11 comments/ 19924 views/ 37 favorites The Slayers Ch. 01-02 By: kalamazoo707 Note: Hi all. This story is written for a very special person- my niece whose name happens to be Brittney. I asked her if it was alright to post this and she said okay. This is chapters 1 and 2 and I just completed chapter 8. For those of you following the Sinclaires, Chapter 1 of Joseph is with the editor and I hope to have it back soon. In the meantime I am submitting 'The Slayers'. Thanks to all of you who have already read it on my blog and to donalde, Jean and mostera1 who beta read either all or part of it for me. Brittney Marsh covered her head when the alarm began to ring. She hated the loud clanging of the alarm which grew louder with every passing second. Finally, she reached over and silenced it before going back to sleep. She really didn't need to set it- she was off for the week and could have slept without the interruption. When she woke up again, it was well after ten in the morning; but she lounged enjoying the fact that she didn't have to get up at all if she didn't want to. "Damn it," she swore after a few minutes. She had forgotten that she promised her sister that she would go shopping with her. She really didn't want to go- she was quite frugal with her money and as a result had a nice nest egg already built up. It wasn't hard to do- she lived in a small apartment that wasn't the 'Ritz' by any stretch of the imagination, she rarely ate out and she packed her lunch for work. Vacations for the most part were spent at home and if she did go anywhere; it was a day trip. She had a car, but it was rarely driven- she didn't want to pay for gas so she rode her bike everywhere or took public transportation. Her family didn't get it, but had stopped questioning her a long time ago about her quiet lifestyle. When she wasn't at work, she was taking online classes or doing the one thing that she did spend money on- martial arts lessons. Currently she was studying 'Krav Maga' a hand to hand combat system that was developed in Israel. What she liked about it was that there were generally no rules and that nothing was out of bounds if it kept the practitioner safe. She was proficient in other forms of martial arts as well, but if she had to choose a form as a favorite, it would be the 'mixed martial arts' in which various forms of martial arts could be used at once. For relaxation it was 'Tai Chi'. Reluctantly, she rolled out of bed and headed for the bathroom. There was no sense in procrastinating and if she was even a minute late, her phone would begin to ring. When she got to the bathroom, Brittney examined her reflection in the mirror. She was a small woman, barely five feet two inches and thin. It wasn't the thinness of an anorexic, but the thinness of one who obsessively watched what they ate and was physically active. Her hot chocolate colored skin was blemish free and her dark eyes clear and expressive. "Genetics," she muttered as she continued her self-examination. "Jeez, I've got to do something with this hair," she said as she twirled several strands of her shoulder length black hair between her fingers. "Cut it?" she asked her reflection. "Nah, my head is shaped too funny. Braids? No- they itch and I don't want to sit for hours when I could be doing other things". Finally she decided to table the debate about her hair and get a move on. An hour later, she was in her car headed toward her sister Amanda's house. She really didn't want to drive, but Amanda lived in the Roosevelt Boulevard part of Philadelphia and she lived in the Northern part. The idea of taking public transportation after a day of shopping was less appealing than driving so she decided to drive. Unlike her, Amanda had a significant other, loved to spend money and lived in a nice house. She had been trying to talk Brittney into spending the night since her man Paul had to work. "Come on Britt," Amanda begged. "We can watch movies, eat popcorn and try to find a man for you. Paul has several single friends." Brittney had begged off. She wanted a quiet evening at home reading one of the several new vampire novels that she bought. She planned to be in bed early and then be up early to spend the morning training with her teacher and the one person that she considered to be a true friend; Jian Bo. They had met at work a few years ago when he had just arrived from China. His English was weak at best and no one wanted to take the time to teach him the ropes except for Brittney- she had firsthand knowledge of how the cliques at the office worked. Eventually they became so close friends that rumors about their relationship ran rampant. It bothered her at first, but now she didn't care. If she took the time to think about it, she would have realized that their relationship was more than platonic, but not quite romantic either. But she didn't think about it because she didn't want to. She pulled up in front of Amanda's house just before noon. She could visualize Amanda reaching for the phone to call her. To save her the call, she hit the horn three times. "You're late," Amanda huffed as she got into the car. "No I'm not," Brittney replied. "I said noon and I pulled up at noon." "Whatever- are you sure that you don't want to stay tonight?" "I can't- I have training with Jian in the morning." "Jian huh?" Amanda asked. "Why is it that I've never met this mysterious Jian? Is he cute? How do you know him?" Brittney rolled her eyes and ignored the questions. Amanda already knew that she and Jian worked together and there was no reason as to why they should meet. "Where to?" Brittney asked as she put the car in gear. "Lunch first- how about Chinese?" Amanda teased. Lunch ended up being at 'Karma' an Indian restaurant that Brittney liked because in her opinion, they served the best vegetarian meals she'd ever had. Since she hadn't eaten out in months, she decided to treat herself and her sister. She started out with the 'Vegetable Samosa- crispy turnovers filled with potatoes and peas, Idli Sambar- lentil soup served with steamed rice cakes and a garden salad. "That's all you're eating?" Amanda asked as she looked over the menu. "That's plenty," Brittney replied looking at her sister who could have been her twin except that Amanda was a good fifteen to twenty pounds heavier and she wore her hair in short, tight braids. "Get what you want, my treat." "Well damn," Amanda said laughing in surprise, "let me see ..." The sisters chatted through lunch and dessert which consisted of 'Kheer- Indian rice pudding.' Brittney paid the bill and they spent the afternoon shopping. Brittney broke down and bought a few things for her apartment after Amanda pestered her so badly that she wanted her to shut up. She had to admit that she did need