Shane was well aware that the couple next to him were simply enraptured with each other. It was actually a nice thing to see. A genuine attraction; though the guy looked like he could use a push, but while waiting for his Jack Daniels, he knew when it was best to leave well enough alone. The wild night was starting to do the wind down, with some folks either heading for their cars for make out sessions, or back to the nearest motel room, to continue the dancing, but without the lights and bass music. You’d think that Shane would have scored earlier in the night, and he may have done, though he was interrupted in that pursuit. No rest for the wicked, they say. Course, there was always tomorrow night, and Shane rarely went without a feed. On bringing Shane his JD, Lizzy quipped about how she thought after all these years, that picking up someone at a bar, was getting more cliche’. Taking up his glass, he turned it thoughtfully in his hand, and then took a sip pondering her words of wisdom.

“Bars are often the places that you will find the most lonely of society. Drink eases up their shyness, and they can lose themselves. Next thing they know, they are off in the back alley, screwing someone, that they will probably never see again. And if they drink enough….they won’t remember anyways.” Taking another sip, he showed a half smile and offered. “Course, you’d know that better than anyone. I bet you hear all kinds of lines.” He gave the couple to his left a hopeful look. There was something about that couple. Made him happy to see. “Then again…there are always exceptions.” He raised his glass in a silent toast to Nicole and Matt, then drank down the last of his drink.

<3>

Lizzy looked at Shane, thinking about what he said for a moment. It was true that most people who came to pick up people at a bar were either lonely or just incredibly horny. She had never thought of herself as lonely. Just someone looking to have fun. Having sex with the same person for 300 years would have been dreadful and she was no way ready for a committed relationship. But the only reason she picked most of her “victims” up at a bar was because it was easiest access. She worked here and was in tight and revealing clothing. It was easy to pick up a guy when you were dressed like that. She had to turn down offers daily, never letting men forget who was really in charge. When he said she’d know better than anyone and had surely heard all sorts of lines, she shrugged in an arrogant kind of manner and flashed a cocky smile. “I manage,” she said but the smile faltered when he said there were always exceptions. She turned to look at Nicole. It did seem like she really liked this guy. But Lizzy didn’t even know if they knew each other that well. Surely they weren’t in “love” or anything like that. Nicole was just looking to have some fun. Though Lizzy wasn’t so sure about this when she saw the way the two interacted. It almost made Lizzy sad. She hadn’t looked at a guy like that in centuries. Hadn’t wanted to look at a guy like that. Love was for the hopeless and she was quite pleased with her life. There was no point in changing anything. But she supposed she was a bit lonely after River died. It had been the longest one hundred years of her life. Of course she had Nicole and a few other friends but none of them connected with her quite like River did. She realized she’d been quiet for a while now and stood up straight, no longer leaning on the counter, hoping her expression hadn’t given her away. “Love is for the hopeless,” she repeated her thoughts as if she were indifferent about the matter. He seemed to find Nicole and Matt’s infatuation intriguing. But that was silly.

“Ooh.” Circe had a sort of taunting look on her face, and Seph had to snort to stifle her laughter. Mills rolled her eyes, smiling at Tess and then at Bones. Circe was just making fun of him because he considered them family so deeply that he had to correct himself in his speech. Mills spoke up first, almost laughing at Tess’ confused expression. “They’re my nieces – adopted, as you can probably tell. Obviously, they are nothing like me.” Circe turned her chin up in mock hurt. “I am offended, I am exactly like you. I like space too.” Mills gave her a look that hinted she was walking on thin ice, so she quickly laughed and turned to Tess. “It’s nice to meet you. I’m assuming that you’re a friend of Bones?” Mills leaned over and whispered something to Circe, who then looked at Tess a little less than nicely. Then the look turned on Bones. “You didn’t tell us you had a daughter.” Mills whispered something in her ear again, and a look of understanding crossed her face before it turned to her feet. “Nevermind.” Seph looked a little uninterested, and in fact wasn’t looking at the other four anymore.

Tess smiled again, looking at the two even though they weren’t looking at her. “It’s nice to meet you too.” That’s when she noticed Alec was gone, and there was a napkin in her seat. She had hardly even heard him leave, her attention was so engaged on Bones and the three females. She gently took the napkin in her hand, and her billionth sudden recognition of the night shot through her brain like an icy bullet. It was only out of the corner of her eye, but seeing him was enough to let her know she needed to high tail it out of there. Gatsby. Andrew Gatsby was the most formidable person they had come across yet. And his presence was even worse given that the vampire she and Mark had just taken out was one of his (lesser) goons. “Well, I think I have to go. Mark and I have some work to do in the house that we’re staying at with- with some friends.” She looked at her father, feeling a little awkward that a, she’d been reunited with him in a BAR of all places, and that she just had to leave. “Um, I can, uh… Meet you somewhere tomorrow, maybe?” Circe seemed already on it and handed Tess yet another napkin that had Bones’ cell, his landline and just about every other way you could contact the man written on it. Mills gave her an incredulous look, almost as if she was going to ask her about that later. Tess nodded at her and smiled again, then turned to hug her father once more. “I really missed you.” She whispered. She thought it would be odd to say ‘I love you” so she decided against it. She pulled away from him and turned to walk away, waving slightly.

Once outside, Mark gave her a look. “You weren’t supposed to leave so soon.” She shot a look back at him. “You weren’t supposed to be waiting for me.” He rolled his eyes and the two climbed into the black SUV, silence ensuing the rest of the way home.

Back at the Bar

“She seemed nice.” Mills raised an eyebrow at Bones, almost as if in a question.

The two of them were a lot closer and let restricted now that their glasses were out of their hands and she just looked up at him and smiled, trying to forget about the text she’d gotten from her dad. It was things like that that made her know that he actually cared about her, but only enough to reprimand her when she did something he didn’t like. Not enough to praise her for the good she did or to even talk to her on a regular basis. It was not Maha’s fault that she had been turned into a hybrid. Well, maybe it was. Maybe she shouldn’t have trusted him enough to get that close to her to change her. But was it really so bad? Giles had always been so worried about her and now he didn’t have to be. She could hold her own. Hell, she could take on Giles if she needed to. It seemed like she could never make him happy no matter what she did.

But she was happy now and that was all that mattered. “So, you were saying it was different because this time it was me who was in trouble? And not you?” she asked, going back to their previous subject. “So what you’re saying is, you just need a damsel in distress and you’ll be able to stick up for them?” she teased. “Cause I should let you know right now that as much as I enjoyed being defended by you, I can take care of myself,” she said in a light-hearted manner, letting her werewolf eyes flash. That was something she loved about herself. She may be half-vampire, but her eyes were all werewolf. It made her fit in with everyone else. But as soon as people realized that she had to feed on blood to survive, they went back to remembering that she was as much of a monster as any vampire. Maybe worse. Maha was an outcast. Never fully accepted as a werewolf and never fully accepted as a vampire.
Right now she didn’t have to worry about that. Because Eric honestly did not care. She had him as a friend no matter what.Friend, she had to remind herself as they continued to dance to the slow song. He was just willing to be her friend.

Bones looked awkwardly over at the girls as they had their different reactions to his introduction of them. He rolled his eyes and almost said “Oh, shut up,” to Circe as she made fun of him, but decided better of it since he was not only in front of Mills who expected him to be some kind of parental figure to them, but also his daughter who did not know him very well. At least not anymore. He was grateful that Mills had taken up on telling Tess who they were since she clearly did a better job. Bones coughed a little when Circe took Tess for a friend of his rather than his daughter. Mills, once again, took care of this, but he closed his eyes and sighed as she made another comment. No, he did not tell them he had a daughter. Because he had not known he’d had a daughter till a few moments ago. At least not one that was alive.
Tess didn’t seem to mind the outspokenness of Circe and smiled kindly. He just looked at her. She was a woman now and he’d missed it all. But just like that she had to go again. She really was mysterious, wasn’t she? He could hardly speak as she went to take off again. He’d just gotten her back. He had not been planning on letting her go for a really long time and now she was already getting ready to leave just like that. Circe handed her his contact information and Tess went to hug her. He held onto her tightly for just a moment as she muttered that she missed him and before he could respond, she’d pulled away and left. He watched after her, a little heart-broken as she walked away. It took him a second to realize what Mills had said and he turned to her. “What? Oh… yeah, I guess she did,” he said. She was just as much a stranger to him as she was to Mills, it seemed. It was hard for him to even think at the moment. He sat back down at the bar and grabbed his shot glass and downed it right there, not sure what else he could say.

Dylan was finally at the party, he skipped classes today, just went to one, since he had nothing to do, he just decided to use that class to get some sleep, and contact with some friends, to tell them about the drug he had and the party, so they all could have their fun. After that, he just spent his ti me outside, walking around and smoking with some friends, they did not touched the weed, ecstasy and cocaine, they was planning on using it all for the night, plus, Dylan didn’t told anybody about the ecstasy that would be only for him, for his own fun.
He left his jacket, scarf and shirt in some place hidden, so he didn’t had to carry that thing around, he was now wearing a white t-shirt, and dark jeans. As many people do, he had to hide the drug in his underwear, so the guards wouldn’t find any drug on him. After passing that test, he just grinned and stepped inside, the lights, music, girls, drinks, everything, was perfect, just for him have his fun. But first he was going to get something to drink, so he went directly to the bar, he did not noticed his sister and Erica, he was just too focused on get drinks and go up to his friends, that he was already seeing them in few booths having fun. For now, Dylan only asked for a beer, starting soft, knowing very well, it wouldn’t take him long to finish the beer, and have his friends bring weird drinks for make him drink them, and get drunk, plus he had the drug to use, so everything would be “fine”.

“Dylan over here! You come alone?!” One of his friends asked out loudly, so he could hear.
Dylan just smirked and stepped closer, sliding himself into a booth. He took a long sip from his beer, enjoying the cold liquid sliding down in his throat.
“For now yes. I met the twins Izzy and Iggy, I really hope see them tonight, so I can have my fun.”
Dylan replayed with a grin, as they all just keep on drinking. After finishing the beer, his friends was already bringing him drinks more strong, and he would just drink them, while one of them was preparing some weed for smoke.

Shane was always on the ball when it came to body language, and especially someone as out there as Lizzy. Always so confident, and cocky. Right up to a point, where Shane had pointed out that there was an exception to the rules, when love can and would happen in the unlikeliest of places. Why, it was happening right beside them, with Nicole and Matt. Shane was no idiot, and he could see this without to much of a glance. But it was Lizzy’s reaction that had him intrigued. Did it bother her that Nicole, who he had seen before at the bar, was finding herself smitten with the reserved looking Matt?

He continued to watch her as she no longer slouched, but was standing tall, and silent. A penny for her thoughts. To be able to delve into her mind and see what she was thinking exactly. Perhaps, deep down inside her being, that was what she wanted. She could deny that, but…actions were so much louder than words. He figured that by her comments and how she wasn’t even attempting to flirt with him, that she saw that he was more like her than she would like to believe.

At this moment, a leggy blonde walked up to the bar, slouching and showing off a great deal of her cleavage. She smelt strongly of alcohol and a cheap perfume. Dress so high that it was showing off a good amount of arse.

“Uhm…tequila please.” She gave Shane a sideways glance, and then started to make that horrid goose lips like pout. “Hello Handsome..” Shane’s eyebrow shot up, as she tried to get cozy with him, practically salivating on his coat. “Your place or mine?’ Shane used but one finger, to push her…and enough to make her fall right off the bar stool and collapse in a heap on the floor. “The gutter is not my style, but I thank you for the offer.”

With that he paid his tab and winked at Lizzy. “Good luck tonight, toots.” And he strode out towards the door.

<3>

Jacque shifted her eyes around awkwardly and listened as Galtem claimed to not be a womanizer. She had heard plenty of rumors to the contrary, but hey, people could change. Crossing her arms against her chest, she watched the man bring the bottle of vodka before her eyes flicked back to Galtem. She was curious as to whether he would just keep sipping from bottles or if he could salvage up enough dignity to drink from a glass with her. Smiling slightly, the mermaid watched her boss pour two glasses and push one towards her. As she picked it up, he mentioned how long he has been in love with some woman she didn’t think she even knew. Her smile turned into a smirk and she clinked her glass against his sarcastically “Here’s to a century of good lovin’…” Downing her whole glass, she winced and as her eyes watered. Blinking back the tears, she grabbed the bottle and poured herself another. After taking a sip, she nodded with satisfaction and turned to look at Galtem, all playfulness leaving her now serious face. Leaning forward, she held her glass in one hand while the other pointed at him “So let me get this straight…after all these years of loving her, you still think the solution to your problems is drinking your sorrows away and hoping she is just happy figuring this all out for herself? You don’t really learn well, do you?”Taking another sip, she stared him down as she knew she was talking back to her boss who could very well throw her out on her ass. She didn’t care one bit, this guy needed to hear this. Frowning, she smacked her lips and continued “I think you’re a fool to be sitting here. What you should be doing is showing her that you’ve changed and will do anything to make her happy…by actually being there. Now isn’t that a novel idea? You actually sticking something out with this girl. I say you should man up and tell her you can’t live without her.” She leaned forward to grab his chin so he was looking at her as she said this “Cause honey, this here ain’t living.” Letting him go, she leaned back and smiled, lifting her glass in a mock toast “To those who keep choosing to live like fools.” Downing the rest of her vodka, she looked away from him as she knew she was one to not taste her own medicine. 

Galtem wiggled his eyebrows and smirked when he heard her sarcastic comment.
“And good fuckin’”
He had to say this, it was the truth. Good lovin’ and fuckin’, it was what happen with Jennifer, right? Well, not all, but close enough, only if Amelia didn’t had stepped in, it would literally go to the end, and then they would feel more guilty, but still good, because they know that’s what they desire for, they were craving for each other touch. Passion, is what they wanted. But now it was all gone.
After hitting his glass against Jacque’s, he brought the glass closer to his lips, and drank half of the glass. He got amused that Jacque decided to drink the whole glass, and he noticed her eyes getting wet, and people say men doesn’t know limits on drinking. All off sudden, she wasn’t with the funny expression anymore, she had a serious on, and he could know, something bad was coming out from her mouth. And it did..because on the right second, he was basically getting scolded by his own worker, telling him that drinking his sorrows away isn’t the solution. What he could do? Go after her for what? Yes, he does love her, but she’s with somebody else, somebody that is better than him, at least in being a good boy.
Then she just said her personal opinion, calling him a fool, something he was so used to hear, that it could turn out in his nickname. He just drank the rest of vodka in his glass, and poured another glass for himself, so he could keep on drinking while listening to Jacque, it seemed like he was ignoring her, but he was actually listening to her, and he listened even more whenever she grabbed his chin, having the both of them too closer.
He stared down at her hand, before look back up to her eyes. He really should do what she told him to, but don’t wait for him leave everything behind now, and go after Jennifer, no, he’d rather stay here and keep on drinking, then maybe next day, he would think about it.
“Thanks, Dr.Philina.”
He said with some sarcasm tone in his voice, before lean his back against the couch, and take a sip from his drink.
“You should follow your advices as well.”
As soon as he finished this words, he basically snatched the glass out of her hand. She seemed to be drowning her sorrows as well. So he would mess around with her too.

Mills gave Bones a sympathetic look before wrapping an arm around Seph and looking to the twins. “I think you two have had enough excitement for one night. Full moon’s tomorrow, and I don’t need you idiots passing out in the middle of it.” Circe pouted slightly, but Seph just kind of laughed. She turned to Bones, raising her eyebrow again. “You okay to drive? I don’t think I’ve seen you so shocked by anything… ever, really.” Seph and Circe whispered something to each other and started giggling, though Seph’s giggles were less girly. Mills looked at them with narrowed eyes. “If you two whisper one more thing to each other tonight, I swear I’m going to-” “Finish writing your book?” Seph full on burst out laughing at Circe’s comment, and Mills’ eyes narrowed even more. Her plans of winding the night down seemed to have disappeared in her annoyance. It was always like this, with her and them. She was too much like them, too young-hearted to keep her authoritative role up and running around them.

Erica was nodding her head in agreement of what Haley was telling her. But once she brought up Dylan a soft grin would hang over her lips. Yeah, so you can say that Erica did have some sort of a crush on Dylan. She slightly shrugged her shoulders as she raised both of her eyebrows being silly.“Yeah. I guess you can say so.” She said chucking a bit as Haley nudged her shoulders at her. But instantly the smile had faded away as it was being replaced with a frown. Erica was frowning because Haley said she haven’t seen Dylan ever since this morning, and Erica knew how Dylan was. A troublesome child of course, and he always got himself into stuff that was difficult to get out of. All Erica hoped was that he was okay. But then Erica look over to the guys that were smiling and winking at the her and Haley. A weak smile would show as she waved her hand shyly towards them, but as soon as that happened Haley had already gotten hold of her other arm and dragged her over to the bar.

Bar

Once getting to the bar, Haley and Nicole would take a seat at the end, away from the others so they could talk privately about whatever. But once Erica got too comfortable to say anything, she felt the presence of someone familiar. Her light brown eyes quickly shifted to seeing Dylan at the other end of the bar. “Omg!! Look! Look!” She said quietly as she threw one of her hands repeated on Haley’s arm. “He’s here!!”

