Changing Fortunes

Part 13

Balint suddenly twisted in Cam's arms and sprang upon him; pushing him down on the bed. "I'm sorry Cam," he said with regret, seizing the razor from Cam's hand. Beads of red blossomed against the razor as it pressed down on Cam's throat. "You should have left when you had the chance."

The razor cut in deeper and Cam fought the urge to scream as the blade sliced into him. If it was anyone else, he'd have struggled, even though he could now see that Balint was much stronger than he'd pretended to be. He'd have kicked and punched and done everything he possibly could to defend himself. Cam didn't let anyone get away with anything. Not Radu. Definitely not Angelo. No one.

But this wasn't just anyone. This was Balint. Cam couldn't fight him. And that was the real reason he felt like screaming.

"I'll make it quick," Balint murmured as if he was in a trance, "I owe you at least that much."

His grip vicelike, Balint removed the razor, bent his head and touched his lips to Cam's throat….

"Balint, don't!" Cam suddenly heard Weasel shout. When did he get here?

And then Balint was off the bed and in Weasel's arms. Cam didn't even see it happen. One second Balint was about to kill Cam. The next, he was over ten feet away with Weasel. Cam noted the flushed cheeks and the glitter in those green eyes. Just like the time Cam had seen Weasel in this state. Right after the bloodsucking freak killed the kid.

"You don't want that," Weasel said softly.

"Speak for yourself," Balint growled.

"You don't," Weasel declared quietly. Then a mixture of shock and jealousy hit Cam like a ton of bricks as Weasel abruptly pressed his lips to Balint's.

And Cam seethed with rage as Balint devoured Weasel's mouth, hazel eyes instantly darkening with lust. Hell Cam didn't need to see Balint's eyes, he could feel both boys' desire blast him like a hot furnace.

Cam was jealous but of who? Was he jealous that Weasel was making out with Balint or that Balint's tongue was down Weasel's throat?

Fuck. He was jealous of both of them.

Their kiss seemed to last forever and Cam was ready to punch them out; until Cam saw Weasel's nails. Long and sharp. And one was slicing into his own throat, making him instantly bleed.

Cam watched Weasel's blood drip with detachment, feeling a sense of vindictive glee that it was dripping all over Angelo's carpet. Then Weasel pushed Balint's head down until Balint was sucking at his throat and Cam came to the sudden realization of what Weasel had just done.

"Easy," Weasel soothed, stroking Balint's hair. "I juiced heavy just for you, so take what you need."

It was bizarre. On the one hand, it was as if Weasel was calming an animal. On the other, it was as if he was soothing a lover.

Cam suddenly understood that it was both. Angelo had said that Sharing blood was part of sex for them. And the arousal flaring from Weasel told him everything he didn't want to know. Because Balint was feeling it just as strongly.

It's instinct, he told himself, trying to believe the lie. But it was more than that and he knew it. Balint was nursing at Weasel's neck but he was also pressing against the other boy's body, rubbing against him. And Weasel wasn't discouraging him one bit.

After an eternity, Weasel finally said, "No more, Balint,"

The hairs prickled at the back of Cam's neck as he heard a growl from out of nowhere reverberate through every nerve ending in his body. He looked in the direction of where he heard such a bestial sound.

Balint.

"If you're still hungry, Angelo will give you more later," Weasel promised ."If you take any more, I'm gonna end up killing Cam."

The idea that Cam was in a room with two predators finally hit him full force. For the first time in his life, Cam felt more than a little terror.

"Maybe some other things later, too," Weasel said suggestively, stroking Balint's cheek as he lifted his face from Weasel's neck.

Not if Cam had anything to say about it, although he was beginning to wonder if he did; especially when Weasel's tongue licked the crimson from Balint's mouth. And Balint kissed Weasel in return. Apparently, Weasel had been telling the truth when he said he wanted to bed Balint and it was damned obvious to Cam that it was mutual.

Instinct only went so fucking far.

As if something had just occurred to Weasel, he asked Balint, "Where did Angelo go, anyway?"

"They went to take care of Sarin," Balint answered. "Don't know when he'll be back, though."

Weasel stared at him. "'They?'" Then he moved closer to Cam, his nostrils flaring. "Merde," he muttered. "Why the fuck did he have to get Radu involved?" Then he nodded. "So Angelo had you after all; I knew it was only a matter of time before he did but both him and Radu, eh?" Weasel smirked. "Too much to resist, was he?"

That boy was just begging to be punched. "You don't know what the fuck you're talking about, Weasel."

"No? Your scent says it all, bright boy," Weasel mocked." I could smell you on Angelo last night. This time I smell Radu on you and since he hasn't raped you or killed you, Angelo had to be in on it."

Balint shot Weasel a look of irritation and Cam realized that it was because if Weasel could figure things out by scent, it wouldn't be a stretch to wonder if Balint could do the same. That look alone told Cam that Balint could.