new towels and washcloths and a few things for the kitchen. By the time she dropped Amanda off, it was after seven. She helped Amanda carry her purchases into the house, stayed for a cup of tea and went home. It had been a good day. **** Xavier Dubois looked out of his center city penthouse. He loved Philadelphia and considered it and its inhabitants his just as he considered Baltimore, Maryland and Washington D.C. his. There were other places that he considered his possessions, but these three were his favorites. If asked which of the three cities his favorite was, he would have said Philadelphia hands down. He loved all of the sports teams and was even a silent partner in the ownership of one or two of them. Just the mention of his name either brought relief or terror- usually the latter to those who heard it. He was no one to be trifled with and the few that tried regretted it and weren't alive to tell about it. He was a man who hated incompetence, stupidity and liars and not necessarily in that order. He was a man that didn't know the meaning of the word 'no' and who was unforgiving in the best of times. He had no one that he called friend because he trusted no one. "My city," he murmured as he watched the headlights of the cars driving down the streets. Before long all would be quiet. The traffic would slow to a trickle and he would leave his penthouse and wander the streets alone. He wasn't afraid to be out alone. After all, this was his city and no one would dare attempt to hurt him. Before the night was over, he would have visited several sections of the city. He never planned where he was going to go, he simply walked and wherever he ended up.... Xavier turned away from the window and went to his large bedroom. He glanced at the nude woman on the bed and walked into the bathroom. By the time he came out; she would be gone. There would be nothing to indicate that she had ever been there. He stripped, turned on the shower to hot and then stepped in. He paid close attention to his collar length black hair washing it with 'Alterna ten' whose ingredients included African cacao extract, Arabian Frankincense among other exotic ingredients. It didn't bother him that the shampoo alone cost in the neighborhood of sixty dollars per eight point five ounces. In his opinion, he was worth it. After rinsing, he applied a generous amount of the conditioner and continued with his shower. The soap was expensive as well- 'cor' which cost a cool one-hundred and twenty five dollars for a one hundred and twenty gram bar filled an entire shelf in the bathroom. All of his toiletries including aftershave and cologne were top of the line. Nothing was too good for him. Finally finishing his shower, Xavier rinsed his hair and stepped out of the shower. He wasn't a large man, just shy of five feet ten inches, but he was nicely built what women would call "all that and the bag of chips". He flashed a smile at himself and went on with his preparations for the night. Just as he knew she would be, the woman in the bed was gone. The bed had been completely remade and the old linen tossed or taken home by one of his staff. He didn't care what happened to it as long as he never saw it again. He picked up the glass of spiced wine that sat on the bedside table as he went to his closet to choose his attire for the evening. "Casual or dressy?" he mused as he sipped at the wine. "Today is-Friday, technically Saturday," he muttered. "Casual I think." He looked through the large walk in closet until he found what he was looking for- a dark gray sweater that matched his eyes and a pair of black jeans that showed off his ass. On the bottom shelf he found his favorite pair of shoes that he wore on his nocturnal wanderings- his black loafers. "Shirt or polo?" he asked as he drained the wine glass. "Shirt," he whispered under his breath. It was early May, but the nights could still be cool. It was important that he blend in even though he didn't consider roaming the streets at night to be out of the ordinary. Finally- he was ready to go. **** Brittney tossed the new towels and washcloths in the small apartment sized washer and the new kitchen utensils in the sink. None of the items would be used until they were thoroughly washed at least twice. Amanda thought that she was silly and still teased her about it. She wasn't sure of when she started the practice and it didn't matter. It didn't hurt anything and the material of the towels felt better against her skin. Once she had the utensils soaking in hot soapy water, she went to her room and changed into her favorite reading attire- a pair of shorts and a tee shirt. Because she was going to get up early, she decided to read in bed. She grimaced as she looked at the alarm clock and then silently cursed Jian for his early morning work outs. She would grumble from the time the alarm sounded to the time she met him at the park at six for their five mile run. The grumbling wouldn't stop until they passed the two mile mark and then- then she would begin to feel free and Jian would be forgiven until the next Saturday. The rest of the week they ran two miles after work with the run beginning and ending at her apartment. To date, Jian had never been inside. She was settled in bed when she realized that she hadn't checked the bedroom window. Cursing, she climbed out of bed, went to the window and looked out. It was still relatively early so there were people still out sitting on their stoops enjoying the spring weather. Surprisingly, the night was quiet. No one was playing music so loud that she couldn't sleep. She couldn't say why, but that disturbed her. The hairs on the back her neck and arms stood up and she shivered although the night was warm. Then, just as quickly as the feeling came; it was gone. She relaxed as the first strains of the local rhythm and blues radio station filled the air. She stayed at the window for a moment longer looking out into the street not sure of what she was looking for. Deciding that she was being stupid, she checked the window and went back to bed. She fell asleep reading a book and woke up in a cold sweat. Her heart was pounding and her mouth was dry. She had been having a nightmare, but she couldn't remember what it was about. She looked at the clock and groaned. It was only two am. Sitting up, she turned on the lamp, drank the bottle of water that she kept by the bedside and got up. She knew that there was no point in trying to force herself back to sleep. She made her way the living room and turned on the television although there was nothing on. She simply refused to pay for cable-another bone of contention between her and Amanda. "Everybody has cable," Amanda argued when Brittney told her that she wasn't going to get it. "And