Bar

Once the hand shake broke Nicole did noticed the confused expression that quickly appeared on Matt’s face. At this moment everything was running through Nicole’s mind, as she was wondering herself what had caught his attention. Maybe it was the coldness behind the hand shake that they had. She didn’t know, but she was too scared to ask. Nicole just hoped whatever it was it wasn’t anything too crazy. Nicole then noticed his expression on his face instantly change from confused to calm when Nicole asked him how he’s been. Once he responded she would nod her head softly with a smile.“Well that’s good Matt. I’m happy that everything is working out for you.” She said as she pushed back the fly away strands of hair that hanging down on her face. Everyone knows that a vampire’s hearing is extremely good when it comes to things being secretive or quiet. Nicole could hear everything that was said from Matt when he turned his head slightly away and then back. She couldn’t help but smile as both of her cheeks quickly flushed red. Nicole didn’t know what to say. She was just flattered by what Matt had said.

Yes, Melinda, the witch, crazy, single, grandmother come to this party, and she was going to have her fun. We couldn’t tell she was already a grandmother and that old, witches always age slowly, and tend to remain beautiful, if some are lucky, tho. Plus, she had makeup on, so she could easily make people think she was in her young 30s, or something. She looked beautiful with her mature face and makeup. As clothing, she was wearing some loose grey thin tank top, dark jeans, matching with the color of her high-heel shoes, and a small purse that she was holding with her hand, it was more like rectangle. Her hair was long, wavy and brown. We could say Melinda looked stunning for her age.
She walked up to the bar, and ordered some vodka, whenever she had the glass, she walked up to an empty booth, and sat down, drinking it, knowing already some male would get closer to her, due the looks she got from somebody while walking. Like she thought, it would be only a matter of time, till the male finally sat down besides Melinda.
“Hey there, beauty. Alone?” He asked with a charming smile.

“Not anymore.”
Melinda wasn’t making herself look that slutty on the beginning, so she just acted hard to get, even tho she didn’t moved away from the booth. Her eyes scanned around the area, and she noticed her grandson, Eric, being social and in a date with a girl? Well that was something new, since she took care of that kid like her own, she thought Eric could never be that social, no matter how many times Melinda tried to make him go with some girl. But now that he was here, it was his time to be a man. She waited for him to notice her, and whenever he did, she just pointed at him, and at Maha, telling him to kiss her, by doing some weird moves with her hands, and moving her lips slow motion so he could know what she was saying.

Eric was dancing gladly with Maha, and just chuckled at her words, he was going to answer her, till he noticed his grandmother. Oh god, what was that woman doing here?! Shouldn’t she be at home and watch some novel, or something? Wasn’t she getting too old for parties like that? Then he noticed the guy besides her, who was trying his best to get Melinda’s attention. Melinda noticed Eric, and just done some weird moves with her hands telling Eric to kiss Maha? What, no way. He wasn’t going to do that, he was too shy and insecure for such thing. Eric just pulled Maha more closer to him, making her head lean against his chest, so she wouldn’t be able to see such “show” from his grandmother. Eric moved his lips as he was saying “No”, he wasn’t going to kiss Maha.

Melinda rolled her eyes, when she noticed that Eric wasn’t doing what she told him to, was that hard to kiss somebody? She keep insisting wanting him to kiss her, but Eric just keep saying no. Melinda got enough, and moved her lips like she was saying “Like this!”. Then she turned around, pressed her palms against the cheeks of the random guy that was flirting with her, and she rushed her lips against his, already making out with a man who was clearly years and years more younger than her, he was a human after all. After few seconds of kissing the man, Melinda let him go.
“Oh wow, that was amazing..” He mumbled.
“Yeah, this grandmother is taking you home tonight.” Melinda whispered against his lips with a grin.
Then she just looked back at Eric, and made an expression like “See it was easy, now do it.” Having a grandmother like this its a hard task..

Outside

A cop undercover was told that a party was going on in Derry, so as a cop, he would do his work. He got undercover, so he could make sure everything was alright, but before he could even step inside the disco, he saw something horrible on the back, it was a dead body, he ran towards the body, and pressed his fingers against the neck, and didn’t felt any pulse. He had to call out the others. He grabbed his phone and just warned them about the dead body at the back of the Disco in Derry. Then it was just wait for them all come.

After few minutes, few cars from the police come over, with their lights working and making a horrible noise, that would alert everyone police was coming, anybody that was outside, would run inside and warn everybody cops are coming, so they all could run away, of course the only ones who would mostly run away were underage ones, ones that done something, or those that just doesn’t want to deal with the police.

Eric was shocked yet kind of disgusted with what his grandmother did, its no easy see your grandmother kissing somebody way more younger than her, while you know her real age, it just made his stomach turn. But something else happen, some guys were telling around, that the cops was coming, and everybody was just leaving the disco as fast as they could, Eric did not known what happen, but he was considered underage, even tho he was way more older than that, but he couldn’t tell the cops he was a supernatural creature. Eric told his grandmother to leave as well, by doing moves with his head. He didn’t knew why he was telling her to go, but his grandmother could always be a troublesome woman in this situations.
“I think its better we take our leave now.”
Eric told Maha, as he grabbed her hand, and just began to walk away with the rest of young crowd to leave the disco, it didn’t matter if you ran from the back, or the front, some would get caught. Luckily for Eric, he used his supernatural speed to get out of there with Maha.

Mills had been right behind Bones, Seph in tow. As soon as all three had head cops, they were ready to be out of there. Even Circe. Circe didn’t mind Bones grabbing her arm though, it was easier to get through the crowd that way. She had reached back to grab Mills’ hand as they had made their way out to the car. Once there, the three looked fairly calm. “I wonder what happened.” Circe was the first to speak, but Mills followed suit soon after, her eyes trained on Bones. “There weren’t any fights going on. Manzenli doesn’t do gambling. We all would have smelt it if there were drugs. That leaves only one other option for law enforcement.” The twins looked at her with confused expressions that almost matched, and probably would have if they were identical. “Body.” Circe’s eyes widened and she brought a hand up to her mouth. Seph’s jaw dropped slightly and her brow furrowed. Mills looked down at her pockets, taking out her phone. “I’m going to text Giles, I think we should all meet there. He’ll want to know about this.” Seph looked at Circe, who turned to the car almost in fright, opening the door to the backseat once it was unlocked. The younger twin looked at Bones, then followed her sister, shutting the door after them. Mills was typing something furiously into her phone, her calmness cracking slightly with the action.

Bones looked only to Mills even as Circe spoke, but he knew what she was going to say before she said it. A body would have been impossible to smell in a room full of that many supernatural creatures so it wasn’t surprising that they had not smelled it. Circe and Seph were clearly surprised by this new piece of information and it only made him want to get out of their more. That meant a killer was on the loose at this very moment and he wanted to get the twins out of there as soon as possible. Mills took out her phone to text Giles. This was a good idea, but he didn’t think it was enough. He watched Circe get into the car and exchanged a look with Seph, nodding to her to go get in the car like her sister. She did and shut the door. He went directly to Mills and spoke to her in a harsh whisper. “Take the girls home unless Giles tells you otherwise. I’m going to stay to find out what’s going on.” He was pressing the car keys into her hand as he said this. Before she could argue he just gave her a quick hug and turned on his heels to go back into the bar that was now flooding with people trying to leave so he quickly disappeared.

When Matt heard Lizzy sing out that the cops were here, and that everyone had to leave and fast, he face palmed. He had just finished a twelve hour shift, and the last thing he wanted to be doing right now, while he had just found Nicole again, was have to do overtime. Matt quickly took Nicole’s hand and he locked eyes on her. “We are getting out of here…now.” His tone was suddenly authoritative, not wanting to take no for an answer. Whatever brought the cops round, must mean that everyone would be lined up as witnesses and neither needed that. “My bike is just outside. I’ll get you home safely.” If she agreed to go with him, Matt would lead her out to the car park, to avoid the cops and their investigation, while giving Nicole a spare helmet he kept in his kit. He straddled the bike and flipped back the kick stand.

“Come on…”

Mills watched as Bones disappeared into the crowd, her mouth still open with her very argumentative response to his statement on the tip of her tongue. She made a small angry noise, then walked quickly around to the driver’s side of the car, climbing in and starting it hastily. ”Click it or ticket.” Mills’ eyes snapped at Circe, who sank back in her seat sheepishly. “That’s what I thought.” And with that, she hit the gas pedal ten fold harder than necessary. The car shot out of the parking space and down the road, just below the speed limit. She may have been a little pissed off, but she wasn’t stupid – don’t break any primary violation traffic laws when you’re fleeing a crime scene.

((Thread Change))

The moment of them both staring into each others eyes instantly stopped when Lizzy was telling everyone to leave the bar, and that the cops were here. Her hazel colored eyes then quickly looked back at Matt when his hand swiftly went to his face. A weak frown slowly stretched across her face as now this wasn’t the best time to have this happen. Nicole was extremely excited to see Matt and she wasn’t wishing for it to end this quick. But when he removed his hands from his face to look at her she notice something different in his eyes. But she couldn’t tell what. Next thing she knew, Matt had told her that they both had to leave, now. Nicole heard the jurassic change in his voice. She just guessed it was the police/authority side coming out of him. Nicole wanted to know why Matt was so eager to leave this instant, but she knew this wasn’t the right time to ask. All she did was nod her head quickly in agreement and followed Matt out the bar/disco.
Once they bot got outside to his bike, Nicole would put on the helmet that Matt had handed her, then got on the back of his bike. Placing both of her hands tightly around him, they would both go off to the Bayview Apartments.

(Thread Change)  

As soon as Eric and her was outside, he just used his supernatural speed to go the parking lot, so they could get their cars. Letting go off Maha’s hand, he stared down at her, and heard her telling him they should go do something else. Oh she still wanted the night to continue? He figured it was because of her father, for him that was obvious, but he didn’t commented anything about it. Now he was just thinking on what they could do.
“Well, we can go over my house.”
Eric suggested with a shrug. If it was another person saying those words, they would think he just wanted to get under Maha’s skin, but Eric was way too shy, insecure and innocent for such thing, he would never do anything against her will, since he doesn’t know that she has feelings for him. Plus, his father was probably at home or his sister. So nothing that big could happen.
“Watch a movie and drink some beers.”
He continued, as he forced a smile.
“Ok..I really have lame ideas.”
He told her with a chuckle, before shake his head.

Bar and Outside

Melinda noticed everybody starting to leave the disco, and she couldn’t figure out why, then she saw Eric telling her to leave as well. Why would she? Was the cops coming over? Well, she wouldn’t have any kind of problem, since she wasn’t “under-age”. So, she stayed quiet on her spot and just keep drinking her glass of vodka, sadly for her, the guy she had kissed, just left in hurry as well, why was everybody so scary of cops? Melinda knew nothing that bad could happen to her, she was an adult, drinking, she couldn’t get in trouble because of this.
After finishing her glass, she pushed herself up from her seat, and just walked out of the disco, by the back door, since lots of people was using that door for leave. Whenever she stepped outside, she just saw the crime scene, cops everywhere, and a dead body, right there. She stared down at the dead body, with a confused expression, till she saw he had his tongue out, and that clearly made her chuckle, but she slapped her own hand against her lips, as she tried to hold a chuckle, while she was trying to control herself from laughing, a cop showed up behind her, and just grabbed her arm.
“If you find this so funny, you wont mind if I ask you a few questions.”
Melinda felt a shiver through her spine, as she turned around, and saw the cop. Of course, blame the grandmother in the disco, its always more easy blame somebody.
“Now a person can’t laugh anymore.”
She complained with a pout, but she done with what the cop wanted. She followed him to closer to the cop cars, and he just started to ask her questions, if she saw something, if she knew that man, and so on. She did knew that man, well, only for minutes, he was the one who was outside, and the both of them just started to flirt, but only for a couple of minutes, before Melinda got inside the disco, then she stopped seeing that man. Either way, she interacted with the victim, so now she was a suspect as well.

Jacque was going to snap at Galtem for taking her glass away, but instead smiled. He was right about her not taking her own advice, but she didn’t have anyone to tell her to be a better person. At least she could be that person for her boss. She leaned in as though she were going to say something but stopped. A flash of sirens proved the cops were here. Lifting her head, she sniffed around and the smell of decay and death filled her nostrils. How had she not noticed before. Scowling, she turned to look at Galtem “This isn’t good. I think someone is dead in your Disco. YOUR disco. I’m not sure if you should leave, it’ll make you look suspect.” Standing up as though she were going to flee herself, Jacque looked down at Galtem. She wanted to run for her life but something about his state of mind had her feet staying in place. Sighing, she reached down to grab his hand. Yanking him to his feet if he would allow it, Jacque stared into his eyes intensely. “I’m not going anywhere, boss. I’ll be your alibi that you were with me the whole night. Well…mostly. Hopefully your lady friend vouches for you to.” Standing next to him, she crossed her arms and waited for the police to come in.

Eric smiled when he noticed that Maha seemed rather happy with his idea, he was glad that he was being able to please her, even if the party had stopped. He was about say something else, like telling her to just follow him while the both of them drove in different cars, but then she just asked him if she could go with him. Really? Didn’t she wanted to bring her car along? He stared at her a bit curious, but then she told him, she could pick her up from here later, so why not?
“Oh sure.”
He told her, as he tried to find the keys from his car inside his pocket and whenever he did, he just handed it to her, with a smile.
“You can ride it.”
It was clear that she was fan of cars, and she was pretty interested on his car whenever she saw it, so he was going to let her drive. He trusted her to lead them home, and he would give her directions whenever she needed. Maybe the car would be more safe in her hands than his, who knew.
After telling her this, he pressed the button from the keys, and just open the passenger door, as he got inside, and sat down. Then he just waited for her to come as well, and drive, while he gave her directions towards his place during the way.

((Thread Change. I’ll post there first, then you can post.))

Galtem looked at Jacque when she was leaning back in, like she was going to tell him something, but the sirens, the loud noise, made the both of them stop thinking, and wonder what in hell was the cops doing here? He couldn’t even throw a single party, that the cops was already stalking his ass? Ugh, this night couldn’t get worse, first Jennifer, now the cops. What’s next? Some thug that wasted his time traveling from where he left him, just for face Galtem? He rolled his eyes when Jacque said that Jennifer could be used as an alibi either, and was telling him to not run away.
“Why in hell are you telling me that? You really think I could kill a man?”
Galtem asked, perking up an eyebrow. He could, he would, and he did. During this100years, his business was drug dealer, he never took them, just sold them, so of course, when things got bad, somebody would come out dead or badly injured. Then he killed some guy in front of a woman, that was stalking him after get laid with him. He wanted to scare her away, since she was getting too closer to him.
Jacque’s tug on his hand, made him quickly stand up and place the glass down on table.
“Good, because I wouldn’t let you run away.”
If he was going to get burnt, the all workers in this disco, will get burnt as well. If this disco gets closed, they all are fired.

He was clearly upset with this, and he wasn’t going to wait for the cops, he would go meet up with them, and wonder what the hell was going. He just began to walk downstairs, and left the disco by the backdoor, he went up to a cop and told them, he was the owner of this disco, it was on that moment he noticed Melinda. Oh great, that old woman got herself in trouble? Well “old”. She looked extremely beautiful for somebody with her age. But if she was in trouble, Amelia would have to known. Galtem knows Melinda through Amelia. Removing his phone, he just text Amelia, that the cops found a dead body in his disco, and Melinda might be in trouble. 

Dylan just keep having fun with his friends, they was drinking, already smoking weed, but then they was already preparing another one, since it seemed the first one was going to end quickly. Dylan was fine, well not that high nor drunk, due his werewolf abilities, but he was enough to be smiling around while staring at people. He was looking through the crowd trying to find the twins, would they show up? He thought so, since he offer them that weed, it was like a gift, and for make it up to him, they just needed to show up, so he could have his fun with them.
After looking around, his attention went back to his friends, while they keep on having some random chat about stuff, and sometimes they wasn’t even making sense, only moving around with the beat of the music. It was on that moment Iggy finally showed up. He stared at her from the corner of his eye, and bite down on his lower lip, while placing his free arm slowly around her waist, so he could keep her closer to him.
“For sure. I thought you wasn’t coming.”
He whispered into her ear as well. It was on that moment, it was his turn to smoke, and he took three blows, before give it to Iggy. He waited for her to take it, and he remained the all smoke inside his lungs. That’s how you get more high, by holding it for longer. Plus they used to do games like that, to see how held longer, and then just let it all out.
Reaching his limit, Dylan let the all smoke out, and it took awhile to remove that all smoke from his lungs, he leaned his back against the couch, and he was feeling his eyes getting heavy and red. Amazing. This was going to be definitely the best thing of his life.
BUT, it seems the cops wanted to ruin his fun. They showed up, and everybody that was under-age just left, Dylan was over 100years, but he was still considered under-age on the others eyes, plus he had drugs with him, he need to leave right now, and he could careless if his friends would get in trouble, they wasn’t really that closer friends, only guys that you could smoke with.
“Yeah, and our fun gets ruined.”
Dylan spoke, as he took Iggy by her wrist, and just began to tug her with him walking walking past the crowd, he noticed his sister, Haley and Erica. They was here as well? Hell, another reason to leave this place, or else he could get in a big problem if they saw him like that, and then his parents would scold him. After leaving the disco, he was able to sneak away from some cops, and now he was already far away from them, but he wouldn’t stay here, he decided to go to the park, so him and Iggy could keep on smoking. He had totally forgotten about her sister.
“Let’s go to the park, so we can continue this.”
He told her with a smile, as he started to walk, and removed a cig from his pocket, just a normal one, so the both of them could smoke while walking.