However, Balint hadn't said a word to Cam about his sexual escapades even though he had to have smelled it as well. Almost as if he'd expected it. But from who?

"You said it could work," Balint suddenly said to Weasel in that quiet voice that signaled a storm brewing. "You said I had a choice. Both you and Angelo told me that."

"You do have a choice and it can work, Balint," Weasel replied.

"How can you say that after what just happened, Weasel?" Balint demanded softly. "If you hadn't walked in…." He shoved the razor in his jeans pocket and threw the key at Weasel. "I'm not doing this," he said before storming out the door and slamming it behind him.

Cam rose to go after Balint but quicker than thought, Weasel was at his side, his hand pressing on Cam's shoulder with just enough force to stop him. "Let him cool off a little bit first, Cam."

"I'm done taking suggestions from you!" Cam roared. "You may think I'm your property but try again, marking or no fucking marking."

"Did I say you were?"

"You didn't have to. Balint did."

"I thought so," Weasel said in that way of his that implied much more than it said.

"You telling me he's lying?" Cam challenged.

"No, I'm telling you he left out some key bits of information. How convenient."

"Like?"

"Like why marking is done in the first place, but I understand why he didn't want you to know that part."

"Knock off the bitchiness and spill it, Weasel."

Weasel shrugged. "Suit yourself. We mark so our kills aren't stolen. Anyone seeing your neck will know that you're mine. You satisfied?"

"I'm not your fucking kill!" Cam spat.

"It stopped Angelo and Radu from Sharing you. Scratch that," Weasel corrected, "They did Share you, they just didn't kill you. Radu doesn't respect many things but he doesn't steal kills."

"That was because it'd piss Balint off," Cam growled. "It had nothing to do with you."

Weasel shook his head. "Cam, I hate to break this to you but your value to Angelo ended as soon as he bedded Balint. Yeah, if he killed you, that would have put a damper on things as far as Balint was concerned but you'd already be dead and that's all that matters to Angelo."

Cam found himself filled with rage that was so powerful, it left him shaking. "You told me that the reason Angelo didn't kill me was that he wanted to make Balint happy!"

"Last night, Cam. Before Angelo made the offer. You were fair game tonight and I knew I had to see to it that no one touched you. Call it protection."

Cam laughed bitterly. "And let's talk about my value to you, Weasel, or should I say, Jacques? I'm insurance against Balint accepting Angelo's offer. If it wasn't for that, you'd have killed me yourself when you had the chance."

Weasel's eyes glittered dangerously. "Don't call me Jacques," he growled," unless you want me to kill you right now."

"Was that why you stopped, Balint?" Cam snapped. "So you could do it yourself?"

"I stopped him because he'd have never forgiven himself, Cameron." Weasel answered, his expression deadly serious. "Haven't you figured it out yet? He's scared, you idiot. Balint has been straddling two worlds for his whole life and suddenly you're in a part of his life he'd prefer you not even knowing about."

"Well he sure got back into that other world really easy."

"I see he succeeded," Weasel said, his eyes strangely sad.

"With what?"

"In driving you away by basically shoving what he is in your face. I'd thought when he took off, he was sulking because the little show he put on for you didn't work but now I see I was wrong. Well get one thing straight, Cameron. Balint is Sangsue. So are you, but it's not something you have to deal with. He does. It's not going away. In fact, he's getting worse and his choices are rapidly dwindling. I just hope he's careful enough to clean up afterwards. Ardoin is really a hardass when it comes to snacking on the clubbers."

Cam blinked. "How do you know what he's doing?"

"He took his razor," Weasel said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Cam noticed that Weasel said "his" razor, not "the" razor. "Shit, Weasel, Angelo already gave him a razor? He didn't wait long, huh?"

"Cam," Weasel said gently, "Angelo didn't give it to him. Balint had it when he got here."

There was that pity again. Cam hated it. "Fine, so he got it when he started this shit three weeks ago. Big fucking deal."

"Three weeks ago? Cam, he's a pro."

Not in three weeks. Cam felt the floor shift from under him. "But he told me it only started three weeks ago," he insisted, desperately trying to hold on to something. Anything.

"Maturity can last several years, Cam. Just like Norm puberty. That's around the time you gain a taste for blood. The more Sangsue blood they have, the stronger the craving. You can do without it in the beginning, it's more like a drug. It gets you high, especially if the poor fucker you tap is either aroused or terrified so the blood you take is laced with it."

"So he lied about that too?" Cam asked much calmer than he felt.

"Three weeks ago is when his Maturity went bad, but he's different because unlike most Sleepers who have no idea of what they are because they were raised as human, Balint wasn't. He had the taste for blood from the very beginning, only now it's a need, not the guilty pleasure he indulged in from time to time when you weren't around. So you see,"

Weasel's lips curled into the Mona Lisa smile that made Cam freeze inside. "In Balint's case, it isn't that he suddenly gained the taste for blood during Maturity. He just never lost it."

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Last updated 2/13/03

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