besides, how are you going to get internet?" "I'll buy one of those air card things," Brittney replied and told Amanda that she didn't want to talk about it anymore. While she channel surfed, she remembered that she needed to pay her monthly cell phone bill. It was one of the plans that didn't require a contract and for fifty dollars a month she had texting, web access and unlimited phone calls. She didn't see the need for anything more extravagant because she rarely used the texting and internet access. She got it because it shut Amanda up. Picking up the phone, she called to check on her account. "Good," she said when she heard that she had another week. She would take care of it after she and Jian finished their work out. She stretched out on the couch that she had gotten from good will and changed channels until she came across an infomercial for some kind of kitchen gadget. Before she knew it, she had fallen back to sleep. ***** Jian Bo paced the living room of his row home. Although he had lived there for more than four years, it was sparsely furnished. The bedroom didn't have a bed, but a mat that he slept on-when he slept- a dresser and a small table that held a lamp. The bathroom looked like any other bathroom in that it had the normal toiletries and a medicine cabinet filled with the usual things- Band-Aids, aspirin and Mylanta for an upset stomach. The kitchen was small but fully functional and stocked. The living room was devoid of any furniture- it was where he practiced his martial arts and where he and Brittney trained. A large mat covered the floor and was covered with training equipment. He modified the hall closet so that he could keep his swords and other weapons out of sight. The only person who knew that they were there was Brittney. The rest of the house was closed off as no one ever came to stay with him. After pacing for several more minutes, Jian went to the kitchen and checked his bottled water supply. Next he checked the fridge to make sure that he had plenty of fruit and yogurt-Brittney's favorite after work out snacks. He was restless. Something felt wrong, but he couldn't imagine what it was. In an attempt to relax, he filled the tea kettle with hot water to make a cup of herbal tea. As the water heated, he tried to figure out the reason for his unease. It wasn't Brittney- he would have known. They were that close. There was nothing happening in China- he would have received word. In fact, he hadn't heard from anyone since he left. His only instructions had been to go and wait. He didn't know what it was he was supposed to be waiting for so he went to work, went home and trained with Brittney. Becoming frustrated, he took a deep cleansing breath and released it. He decided to forgo the tea and go for a walk. He lived ten long blocks away from Brittney, but he headed in the opposite direction. Most people in the area knew him and left him alone, but there were still a few who thought that he was fair game. He hadn't gone very far when he heard his name being called. "Where you headin?" Mrs. Nolan called from the window of her living room. Jian stopped and walked over to the window to chat with the old woman. She had been one of the first to make him feel welcome in his new surroundings. "Good evening," Jian said politely. "I am just going for a walk, did you need something?" "That depends," the old woman replied with a smile. "You going past that corner store two blocks over?" "I will pass that way if you need something," Jian replied. The woman gave Jian a small list of incidentals that she needed and sent him off with a warning. "You be careful now! The air don't feel quite right to me." Jian hurried off wondering what it was the woman felt. When he returned, he would ask her. He loved talking to the old woman who in many ways reminded him of his grandmother in mannerism and in the stories she told. The old woman had also been the first to stand up for him when he moved into the house. That alone endeared her to him. He also knew that her time on earth was almost done. He could smell it on her and hoped that he could be with her when the time came. She had no relatives that lived close enough to be of any help to her and even fewer that cared. He walked into the small Korean owned store and picked up the items on the list. At the bottom of the list was 'one tall can of beer.' Jian knew that she wanted more than one can, but it was all that she could afford. He picked up a six pack, sat it on the counter and reached for his wallet. For the first time in the years that he lived there, the Korean man behind the counter spoke to him. "You must go home- it is not safe!" He quickly packed Jian's purchases in a plastic bag, took his money and gave him change. "Now go!" "What ...." "Go!" the man insisted as he came from behind the counter and practically pushed Jian toward the door. As soon as Jian was outside, the man slammed the door shut and locked it. Jian looked around trying to make sense of the man's fright. He himself wasn't afraid, but anxious. He took stock of his surroundings and felt heaviness in the air that felt unnatural. He looked up at the sky. The stars were twinkling, but the air-. Jian inhaled deeply. His nostrils gently flaring as he took in the scents of the night. Something was out there. He took the man's advice and hurried home. By the time he reached the row homes, the heaviness had alleviated. He walked up to Mrs. Nolan's window and called her name. A moment later, she was letting him into her house. "You bought me six beers?" she asked both surprised and pleased. "How much do I owe you?" "You owe me nothing," Jian replied. "I do it as a friend." "I can't accept that," the old woman said. "I ain't never owed nobody nothin' and I ain't about to start." "Alright then," Jian said with a smile. "Tell me one of your stories from times gone by." "A story?" the old woman asked in disbelief. "Yes grandmother a story of your choosing." Jian replied. "Well I'll be damned," the old woman cackled. "Make yourself at home." After she had told him several stories from her child hood, Jian asked her what she meant when she said that the air didn't feel right. "I don't know if I can explain it," she said thoughtfully. "Things just don't feel the way that they normally do. If feels like a darkness is coming or maybe it's here- I can't say for sure." The Slayers Ch. 01-02 Have you ever had this feeling before?" Jian asked. "Once- and I ain't talking about it now you best scoot on home. It's safe enough at the moment." No matter how he pressed her, she wouldn't say anymore. "Now go on; it's safe." It was safe. He felt it too. The anxiety that led him to take a walk was gone. The air felt as it normally did. He wished the old woman a good rest