((Thread Change))

Pulling up in her black hatchback, Amelia had more or less crawled out of bed after getting Galtem’s text about the dead body, the cops and the fact Melinda, her sister was in trouble. Sitting in her car a moment, she wanted to beat her head on the steering wheel, but instead, she knew that she would have to deal with this professionally. Already the forensics team from the local police force had arrived, and Nick Henesy the chief detective of that department, was already surveying the scene. Getting out of her car, she moved around the back, and opened her hatch back up, taking out her official vest, and sweeping her hair back into the two pony tails. Armed with her kit and camera, she slammed down the hatch, and walked to the taped off area, where she lifted it up and entered the crime scene. Nick turned and saw Amelia and smiled broadly, taking off his dark sunglasses. “You were fast.” he said, moving towards her to pat her shoulder. “Yeah, you can say that. Okay, what we got here.” Nick took out his notebook and started rattling off the case statistics, as Amelia snapped on a pair of gloves. “Male Caucasian, about 23 years old give or take, found lying in a pool of his own urine. Noted tongue hanging out of victims mouth. No obvious signs of blunt forced trauma.”

Amelia walked around the body and started to take pictures, her camera flashing, then she stopped and asked. “Any weapons found on the scene?” glancing up to Nick, who shook his head. “Negative, but we do have a witness. Odd ball, she was laughing when she came out of the club. Witnesses say she was with the deceased before entering the club.” Amelia only had to look over to her right, to see that Melinda had been arrested. She rolled her eyes. Typical. Never knew a time when Melinda wasn’t in trouble. “You will be taking her downtown for questioning?” Amelia asked, not wanting to give away the fact she was related. Nick nodded. “Going to read her rights, then book her.” Amelia crouched down beside the body and took a swab of his saliva from his tongue, sealing it in a small tube, then placing it carefully within her kit. She placed both hands upon the victims head, tilting it, then searching his neck for the obvious signs of puncture wounds. Amelia knew that vampires were bound to be lurking around this club, for obvious reasons. She couldn’t see anything to indicate he was bitten.

Placing his head down gently, she rose up and then said. “I will need to do a tox screen, and then the autopsy should reveal what was in his system, time of death. That will help us establish a time line.” Backing up, the team from the morgue had arrived to take the body back down town to forensics. Amelia stepped aside, taking off her gloves and putting the cap back on her camera.

Again, she shot a look at Melinda, but being on the clock, she didn’t want to go over and disrupt the police investigations. Galtem was nowhere to be seen, and she was not going to enter the club to find him either. That was up to the detectives.

<3>

Roger arrived on the scene a bit later than the rest of the team. He was at his mother’s house making her dinner when he got the call. Ever since his father had fallen ill and was bedridden, his mother’s dementia seemed to have gotten worse. Of course, Roger never minded taking care of his parents in their older age since Helen was off in NYC pursuing her dream of being a dancer. Though he thought her aspirations were a bit wreckless, he would support his family no matter what. Stepping under the yellow tape, he walked over to see Nick and Amelia hard at work. With a soft sigh, he watched Amelia in action and noted how adorable she was in pig-tails. Tilting his head to the side, he stared at her arse as she was bent over taking pictures before one of his investigators cleared his throat. Shaking his head, he turned to look at him with a crooked grin “Don’t need another sexual harassment seminar, do I?” The investigator just rolled his eyes and walked towards the body. Frowning at himself for being caught, Roger walked up to Amelia and Nick with his hands in his pockets. He had heard Nick’s stats just fine and was caught up with what was going on. He did not, however, know where Galtem was or even that he owned the disco. Taking one of his hands out, he rubbed the back of his neck and looked at Amelia. She was watching Melinda and seemed a little…off. Did she know the suspect? Stepping closer to her, he smiled slightly and waved a hand in front of her face to get her attention “Hello Queen of the Night. Give me the name of the club owner and I’ll question him. Give me any details you have on him as well. I don’t want any surprises.” When he finished speaking, he heard the music coming from the club. Shaking his shoulders a little, he smiled widely “Hey, I love this song!” He looked at Amelia with his goofy grin, wondering if she enjoyed it as much as he did.
 

Melinda was chatting the the police officer, and answering him whatever he wanted her to. She always had some smile on her face, due already being drunk. She was drunk when she was at home, she come drunk to the disco, and drank a little more in there. With some lucky she was able to flirt with a few men, probably closer to their 30s, while she was tons of years more older than them, but growing old, and make up has that powerful effect on her.
Some of her sentences didn’t made much sense, and she was forced to answer them twice, which was clearly leaving her bored, and have nothing to do. Was she really going to get arrested? Or could she just go home, and later on, they could keep on with the questions? She knows she didn’t killed anybody, she is drunk, but not enough to forget what she does during this night. Maybe tomorrow, she will forget everything.
While she was being interrogated, she saw her younger sister, Amelia. Oh shit, no. She tried to cover her face, like nobody could see her, which didn’t worked, of course. Amelia was like that mother figure towards Melinda, always telling her to not do this or that, or else she will get in trouble. Melinda just does it anyway to show her that she can take care of herself, and most of times, she fails. She peeked from the space between her fingers, and saw Amelia with Roger besides her, the glare Amelia was giving her, sent a shiver through her spine. Now she just hoped, she wouldn’t get the same lecture.

“People skills?” Amelia thought as she came to a stop. “I don’t have people skills” She placed her kit in the boot of her car, and then sauntered back over, still wearing her police vest. She watched as Rodger dismissed one of the other officer’s and was starting his interrogation on Galtem. This was the last place she wanted to be right now.

Walking up beside Rodger, she overheard him asking Galtem what he was doing at the club, a basic run through of events. Was that going to include the bathroom dalliance with Jennifer? She could almost feel like bile was rising up in her throat. Oh this wasn’t good at all. Amelia offered Galtem a weak smile, then nervously rubbed the back of her neck. She knew that he probably had nothing to do with the discovery of the dead body in the car park, but the investigation would probably uncover a lot more than anyone really needed to know.

Seeing the pretty blonde that was now more or less attached to Galtem, she started to wonder just how many girls he was getting with that night. Even she had limits. Her eyes cast over at Jacqueline warily, then back at Galtem, waiting to see how big a hole he was going to dig when he answered Rodger’s questions.

<3>

Galtem right now, wasn’t so sure if he even should go meet up with the cops, if Jacque that knew him for awhile, thought he could kill somebody, now imagine some stranger cops, that doesn’t know a thing about him, and the only thing they know is that he owns a disco, and for what it seems, he has a mob look. He heard Jacque’s comment about Galtem being the one running away from his problems and the “beautiful woman”. That wasn’t a lie, he basically spends his life running away from his problems, in hope they will solve by themselves, or will never show up in his life again. In hopes his memory will forget abuot everything, and he can start everything from the start, but no success.
Galtem stared around, and was waiting to see if Amelia would come to check her sister, Melinda. That woman could be very troublesome from what Galtem heard about Amelia, and sometimes it was hard to believe Melinda was the older sister, was already mother, and now grandmother, yet, she can be this troublesome. He felt his phone vibrating inside the pocket of his jeans, and he removed his phone to see what was it, it was Amelia’s replay to his text, good that she was coming over. Placing his phone back in his pocket, he turned around and faced Jacque.
“Definitely, and you’re going to get stuck with me.”
He told her with a smirk, while he wiggled his eyebrows. He knew if he had somebody else with him, he wouldn’t snap so early.

The cops finally decided to talk with Galtem, some cop named Roger. He forced a smile, while his lips departed.
“Yes, I do own this place. I’m Galtem Manzenli.”
Galtem answered the cop’s answer, and introduced himself. It was on that moment, Amelia showed up behind him, and for some odd reason, he had a bad feeling about this. First her smile made him feel better, but the warily look she sent to Jacque and back at him, sent a shiver through his spine. Did she really thought he was getting involved with Jacque? Sometimes he hates being known as a womanizer.
“Huh, sure. I arrived here with one of my family members, and with her.”
When he said ‘her’, he just pointed at Amelia.
“We went up to the VIP Lounge, and stayed there, chatting and drinking, till she got sick and went throw up. I stayed in the couch, and an ex-partner of mine in the law life, showed up as well, and I was with him till Amelia showed up again.”
He started to explain, and it was on this moment, he would have to talk about Jennifer, he didn’t had to use her as a witness, right? Amelia walked in, she could work as a witness, he didn’t wanted to bring Jennifer into this.
“Then some woman got in the the VIP Lounge and we started making out in the ladies restroom, till Amelia stepped in.”
There wasn’t really any other way he could say this.
“I went back to drinking, and Jacque was with me till now.”
Whenever he said Jacque, he pointed at the blondie besides him. 

If ever there was a time that Amelia wanted to hex someone, it was right there, right then. Galtem decided to explain the night’s events a little too detailed, and the fact he pointed at her to say that they were in the VIP lounge, made her a suspect, like everyone else. Not like she had not been home for hours, even in bed when she got the call to come down.“Great…oh just great.” Amelia wanted to bury her head, but standing beside the Lieutenant, she knew she was going to be next in the firing line.

This made her involvement in the case, null and void, even as a forensics specialist. A conflict of interest. Oh wait till they find out one of the other suspects is her own sister. She could feel Rodger looking at her. Grinding her right toe of her boot into the pavement, she shook her head, and then knew she had to say what she knew.

“He’s telling the truth. I was here, hours earlier. Yes, I hung out in the VIP lounge, and yes..” This was when she glared at him…all bets were off.“I saw him making out with some…girl in the bathroom. And before anyone gets ideas, no…I was just a friend, hanging out.” She wanted to make it clear, it was no date or anything romantic. “I felt sick and the D.A…Shane Williamson drove me home.” Least she knew that Shane would back her up on that count.

When she looked back at Galtem, you could see the disappointment behind her eyes. Amelia then asked Rodger. “Will I be suspended for this. I realize this is now a serious matter.” Amelia was going to be in deep shit over this.

<3>

Jacque smiled sarcastically when Galtem told her she was stuck with him. Just perfect. Still, she knew even if she had a choice that she would stick around. She wasn’t one to just run from a sticky situation, even if she wanted to. For some reason, she felt this guy needed at least one loyal person in his life that wouldn’t run out on him when he was an idiot. Turning her head, she saw Roger and Amelia walk up to them and the man began to question Galtem. Jacque stood there silently and gave Amelia an awkward smile while the men talked. She really didn’t want to be lumped with Galtem as a ‘fling’, but she planned on keeping quiet until it was her turn to speak. However, she was shocked when her boss had the balls to involve Amelia into his story. He kept Jennifer out but not his supposed best friend? This time she did not contain herself as she rolled her eyes.

Roger caught this and smiled, observing Jacque. She was exceptionally beautiful, but he had no idea the majority of his attraction to her was because she was a mermaid. He shook his head to focus himself and it suddenly Galtem’s words dawned on him. Amelia was there with Galtem at the party. The party where a dead body was found…with the owner of the joint who was a known womanizer and now a suspect. Turning to look at Amelia, he frowned and asked “Is there a reason why you decided not to mention your involvement here at the party when I asked for details on Mr. Manzenli? Did it just escape your mind that you apparently spent a great deal of your night drinking with the suspect in our murder case?” Oh Roger was pissed. Very pissed, and extremely jealous. Crossing his arms, he jerked his head towards his car “Go wait for me in my car. Now. You will be taken in for questioning and I will decide what to do with your future with the police there. I don’t care what you do for my department.”. There was little doubt Amelia was in for a good reaming back at the department. He turned his back on her to face Jacque “Can you vouch for Mr. Manzenli’s alibi?”

When Jacque was addressed again, she nodded and began to talk “Yes, I can. I arrived to the disco around ten o’clock and he was in the VIP lounge when I got there. I can tell he had been drinking already and I saw him speaking to some blonde guy and that chick you just scolded.” Roger smiled slightly at her descriptions but nodded, allowing her to continue. “I went on stage almost immediately and sang most of the party. While I was singing, I saw some blonde girl talking to Galte- err…Mr. Manzenli, and they went into the bathroom. They were in there for a few minutes, not longer than twenty minutes, I think, and they came out separetely.”

Roger cut her off “Did they look distressed? Did you recognize the woman?”

The mermaid shrugged and frowned slightly “Uh…I guess she looked a little miffed. The boss just looked kinda frustrated with himself. And I may have seen the woman around town, but I’ve never spoken to her and I couldn’t tell you her name.”

The lieutenant nodded and asked “Then what happened?”

Jacque continued “Then I decided to take a break and see if my boss was ok. I’ve never seen him look that upset and he immediately took to drinking again. I figured I should at least see to it he made it home ok.”

Roger smiled at this and tilted his head “You care a lot about your boss, don’t you?”

That warranted a frown from Jacque “As his employee, yea I do. He loses his shit, I lose my job. Don’t give me that smile, we hardly ever spoken before.”

The lieutenant let her sass slide long enough to ask “So why did you feel it was necessary to speak to your boss tonight of all nights?”

The mermaid’s blue eyes glowed faintly as her temper flared. Tilting her head, she asked quietly “How will my answer to that question find a killer?”

Roger decided then and there that he liked this woman. She was going to be an asset if not to this case, then to something else worth while. Turning to Galtem, he smiled with a slight shrug “Sorry, bud, but I’m going to have to take you downtown for further questioning. Don’t worry, Dollface here gets to come to.” With that, he looked to a cop and told him “Make sure these kids get in a police car. We’re going back.” The cop nodded and placed each hand on Jacque and Galtem’s shoulders, urging them towards the nearest police car. Roger watched them walk away before turning back to his car. Walking towards it, he then frowned and slid into his seat. Slamming the door shut, he muttered “You’re in deep shit, Reed.” With that, he sped off towards the station.

(Thread Change)

Amelia’s heart sank, the moment she heard Rodger turn his questions on her. She was in it, deep. How on earth she was going to even explain her way out of this mess, was truly beyond her. It was like everything she had ever worked towards was about to go up in smoke. Her livelihood, her apartment. Who would take care of her snake and kitty? All Amelia could do was try to stop herself from being emotional in front of Rodger and especially Galtem.

“Is there a reason why you decided not to mention your involvement here at the party when I asked for details on Mr. Manzenli?’

“No, Lieutenant, I…”

“Did it just escape your mind that you apparently spent a great deal of your night drinking with the suspect in our murder case?”

“Well, to be honest I have been in bed for hours…and..”

“Go wait for me in my car. Now. You will be taken in for questioning and I will decide what to do with your future with the police there. I don’t care what you do for my department.”

Amelia didn’t say another word. She didn’t have too. The look on her face said everything.

“Yes sir.” Amelia said simply, but not before giving Galtem a look that he would never have seen before. She didn’t look at Jacque, who seemed to be spilling her guts for the Lieutenant and he was lapping it up. Amelia walked back to Rodger’s car, and got in the passenger seat, and waited for Rodger. It wasn’t long before he joined her, and of course he slammed the door and said;

“You’re in deep shit, Reed.”

Amelia bit her tongue, rather than respond. She knew her rights, and until she was charged officially, she wasn’t saying another word.

<3>

(thread change)

Galtem noticed how he basically ruined Amelia’s day, his intentions wasn’t totally burnt her and drag her along with his problems, he was simple explaining the cop what he done today, of course he could keep Amelia out of this, but if he done that, he had nobody who could witness him being with Jennifer, and he didn’t wanted to bring Jennifer into this matter, its already enough have Jacque thinking he was capable to kill somebody, even tho that was true.
Galtem watched the cop scold Amelia, and he just rolled his eyes when Amelia said it wasn’t a date or something romantic, he would never have any kind of intercourse with Amelia, they know each other for too long, and act like siblings, it will be just disgusting have to touch themselves in that way.
Folding his arms in front of his chest, he just waited for the cop finish with Amelia, so then he could finish with them too, and they all could go home. But when the cop faced them, he just began to talk to Jacque, and their conversation seemed to last, Galtem was holding himself to not facepalm himself, when Jacque began to talk about Jennifer, thankful this mermaid didn’t knew enough about Jennifer. Then the cop just began to ask Jacque if she cared about her boss, and Galtem was holding back a chuckle, this conversation was getting extremely awkward and hilarious. But he tried to remain “strong”, so the cop wouldn’t ask him his opinion about Jacque.
The fun wouldn’t last for long, the cop was already telling them, to go get in the car, and the questions would continue in the police station. Seriously? They wasn’t free to go? Ugh, well, Caleb would have to take care of himself.
Galtem forced another smile, and just done what they told him too, even tho, deep inside, he wanted to snap, and make this people walk away from them, he had a bad night because of Jennifer, now this all issue about the dead body, its only leaving him more angry.

((Thread Change))  

“Alot.” Amelia was now in the sanctity of the Lieutenant’s office, and knew that to lie at this point, would only make things a whole lot worse. When she heard that Shane Williamson was being called, she breathed something of a sigh of relief. He was truly her alibi, and could back up everything she said, since….he was there. Leaning back in the chair, she sighed audibly, especially when she looked at the clock. This had to be the longest night of her life. Rodger had been kind, kind enough to call her by her pet name, not going off the deep end at her in the car. She didn’t need that, and neither did he. Finally, she started to recant the night’s events.

