Shroud of Whispers

A/N: Unlike the ff.net version of this story, later chapters will make this story worthy of this site's rating. Until then, I ask you to bare with me, and enjoy.

!Warning!- As this is AU, the characters may not be perfectly "in character" with the show, but as it progresses I hope to make them true to the original in essenc while making them work with the story. This refers primarily to Evan and Elizabeth.

(possible) Main Pairings: Sheppard/Lorne, Sheppard/Weir, Lorne/Weir, or OT3.

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She didn’t blink despite the searing light that instantly washed over her. The buzz of electricity crackled in the air. She stood expressionless, straight, looking forward. She kept within the gold circle that marked the center of the arena shaped room. Just past the blaring lights she could make out familiar columns that lead up to balconies where heavily shadowed figures sat, glaring down at her like vultures.

If there had been normal lighting, she would have been able to see a rich room. Tapestries hung embroidered with gold thread with symbols of the organization. Black marble pillars had silver inlayed names and crests to signify those of honor. Names inlayed with gold marked those who had fallen in service. The floor, white in contrast, was covered with plush carpet rows that laid out a star with a circular center where they converged. This was the spot she waited in.

“Agent 7891131, street name Zabeth. Recruited two years past, promoted to rank Protector three months prior to this meeting. On the part of The Guard, I bestow upon you certification of advanced training.” A male voice echoed from the speakers above.

“Do you swear to perform your duties with diligence?” The voice continued.

“Dedication?” Another added.

“And dignity?” A third and final inquired.

“I do.” She found herself replying automatically.

“Will you become a barrier between the Vampire and the Blessed we assign onto you, regardless of peril to your own life?”

“I will.”

Silence reigned again in the elaborate room. They were scrutinizing her. She was an oddity. She hadn’t been motivated to this position for revenge, and she was too old and sensible for wistful youth to have empowered her with delusions of grandeur. Sill she was here, in crisp uniform, awaiting the verdict of three shadows.

“Very well.” The first voice spoke with approval.

A thick cloud of smoke hung over the room, floating about in a lazy haze. The toxic scent was overwhelmed by the sounds of chatter and billiard balls clicking off sides of the pool tables. Patrons clunk together glasses and bottles in celebration of their achievements and their lows. The tap behind a coaster covered bar top flowed freely as the woman behind tossed out a keg’s worth to the gaggle of college students who had just turned twenty-one.

“They’re going to regret that one in the morning.” A man with untamable hair shook his head and returned to nursing his whisky.

“They’re young. They’ll live.” The man sitting beside him leaned on the bar, looking bemused.

The first man snorted cynically. John Sheppard wasn’t a man who condemned drinking; he had been to university himself. But he had never understood the rush to purposely get smashed enough to not be able to move in the morning. It was impractical. Besides, there’s much less self-hating if you don’t realize that goal.

Ultimately, he couldn’t think too badly of them. After all, they weren’t the ones working on their fourth shot because of a lousy day. His partner was only on his second, and making it last. When he signed up with the police force he never thought they’d bump him up to detective. He had only joined because his position in the military allowed him guaranteed employment. As much as he hated to admit it, it actually worked pretty well for him.

John glanced over at his partner. They had been assigned to the same beat almost two years ago. Their case closed ritual had started not long after that when they had managed to capture a murder that had been at large for three months. Unfortunately the officer playing bait hadn’t been able to make it to the celebration. She had a funeral to go to, being the star of it and all. One after one they found themselves standing to face some of the most bizarre situations anyone in their precinct had experienced. There was a rumor they were up for an office award for surviving the craziest assignments.

Normally people of their rank would get caught up with robbers, murders, the occasional cooperate conspiracy, with an encounter or two with the Vampire clan. But John and his partner, Evan Lorne, always picked up the trail of the really strange bandits. A few months ago a batch of kidnappings were traced to a lamia. Right after that they had dealt with a banshee. Tonight they had seen the banishment of a ghul who had been evading them for more than a year. Most people would never see a legendary being as long as they lived. They were rare, nearly extinct. But John always seemed to find them. He wondered sometimes if it was them who found him.

Realizing his drink was gone John motioned to the bartender. Any other place would question how many more he should have, but the blonde behind the counter knew these two well. She also knew they weren’t stupid enough to try to make it home with their bloodstreams pumped with booze. He glanced from the corner of his eye over to Ev, his mouth turning up as he saw his partner eyeing the woman subtly. It was always the same.

“Why don’t you just ask her out?” John asked, not looking directly at the man beside him.

Lorne turned to him, obviously surprised by the question. Neither of them talked about their personal life much. It wasn’t required. They knew what they needed to know about each other, at least that’s what John always assumed. But as far as he knew Ev had been single since they met. Then again, so had he. He wasn’t quite sure how that looked.

“She’s… not my type.” Evan muttered, swallowing down the remainder of his glass.

“Could have fooled me.” John snorted, swishing the liquid in his shot glass.

“I guess…” Ev said after a pause. “It’s like going into an art gallery. All the pictures there have artistic merit. Some are breath taking, but you only have such a big wallet. You have to think about which you purchase.”