and walked the half block to his own house. Before he went in, he stopped and looked toward downtown. The words about a darkness coming reverberated through his head. He stepped inside, locked the door and changed into his workout clothes. Brittney would be at his door in less than five hours. By the time she got there, he would have already been at it for several hours. ***** Xavier took his time. He had all night and no place in particular to go. After he left his South Philadelphia penthouse, he walked through his neighborhood. Those who didn't really know him smiled, nodded and moved on. Those who knew him made themselves scarce and were for the most part unsuccessful. If he really wanted to find someone, he found them and without help. Tonight however, he was in a generous mood. He looked for no one and if he saw someone that he needed to see, he gave them a free pass for the evening. Tomorrow was another day. Tonight was all about him making his presence known and by morning everyone would know that he had arrived. They would know that they had a limited amount of time to make sure that all was as it should be. His walk took him from South Philadelphia to the west side to the Roosevelt Boulevard area then back to the pent house. He walked in just as the first rays of sunshine hit the windows of the penthouse. As always, the heavy drapes were pulled tight, the bathtub filled with fragrant water and a woman lay unconscious and nude on his bed. He barely spared her a look as he went to begin his bedtime routine. He stripped letting his clothes fall to the floor even though he was more than capable of hanging them himself. It was beneath him-menial labor; that's why he had servants. As he soaked in the tub, he planned what he should do next besides partaking of the lovely dark haired morsel on his bed. "I've only just arrived," he said out loud as he slid down in the tub so that the hot water covered his pale shoulders. He caught sight of his reflection and practiced smiling and then he frowned. He still wasn't pleased with his performance. Before he did anything else, he would have a few more sessions with his acting coach. But until then... He felt himself harden in anticipation of the nourishment that lay on his bed. He never asked where they came from- it didn't matter as long as they met his perimeters and they couldn't be traced back to him. He had no preference as to race or size, but they couldn't be underage, diseased, addicts or handicapped in any way. But most importantly, they couldn't be connected. The same guidelines applied to his people who partook of humans. Anyone who violated those guidelines paid dearly for it- usually with their lives. The last person to break the rules was skinned alive in front of his brethren. It had been a slow, painful death, but the word had been spread and it hadn't happened again. Xavier stood up and allowed the water to run off of him before stepping out of the tub. Just as he liked, the woman that had been on the bed was now awake and waiting with a white fluffy towel to dry him off. He never asked for their names-it didn't matter. He only spoke to them when he gave instructions on how he was to be pleasured. Within the hour, her lifeless body would be lying in front of the door waiting to be taken away. **** Brittney rolled stiffly off the couch and cursed Jian. She had finally gotten into a deep sleep and the alarm went off. She thought about calling him to see if they could put their run off for a couple of hours, but she decided against it. She was already up and wouldn't go back to sleep anyway. Still cursing, she got into the shower and turned the cold water on. The contact of the cold water against her warm skin made her yelp. She added the hot water and finished her shower. By five forty-five, she was on her bike and headed to Jian's house. The streets were quiet making her wonder why she had been so anxious the night before. She shrugged it off and began to mentally prepare herself for training even as she swore. She arrived at Jian's with ten minutes to spare and carried her bike into the house. "Good morning, Brittney," Jian said with a smile. "Yeah, yeah, yeah," she grumbled as she began her warm-ups. "Tell me again why we do this at six am? Oh yeah- something about the air being the freshest and the traffic." Jian didn't reply. He wasn't expected to. When they first began training together, her constant grumbling at the beginning was nerve-racking. Now that he was used to it, he found it humorous. It was also an indication of how she was feeling. About six months after they had become friends and began training together, she came to his house for their Saturday five K run. He greeted her and waited for the usual grumblings. When it didn't happen, he let it go thinking that she had things on her mind. When she still hadn't said anything by the time they finished the warm-ups, he knew that something was wrong. "Brittney- are you alright?" "I- I..." And then she vomited all over the living room floor. He still teased her about being her nurse but the truth was he enjoyed it. There were other times when she didn't grumble and sometimes the reason was something far more important than the stomach flu. As long as she was grumbling, he was happy. When they reached the magical two mile mark, Brittney stopped grumbling. They finished the run in a comfortable silence and began their martial arts training. "You are becoming quite proficient in Krav Maga," he complimented when they were through. "Yeah well, I have a good teacher- how about practicing some mixed?" Jian chuckled and shook his head. The woman was a wonder. He knew of no one with the exception of himself that worked so hard to perfect their skills. She was every bit as good as he was and he would trust her with his life-but would she trust him with hers? Yes he thought as they began to spar. They already had the bond of deep friendship. The rest would follow. After the workout, Jian handed her a bottle of water and a peach yogurt. He believed in eating healthy too, but yogurt in his opinion was disgusting no matter how it was flavored. While Brittney ate her yogurt, he sliced an apple and munched on it. Not for the first time did he notice how beautiful she was and wondered if she was aware of it. He knew that there were rumors circulating about them, that there had been from the beginning, but he didn't care and apparently; neither did she. As they ate, he remembered the first time that he and Brittney met. He had just arrived from China and had spoken very little English. The truth was, he spoke English fluently it just hadn't suited his purpose to reveal it. He wanted to experience how Americans treated those different from them and he wanted to be