“Okay…I went to the bar twice that night. First time, was just to have a drink and check out the bar. I saw Galtem Manzenli, the owner at the bar. He happens to be the brother of my last….boyfriend.” This was hard for her to admit, since it put out there that Amelia once had a relationship, with someone. “That was a lifetime ago though.” Branching off accidentally, she caught herself and then continued. “Galtem gets word that there is some…relative, a kid that he has to go pick up. Caleb Manzenli. So he asked me to tag along. Nice kid, looks just like Galtem, which I told him at the VIP lounge later and he kinda went all angry at me.” Her face fell a moment. “This was after I had..six shots I think, and then I went to be sick.” Amelia’s cheeks flushed, as she hated retelling this story. “So, I come back out and grab a juice at the bar, and Shane Williamson, the D.A was in the VIP lounge now, and he was talking to Galtem. See, they used to be law partners before Galtem left NH.”

Amelia swallowed and then put herself on track, as she was to reveal the next part of the story, which included “the bathroom scene.” “Well…that juice went to my bladder and I felt the need to pee. Okay, so I hurried to the bathroom. That is where I caught sight of Galtem with….with…” At this point Amelia’s heart started to pound near out of her chest. She was about to reveal the truth, and the name of the woman in the bathroom. Glancing up at the ceiling like she hated herself for this, she then composed herself and said “Jennifer Wiles.” Amelia knew Rodger would be taking note of this, and probably be bringing her in for questioning, but there was nothing she could do about that. “Well, I couldn’t pee…in there and went down stairs. Shane followed and when I came out, I told him I felt sick and needed to go home.” She didn’t say that it was seeing Galtem and Jennifer snogging that made her sick, but it did. “Shane drove me home, and I didn’t see anything at the carpark at that time. I was all kinds of…uhm…guess sad in a way when he dropped me off. I watched some CSI reruns, OH and I found a kitty near my garbage can. Hope it’s not messing my apartment.” Her eyes widened, hoping the kitty was okay. “Then I get a text message from Galtem to come to the club cause…some dead body was there and…well, my Sister Melinda was at the club. But like she wasn’t there when I had been earlier.” She stated truthfully.

All this out of her system, she collapsed back in the chair, and sighed. “Rodger…I’m sorry I wasn’t upfront. I really have had the worst night of my life.”

Shane’s house.

Sitting at his desk in his den, he sees his phone start to vibrate on his desk. Picking it up, he gets the call that Amelia in in the station being questioned about some body. “Suspect? The fuck? I’m on my way.” Shane got up quickly, and headed to the Police station to get Amelia out of trouble.

<3>

“I wanna know why she was even brought in in the first place. The girl was doing her job, and due to some bizarre circumstance YOUR Lieutenant decided to bring HER in. The girl has done amazing work for this department and precinct. I THINK she deserves a little more credit and a lot more respect.”

The Police Commissioner huffed and took out the reports so far. Slamming it down on the desk, he stabbed it with his finger. “We have quotas Shane…you of all people should know that. Lieutenant Rodger was doing his duty. We can’t just turn a blind eye to a suspect, who happens to have been working on the case.”Shane rounded on the Police Commissioner and chuckled “Quotas huh? Oh really. And who do you think SETS those quotas? Hmm? RIGHT…now, get one of your desk jockeys, to take me down to where she is, and we can get this WHOLE mess straightened out.” He then leaned in so his face was inches from the Police Commissioners. “I…need her to help me crack some of the biggest cases of my career. So…let’s get one thing perfectly clear. She has an alibi. Me.”With that, he snatched the report and tore it in two. “By the way…how is Dawn doing? Sure be nice if she found out about your weekend tryst with Monica.” The D.A grinned as the Police Commissioner looked like he was going to have a heart attack. “You humans are so predictable.”

He then left the Police Commissioner’s office and smiled at Monica. “Rodger’s office, if you would be so kind to show me the way.”

<3>

“So…” she started off, clasping her hands together, “I hear there was a murder…and your own Forensics expert may or may not be involved.” She smirked. It was days like today that she thoroughly loved her job.

However, their moment was soon interrupted when the door to his office opened. Roger frowned as Carmen came in without waiting for any welcome from the lieutenant. The nerve of this woman. It was pretty clear by the look on his face that he really had a deep dislike for the woman. When she came to sit on his desk and crossed her legs, he immediately stood up and walked over to stand behind Amelia’s chair. It seemed as he was hovering over her protectively as he crossed his arms and stared the IA agent down. “Well, it’s so nice you prefer to listen through the grapevine for your facts. Unfortunately, you will be a bit disappointment to hear that it is being taken care of. Reed has an alibi that we need to clear and will prove that there was no involvement from my forensics team. Other than doing their job well, that is. Are you familiar with people doing their jobs well? I understand if it is a concept that is beyond you.” Smirking, he looked down at Amelia and winked.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Interrogation Room

Neil Franklin loved his job. He especially loved the part of his job where he got to question scumbags like Galtem. Stepping into the room, he shut the door and crossed his arms with a smirk. “Really, Manzenli, I thought you of all people would be more original than that.” Walking over to the table, he took a seat and stared Galtem down. “But I suppose you’re really a ‘person’, are you?” Neil was really enjoying himself now. While the other cop was in here asking him question and question about his night and making him walk through it multiple times, Neil did a little digging of his own. It turned out that Manzenli was accused of being a drug dealer. However, there was just too much smoke clouding the evidence to be anything other than circumstantial. And yet, God smiled down on Neil. Just as he was going to give up and come in to just harass Galtem, one of the forensics specialist revealed that they found Galtem’s wallet near the body. It was only circumstantial…for now.

As Neil watched Galtem in the interrogation room, he tilted his head and was silent for a moment. Reaching into his pocket, he then pulled out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter. After placing the cigarette in his mouth and lighting up, he shoved the pack over “Want a smoke?” Not waiting for an answer, he puffed on the cigarette and began to chuckle “Do you have any idea where your wallet is? I suspect you wouldn’t, since I have it here.” Pulling out a clear bag, he then revealed the wallet that was inside. “Look familiar?” Standing up, he began to laugh darkly “I’d love to hear your excuse, but lucky for me, we’re keeping you hear for the night…maybe longer. I have all the time in the world.” He walked towards the door and smiled “I imagine you look great in orange, Manzenli. Sweet dreams.” Turning his back on him, Neil then opened the door and slipped out. Closing the door, he snapped at a cop “Bring him to a cell.” The cop nodded as Neil walked away and went into the room. Grabbing his cuffs, he then cuffed Galtem assuming he was cooperating and led him down to his cell silently. This was going to be a long night.

Carmen took note of the fact of where Rodger moved to stand, silently supporting Amelia and a dangerous gleam entered her eye.

“I have yet to meet anyone in your department who do their jobs…well.” Carmen stated, crossing her arms in a mocking stance. “In fact, I can name about twenty cases in the last month alone where one of your detectives had never done their job well. I can name names, dates and times if you need facts.” She was on a roll and never passed an opportunity to let her temper fly. “Insubordination, excessive force, bribery, evidence “conveniently” misplaced. Oh and that one little, teeny, tiny incident where a firearm was discharged over the heads of group of school children. Yes, I’d say they were doing their jobs real well.”

She slid from the desk and moved to the window, looking out into the squad room. “So, tell me, Captain, Ms Reed. Who is this…alibi?”

“Get my kit out of my car, it has all my evidence from the crime scene, along with the photos that I took in my camera.” Amelia said with a tone of professionalism. She hadn’t forgotten that she got called down there to do her job. Amelia took a look up at Rodger through her bangs and said; “I’m sorry about all this.” Which she genuinely was. But things were about to get a whole lot worse. The Department ball breaker, and head of internal affairs decided to make her presence felt, and she was not about to let Amelia go anywhere. Seeing her come in and the casual way she sat herself on the edge of Rodger’s desk, had Amelia chew her bottom lip, her eyes searching up at Rodger, as the pair became engaged in some head butting antics.

“I hear there was a murder…and your own Forensics expert may or may not be involved.”

“Well, it’s so nice you prefer to listen through the grapevine for your facts. Unfortunately, you will be a bit disappointment to hear that it is being taken care of. Reed has an alibi that we need to clear and will prove that there was no involvement from my forensics team. Other than doing their job well, that is. Are you familiar with people doing their jobs well? I understand if it is a concept that is beyond you.” 

At this Rodger winked at Amelia, but it was not lost on Carmen. My god, she was like Mike Tyson in a woman’s body. She actually scared Amelia to death.
“I have yet to meet anyone in your department who do their jobs…well.”

“But…the Lawson case…we..” Amelia tried to get a word in, but it was too easily being drowned out by the pair. Then, Carmen went for a hit below the belt. “So, tell me, Captain, Ms Reed. Who is this…alibi?”

Grinning, the door was flung open and a million dollar looking D.A made his presence known.

“That would be me, Lieutenant!” It was Shane, and boy did he look like he was walking into a courtroom, and about to stun the jury with some amazing dialogue. He strutted over to Carmen and let his eyes roam over her form. “Well well well…did you run out of case files in that dark hovel of an office of yours? Hmm? Oh wait..that’s right. You have lost how many assistants in the past month to harassment charges? Ha….and you are in charge of internal affairs? Sounds like a conflict of interest right there, hey Toots.” Shane did a big knowing nod and tapped the side of his nose, before turning to face Rodger.

“Now then. Miss Amelia Reed was at the VIP lounge this evening, and I know since I was with her. I don’t need to go into the nitty gritty of how she barfed technicolor in the ladies loo….NOR do I need to tell you when she nearly peed herself on the dance floor after catching the bar owner with some leggy blonde in a red dress.” He then gave Amelia a concerned look, as he went into the final part of his confession. “I’ll be blunt, the girl was suffering depression, mixed with the drink and juice earlier and I drove her home. At that point…there was NO dead body in the car park, and I watched her go inside. The time difference between when I dropped her off, and went back to the bar myself, WHICH can be shown on the CCTV cameras as well as the statements of one barmaid named Lizzy, I can assure you, that Amelia and I were no part of the murder, and were actually AT HOME, at the time it took place. I am sure that the evidence collected at the crime scene, can attest to that.” He then walked boldly up to Rodger and said. “You do…have the evidence, Lieutenant?”

<3>

“Are you okay? I thought you had that date.” she asked.

“It…didn’t work out. I couldn’t sleep so I went for a walk. I thought you might have been up so I wanted to see if you wanted to talk. I’m sorry if I woke you.” Carmen apologized.

Every one of her senses were warning her that something was off with Louisa, but Carmen couldn’t exactly come right out and ask.

“I’ll let you get back to sleep.” Carmen told her, turning to go to her room. She paused, looking back. “I was going to do some shopping tomorrow, maybe see the sights. Did you want to come with me?” she asked, a hopeful note in her voice.

Was it her imagination or did a shadow move behind Louisa? Chalking it up to tiredness, she shook her head. As far as she knew, Louisa was here alone. But now more than ever, Carmen was feeling a sense of wrongness.

Louisa made an ‘o’ shape with her mouth, that the date didn’t work out. The thing was, she already knew. The fact the date failed saved her life. Something that Louisa was actually thankful for. Louisa really liked Carmen, a lot. It pained her to know that Shane was using her to get to Carmen, and the last thing she wanted was to have her suffer the same fate as she had for all these years.

“I’ll let you get back to sleep.” It was an endearing thought, but Louisa knew there would be no sleep for her. Louisa knew he was in her apartment, waiting for a moment to strike, and Louisa stood in the way. Wordlessly, she mouthed “He’s here.” swallowing hard, as she tried to appear normal, when Carmen spoke about shopping and a tour.

“I was going to do some shopping tomorrow, maybe see the sights. Did you want to come with me?”

Louisa’s left eye held a tear, that ran down her cheek as she said loud enough for him to hear. “I’d like that…a lot.”, before nervously wiping away the tear, and her face crumpling. She started to close the door, trying to protect Carmen, and saying“Good night.”

<3>

“Louisa, what’s wrong? What’s got you so upset?” Carmen moved back toward Louisa’s room. “Do you want to talk about it? I’m a good listener.” she offered. She couldn’t explain why this young woman seemed like she needed a friend, she just wanted to try and be that person. Maybe there was an awful boyfriend or husband somewhere like she originally thought. “Man problems?” she hazard a guess. Her gut instincts were usually correct. And right now, hers were screaming at her to get away from Louisa’s room as quickly as possible, but she wasn’t going to leave this woman alone.

“Can I come in?” she asked in a soft and kind voice. She was wide awake now and felt the need to help Louisa in any way she could.

“Louisa, what’s wrong? What’s got you so upset?” 

Oh no…this was bad. Louisa was trying to save her by shutting the door, but Carmen mustn’t have understood her. Her eyes implored her, almost begging, as she was shaking like a leaf.

“I…I..uhm..”

Louisa stuttered as the sound of footsteps were coming behind her. SHANE was now onto this situation, and about to make it all the worse.

“Do you want to talk about it? I’m a good listener.”

Louisa was sure she was a good listener, but Carmen wouldn’t want to hear from the one behind the door.

“Carmen…..I..” Lousa uttered, frightened now out of her mind.

“Can I come in?” At these words, Louisa’s eyes shot open, cause she felt something on her back. The room behind her was dark, and it would be hard to see. She fought so hard to protect her, but she knew to say no now, would be the finish of her.

“Please..”

Louisa stepped back, allowing Carmen entry. If she did, Louisa would close the door, and that is when the real games began.

<3>

Carmen’s senses were on high alert, practically screeching at her to run before it was too late. But Louisa seemed very upset and Carmen just couldn’t leave her like that.

Louisa’s eyes were wide with fright as Carmen asked to come in. For a moment, Carmen thought she was going to say no, but Louisa seemed to jerk in place before wilting like a flower. She stepped aside and opened the door wider.

“Please”

Carmen gave her a smile, hoping to comfort her with her presence as she stepped inside. It was then the smell hit her. It was dark, musky and all too familiar. Carmen’s eyes widened and she whirled around, having every intention of leaving as quickly as she had come in but it was far too late.

Louisa, misery etched in every line of her body had already closed and locked the door, standing in front of it like a saddened sentry. Tears were flowing down her cheeks as she stared at Carmen. “I’m so sorry.” her eyes were practically begging.

And there he was. Shane.

“Oh fuck!” Carmen exclaimed. Now she knew the reason for Louisa’s fear. But she couldn’t blame her, not completely. She should have walked away when she had the chance and now that moment was gone.

“You know, Lou…you saved her life earlier, by tossing out that man. She was thisssss close to having her brains blown out….and you had to scream like a banshee. Personally, I loved it.”

Carmen looked at Louisa, who was looking at the floor. He would dare hurt such a sweet woman? All for a chance at herself?

Before she could reply, Shane walked right up to her and took her in his arms. His eyes were dark and menacing as he stared into her own. She gulped hard and tried to damp down her fear.

“Let go of me!” she hissed, struggling in his embrace.

“I have wanted you for so so long. Dreamt of your taste Lou. And now…YOU..ARE…MINE!” he growled, exposing his fangs and moving toward her neck.

While this was going on, she had not been idle. She had a hand clenched behind her back, slowly drawing upon her powers. There was the slight hint of ozone in the air as she continued to struggle. She felt the tips of his fangs against her neck and knew it was now or never. With a cry of rage, her fist came around, electricity sparking between her fingers, slamming into his gut. If it was effective, it would push him away from her into the wall behind him.

Carmen watched on in horror as Shane grabbed Louisa by her head and snapped her neck like a twig. Louisa fell to the floor with a soft whispering thud, eyes glazed over in death.

“Sweet Jesus!” Carmen whispered, eyes fixed on Louisa’s still form. That seemed to break her paralysis and she started to run for the open door. She had to get out of here and as far away from this man as possible. He was more dangerous then she’d ever realized, and now her own life was in some very serious danger.

Shane had reacted almost by a gut instinct, when he took Louisa’s head in his hands and then twisted it so sharply, that her neck simply broke. The door open, and the horrified look upon Carmen’s face, Shane suddenly found himself caught by his own demons.

Carmen ran out the door, and Shane was about to follow her, when he took a double take at Louisa.

Her face, the expression was one of peace. As radiant and beautiful as the first time he used her as his blood doll. Carmen was getting away, but he knew there would be more chances. Shane simply walked to the door and closed it, before going back over to where Louisa’s body lay. Staring at him, with those big eyes of hers. Shane crouched down and gently scooped her up, and then held her to him, starting to rock back and forth…whispering…“Good girl…such a good girl.”

(Fade to black)

<3>

[Thread change}

It was several hours before Carmen finally reached the cabin. She had stopped off first at the storage facility she was renting and switched her SUV for the off-road Jeep that she owned. She had taken every precaution that mattered over the years to hide her identity from any and all vampires who desired her blood so she had put several cars and houses in anonymous names for just such an emergency.

After getting some groceries and supplies (paying cash each time, no sense leaving a paper trail), she got to the cabin near late afternoon.

Parking the Jeep in the windowless garage, she covered it with the tarp to hide it, then padlocked the door closed.

