames, reflected twice in his crimson eyes. "It was like watching the sun rise after the longest night of my life. You didn't come to find me by accident. I know it, you know it, but the sun is so beautiful....and never fails to burn us every time."
     "Vladimir..." Canis said, pain in his voice. He just wanted him to understand. "I'm afraid you are going to hurt yourself."
     "Ha," it was a soft, derisive note. "Well, all the experts do say to the only cure for self harm to to restrict their moment and lock 'em in a room with padded walls."
     Canis opened his mouth, angry once again, but a gunshot rang out and all he managed was a soft, "ooh," of delicate surprise.
     "Canis? CANIS!" Vladimir screamed reaching out to catch the werewolf, but was slammed backwards by a wooden stake, as long as he was tall, being thrust through his chest and pinning him to the ground. A crucifix gleamed at it's end.
     Canis hit the ground, and fell onto his face. He clawed at his chest, slowly, it burned, a fire in his skin. He had to get it out, everything hurt! His claws shredded skin and scraped bone, but he felt nothing except the cold burn shooting through his body. His veins pumped ice and his heart was freezing, it was hard to breath, his lungs wouldn't expand, they were paralyzed.
     "It's no use, werewolf." A dark voice said firmly. "It has dissolved. The sliver runs in your veins now. Blessed by the church, you have no hope." A man stepped out of the shadows and into the ring of fire light. He wore all black, a glint of white at his collar. His hair was short and his face young. His glasses flashed white as he stepped to stand over Canis, rolling him onto his back with his foot. "Don't do that to yourself."
     A sob escaped Canis. The pain was growing dull, his eyes felt heavy and the world was growing black around him. He turned his head. Where was Vladimir? "Vlad?" He called, his voice wet and broken. "Vlad?" What if the priest killed him. He saw him, darkness consuming him and reached out. If he could pull him out of the dark...
     Father Kelly bowed his head. "Heavenly Father, I have sent you another of your children. Take him into your arms and forgive him for his sins, for he knows not what he does."
     Fading in and out, Vlad watched the sky turn from velvety blue to the steely grey of the coming dawn.
     "Are you still alive, vampire?"
     Vladimir grabbed, again, the stake in his chest and pulled. His veins popped and he screamed aloud, but it didn't budge. He coughed and choked around the stake in his lung and let his head fall back, rolling it to the side.
      "Canis?" He looked into the glassy blank eyes, searching for a light within them. "Canis, listen to me." He strained to speak. "He will call your name. Peter. And when he does, go with him... DO YOU HEAR ME! YOU SAINTLY SON OF A BITCH! YOU TIT SUCKING MAMMAS BOY!" He screamed at the sky. "I've never asked you for anything!  I didn't need you, I don't need your help! But for the love of God..." He breathed. "Take his hand... he's just a kid... he doesn't know..."
     Father Kelly watched the vampire he'd hunted for months, scream for an angel?
     Vladimir looked back at Canis and drew a shuddering gasp of wonder. Above the horizon, a thin strip of gold glowed, growing ever brighter.
     "My old friend...I've missed you." He stretched out a shaking bloodless hand and snatched at the air, as if trying to catch the sun. With a sigh he let his hand fall. It landed, heavy,  onto Canis'. It was cold.
     Lacing their fingers he whispered, "I've missed standing in your light."
     The sun rose slowly from its bed of earth to join the sky. Vladimir felt it burn, his skin blistering, but it was a good pain. It was warmth.
      His body was reduced to ashes in a matter of minutes as Father Kelly watched. He bowed his head and turned away.