left alone. He arrived In America two weeks before he was to start his job at Pennsylvania Hospital in the IT department, found the house that he was currently living in and started work three weeks later. The first week in his new surroundings was interesting. He found that people reacted to his presence in in one of four ways, interest, resentment, indifference or acceptance. For that first week resentment was the primary reaction. He made himself known so that people would begin to acclimate to his presence. Four times in the two weeks he had been accosted, but it wasn't long before the word spread that he was much tougher than his five feet six inch wiry thin frame looked. The word was that he could "kick ass". He showed up at work two weeks later pretending to be lost when he probably knew the building better than the people who worked there. He had studied the blueprints of the building just as he had studied the blueprints to the row homes that he lived in. He knew every possible escape route there was and a few that no one knew existed. He wandered around the building until someone stopped him and asked him if he was lost. "I am looking for the IT department," he replied careful to thicken his accent. It was a little thing, but it was usually the little things that mattered. "Well, you're in the right building, but on the wrong floor," The woman whose name according to her ID was Nan. "See that elevator sign way down the hall? Get on one of those and go down to the basement. The IT department is down there." Jian thanked the woman for her time and went to the elevators. He was early, but he wanted to slip in to watch and listen. The hall to the department was empty and he saw no one as he made his way to the IT offices. From halfway down the hall, he heard voices. Two males were discussing him. "What do you know about the new guy?" One asked the other. "Nothing except that he's a foreigner-Japanese or something like that." "My question is this," the other voice said, "why hire a foreigner? There are plenty if qualified Americans. What's so special about this guy?" "First of all, by qualified Americans you're talking about your cousin Vince. I mean no disrespect, but the man is a fucking idiot. He doesn't know an usb port from an electric socket. He'd have the entire system down and wouldn't know how he did it or how to fix it. As far as this guy's qualifications, Matt told me that this guy can run circles around us and that he isn't here to join the team per se, but to run a check on our systems to fix the bugs and all of that." "But a foreigner..." "Joe, listen," the other lowered and said, "Watch that attitude of yours. It got your ass hauled into Susan's office last month..." By the time the two men had reached that part of their conversation, Jian had heard enough. He walked past the office where the conversation was taking place and continued his tour. The day shift began to trickle in somewhere around seven. He slipped into the break room and sat in a corner watching each person as they walked in. Another conversation caught his attention. "Who gets to orientate the new guy?" A woman asked. "I don't know, just so it isn't me," a man replied. "Me either another voice chimed in. I hate orientating- it slows me down because you have to do everything by the book. Didn't Matt assign him to someone?" Jian watched and listened as the growing group argued over who was going to orientate him. Finally someone in the group made a suggestion. "Give him to Brittney- she's such a good little soldier always waiting for Matt's next command." The group murmured its approval and waited for the shift to begin. That morning, Brittney and Matt both happened to be running late. That started another round of discussions about Brittney and Matt possibly being in a relationship. "That would explain a few things," someone said. Matt rushed in red faced and huffing a few minutes later followed by a very composed Brittney. "Sorry folks," Matt said as he tried to catch his breath. "As you know, we have a new employee joining us. Technically he isn't an employee, but a consultant. I'm surprised that he isn't here yet... oh there you are!" Matt exclaimed spotting Jian in the corner." Several pairs of eyes turned as one to see who Matt was looking at. The white faces turned beet red and the black ones darkened in embarrassment as they wondered how they hadn't seen him. They knew that he had heard their conversation, but the question was – what was he going to do? If he said anything, all of them would be written up. Matt was big on respect for each other as colleagues and as people. "Everyone, meet Jian Bo. He comes to us from Beijing, China. I didn't assign him to anyone because I was hoping that one of you would want to pick his brain to learn all that he has to offer." When no one stepped forward, Brittney raised her hand. "He can work with me." A collective sigh of relief filled the room- a sigh that Matt didn't miss. He knew that his group could be cliquish and that was the reason that he started watching how they treated new people more carefully. Brittney, although she had been with him for more than a year still hadn't fit in so it came as no big surprise that she was the one that offered. That was a good thing- he would have chosen her anyway. She was one of the best IT people he had ever worked with and that was because when she was at work, she focused on her job and not weekend plans or vacations. They both knew that everyone considered her an ass-kisser, but what impressed him was that she didn't care. "Thank you Brittney- why don't you show Jian around while I conduct an impromptu staff meeting." As it turned out, Jian wouldn't have had to say a word. Matt already knew what was going on. In fact, he already knew about the conversation between the night shift techs and was planning to meet with their supervisor after he dealt with his own people. "We don't need to stay?" Brittney asked surprised. "Not this time," Matt replied his eyes still on the group and his tone cool. Jian met Brittney at the door and smiled at her. He took in her small frame- she made him feel tall in comparison. "Thank you," he said politely. "You're welcome... I'm going to ask a question and I don't want you to be offended, but didn't you take English classes before you came?" "I-yes," Jian replied not changing his heavy accent. "I seem to understand English better than I can speak it." He remembered how she looked at him. She believed him-but not quite. She called him on it a few days later at lunch. "Why are you pretending that you aren't fluent in English?" Caught. He had no choice but to fess up. He was actually impressed that she had caught on. Usually he could continue the ruse for weeks and no