She got the spare key from a hidden stone in the foundation and let herself in. Once she was inside, did she truly feel safe for the first time since her run from Hawaii.

She set the groceries on the table and took a deep, cleansing breath.

“Safe.” she whispered into the quiet. She put away her things before heading out to get wood for the fireplace. Once she had a fire going, warming up the cabin, she went out to make sure the generator had fuel to last for some time.

She went around the house, checking all the doors and windows, making sure the extra locks and alarms she had installed were in working order. No sense tempting Fate when there wasn’t a need to. Shane was resourceful, as well as dangerous, and that wasn’t a risk she was willing to take.

She stopped to eat a quick lunch before she checked the basement. It was here she kept extra supplies just in case. She checked over the food items, making sure none had spoiled, checking the fuel tanks to make sure there were no leaks and the guns she had to make sure they were in perfect condition. Everything was as she left it and there was minimal food loss to her stores.

She breathed a sigh of relief.

This would do…for now…

The black Jeep rolled into town and parked in front of the convenience store. There had been a bad storm the night before, knocking out power to the town and her cabin for almost 6 hours and some of the food she had in the kitchen refrigerator had spoiled. She had spent the morning cleaning out and disinfecting the appliance before heading into town to replenish her supplies.

The door slid open with a whoosh and she walked inside, grabbing a shopping cart. The counter clerk, a nice elderly fellow, looked up at her and smiled.

“Afternoon, Ms Freemont.” he greeted. Ever since she’d come here weeks before, she had been going by the name “Abby Freemont”, a journalist from New York City.

“Afternoon, George. How’s that pretty wife of yours?” she asked.

“Doing well as can be.” he stated.

“Oh?” she wondered as she grabbed a box of cereal and put it in her cart.

“Just getting over a late season cold. It was touch and go there for a fair bit, but she’s on the mend.”

“That’s good to hear. Tell her I was thinking about her.”

“I certainly will.” George smiled, letting “Abby” get back to her shopping. She grabbed the things she needed in due course and turned to go back to the front to check out.

Paid and bagged, she wheeled her things to the Jeep and packed them in securely before hopping in and heading back to the cabin.

She was completely oblivious to the fact that there was someone new in town…and that he or she had been watching her…

A cell phone was pulled out, and a number dialed. When the call was picked up, only three words were spoken.

“I found her…”

He had found her. Johnathon knew the woods and the small town like the back of his hand, and his mission was far from just spotting the runaway fugitive. Driving a few cars behind her in a similar Jeep, Johnathon then detoured from her path and went down to park near the lake, that was visible from Carmen’s kitchen window. When Johnathon pulled up, he took out his binoculars and made notes on what he saw, her lisence plate number and the cottage itself. Taking up his camera with telescopic lens, he took a series of photographs, then taking out the USB, he plugged it into a laptop, and emailed off the pictures to his boss, David.

Easing back in his leather seat, he thought about this woman for a moment, with the array of photographs of her, flooding his lap top screen. She may have evaded the law and those hunting her, but now…they had a lock on. He closed the lap top and put away his camera, instead reaching for his fishing hat, and then plonking it on his head. He had a license to hunt and fish in these parts, so that was as good as proof he was there innocently, and not tracking Carmen.

Getting out of the jeep, he moved around the back to get his fishing gear and rod, then strolled down to the bank.

<3>

Nightfall…

Carmen sat before the fireplace, curled up under a blanket on the couch and reading a book. She had been reading the same sentence for the past hour, unable to concentrate.

Ever since she’d come back from town, she had this feeling like she was being watched. Which was clearly impossible since no one knew who she really was.

She had looked out the kitchen window at one point during the day and saw a guy out on the lake fishing and making a camp. Not unusual for this time of year so she thought nothing of it.

Slamming the book closed, unable to concentrate, she got up and started pacing back and forth.

She had ignored her instincts once before, and an innocent woman was killed.

Something was telling her, she may have been compromised, but it was too late in the day to try and leave. There were too many hiding places in the woods and she wanted to be prepared to fight.

She turned out the lights in the cabin and cut the fire down so it burned low. She was as prepared as she was ever going to be, having spent the last few weeks fine-tuning her powers and abilities.

She’d put up one hell of a fight if anyone attacked her now.

In the darkness of the night, the cabin started to creak and moan, as the timbers of the walls expanded and contracted from the changing temperatures, caused by the dulling of the fire, and the bitter cold outside. Down by the lake, there was a fire burning bright, a camp fire, and seated on a log was Johnathon, smoking a pipe, and enjoying the sounds of the night.

Up at the cabin, the generator, that had been powering much of Carmen’s appliances suddenly made a loud bang sound, and wound down, as the entire cabin was completely in darkness. Her radio, everything that required power shut down. A large owl landed on the balcony railing, and let out a loud HOOT sound, while opening up its wings, and from the shadow it cast, it may wake a sleeping Carmen.

A dull scratching sound was heard in the ceiling, then the padded footfalls of a possum, running along the beam in the attic. All these noises would be amplified in the middle of the night, while the full moon glowed through the frosted windows of her bedroom.

<3>

It was the bang that woke her. She sat up, startled, heart racing. There was nothing but absolute silence.

“Shit.” she grumbled, realizing the generator must have gone down. She tossed off her blankets and pulled on her jeans, tshirt and boots before bundling up in her coat.

Grabbing the flashlight from beside the door, she had to struggle with the door as the winds were blowing hard up in the mountains. Somewhere an owl hooted as she went around the side of the house to check the generator. A tree branch had broken from a tree and smashed into the generator, making it inoperable.

“Shit.” she repeated. She’d have to make a trip into town in the morning for a new generator. She headed back into the house, slamming and locking the door against the winds raging outside.

She hung up her coat and went into the living room, restoking the fire so it blazed brightly once more, casting flickering shadows in the room behind her. She could feel the cold seeping into her bones and decided to bunk down in the living room for the rest of the night. She went into the bedroom and found the air mattress she kept in the back of the closet and brought it downstairs. Placing it a safe distance from the fire, she inflated the bed and covered it with the sheets and blankets she’d brought with her.

Crawling beneath the blanket, she stared into the fire, allowing the flickering flames to lull her back to sleep.

A dark shadow moved along the veranadah of the sprawling cabin. The foot falls made the decking creep, and as the shadow approached the doorway to the lounge room, the being could be seen trying to look inside the frosted glass where just by the fire, the sleeping Carmen lay, on a blow up mattress by the fire. Slowly the lock started to turn with a dull click, and the door slid open, causing a heavy breeze to swirl in and this made the fire erupt, crackling and spitting, before the door suddenly SLAMMED shut. The figure moved with the speed of a supernatural, leaving the curtain to fall back in its place. The room went silent, aside from the crackle of the fire.

<3>

She looked around groggily for the source of the sound but saw nothing out of the ordinary.

But her senses were on high alert. There was something different. She could feel it. Grabbing the flashlight from beside her, she turned it on and shone it around the room, lighting the shadows in its bright glow. There was nothing. She shone it on the landing of the second floor, and again saw nothing.

“Jumping at shadows, Carmen my girl. Ugh. I must be more tired than I thought.” she muttered, curling back under the blankets. She had spoken out loud because she had caught a glimpse…of something…she wasn’t sure what. But she was sure, now more than ever, that someone had been in town that she hadn’t noticed and had reported her whereabouts, and they were now in her home. She pretended to be asleep, prepared for anything.

If she was going to die this night, she was going down fighting with all that she was.

“I can’t save you from him this time.”

The voice traveled, as the shadows lengthened and then the television came on. It was showing the news report and flashing up a picture of Carmen, marked as a fugitive. Shane in his fury, had managed to get the police department to believe his story that Carmen had killed Louisa. Now, she was wanted in fifty two states. The reporter shot to an interview with Shane, where he was standing in his office, with the picture of Louisa on his desk. He was really putting it on, telling the world that Carmen had murdered Louisa and then went into hiding rather than face her accuser.

“We will find her and bring her to justice, or my name is not Shane Williamson.”

The television then flickered and turned off, as the shadows continued to move around, before an aura appeared by Carmen.

“But your not alone.”

A very strong presence graced Carmen’s cheek.

<3>

“Oh my god…” she breathed.

She wanted to cry. “I’m so sorry. I never meant for any of this to happen.” Carmen sighed. She was going to have to go back, to face the demon once and for all, before he got to her first.

She had been deluding herself into thinking she could hide away, when he was doing everything in his power to draw her out.

But…

She suddenly began to laugh. “Oh that’s too perfect…but, would it be enough?” she thought to herself.

Tossing off the blanket, she took up the flashlight and headed down into the basement. It took her a moment to find what she needed. The black bag was in the far corner behind a barrel of pickles. She set it on top and opened it, rummaging around for what she needed. A cell phone. For emergencies.

She turned it on, satisfied that the battery was fully charged. She dialed the number from memory and placed the phone to her ear.

“D.A.’s office, how may I help you?” a female voice answered.

“This is Carmen Marquez. Put him on the phone.” she demanded.

The woman who took the call, was Shane’ newest blood doll, a fiery red head who was oozing sex appeal, as she sat on the edge of Shane’s desk, and handed him the phone.

“It’s for you, baby. Carmen Marquez, she sounds angry.”

Shane gave her a growl of delight, before taking the phone and kicking back in his leather office chair.

“Well…I wondered when you would get the balls to call me, Lou. Seems I didn’t have to do that much to make you see how big a hole you have dug for yourself. Tell me…wasn’t I fabulous on the news? I am overwhelmed by the sympathy I am getting from your former colleagues. They even made a dart board with your wanted poster. Isn’t that fun?” He joked, while reaching for Donna and pulling her onto his lap. She obliged, and she started to paw and lick his neck, while grinding against his growing hardness. He was actually hard at the idea of pissing off Carmen this much.

“Mmm..fuck that feels good. Oh..where was I? Oh yeah, LOU…what do you want?” Shane said with a raspy tone.

<3>

And Carmen hung up the phone, hoping that would be enough.

Well right at this moment, they certainly felt bigger. Donna threw her head back and showed off her neck, as Shane ran a claw down it, while holding the phone to his ear with his other hand.

“Just a warning…I fight dirty.” He said with a grin, which had Donna gasp as he tightened his claws around her throat. His new blood doll was fairly new, but she got off on his rough treatment.

The last words Carmen said however…he didn’t like.

“Louisa says hello and she hopes you burn in hell.” 

At this, Shane growled down the mouth piece. “Don’t worry Lou…you’ll join her soon enough.”

The phone call over, he tossed the receiver across the room and picked up his new doll with one arm and planted her on the desk, as he leered at her. She looked up at him with a delicious grin, and planted her hands back, opening her legs, and tilting her head. So obedient and sexy. Just like how he liked them

Her cries of lust could be heard through the office walls, as he fed upon her, while fucking her senseless.

<3>

This was something she had to do without mechanical aid.

And so, she waited, pulse racing, heart pounding in her chest.

She didn’t want to die, but neither would she allow him to use her to feed upon either.

The time to run, was long past.

Cabin in the Woods, Somewhere in the Mountains of New Hampshire

With the detailed information dispatched by Johnathon to David of Carmen’s location, it soon would wind up on the desk of Shane, who was more than pleased to learn of her whereabouts. Talk about having a good team of detectives from the same branch of the police force as Carmen doing your bidding. Matt and David were ordered to ride up to the cabin, with Shane to follow them in a cadillac stretch, since he believed that he wanted to bring her home in style.

The morning after the vision and the phone call, there was a knock at the door, and there was Johnathon, ready to let her know that Shane was on his way.

*
Carmen knew this day would come. And it was now time to face the piper, so to speak. When there was the knock on her cabin door, she was more than ready. She opened the door and acknowledge the fact that Shane was on his way to her location. She took a deep breath and nodded, stepping out onto the porch to wait. She made herself comfortable on the steps watching two motorcycles and a stretch car pull into the drive. She got to her feet and crossed her arms, trying to keep her fear and nervousness from showing.

The power flowing through her body was just beneath her skin and ready to be used.

*

The two motorcycles pulled up side by side, as the tires of the stretch finally rolled to a stop. Johnathon looked over the railing, and then signaled a wave to David, who was the first to dismount his bike. Taking off his helmet, his shock of winter white hair, seemed flat from behind pushed down under his helmet. He wandered around and slapped Matt’s back, joking about what, was unclear. Matt looked up to see Carmen, and appeared perplexed. If she was a fugitive, why wasn’t she running?

The car door opened from the stretch, and Shane got out in his business suit along with the red haired blood doll, Donna, who had come to watch the spectacle. Johnathon, who was closest to Carmen, gestured for her to head down stairs, and get this underway.

*
Carmen glared at the man standing on her porch and didn’t move a muscle. This was her property, no one was going to tell her what to do. “Get off my porch.” she practically hissed. Not waiting to see if he moved, she looked at Shane. “Glad to see you made it. I see you brought company. Too chickenshit to handle me by yourself?” she smirked, poking the hornet’s nest a little more.

*

Shane burst out laughing at Carmen’s antics. Even now, she was still fighting. “Oh please, save us all from the terrible drone of your voice, be a pet and come down here.” He pointed at the ground, where he stood, while Donna leaned against the stretch and smirked. The two detectives watched on in silence, when Johnathon gave Carmen a light push in the right direction. “He said move.”

*

Quick as lightning, Carmen moved to grab Johnathon by his hand, taking a step to push him from the porch. “Don’t touch me.” she snapped. Moving under her own steam, she stepped off the porch and stood 10 feet away from the others. She had the forest at her back and the lake to her left. “So…what now?” she demanded, crossing her arms.

*

Watching her tackle the well sized Johnathon, Shane started to clap as she got down to the ground, but was a good ten feet away. With the forest to her back and the lake to her left, she had few options. Shane rubbed his hands together gleefully. “Well…I have told my ‘brothers’ here, just how good a dark fae tastes. And you know, when something is this good a vintage…I may well share.” At this Johnathon leapt off the balcony and cracked his neck, while Matt and David’s faces changed…dramatically. “You see…your blood is an aphrodisiac to the likes of us. Hell, its why I brought Donna along. One..big..happy family.” he said with a sick smile.

*

So that’s how he wanted to play it. Sick the dogs on her and then take the leftovers. She began to smirk. “You always were a bottom feeder, Shane. Now I see how you got to the top. Eating worms and maggots and fucking your little lapdogs until they bent to your will.” She laughed, a disturbing sound, something that would have scared little children into hiding under their beds. “Should I be scared? I mean, after all. They’re just a drop of piss in the toilet of this game.” She chuckled delightedly. Did he really think she was at a disadvantage with the geography around her? She knew this area like the back of her hand.

She took a step backwards, giving herself a little more distance. “Bring it, bitches.”

*

Shane didn’t like being made a fool of, and stepped away from the car, leaving Donna and walked past David and Matt without a word. “Yes…yes you should be scared, Lou. Cause right this moment, there is nothing I want more than to eat you.” At this he started to morph and change into a grotesque form, with large bat like wings. His face lost all of its handsome features and in truth the real vampire was hideous. His skin almost grey with black eyes and long fangs. He launched himself at her with astonishing speed, full front on, as he attempted to seize her breasts and push her to the ground.

*

Carmen watched on in shock as Shane stepped forward and transformed before her very eyes. She had her body turned slightly to the left and was poised to run at moment’s notice but running was the last thing on her mind as she tried to comprehend what she was seeing. “Damn! You are one ugly sonuvabitch!” she exclaimed. He launched himself at her with astonishing speed, but she was ready. With barely a thought, her hands erupted with a flash of electrokinetic energy, designed more as a distraction maneuver than as a deterrent. She didn’t look to see if anyone was hit, she turned heel and darted into the darkness of the woods behind her. If she could just get to the place she had marked off in her head, and old mine shaft that she had discovered and explored when she bought the land, she had a better chance of surviving this onslaught.

*

Shane was hit with the electrokinetic energy which blew him back, and he did a somersault in the air, before crashing to the ground in a heap. “BITCH!” he roared, seeing her then dart off into the darkness of the forest behind her. Snapping his head back, he bellowed at the other three. “FIRST ONE TO GET HER…GETS DIBS!” He flew off into the forest, weaving between the trees to find this woman, who was proving to be a handful.. David, Matt and Johanthon, all took off, running at speed, going in different directions to pick up her trail.

*

Carmen didn’t run far into the woods, going in so far until she was out of their line of sight and ducking down beneath a hollowed out log that blended in with the rest of the forest. She watched the 3 men run past, snapping, growling and snarling like a pack of hungry dogs and caught a glimpse of the ringmaster as he darted through the canopy overhead. “Just what I planned.” she thought to herself. Careful of loose twigs and leaves, she made her way around the back of the house, coming out on the other side of the driveway behind the vehicles. Donna was standing alone, her back to Carmen. With a glare, Carmen slipped a strand of silver wire from the sleeve of her jacket and wrapped it around her hands, creating a garrote. She slowly made her way toward Donna, raising the wire to be able to drop it over her head and around the redheaded woman’s neck.

*

Donna had been left behind, clearly the men didn’t think she would be in harms way, but oh how wrong they were. Before Donna could even think, a fine wire garrote was slipped over her head and around her neck. Scrambling, she tried to pull it away from her neck, but the more she struggled, the tighter it got. She let out a blood curdling scream, that would echo around the forests and bring all the vampires to a stop, Shane in particular. “DONNA!” he roared out, swooping around and racing back, only to see Donna struggling with Carmen. The bitch was trying to kill her.