Sheppard shook his head at the man beside him, continuing to drown himself. When at last his final shot disappeared with a sting into his stomach, John sighed. Slinging on his trench coat that had been laying across the back of the half-backed stool, he rolled his shoulders. Ev followed his lead, tossing cash down on the table for both of them. It was his turn to pay. That was something John always felt bad about, he always took in more then the other man, but Ev had never complained.

Sliding off of the chair, John’s eyes spun. He gripped the counter with one hand and Ev’s shoulder with the other. Even with his partner’s head spinning before his eyes, he could tell that Lorne was smiling at him.

“ Guess you should have stopped a couple ago, eh’ Shep?” Lorne chuckled, letting John sling one arm around his shoulder. “Come on, I’ll get you home.”

Home. John blinked. Where was home? Come to think of it, where was he? The bar. Right, the bar, for an after case drink with…with… John squinted his eyes as he stumbled out of the building. A light rain was falling. Each drop hit his skin like fire. What the hell was going on? His body felt swayed, his head pounding, and his vision unfocused in a rate that beat any level of drunkenness.

John became only partially aware that they were moving. He could barely focus on his footsteps let alone one direction. Struggling, he tried to picture his home in his head. With great effort he managed to recall some markers that were in the same direction—all of which were in the opposite way from those he was seeing. Ev looked down at him.

“My place is closer. You’re not in any shape to walk as far as yours.” He said, as if he heard John’s thoughts.

Evan’s place. John’s mind hiccupped. He had never been there. Hell, he didn’t even know where there was. Would he be thrown on the couch like a discarded coat and left to crawl his way back home in the morning? That didn’t really matter. Part of his mind was too focused on trying to be thankful that he had a friend willing to do that for him.

Suddenly he found his shoulder being rammed into a brick wall. He hissed. That had hurt! He looked over at Ev who apologized and mumbled something about him being heavy. Had he really lost that much functioning? Damn. He wasn’t going to drink for a month.

Something wasn’t right. His back was against the wall now; Evan was still holding him up. He was close…too close. John looked with confusion as hungry eyes stared directly into his. The look made him even dizzier, and far too warm. His breath hitched as the other man leaned forward. He felt Evan’s smooth cheek press against his stubbly shadow, his breath pressing by his ear.

“Do you know how beautiful you are like this?” A voice far deeper then her remembered from his work partner snaked its way into his head in an echoing fashion that made it impossible for John to distinguish if it was even actually being spoken aloud.

“The hell?” John choked.

Ev pulled the dazed man closer to him, burying his face into his neck. John’s heart pounded. This wasn’t going where he thought it was going. He had known Ev for two years now. He trusted him with his life. Besides, Ev had never shown any signs of swinging that way before. Possessed. John’s mind concluded. Something must have jumped inside of him while we were working. He’s been possessed.

So…why am I not fighting? Sheppard wondered. He had been in the military, he sure as hell knew how to take care of himself. But he felt ethereal, like he could break if he moved too quickly. And the lips pressed against his neck felt so warm, even though they were chilled, compared to the rain that fell down on them. His head felt like it was being wrapped in a soft lullaby. John closed his eyes, surrendering whatever the hell this was.

Then he was on the ground, crumbled in a paralytic heap. The body that had been warming him was gone. Out of the corner of a lethargic eye, he saw that Ev was on the ground, pulling himself up. A lithe figure stood above him, ready to slam him back down. John tried to get up only to have his limbs and vision give way into nothing.

Evan’s blood brewed with anticipation as he felt the man pressed against him. Two years, two long years of waiting for this. He couldn’t take it anymore. This aroma seeping up through John’s veins was driving him mad. This charade he had constructed had lasted long enough. Breathing in, he felt his canines growing into a point. Flicking his tongue onto the skin below he poised his fangs in position to sink in.

BAM.

Evan grunted, finding himself a yard away with his face ground into the road. He hissed, propping himself up onto his elbows, tilting his head to the side. Who the hell had taken him from his prey? Rain dripping in his eyes he made out a figure dressed in leather and black cloth hovered over him. Jumping up he stood face to face to the figure, now clearly a woman, her dark hair piled away from her face.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” He hissed, rolling his shoulders back into a comfortable place.

“Leave, now.” She warned, her eyes hidden in shadow. “I’ll tell you once.”

“Leave?” Evan’s eyebrows shot up. He released a cold laugh out into the night. “ I don’t think I’m going to succumb to a little girl who got a lucky shot. Run along miss. This is none of your concern. Save yourself the pain.”

The woman sported a frown as she assumed a fighting stance. Evan snorted, tilting his head at her. This was really a bother. Humans were weak. Even those with some combat skills were easily disposed. Besides, a little adrenaline rush was just the appetizer he was looking for.

“If that’s the way you wish…” He resolved, taking a step to the left.

The woman counter stepped, keeping in the same time as him. The two circled one another, measuring, until the woman stood directly in front of Shep. Evan glared and lunged with a snarl. The woman was quick on her feet, evading the blow intended to knock her out. Evan landed on his feet, taking her into consideration. Not any human could avoid his strikes.