one ever caught on. They complimented him on the speed in which he mastered the language and it was forgotten. Jian realized something else about her. Whatever she did, she gave it everything she had. They had been working together for about a month when he found out that she was into the martial arts. From there their relationship progressed to a deep friendship. "What are you thinking about?" Brittney asked bringing him back to the present. "That it has been four years since we first met," Jian replied. "The time has gone quickly." Brittney gave him a sharp look, "are you going somewhere?" "No-it was just an observation," Jian assured her. "I have no immediate plans of going leaving." Brittney felt a sense of relief that she didn't understand nor did she want to. She finished her snack and gathered her things. She had no plans for the rest of the day or the evening. The next thing she had planned was for Sunday dinner with Amanda and Paul. Her next training session with Jian was on Monday- he was on vacation too. That was something else that had tongues at work wagging- they always took vacations at the same time. During those times they worked out every day for hours. They never socialized other than to train together. It struck Brittney as strange that they were such good friends but they never really socialized. "Hey... are you doing anything tonight?" "No-why do you ask?" Jian replied his heart beating a little faster. "I was just thinking that friends do things together and we ... well it isn't that training isn't fun-it is, but I was thinking that maybe we could you know- have dinner or something?" The question surprised him although he had been thinking along the same lines for quite some time. He had never said anything because he didn't think she was ready for more than what they were doing. "I would enjoy that; will you allow me to prepare dinner?" "Oh... I didn't mean..." "I know you didn't," Jian assured her. "It would be my pleasure to prepare a meal for my friend." "What can I bring?" Brittney asked. "Nothing," Jian replied. "Is six too late for you?" "Six is perfect- are you sure that I can't bring anything?" "I am sure- Britt-can we make it five?" Jian asked. A feeling of disquiet had settled over him and for some inexplicable reason, he needed Brittney with him before six. "Sure- are you alright? You look a little pale." "I'm fine- I will see you at five." Jian walked her to the door, watched her leave and then went to make a phone call. Chapter 2 Xavier slept the sleep of the dead and woke up feeling refreshed. The woman who had been in bed with him was long gone and a carafe of spiced wine sat in a gold bucket filled with ice. He glanced at it, got up and went to the bathroom to begin his evening routine. It never changed and he was never to be interrupted. If he was, it had better be for an emergency of some sort. To save confusion, he had compiled a list of things that he deemed to be an emergency. Among those were unexpected visits from certain people although they knew better than to interrupt him. If they showed up unannounced then it was urgent. A disruption in the flow of his product was another valid reason for an interruption. That could have catastrophic consequences if he wasn't immediately informed. It had been several years since he had been interrupted. A fact that pleased him immensely. It meant that was being recognized for the power that he was. Memories of being poor, hungry and cold crossed his mind and were quickly pushed away. That was the past. He had made his way to the top by kissing ass, lies, betrayal and by using fear and death when it had become necessary. Along the way, the once decent being that he had once been had slowly died and was replaced by a cold, calculating being that everyone feared. Even his family as poor as they were had turned him away. The memory of his shunning was the most painful memory of all. It was the one memory that he could never push away no matter how hard he tried. It was the one memory that came unbidden- as it did now. His family was starving. He had already left home to find a way to help them. He was finally on his way back with the nourishment that they needed it wasn't much, but it would keep them from starving. That he had to steal and eventually kill for it didn't matter-the end result did. He had started as a runner for the Devereaux's and was now the controller of a small section of Washington D.C. He had been keeping tabs on his family, helping when he could by leaving small parcels at the door. He always stayed until someone from his family came out and picked the package up. He never made himself known; he wanted to be further up in the organization before he showed himself. He wanted them to be proud of him. He wanted them to look at him with respect. The day had finally arrived. He packed up the supplies that he bought for his family and loaded them into the new wagon that he had purchased for them. He changed into his best clothes and drove to his childhood home enjoying the clip clop of the mule's hooves as it hit the hard ground. His sister Alana was the first to see him. The sight of her small, thin frame tore at his heart when he saw her. "She's so pale," he thought as he looked at her. "Xavier!" She screamed excitedly and then called for the others. "Mama! Papa! Xavier is home!" His mother Helena came from the back of the small house and his father Alberto and his brother Francisco came from inside the house in a rush. All of them were thin and pale. Their clothing hung off of them. "Xavier?" His mother called as she ran to him, "Where have you been? Are you alright? Look at you!" Her warm reception warmed him. He jumped down from the wagon ran to her and hugged her and then Alana. His father stood back and watched taking in the loaded wagon and the mule. Francisco looked nervously at the wagon and then his father. He recognized the set of his bony jaw and winced. The Slayers Ch. 01-02 "Look mama!" Xavier exclaimed. "I told you that I would be back! I have supplies...." "How did you come by these things?" His father asked quietly. He hadn't moved from where he stood or greeted Xavier. "It doesn't matter," Helena replied. "We need supplies and our son is home." "It matters," his father said still looking at him. "How did you come by these things?" Alana who was holding Xavier's hand tried to intercede. She was the one who could always reason with Alberto. "Papa why don't we go inside? I am certain that Xavvie will answer your questions." Just as she was the only one who could reason with their father, she was the only one who could get away with calling him 'Xavvie'. "We go nowhere until I know where those things came from," Alberto said, his tone saying that Alana wasn't