*

Carmen twisted the garrote in her hands, using her strength to saw the wire back and forth across the woman’s neck. She was determined to slice the woman’s head off and was making some progress as the woman struggled in her arms. She saw Shane and she doubled her efforts. She wanted this woman dead, for no other reason than to really piss Shane off. She felt Donna’s struggles become weaker as the wire went deeper into the woman’s neck. “Just a little more!’ she grunted, whipping the wire faster.

*

And just a little more was all that was needed, as the wire severed the main arteries in Donna’s neck. Blood was spewing out, and raining down on the dirt driveway at her feet, as Donna’ body started to give way. At this, Shane burst out of the forest and saw what Carmen was doing. “Drop her!” Course, she would, but that was when Shane would attack head on. No more games.

*

Blood flowed as the decapitated head fell to the dirt. Carmen had little time to savor that small victory for Shane was upon her once more. She released another burst of electrokinetic energy as she ducked beneath his arms, running full tilt toward the forest once more. The time of playing was over. This was now a fight for survival…her own. So into the woods she ran, stripping her bloody jacket and the gloves she wore from her body and tossing them away so she couldn’t be tracked by the scent. She had to get to the mine shaft, especially since the winds were starting to pick up once more. She couldn’t afford to freeze out here, everything would be over before it had truly begun.

*

As she ran into the forest, David launched at her from side on, having been lurking behind an old tree stump and was ready for her return run to the safety of the forest. The force and power of the vampire is enough to take her off her feet, since she had already discharged two electrokinetic attacks, and would have trouble recharging so fast. If hit, she would be knocked to the ground, drenched in the blood of Donna, enough to make any Vampire heady.

*

So busy running from Shane and his rage, she did not see David until it was too late. He knocked her off her feet and she smashed, back first into a large tree. She landed hard, knocking the breath from her lungs for a moment. Thankfully her fae blood kept her from breaking serious bones, but having the breath knocked from her, was not something she could recover from too quickly. With a wheeze, she gained her feet, keeping a steady eye on David as he stood before her. “And here I thought you were one of the decent ones. Nice to know you’d let anything and anyone fuck your ass, pretty boy!” she hissed.

*

“You always were one with the nice compliments Car. That’s what I liked about you.” While David was talking, Matt was coming up behind Carmen, and he was holding a hypodermic syringe, that had been pulled from his jacket. He flickered his eyes at David, who kept on talking, slowly walking towards her. “You know, I never was really into women, couldn’t see the attraction myself. Weird ain’t it..must be all the nagging and shit. But, so long as you taste good.” He started laughing as Matt poised to strike her neck with the syringe.

*

“You’re so busy gagging for Shane, maybe you don’t need a woman.” Carmen chuckled, backing away slowly. She did not see or notice Matt coming up behind her. There was a sharp sting in her neck and she whirled around, shocked to see Matt holding the now-empty syringe. “Fuck me.” she groaned, realizing she’d been suckered. Drawing upon her reserves, she blasted a shot at Matt before she took off running once more. But the drug’s effects were slowing her considerably and she was pushing herself hard to get away from them. She was nearly one hundred feet from the mine shaft. Her vision began to blur but she kept on moving. She tripped over a loose branch and fell face first into the dirt. “Dammit. Come on, Carmen. Up and at em, girl.” she groaned, slapping herself back to reality. But it seemed as if her brain and body were no longer communicating. She struggled to move, managing to get an arm to cooperate. “Well shit.” she murmured before the drug took her away completely.

*

Matt was knocked off his feet, but David was pleased his rant worked, and he walked over and offered Matt his hand to help him up. “Are you really gay?” Matt asked, rubbing the back of his head. “Nah…just did that as a distraction…and hey it worked.” Both men laughed and then David asked about the syringe. “Oh this? Its enough to knock out a wild animal for about…20 minutes.” Shane finally appeared, and the three could hear Carmen up ahead, cursing and collapsing. “And there she goes.” Matt said. with David giving her a high fine.::

Up ahead, what they didn’t know was that Johnathon had reached her first. He scooped her up in his arms, and looked about, before running with her at speed into the mine shaft. Needless to say…Shane and the other two…didn’t see this.

*
Carmen awoke slowly, groggy and out-of-sorts. There was a disgusting taste in the back of her mouth, as if she had inhaled dirt. “Ugh. What the fuck?” she mumbled, trying to sit up and getting dizzy for her efforts. She bent her head over her knees, praying she wouldn’t throw up all over her shoes. Bits and pieces of memory flashed back into her head and she remembered killing the redhead and getting slapped into a tree by David and then pain. But after that, things were kind of blurry. She slowly brought her head up out of her knees, looking around to see she was in the mine shaft. “How did I get here?” she asked out loud, not remembering making it this far.

*

Johnathon was sitting perfectly still as he listened for the voices of the others, as they searched the area for traces of Carmen. Surprisingly they were coming up empty handed. “Where the fuck is she?!” Shane roared, now getting really annoyed by this. David and Matt were also confused. “But I heard her. She should be downed about here.” The three men continued to search for her, slowly moving away from the mine shaft, as Johnathon looked at Carmen. “Stay quiet.” he said, then got up and moved closer towards the entrance to see if it was safe.

*

Carmen was now seriously confused. “What the hell?” she thought as she watched Johnathon walk to the mine entrance to see if the coast was clear. “Who are you?” she whispered, having enough sense not to give away their location. But she remained alert all the same. “Why are you helping me?” Or was he keeping her close for his own purpose. If he thought he was getting a free meal, he had another thing coming.

*

The trio were now down on the other side of the lake looking, and this was the chance. He extended his hand towards her and said. “If you want to live…come now.” Would she take his hand?

*

Carmen stared at the man. “What? Who are you? I’m not going anywhere with you until you tell me who the fuck you are?” she hissed. She was still too weak to use her powers, but she had a mean right hook and was prepared to fight with her fists if she needed to.

*

Johnathon stared back at Carmen, as she demanded to know who he was and why he was doing this. “She visited you last night, didn’t she? Well, she did the same to me, and told me you didn’t kill her.” What could this possibly mean? Johnathon reached for her hand again. “I’m Louisa’s brother.”

*

Carmen’s eyes grew as round as saucers. Her brother?! And he believes I didn’t kill her! Carmen was so relieved that someone believed her, she didn’t hesitate. She just needed to get away from here. She took his hand, but started to pull him in the opposite direction. “No, we can’t go that way. I’m sure they’ll be watching for me. There’s a back way out of here.” she told him.

*

Carmen obviously knew the mine shaft a lot better than he, and she had a point. They would be watching. Together, the two of them ran down further into the shaft, whereas out in the grounds around the house, the trio had arrived back where Donna’s headless body lay. Shane….was ropable. “Where is Johnathon?” he asked the other two. David shrugged, not really caring. “Probably fell down a hole.” Matt shook his head. “I didn’t see him.” Stepping over the dead body of Donna, he got into the limo and ordered the driver to take them back to town. “You two…back to Haven. Something fishy’s going on here.” The trio then left, with only Johnathon’s Jeep down by the lake, and the dead body of Donna up near the cabin.

*

Carmen lead them to a large metal door. “Help me with this.” she requested, wrapping her hands around the handle. Together they tugged the heavy door open and Carmen stepped out first. She smiled as she stepped into the basement of the cabin. She did a little happy dance before she turned to help Jonathon shut the door once more. She went up the stairs, looking around for any signs of the others before climbing out. She heard the roar of motorcycles and crawled to the front door, peeking through the blinds as she watched all the vehicles head back down the drive. All that remained was a single jeep and a headless body. She waited a few minutes to make sure they wouldn’t turn around and come back before she got to her feet, breathing a sigh of relief. Round 1 of this war went to Carmen.

*

Johnathon helped Carmen with the door, and then he realized they were right back where they started in the cabin that she owned. He listened closely and heard the sounds of the bikes and the limo pulling away. Giving up so easy? Clearly they had been spooked by something. Either way, they left behind the beheaded body of Donna, and that would need to be disposed of. For a few minutes it was tense for both of them….then sure enough, the coast was clear. Carmen avoided the clutches of Shane….but for how long?

*

“He won’t give up until he has me.” Carmen sighed, staring out the window at nothing in particular. “I’ve directly, or indirectly been the cause of two deaths now and he’s not going to be satisfied until I’m on my knees, serving his needs, whether willingly or not. And I would never willingly belong to him.” She turned to face Johnathon. “I’m sorry about your sister. She was a good person. She saved my life.”

*

“If there is anyone to blame about my sister’s death…its me.” Johnathon said, looking down at the floor. “I introduced her to Shane. He’s not my Sire…but, when my sister met him, she fell madly in love with him. I could have stopped it, but she said she was happy.” Johnathon lamented. He swallowed, and then paused, looking at Carmen with a serious expression. “You say….he won’t give up….and that he won’t be satisfied till you are on your knees. I…” Johnathon stopped and looked away for a second. “I can make it so that…he wouldn’t be able to touch you…..and…you would be more powerful to stop him if he tried.”

*

Carmen frowned. “How?” she was curious enough to wonder, but not gullible enough to believe him. She was born a dark fae and had reached her magical maturity when she was only 12 years old. She had power enough. But she would hear him out…for now. “Explain this to me.” she demanded, opening the door and stepping onto the front porch. She went down to collect the head still bleeding in the driveway. She would take both and burn them in the incinerator at the back of the garage. She waited for his explanation while she worked, removing all traces that the woman vamp was even there.

*

“Simply…if I turn you. He would never be able to touch you again”

*

Carmen stared at him as if he were crazy. “Are you nuts? Why would I do that? I cannot just give up my heritage like that!” That was just madness. “No. I’m sorry, but I will take my chances with what I already have.”

*

Johnathon shrugged. He had tried. “Good luck then.” he said, and simply ambled out the door, heading back down to his jeep, and started to pack up his supplies and tent.

*

Carmen watched him go, amazed he would offer such a thing. But she just didn’t want to give up who she was at he bite of a vampire. She may not have known who her parents were, but she would treasure the fact that they gave her life and a chance at life for the remainder of her days. To give that up…it would shame the small memories she had of them. “I’m sorry.” she whispered into the air, her voice carrying across the lake to where he was packing his things.

She turned to go back inside the house. She had a feeling that Shane wouldn’t be deterred for long and she needed to be on the move before he realized what had happened.

Or was it already too late?

*

Down at the campsite, Johnathon was winding up the support ropes, and then packing away his tent, walking his gear back to the jeep and loading it up slowly. He heard the whisper of Carmen, and looked back up at the house. Her pride in her creed….was going to be the end of her…With all his belongings packed away, he doused the coals and then got into his jeep and drove back to his home.

*

It was now a race against time. Against fate. She ran about the house, packing her belongings, making sure the gas, water, power and heat were turned off, unplugging the generator (which still needed replacing) and packing away the last of the dried food supplies into the basement. It was pitch black outside as she re-hid the key to the house and made her way to the garage with her things. She’d forgotten about the padlock she had on the garage door. “Shit.” she muttered. “Keys? Where did I put those keys?” she hissed, searching her pockets. No keys. She dropped her bags to the ground and frantically began searching for the keys for the garage. She found them stuffed inside a pair of jeans and yanked them out with a cry of triumph. Tossing her things back into her bags, she then had to search for the correct key for the padlock, but it was hard to do with no light. The keys slipped through her sweaty palms and fell to the ground with a jangle of sound. “Dammit!” she swore, crawling to the ground to feel around for them.

*

In the Limo, Shane….was livid. That was two blood dolls he had lost to Carmen, and possibly Johnathon. Brooding, he thought to himself. When he did find her….he was going to make her life…a living hell.

*

She finally got her hands on the keys to the garage and had to go by feel alone to locate the correct one. She inserted it into the lock and the clasp sprung open. She pulled the lock and chain off the handles and opened the garage doors wide. Tossing her bags into the Jeep, she went around and climbed in, jamming the key into the ignition. Starting her up, she backed out, not even daring to turn on the headlights just yet. She climbed back out and closed the garage, replacing the chain and padlock. Satisfied, she got back into the Jeep, turning around to face the driveway. She flipped on the headlights and screamed with surprise and no small amount of fear.

*
Johnathon had arrived back at his cabin, and headed slowly up the stairs, to where his young daughter was standing on the top landing. “What happened, Daddy?” Johnathon scooped up his daughter and held her tight to him, stroking her hair softly as he carried her inside. “I think I did a good thing. Just…didn’t catch any fish.”

*

A bear was standing in the middle of the drive, illuminated in her headlights. “Sweet Jesus.” she muttered, honking her horn and scaring the bear off into the woods. She put the Jeep in gear and slowly headed out, keeping her eyes and her senses alert. She needed to get to town and pick up a map.

*

Emily smiled as her father carried her inside. She was usually a night owl, it came with the territory really. “I keep trying to take you to bed, I know.” Emily playfully poked her father. “You know I don’t sleep at night, Daddy. You’re silly.” Johnathon was willing to cop that, and then took her into her room, and set her down. “Well, what would you like to do?’ he asked. “Tell me where you have been?” Johnathon sighed and sat down on the edge of her bed. “I went to the lake…fishing, then…a lady needed my help.” His daughter sniffed and asked. “Was she pretty?” Johnathon nodded. “Mhm..” “Like Mummy used to be?” His daughter picked up a pony and hugged it tight to her. “Oh this lady was different to mummy.” His daughter ever full of questions asked. “Will she come for dinner?” At this Johnathon ruffled her hair and said. “I don’t think so. She doesn’t like our kind.”

*

She parked in front of the convenience story, glad it was still open this time of night and ran inside. “Do you have maps?” she asked the clerk, who looked as if he had been sleeping. He pointed to the back corner of the store and she quickly made her way to the direction he had indicated. There were maps of the US, maps of the state, brochures for state parks, but not the kind of map she was looking for. She needed a map of Vermont. She turned the rack and found one at the bottom of the rack, snatching it in her hands and making her way back up front.

*

Pulling over at a local gas station, Shane emerged from his limo, and now…had a new plan. He contacted the local sheriff’s office to file a missing person’s report for Donna. He gave over details of everything on Carmen’s cabin as well as the pictures and information supplied by Johnathon. It would be a matter of time before the former hideout was swarming with police. Surely they would find traces of Donna’s blood on the gravel drive, and perhaps pin another murder on Carmen. One way or another, this was going to spark a nation wide man hunt, that would now be hunting a serial killer. Grinning as he handed everything over with a wide smile, he saw a pretty black haired girl sitting in the office, and made eyes at her. The girl gasped at his fantastic good looks, and like a hypnotized zombie, she simply got up from her desk and followed him out to the limo. Getting in, she slid across, and Shane chuckled, as he got in with her and slammed the door.

*

Carmen paid for the map and went back out to the Jeep. She started it up and noticed the gas gage was almost on E. “Shit. One more thing I do not need.” she groaned. She remembered passing a single pump station on her way in town and turned around. She pulled in just as a limo was pulling out and she slammed on the brakes to avoid hitting them head on. “Are you blind?!” she shouted, honking her horn.

*

At this, Shane got out of the back of the limo and was about to abuse the stupid female driver, when he recognised her. “Hello Baby.” he grinned, showing his fangs, and in a flash he was at her car door and tore it open with all his strength. “I’m not blind…but you will soon be.” and with that, he moved to king hit her in the effort to knock her out.

*

Carmen suddenly realized the huge mistake she made, as she recognized the limo and the man climbing out of the back. “Fuck!” she cried, but it was too late. Before she could react appropriately, he had ripped the door from her Jeep, tossing it away behind him and the last thing she remembered seeing was his fist flying toward her face. There was a brief flare of pain and then blackness. She slumped over against the gearshift, out cold.

*
SUCCESS! Shane looked about and then uttered loud enough for people to hear. “Poor woman’s sick, I better take her to hospital.” Lifting her out of her jeep, he carried her over to his limo, where the door was opened by his driver. The young girl in the back watched as Shane slid her in, and then the door was closed. He grinned at the girl and then placed a finger to her lips. His eyes were hypnotic and he whispered. “You and I are going to have some fun. But first…first, I need a little..aphrodisiac.” He then turned to the unconscious Carmen, and licked his lips. The limo sped off from the gas station, leaving her door less jeep behind. At first he started to lick her neck, as he tipped her head over, exposing her skin, and then….he sunk his teeth in, drawing out the delicious dark fae blood. The girl watched on, and said. “Wow, this is better than Twilight.” Shane continued to feed, his eyes darkening, and the prize of her blood was worth all the effort. When he was done, he sealed her wound with his saliva and then tipped her over with his pinky.

“Yummy. Now…how about you?”

—thread change to Shane’s House—

“United…we can do anything. But if he tears us apart, we’re finished.”

“Then we simply won’t let him. Whatever he tries to do, know that I am on your side. You’ve given me so much and now I’d like to return the favor.” she smiled, clasping his hands within her own. “I will do what I can to help you, no matter what the result.” She kissed him once more, pouring every ounce of love and respect she had for him into it before she pulled away, breathless.

“Uhm…we should go check on our guests.” he murmured as the doorbell rang once more.