Serious, she backed up closer to Shep. Evan did not like that at all. He dashed forward, but she was not intending to guard the man. Instead she grabbed Shep’s collar, laying a punch into the vampire’s stomach that sent him back a couple feet. He coughed watching as the woman heaved up John’s limp body and tucked him behind the corner of an alleyway.

As the woman was busy making sure Shep’s head was secure, Evan snarled and crossed the distance in what would appear to a human as a single step. The woman turned slowly to move away. Before she could escape, he caught her jaw with a blow she was certain to feel in the morning. The female fighter accepted the punch, toppling backwards. Evan saw her arm moving as she fell, but didn’t catch the glint of silver until it had grazed past his shoulder. Crimson seeped out.

She’s not bad. He mused, licking his lips. This could prove nearly interesting. Annoying, but interesting. It’s been a long time since a human’s been able to see my blood.

The woman had spun on her footing as soon as she caught his shoulder. He snapped on his heels, dashing towards her. She was prepared, locking one arm under his as he threw another punch towards her. He found a kneed in his stomach and his back on the ground. Evan let out a menacing laugh, grabbing her ankle with intense pressure. One more squeeze would easily turn it into mush. Instead he yanked her down so that she was lying above him.

Using his arms he flipped up over her. His feet spread on either side of her head when he landed. He smirked down at her, taunting. She yanked a pin from her hair and stabbed the unprotected flesh behind his kneecap. Evan howled ripping the metal out and jumped back; giving her the space she needed to roll up into a standing position. When he had recovered his balance he looked up to see two daggers spinning in his direction. Each caught either side of his shoulders in an X.

Evan hissed. While the arm and leg wound would heal momentarily, these bastards would take a little longer. Who did this human think she was anyway? Now he was pissed. It was time to stop playing.

Popping his shoulders, ignoring the pain as the wounds on them spread, he lunged at the woman. She had readied her stance to his attack, barring a stiletto dagger from its handmade sheath at her hip. He stepped quickly to one side, avoiding the swing he long saw coming. His feet were as nimble as a dancer’s. He swiveled around her. She met the movement, keeping him to her face.

Slice, arm block, push, pull, duck, step around. Their organized movements seemed choreographed. Evan noted she wasn’t as slow as most humans were. It was obvious to him now that she had been consoled on how to deal with his kind. Still she was not overly experienced as he caught several flaws in her attacks. One after another he let her mistakes slide until he found a perfect opening. He thrust an elbow into her ribcage, sending her flying down into the concrete. She had barely missed being bounced off of a lamppost. Water that had collected at its base splashed around her body.

Her chin hit the ground the hard. She coughed, rolling. Evan pounced pinning her down to the ground with a knee. For the first time he got a good look at her face in the flickering neon light. Her dark hair was tossled and matted against her forehead with sweat and raindrops. Her grey-green eyes were as cloudy and as a stormy sea. She was dressed mostly in leather, with a studded choker covering her jugular. Blood covered her cheek and lip. Evan smirked, considering a more direct appetizer, until he caught the scent of it.

“Impossible…” He hissed, his eyes opening wide. Unbelieving he reached down to touch the life liquid. The flesh at his fingertip sizzled. He ripped his hand away.

The woman caught his shock. She used the moment to finger the blade that had been lost from her grasp when she was tossed. With as great of a force she could muster, she reached behind him driving it into his back. Evan screamed and rolled off of her. Thankfully the stab hadn’t hit his spinal column. Even if he was a vampire, that would have disabled him a week at least.

It was her turn to loom over him. He heaved for air. She reached down to his throat. He didn’t have the momentum or strength at the moment to shake her off. She glared into his eyes. He memorized the rage within. This woman had been trained not to let her emotions radiate from her, that would only help him heal. But her eyes could not be concealed. He would have smiled if the dagger hadn’t found its way to the opposite knee then had been hit earlier. She had been courteous enough not to destroy his kneecap, though why she was he had no clue.

“Stay away from him.” She growled in a dark voice. He imagined it had once been sweet. But this world corrupted many.
All he could do was hiss weakly at her. He had underestimated her. But he surely wasn’t going to let it end like this. She had won for now. He’d get his revenge. His only regret was those two years of stalking was nearly ruined. It was a good thing he knew how to manipulate memory.

He rolled his head to the direction of Shep’s body. He looked like he had simply drifted off to sleep. Evan smiled to himself as his eyes drifted close. He needed sleep and a meal. Then he’d be able to continue his quest.

“You’ll still be mine.” He whispered at the unconscious man before his world went temporarily dim.

His head throbbed. John groaned and turned on his side. That was the last time he was drinking that much. No amount of liquor was worth the burn that rippled through every muscle of his body. He felt as if someone had tossed him around like a rag doll. This was completely not worth it.

Rolling back onto his back he sighed and opened his eyes anticipating painful sunlight to be streaming down onto him. His vision blurred from morning eye mist. A whirl of black and pale swirled. He blinked a few times, rubbed his eyes, and looked again. A woman’s face stared back down into his.

“WHAT THE HELL?”