going to succeed this time. "I have a job," Xavier replied hoping but knowing that it wouldn't end there. "I saved my money so that I could get these things for you." "What kind of job pays well enough that you can afford this?" Alberto asked pointing at the wagon. "Look at your clothes- how are you paying for these things?" It was then that Xavier knew that his father knew what he had been doing. How he didn't know as his father rarely ventured into town and when he did, he spoke to no one. "Alberto-" "Helena and Alana go inside now." They had to be told three times before they went inside. Xavier could see them peeking through the drapes their faces filled with anxiety. "I know exactly how you're making your money," Alberto hissed. "You work for Jacques Devereaux! You peddle his filth and take advantage of those less fortunate. Get out and take your trash with you!" Xavier couldn't believe it. His father was choosing to let his family starve because of where the money came from. He tried to make his father see reason. "Father please- you are starving! Look at you! Mother, Francisco and Alana- they are starving too! Take what I bring you...." "How many have you killed to make the wine in those barrels?" His father asked. "How many or have you lost count? Oh yes- I know of your reputation. You are nothing but a killer and a thief! This is not our way! We are an honorable people! You have completely forsaken everything that you've been taught and for what? Material goods? Now leave and take that with you." "Honor?" Xavier asked angrily. "What has honor ever done for you and this family? Has honor placed nourishment at your table? Look at you! You are so thin that I can see your bones! One moment in the sun and you will burn to a crisp! That is what honor has given you! If you don't take what I offer, you will all die! Let mother, Alana and Francisco partake in what I bring- if you decide to die then so be it, but do not make the decision for them." "Honor has brought provisions to us when we needed it most," his father replied. "We may not live the life of the well to do, but we have survived and will continue to do so without your help." "Father," Xavier said quietly, "Would you happen to be referring to those mysterious packages that appear once or twice a week? Just where do you think they came from? Did you think that they came from nowhere? Did you think that the earth grew them while you rested? Or did you think that your wealthy neighbors finally took pity on you and decided to help? Why would they do that? They never have never helped us before." Alberto was quiet. He had known where the packages were coming from but had convinced himself that as long as he didn't see Xavier, then it was different. "I see," Xavier said bitterly. "It was fine to accept them as long as you didn't see me and you could pretend that your honor provided them. Why don't we do this? I'll go away and you can go back to pretending that it didn't come from me." "Leave," Alberto said coldly. "You are no longer my son. Your mother is no longer your mother nor is your siblings your siblings. You are a disgrace to this family. You are one of the fallen. From this moment – you are dead to us." "Father wait!" Francisco yelled as he grabbed Alberto's arm. "Let him take the wagon, but please don't do this!" Alberto ignored him and turned his back. When Francisco didn't turn, Alberto grabbed him and spun him around so that his back was to Xavier. Seeing what was happening, Alana ran from the house followed by her mother and ran to Xavier. She threw her arms around him and clung to him as she sobbed. Helena joined them sobbing. Both women let out a yelp of pain when they were yanked out of Xavier's arms and made to turn their backs on him. Xavier stood watching with tears running down his face. He waited. He was hoping that his father would rescind the order. Ten minutes passed and he knew that it wasn't going to happen. He walked away leaving the wagon where it was. What was he going to do with it? Maybe Alana and his mother could get him to change his mind. He went back the next evening to find the wagon burned to the ground and his family gone. He never saw them again. Xavier wiped angry tears from his eyes and continued with his evening routine. By the time he was finished, the memory had faded to the background waiting to unexpectedly surge forward at another time. If it never manifested again, it would be too soon. He turned his attentions to his plans for the evening. He thought about going out again, but decided to stay in. Everyone that needed to know that he had arrived was notified. He glanced at his diamond encrusted 'Rolex'. It was just shy of five in the evening. He reconsidered his decision to go out. A short walk before dinner would go a long way in erasing the remainder of his memory. He finished dressing- this time in dress slacks, a grey dress shirt and his black loafers. This time he would head to the northern part of the city. Temple University was there and although it was beginning to resemble a ghost town because of summer break, there was always the chance that someone- maybe his one would be there. He was surprised that he thought of her. Most days he wanted nothing to do with a mate. She would be one more person who could potentially betray him. It wasn't possible and he knew it. If he found his mate it would be impossible for her to betray him, but his sense of mistrust ran deep. By six he was walking down the busy sidewalk. As with the night before; those he would normally be searching for hid when they saw him. He ignored them and kept walking at a pace so fast that humans didn't see him. By six-fifteen; he was standing in front of the school. As he suspected, there weren't too many people around. Graduation was over and those left would be leaving soon. He walked around the campus for several minutes before deciding that it was a waste of time. He turned to see a pretty dark haired girl hurrying out of a building. His heart sped up and then slowed as he realized that she wasn't the one. But- she could serve another purpose. It was time for him to put into practice what he learned from his acting teacher. He rushed over to her stopping her just as she was about to enter another building. "Excuse me!" he called out in what he thought was a pleasant voice. The girl hesitated and then stopped to see who was calling. Even from where he was, Xavier could see the wary expression on her face. He slowly approached her with a smile on his face. It didn't feel natural to him and he wondered what the girl was seeing. He got his answer a few seconds later. As soon as she got a good look at him, she ran into the building slamming the door closed behind her. "Damn it!" Xavier swore