“That’s probably Mary.” she smiled softly, hugging him to let him know that they were ok. She took his hand in hers and lead them both from the room.

“Shane!” she whispered, throat sore from screaming. “Please…help me. She’s crazy! She’s going to kill you! Get me out of here and I can help you trap her, kill her, before she kills you.” she cajoled.

The girl could barely speak, her throat so dry and her tongue swollen, so her words sounded odd at first. Brandi had to resort to speaking in a whisper, but the words she said were damning of his Carmen. He actually raised an eyebrow suspiciously, and kept his arms folded, as Brandi pulled on the restraints as hard as she could. Trying desperately to break free, and be in his arms again. Perhaps she thought it was safer with him, then the wild Carmen, but truth was, Shane was far darker than she could have possibly imagined.

“Please…help me. She’s crazy! She’s going to kill you! Get me out of here and I can help you trap her, kill her, before she kills you.” 

The wild ramblings of a girl that had lost far too much blood. Carmen? Crazy? Hardly seemed plausible. Shane checked his watch, and saw that he had time to play along with this game.

“Kill me? You really think so? Oh hun, you think by me letting you go, that you could help stop her?”

Shane pushed himself off the wall, lowering his arms and started to walk towards her slowly, menacingly.

“And, just how do you plan to trap her? Hmm? Use yourself as bait?” Shane asked, getting close enough for Brandi to smell Carmen on him. He reached out and ran his finger down the left side of her face, almost teasing the girl, but not letting her go.

<3>

“You see, I only keep blood dolls for so long, till I get bored, or…they do something stupid, like…heh, tell me that the love of my unlife wants to kill me. That…was a big mistake on your part…”You…like every other blood doll I have had….will die.”

She smirked and moved closer, peaking around the door jam to watch with undisguised glee.

“No! She’s corrupted you! You don’t want to kill me! This is all her fault! Shane! Please! Let me help you!” Brandi begged, twisting in her restraints as if the mere thought of it would set her free.

Brandi was clearly shocked by what Shane was saying, and though he meant every word, she believed in her mind that Carmen had corrupted him…when really it was the other way around. Her shouting had him pull back slightly, almost having a comical expression to her face of terror. He removed his hand from her neck, again another gesture that showed maybe he might change his mind on killing her.

“No! She’s corrupted you! You don’t want to kill me! This is all her fault! Shane! Please! Let me help you!”

“Brandi…Brandi…Brandi.” Shane repeated her name over and over, in that rich accent of his, loving and feeding off the fear that was now taking hold of the room. He even inhaled deeply and let out a satisfied sigh. Then a dark laugh escaped his lips as he hovered over her, like a menacing ghoul.

“Every time..WE fucked…I was fucking her. Every waking moment, in my head…I am loving one woman. Carmen. She is my Queen…she is my night…she is the very blood in my veins. Yes, I sired her. I can see through her eyes, heh, even now.” Shane started to pant, like he was getting hungry, his face starting to change and contort from the handsome facade that all above had seen and know. His claws extended on his right hand, and her brought it to the thin fabric of her shapeless dress, and started to tear it back, revealing her naked torso beneath.

“All…you are, is a meal. One…I intend to share.”

Suddenly his clawed hand ripped her chest open, right down between her breasts, with her blood spilling out, as he turned his head towards the door. The face of a killer stared out, almost like he was no longer seeing for himself.

No matter how much Brandi struggled, she could not be freed from his vicious onslaught, while Shane whispered in a haunting sound to his mate.

“Come dine with me, my love.”

<3>

~Cry no more, My Brother~

(All along I have played you. Now…the final card is being dealt.)

The lights of the ancient mansion flickered, as the guests all hushed. Something eerie was happening, as each of the massive arch windows shuddered and shook. A low and evil groan as though the house itself was being shaken, like an earth quake. The guests all looked amongest them as if they were lost as to the reason the building was quaking.

Vincent stopped where he stood, as flakes of ceiling plaster rained down and the glasses and crockery on a banquet table all shuddered and shook, some glasses exploding, as a high pitch whistle rang out.

The sudden roar of cars, motorcycles….by the hundreds, and car head lights illuminated the outside of the building. The flashes of light terrified the three hundred odd guests, who all started to run for the nearest exit – the main double doors.

Vincent threw up his hands and roared at them.

“STAY WHERE YOU ARE!”

But trying to stop the wave of panic that now descended upon the vampires was near impossible, as all the windows in the grand ballroom were blown open, and a wave of Shane and Carmen’s followers all started to pour in. The double doors were smashed down from the outside, and the twins barreled in, looking for Carmen through the throng. Vampires armed with axes and blades started to massacre the followers of Vincent, blood letting on a scale unmatched, and in the midst of it, the lost boys finally arrived.

Shane and David.

Unbeknownst to all, they were blood brothers. Real Brothers. The final secret was about to be revealed, as David sneered wearing his traditional black long coat, hair done to perfection in that 80′s style mullet, while his brother Shane came in wearing his regal Master’s clothing. Heads were being severed, and were rolling on the floor, as the army of Shane and David was far greater than that of Vincent’s drunken horde. Screams and crying out as the two walked towards Vincent, who was backing up seeing them reunited.

“No…Not this time. Shane. I have her now, she is mine…MINE!” He glared at David, who was busy lighting a cigarette calmly, smirking at the situation. “You hate Shane. Remember, he betrayed you!” David shrugged and then took a drag of his cigarette and blew out up at the roof before saying in reply. “Yeah, er…sorry, that was a set up. Heh, and it worked. Got your trust though, didn’t it?’

David winked at Carmen, as Shane stepped forward and asked;

“Is she really, Vinnie? Is she truly yours?” He smirked, watching Carmen out of the corner of her eye and then focused back on Vincent.

“You might want to check on that.”

<3>

In the back seat, Isabella pulls her breast away from Jason’s lips and then bends her head to his neck and is slowly licking closed her bite marks, as the bullet wounds in his back spit out the bullets that were lodged in his body. The wounds start to close as his heart…stops. He is undead.

Isabella eases back and caresses his cheek gently. Her new sire is a handsome one. Rugged and in a way distinguished. Without letting her eyes leave his gaze, she says out loud to her driver.

“I like this one.”

“Yes, Mistress.”

“Prepare his room, and then meet me in the observatory.”

The driver nods, stepping out of the car, only to open her door for her first. Isabella slides off her new charge and then exits the car, not bothering to wait, as she glides up to the stairs, that led up to the main house. Luther stands and watches for Jason to emerge.

“Get a move on. Mistress does not like to be kept waiting.”

<3>

As the lights began to flicker, everyone began to look around in fright, wondering what the hell was going on. The windows began to vibrate with little tinkling sounds as the panes of glass rattled in their frames. The mansion shuddered and groaned around them, shaking dust and plaster from the ceiling.

The chandeliers rattled and quaked, the crystals within them banging against each other in a God-awful racket.

One of the chandeliers broke away from the ceiling, shattering across the floor and sending glass shards flying everywhere, impaling a couple of vampires who were standing too close for comfort and sending their bodies into the dust.

The roar of motorcycles and cars erupted outside the mansion and lights from dozens upon dozens of headlights illuminated the room in its glow. Nervous and scared, nearly 300 vampires made a break for the nearest exist – the main doors at the other end of the hall.

“STAY WHERE YOU ARE!” Vincent roared, to no avail. It was like trying to stop a stampede of wild buffalo. Not a chance in hell.

Carmen, a smirk on her face, ducked into an alcove, just as all the windows exploded inward.

Vampires, belonging to both Shane and David poured in through the windows, most of them carrying weapons and began decapitating Vincent’s cadre of vampires left and right, flashes of light from vampires disintegrating blinking in and out around the room.

Carmen spotted the twins looking around for her and immediately went to their side, the two of them standing in front of her as her faithful guards. Dyna and Booker even joined the fray, Booker transforming into his Werewolf form and howling with the lust for vampire blood. With the twins as her protectors, she knew she was in good hands.

Vincent was backing away from everyone, shock written all over his face.

“No…Not this time. Shane. I have her now, she is mine…MINE!” he roared, snarling in anger at Shane. He looked at David.“You hate Shane. Remember, he betrayed you!”

David shrugged, looking at Shane before blowing out the drag he’d taken from his cig.

“Yeah, er…sorry, that was a set up. Heh, and it worked. Got your trust though, didn’t it?” David threw Carmen a wink and she tried her damnedest not to smirk. Shane stepped forward, eying Vincent with contempt.

“Is she really, Vinnie? Is she truly yours?” Shane asked, glancing quickly at Carmen. She stepped away from the protective guard of her twins and moved to Shane’s side. She wrapped her arms around her husband’s neck and pulled him into a scorching kiss, that was hot enough to blast a hole in the wall. With a delightful moan, she drew back from him, licking her lips as if savoring the taste of him upon her lips. She moved her arms from around his neck to around his waist as Shane looked at Vincent, that familiar Hollywood grin on his face.

“You might want to check on that.”

If it were possible to kill people with a look, Vincent managed it really well. Carmen withdrew herself from Shane’s arms and slowly approached Vincent, fingering the vial in her pocket.

“You know…I had every intention of letting you walk away from this…knowing that you were beaten at your own game. But you made a mistake…” Carmen stated, withdrawing the vial from her pocket. Faster than humanly possible, she was at his throat, shoving him to the ground, the vial popped open and ready. “You killed my mother! And for that, you fucking die!” she snarled, rapidly shifting into her vampire form. The vial came down and smashed against Vincent’s face, the poisoned blood acting quickly as his skin began to bubble. For good measure, she leaned in and ripped out his throat with her teeth, spitting away his foul flesh before backing away from the smoking and dying vampire at her feet. She wiped the blood from her mouth as she returned to Shane’s side.

The cry came from the back of the room. The only one that truly loved Vincent was still standing, though she had suffered a brutal attack from Carmen earlier on. She crawled across the floor, to where his shocking remains lay. He was in the final moments, twisting and jerking; his black blood seeping out of his ruined body creating a black pool all around him. She reached for what was left of his head and cradled it, as disgusting as it was. Bridgette sobbed as she rocked back and forth, then her tears stopped as she slowly raised her head, laying the head of Vincent on the ground. She pushed herself to standing, and started to laugh. It was the laughter of someone that had completely lost her mind. All around, were the remains of nearly all of Vincent’s followers and she was the only one left.

“Does Shane know of how you sacrificed Matt and Sarah? Huh? You would give up anyone just to be the Queen. One day she will betray you too, Shane!….All of you!” she shouted to the remaining Vampire army.

“There is only one Queen of the night…Only one! And she is….”

Suddenly there was a massive gun shot fired, and it blew a hole into the skull of Bridgette, the entire back section of her skull being blown away. Bits of brain and black blood poured out of the opening, as she slowly collapsed upon her “Father” Vincent.

The whole room turned to see who fired the shot.

Blowing the barrel of her revolver, Marissa smiled at everyone.

“Sorry I’m late….I like to make an entrance.”

<3>

Isabella was not used to having her sires ask her such things, and she looked at him coolly and then said. “I saved you…sort of.” She offered a wry grin, and then continued. “You were about thissssss close to death.” she pinched her finger tips together to illustrate the point, and then shrugged her shoulders. “I came along at just the right time, and took you home with me. I fed from you, and you * she brushed her body against his, sensually.* “…fed from me. Now you have my blood in your veins, and you are…not dead. You’re…just not alive either.”

She stopped just outside his new room, which Luther had quickly prepared.

“This is your new home. You are to remain here, the rest of your nights till the end of time.”

Luther gave Jason a fierce look, before he trudged off to his own room, leaving Isabella and Jason alone.

“I’m yours, Jason…just as you are mine. I will be in your dreams, and your nightmares. You will lust for me, and I for you.” Isabella licked his chin before sealing his lips with a hungered kiss. She pulled away licking her lips.

“Your life before you met me, is now over. To the rest of the world, you are dead. But we know better. You…are now Vampire.” She said, grinning broadly, waiting for the realization to hit him.

<3>

The distraught young woman gained her feet ranting at all within hearing that Carmen allowed Matt and Sarah to be killed, that one day Carmen would betray Shane and everyone else in the room, before the report of a gunshot echoed in the near-silence. Bridgette’s skull exploded backwards, splattering black icor and bits of brain everywhere as she slowly collapsed upon her “father”.

All eyes turned to see Marissa standing in the doorway, blowing at the smoke from the barrel of her revolver.

“Sorry I’m late….I like to make an entrance.” she grinned. Carmen ignored her in favor of looking at Shane, who was still staring at his daughter…now dead. She slowly reached out to touch his arm, hoping he wouldn’t throw her off.

“Shane?” she murmured, stepping into his line of sight, blocking his view to force him to look at her. “Baby? You know it had to be done, right?” she questioned. “There was no hope for her…she was brainwashed so thoroughly.” she stated. But Shane was unresponsive. With a sigh, she stepped back and looked at the twins, Dyna and Booker, who was still in his wolf form. “Let’s go outside…give him some time alone.” She could feel Shane’s pain and it nearly knocked her off her feet. But she would wait for him to come to her, just as she’s always done.

She and the others were unaware…that this fight was long over…but the war was just beginning…

~The Rose~

The child that Bridgette had been long before she was lost to Shane was a beautiful child. A flower, blossoming and sweet. Such innocence was what Shane had in his memories. The nights he sat up reading her bed time stories, the days of summer fishing on the lake, the winter nights roasting marsh mellows. Sack races, corn dogs at the fair….all the moments of a father and daughter. As Shane stood there, seeing his daughter’s blooded body now strewn across that of Vincent, it was the end of yet another chapter.

Carmen appeared in front of Shane, and tried to speak to him, to get through the haze that he was feeling. He had won back his Queen, but in the end, he lost his Princess….his rose.

“Baby? You know it had to be done, right?” she questioned. “There was no hope for her…she was brainwashed so thoroughly.”

Shane was unresponsive, as the others all left, and as Shane stood alone. But he was not alone. David came up by his side, and placed a hand on his shoulder.

“She was an amazing kid once. She’s free now. Not tortured anymore of who is right, who is wrong.” he looked to his brother, who was tearful, and said. “She’ll always be your little girl”

That said, the two brothers walked out of the ball room. Leaving behind the shattered remains of Vincent’s coven.

In a gilded frame, high above the throne, there was a painting. A portrait. The Queen.

“Isabella.”

<3>

As the sun set below the horizon, Carmen was the first to wake, as usual. It took her a moment to get oriented, memories of the night before flooding her mind. It had been an emotional evening for everyone involved in last night’s battle and when Shane finally emerged from the mansion, Carmen had seen the tears drying upon his cheeks. She went to his side immediately and embraced him in a loving hug, unsure if her actions would even be appreciated.

They had returned home, leaving David and the remainder of his crew to set fire to the mansion to burn any evidence away that would trace back to them.

Carmen had taken charge of the house once again, handing out orders to her own coven as she took Shane to their room and put him to bed. He had still been in a state of shock as the sun finally pulled them into sleep.

She used her arm to prop her head up, staring down at Shane’s face as he continued to sleep, her hand resting upon his chest, her thumb rubbing across his skin in comfort. She wanted her face to be the first thing he saw when he finally opened his eyes. She wanted him to know that no matter what, she was with him, would not leave him, would not abandon him or betray him. He would come to learn that her word was her bond and she had never broken it once.

The two day trek back from the market lands had finally brought the caravans home to a rousing welcome from the Njada people. As the procession passed under the battling stallions, you could hear the cheers and cries of the people, as they ran out of their huts and tents. Scores of wives and children, servants and the like, all happy to see the brave Njada men return home, with what was sure to be a plentiful bounty in their days of trade.

Togar rode on proudly, with IIyra at his side, as they were the first to enter the village proper.

One that was pleased to welcome them home was Togar’s brother; Marmut who emerged from his elaborate tent, wearing a simple flap of leather, since he had just mated with one of his slaves. He beamed as he saw his brother, and then when his eyes fell upon the white haired elf that was riding the white mare, his grin only increased. Tagor had done well in this year’s trade. Such a fine slave, but he was quizical as to why the girl was riding a horse at all. Normally they had to walk behind the caravans. What had brought about this change? Either way, he could feel the stirring in his loins just looking at IIyra. He could only imagine how she would feel, when he had her on the furs.

Marmut continued to watch, as Tagor pulled up and then dismounted his horse, only instead of greeting his brother, he went to help IIyra off her horse. From here, he simply walked her to his own tent. No doubt he wished to have some time alone with her. This only made Marmut frown.

What was going on?

<3>

Ilyra’s eyes were wide as she looked upon the multitudes of men, women, children and servants who rushed from their huts and tents to welcome the Njada men home. If these people ever went to battle, they would surely outnumber the raiding armies by at least 20 to 1.

They pulled to a stop outside what she assumed was Tagor’s living quarters. He dismounted his horse and went about helping her down from hers. She thanked her mare for the safe journey before Tagor whisked her away to his tent.

She was unaware of the eyes…of Tagor’s brother, Marmut, that followed them.

Inside Tagor’s tent, it was much bigger then the one they’d spent the night in and much more lived in. She could see his armaments of battle stacked in the corner, almost hidden by a thick fur that served as a curtain of sorts. Curious, she walked around, looking at his things, but not touching them as she wasn’t sure it would be allowed. Though her heart knew she was no longer a slave, her mind told her a different story and it was difficult to blend the two. It would take some time, she knew.

She turned to face him, her hair gleaming in the firelight, her eyes as dark as shadows. For some reason, she was inexplicable nervous, now that they were in his homelands.

“It’s lovely.” she whispered, clutching her hands nervously.

Jamai was not far along in the procession, but he could see up ahead, that Tagor had helped IIyra from her horse and then taken her into his tent. He knew what this meant, and was swift to act, so that the Chief would not be kept waiting. As the large carts were pulling in, and many families were being reunited, Jamai made his way to one of the slave women’s tents and called out for Sharma, who was once one of Togar’s slaves but very long ago. She ended up being given to another man, who had lost his wife in child birth, and kept the man happy to the end of his days. Now she helped with everything from child birth, to the preparing of women for feasts. She was regarded as one of the more fortunate of the slaves, though not free…she was treated with much respect.

Sharma appeared out of the tent and bowed to Jamai, curious for this summons.

“Tagor has returned from the trade lands,and brought with him a woman.” Now, at first Sharma suspected it was just another slave, but there was something in Jamai’s expression that said otherwise. She didn’t want to push it, but her look was one of confusion.

“She is a Winter Elf. A special woman, and I suspect that Tagor…has planted his seed.” Jamai said firmly.

Sharma nodded, but inwardly she was shocked. Tagor never did this sort of thing normally. There had to be something special about this woman, something very special indeed.

“What you have me do, Jamai?’ Sharma asked, now wanting to know what was expected of her.

“Go to Tagor’s tent. I know him well, he will want her to have a maiden to help her prepare for life here in the Njada. You are best suited for this. Tagor also trusts you above many. Go now.”

Sharma didn’t wait to be asked again. She bowed and quickly hurried across the settlement to Tagor’s tent.

Inside Tagor’s tent

Tagor watched Ilyra silently as she nervously made her way around his tent. He smiled somewhat, knowing that she would be out of place here, not sure of what to touch, or what to do. He crossed the floor and then reached for her head, planting a kiss on her forehead.

“Happy…you will be. Tagor make sure of this. Later a feast is held for our return. You will see all of the people.” He pulled back and caressed her cheek with his large hand. There was much that he had to do, now he was back, but he knew she would not be alone. Right on cue there was a cough from outside the tent, and Tagor growled the word enter.

Sharma appeared, and kept her eyes down as she came in and got on her knees.

“I have been sent to care for Tagor’s woman.” Sharma said softly, hoping that she was not speaking out of turn.

“Good.” Just one word, and Tagor was pleased. He took one last look at IIyra, and you could see that he wanted more than anything to stay, but he had his people to lead, and so he left the tent, leaving the two women alone.

Sharma remained kneeling, her head down. IIyra would need to instruct her to move.

<3>

“Enter” he commanded. A young woman entered and knelt before them both, not looking at either of them. Ilyra wondered what she was here for. Was he already tired of her and was seeking his nights elsewhere?

The woman spoke then. “I have been sent to care for Tagor’s woman.” she stated.

Tagor nodded, pleased. He looked at Ilyra once more before he left the tent. Ilya watched him go, unsure of what she was to do now. She looked at the woman kneeling at her feet.

“Please…you do not need to kneel before me. Stand, if you will.” Ilyra stated, waiting as the woman did so. “What is your name?”

“I am Sharma, mate of Tagor. It is an honor to serve you.”

“Oh! You’re a slave?”

“No slave. Honored servant to house of Tagor. I help you.” Sharma stated.

“Oh, thank you.” Ilyra nodded, a small smile flitting about her face. “I am unsure what to do here. I would hate to disappoint Tagor with my inexperience.”

Sharma noticed the mark of the snow upon Ilyra’s neck and now understood so much more.

“You have mark of Winter People. You will be fine. Come. I show you where you may bathe and refresh.” Nodding, Ilyra rooted through the things Tagor had purchased for her and took out a fresh shift and soft boots. She and Sharma left the tent and headed off together, unaware they were being followed.

Not far from the main encampment of the Njada, was a place known as Basalt falls. It was used primarily by the women of the Njada, and traditionally a place where men did not go. When women were experiencing their monthly cycle, it was here, that they often came to bathe. Also, it was a place where the free and slaves were able to speak openly. It was only fair in a male dominated society, that the women did have a place to their own.

As Sharma led IIyra into the tranquil setting, she let out a sigh of relief coming through the canopy and hearing the delightful gurgling sound of the waters spilling over large pebbles and stones. Around the outer perimeter of the lagoon, was a moss covered bank, that had many places to lay and catch the filtered rays of the sun, that streamed down through the boughs filled with leaves. Setting down her basket of clothes, soaps, and cleaning rock, she looked back over her shoulder as IIyra came on after her.

“You are safe here, IIyra of Njada. No men can enter.”

Words said in the spirit of what the elders had declared, but…someone did not care for rules or rituals, and followed along silently, hiding in the brush.

Sharma approached IIyra and reached to undo her dress ties, to strip her for bathing. She looked upon the girl with kind brown eyes, much like you would imagine a leopard. She smelt strongly of exotic oils, and her body was covered in tattoos and markings of being owned by many masters. She even bore Tagor’s mark.

“Master Tagor likes you. I can see why.”

She started to stroke her hands down the woman’s body and then took her hand, to lead her into the cool blue waters.

<3>

Basalt Falls – Njada Lands

Sharma lead Ilyra to the common area the women use for their bathing needs. It was a lovely spot, not far from the village, but isolated enough that they could not be seen.

Ilyra looked around in wonder. It was a very tranquil setting.

“This is lovely.” she stated, setting her things besides Sharma’s. “And we won’t be bothered here?”

“You are safe here, Ilyra of Njada. No men can enter.” Sharma reassured her. Ilyra nodded, feeling relieved she wouldn’t have to fight off other men vying for her attentions.

Or so she thought…

Sharma stepped up to Ilyra and helped her remove her dress, stripping her so they could bathe. Her eyes were kind and she understood some of Ilyra’s nervousness, being thrust into a new situation, with a man who seemed to think the world of her. Sharma looked over Ilyra’s body without censure and liked what she saw. Jamai was correct in stating the elven woman was special. She seemed to be made for Tagor personally.

“Master Tagor likes you. I can see why.” Sharma smiled kindly, running her hands down Ilyra’s hair and body, undoing the braids of her hair so it could be washed. They talked in low voices, and with the rushing waters around their legs, anyone who was trying to listen would only hear mumbling.

“I don’t see it to be honest.” Ilyra sighed as the two women waded into the water. “I’m just a simple slave.”

“No, Ilyra of Njada, Elf of Winterlands. You are not a ‘simple slave’ as you put it. You are mate to Tagor. You carry his child. No slave before you has ever held such an honor.” Sharma stated in a soft but commanding tone. It startled Ilyra for a moment.

“How did you know?”

“I bring all Njada into these lands. I always know. It is way you carry self, proud, yet delicate. There is light in your eye.”

“Oh.” Ilyra smiled, looking down. Sharma swam up behind her and began rubbing soap into Ilyra’s hair. Ilyra remained still under the woman’s ministrations. She pressed a hand to Ilyra’s shoulder so that she could duck low and wash the soap from her hair.

Once she was clean, they moved to a cropping of rocks where Sharma rubbed some oil into Ilyra’s hair to keep it shiny and healthy before she re-braided it. As she worked, Sharma explained to Ilyra what would be expected of her as Tagor’s mate.

“You must always be ready. Most important.”

“Ready? For what?” Ilyra wondered. Sharma gave her a very distinct look and Ilyra blushed fiercely. “Oh…that.”

“Yes. Njada men are sexual creatures, always wanting their women at any given time. It proves to the others that they have vitality.”

“Hmm.” Ilyra hummed.

“You have right to say no. Njada warriors tend to bend to their women’s wills on certain matters. Mates are equals. Not one-sided.”

“I understand.”

“Njada males may not claim mated women for their own. It is considered an act of treason. Njada male come to you, not Tagor, you tell immediately. No hiding. No running. Tagor not like mate to be sniffed after like dog.”

Ilyra had wondered about that. When they had first arrived, she had caught one of the men looking at her appraisingly from her peripheral and it made her feel very uncomfortable. She had put it out of her mind for a time, but Sharma’s words brought it back. She nodded in understanding.

Sharma finished braiding Ilyra’s hair before she helped the elf dry the rest of her body. Then they moved toward their dirty clothing to wash them before the dressed, chatting more about Ilyra’s new life with Tagor and the Njada.

As Sharma and IIyra washed their clothes and chatted about life in the Njada lands, there was someone watching and had been the entire time. Marmut; Tagor’s blood brother who had seen the beautiful Winter elf arrive found himself captivated and definitely wanted what he believed to be owed. He licked his lips in anticipation, and when he saw the women hunched down and scrubbing on the rocks, he thought it was the perfect time to make his move. Rising up to full height, he broke the code, and ventured into the sacred women’s bathing spot. His footsteps did not go unnoticed, as the leaf litter below his naked feet crunched loudly. Sharma turned around, half shocked to see Marmut there, walking towards them

“You are forbidden, Marmut. This is women’s falls.” Sharma pushed herself up and then saw the lustful gleam in his eyes, directed at IIyra. The split second she knew exactly what his intent was, and she was not about to stand for it. Bravely, she stood in front of IIyra to shield her as Marmut spoke gruffly.

“Tagor bring back woman. Marmut has rights.” this is what Marmut believed according to the past trips to the slave markets. He had no idea that things had changed. Sharma gasped and shook her head, holding up her hands in protest.

“Master Tagor…mated Illyra. She is Njada, you cannot touch.” Sharma was truly putting herself in danger now, as the Njada tribesman grew fierce, his face like thunder as his hands balled into fists.

“Slave no talk to Marmut like Njada!” He then drew back his right arm, and smashed Sharma in the face, knocking her off her feet and sending her flying back, tripping on a rock and then landing with a splash in the waters. Sneering at the fallen slave, he then turned his attentions to IIyra and commanded;

“ALL FOURS…NOW!”

<3>

Jamai was coming back from tending to the horses, when he saw one of Marmut’s slaves appear out from his tent. She was beaten and bleeding, and as the air hit her she collapsed on the ground. Jamai and a few of the nearby slaves raced to her aid, and on reaching her, Jamai pulled the girl’s head onto his lap, as he sang out for the Njada medicine woman for aid. The woman was hiccuping up blood, from internal injuries, and Jamai asked…begged..

“Who did this, Kaleaf?’

With a trembling body, her head jerked as another spasm gripped her.“Mar…Marmut…he…no…want…Kaleaf. Want…Togar..slave.” As the last word came out, the medicine woman arrived, only to see the slave girl stare into space, her body finally succumbing to death. The women surrounding Kaleaf and Jamai started wailing, as the Medicine woman started to speak rapidly in tongues. Marmut had killed his slave, so he could replace her with IIyra. Jamai laid Kalaef on the ground, as he used his fingers to close her eyes for the last time. If Marmut was prepared to do this, to get IIyra, what chance did a woman who was with IIyra stand. Immediately he realized that Sharma and IIyra were both in danger. He jumped to his feet and raced for Tagor’s tent, leaving behind the sobbing group of women around Kaleaf.

Reaching the tent, he didn’t bother to stop and call out, running in only to see it was empty. He did a mad search around the tent for clues to where the women would be and saw that the wash basket was gone.

“The falls!” His voice rang out and as he left the tent, Tagor was heading towards him. Tagor looked at him sternly, as Jamai appeared panic stricken. Would Marmut break the very rites of the women’s bathe spot? Looking over at the howling slaves, he knew the answer. He stared up at the hulking Njada and told him what he thought.

“Marmut kill his slave. He has gone after IIyra.”

“WHAT?!” Tagor thundered, enraged at the very notion another man, let alone his brother would dare so much as look at her. He then remembered the tradition and realized that Marmut thought he had the right. The large Njada looked about, then asked.

“Where is IIyra?”

Jamai already knew. “The falls. Washing.”

Without a moment to spare, the two men both dashed into the forest and raced to get to IIyra and Sharma, before it was too late.

Basalt Falls – Njada Lands

Sharma was unconscious in the waters, only being kept alive by IIyra holding her head up. the angered Njada; Marmut was being kept back by the ice barrier, but he had started to smash at it with his fists, determined to have what he wanted. As he pounded away at the ice slab, he didn’t hear the sound of Tagor and Jamai racing up behind him.

“MARMUT…BROTHER YOU GET AWAY FROM MY WOMAN!”

Marmut spun around and there he saw the two men, and one of which was a seething Tagor, whose very veins were sticking out on his neck. Marmut spat at him. “Marmut has rights!” Jamai then bellowed. “Marmut killed own slave…to have IIyra. Marmut has NO rights to mate of Tagor.” Marmut withdrew a large dagger from his sheath, crazed by his need to rut with the Winter elf. He slashed at Tagor in defiance, but Tagor was faster, seizing Marmut’s wrist as the slash missed, and then broke Marmut’s arm in a fit of rage that was explosive. The very bone broke free through his flesh, and this sent Marmut crashing to his knees. Marmut screamed in agony, as Tagor took up the dagger, and then in one fitting blow, he slashed his own brother’s throat. Blood poured out of the wound, as Marmut gasped, and then collapsed on the grassy moss rocks, dead.

Jamai who was partially in shock, could see Sharma floating in the waters, and raced into the water to drag her out, as Tagor dropped the dagger, and walked to his woman, stepping over the broken pieces of ice. He went into the water, and then….he knelt down and placed his forehead to her belly, wrapping his powerful arms around her.

“Tagor…. kill for you.”

And he had.

<3>

The number 54 train from Linkinshaw was running suprisingly late. An old frieght locomotive that had not been in service for sometime had appeared on the schedule, much to the Central station Master’s surprise. He had been following its progress, as the train was running well past midnight and with a skeleton crew on at the Central station, there was really nothing much else going on. The usual commuters were all tucked away in their beds and the city slept. Well…most of the city. Standing on platform five was a dark figure who was about six and a half feet tall. Dark skin and a balding head, with a long scar across his right cheek.

Interestingly enough, security cameras on that platform….saw nothing.

The faintest of light was seen in the darkened underground tunnel that led to the Central station. On the platform, newspapers were whipped up by the surge of wind as a dull fog seemed to be now rolling across the platform all coming from the same tunnel.

Up in the control room, the blinking light again showed number 54 was on the move. the Station master eased forward in his seat – his cigarette burning low as he squinted at the large monitor.

“What the hell?” He thought to himself. It was going to stop on platform five, but that was a commuter train stop. Freight trains were meant to go on nine and ten. Curiosity got the better of him, as he reached for his hat and then stubbed out his cigarette. There was no on on platform five. None…that he could see. He pushed himself out of his chair, and taking his report chart and whistle, he left the control room and made his way down to the platforms, but as he left the room, all the train lights on the monitor, suddenly came to life. Two trains changed tracks, and were on a collision course.

Down on platform five, the mystery frieght train came rolling into a stop. The dark man grinning to himself as the wooden slatted freight carriage marked #115 stopped right in front of him. He slapped his gloved hands together and strolled towards the locked door of the carriage, and placed a large key in the brass lock. It opened with a grinding snap and unlocked. The man tossed the lock away behind him, while up ahead the driver got out of the main engine and started to walk down slowly, holding a red lantern. He walked with a noticeable limp and growled low as he approached the larger man who was trying to open the wooden door, which groaned and creaked as it slid on unoiled tracks.

Inside the carriage was a trolley and a large wooden box. It had Romanian letters down the sides and it was large enough to contain…a coffin. As the dark man entered the carriage to get out the box and wheel it with the trolley, the Station Master approached from the stair well.

“Hey! What is this train doing on number five platform? Where is your identification pass?”

He was speaking to the driver, who now ambled slowly towards him, but the faint light offered no clue as to the man’s identity. All he did, was growl in response. The Station Master was getting annoyed and pulled out his report clip board. Checking the time table, he shook his head. “This train should not be here.”

Suddenly a voice behind him said.

“It’s only…a hundred years late.”

Turning around, the man dropped the clip board as he saw a beautiful raven haired woman approach. She licked her lips, but it was clear as she came into view, that she had elongated fangs pressed on the outside of her full lips.

“That’s impossible.” The Station Master said, now starting to back up. He ripped up his whistle that dangled on his chain and went to put it into his mouth, as the woman darted at speed and seized the man by the throat with her right clawed hand. “Ah ah ahhh. No one..is going to hear you.” That said, she brought up her other hand to the top of his head, and then twisting forcibly, she broke his neck, letting his lifeless body fall to the ground.

Laughing, she took a glance inside the carriage and uttered. “We don’t have much time, Rhekas. Let’s get the box and get out of here.” The dark man nodded and tied up the wooden box to the trolley, and started to back it out of the wooden carriage, while the driver came up alongside the raven haired woman, and started to nuzzle her neck affectionately. She stroked his cheek as though she had some affection for him, then lowered her arm as she fell in behind the dark man, who wheeled the wooden box to the nearest lift. The train driver then grabbed the arm of the dead Station master, whose eyes were staring out soulessly, and took him back up to the front engine of the train.

The lights changed to green as the train started off again, while on another track that was in a populated area of the city, two passenger trains were on a collision course. With no one to stop it.

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