as he walked away. He walked the campus hoping to run into someone else that he could practice on. After a few minutes, he gave up and left the campus. Not ready to go back to the penthouse, he continued his walk. Eventually he ended up on Diamond Street. What he saw pleased him. There were houses that were unoccupied and in ill repair, but more importantly; there were a lot of people. Historically he had stayed away from bringing his business to this part of the city. Part of the reason was that there was no way that the people that lived here could afford his product. The other reason was that at one time the area had been very affluent and his product wouldn't have been welcome. The latter might still be true even though the neighborhood was ppor, but what he was seeing now was ingredients for his product and a possible work force. The failure with the girl was forgotten as he began to plan. *** Brittney was uncharacteristically nervous and she didn't like it any more than she understood it. Jian was a friend- a good friend and nothing more so why was she so nervous? Finally she thought that she understood- she was afraid that dinner would somehow change things between them. In what way, she didn't want to think about. By four she was in the shower having the age old debate about what to do with her hair. By the time she was done with her shower, she still hadn't decided. As she dried off, she examined her body. Each muscle was clearly defined and her six pack would make a professional body builder proud. Still she thought to herself, "I could stand to gain ten pounds." That was something that her doctor had suggested and she had agreed but she couldn't bring herself to change the way that she ate. She felt fine and her physicals had always come up perfect so once again; she decided not to worry about it. By four-forty five she was on her bike and headed back to Jian's. The closer to five it got, her nervousness changed to anxiety that had nothing to do with Jian. Jian was waiting for her at the door when she got there. Brittney noticed one thing-he looked as anxious as she felt. The anxiety left his face as soon as she saw her ride up. He ran down the steps and for just a second, Brittney though that he was going to hug her. "Welcome back!" he exclaimed when he reached her. "Allow me to carry your bike inside." "Okay," Brittney replied feeling a sense of relief that didn't make sense. As Jian carried her bike inside, she stood at the doorway and looked around. The heaviness that she felt in the air the night before was back. Suddenly she had the urge to go inside and to lock the door behind her. She turned around and saw Jian watching her. "What are you feeling?" he asked softly. "Do you feel it too?" "Tell me what you are feeling," he repeated. "I don't know exactly," Brittney replied. "The air- it feels heavy. I felt it last night too and then it was gone." "I felt it too," Jian replied. "I am not sure of what it means, but you are here and safe. Are you hungry?" "Ummm yeah, but safe from what?" Brittney asked. She felt anxious, but she didn't feel as if her life was in danger. "It is just an expression," Jian replied. "Come- dinner is ready." Dinner consisted of several Chinese vegetarian dishes some of which included Tofu. "It is a good substitute for meat," Jian explained when Brittney asked him what was in the dishes. They were exchanging recipes when they both froze. Jian looked at the clock- six pm and then at Brittney. Brittney shivered as the hairs on the nape of her neck and arms rose. "Brittney," Jian said softly, "stay here." "What? No I'm not staying here-where are you going?" "Nowhere- I only want to look outside," Jian replied. "I'm coming too," Britney said as she sat her chopsticks down. "I want to know what's giving me the willies." Seeing that he wasn't going to win, Jian nodded. He wasn't even going to bother telling her to stay behind him. For one thing, she wouldn't listen, and secondly; they were safe as long as they remained within the perimeters of the house. The time was coming when he would have to begin teaching her the importance of obeying him, but not now. He sensed no fear from her as they approached the front door. This pleased him and confirmed several things. He opened the door, and stepped outside. Brittney stood next to him looking around. "The air feels wrong," she murmured not noticing that Jian was sniffing the air. "It smells wrong," Jian whispered as he looked around. He saw Mrs. Nolan watching him and before he could acknowledge her; she was back in her house. He wondered about her and then turned his attention back to the air. A moment later, the air seemed to clear. Jian sniffed and the air smelled as it usually did. Brittney let out a breath that she didn't know that she was holding and unconsciously sagged against Jian's side. Just as unconsciously, Jian put an arm around her and pulled her tight against him. That one action was all that Jian needed to confirm what he had been almost positive of for the past four years. Brittney Marsh belonged to and with him. Suddenly Brittney stiffened and pulled away. She looked at him embarrassed and then turned away. Jian smiled but made no comment. The cat was already out of the bag. "Let's finish dinner," he said and walked back into the house. Brittney followed him a few seconds later after regaining her composure. What had she been thinking? Jian was carrying the now cold food to the kitchen to reheat it by the time she reached the table. The nervousness had returned and it had nothing to do with the anxiety that made her hairs stand up. It had everything to do with the man who was her best friend. The rest of dinner passed quietly with neither of them talking about the closeness that they had experienced or the feelings of anxiety that they felt at the same time. Dessert was fresh fruit and tea that Jian served in the living room. When it was time for her to go, Jian insisted on walking her home. "I'll be fine," Brittney insisted. "I've gotten home much later than this." "I will walk you home," Jian said firmly, "do not argue with me." Brittney blinked in surprise. In all the time that she had known him, he had never used that tone with her. She was so shocked that she nodded her head yes. Later, when she had a chance to think about it; she would be irate. Jian carried her bike outside and insisted that he push it. Once again he wouldn't take no for an answer. "Have you always been this-demanding?" Brittney snipped. "You have seen nothing yet," Jian replied with a chuckle. It was time to step up her training. He didn't know who or what they were feeling, but they had to be ready. After he was back at home, Jian checked his answering machine for messages. He had heard nothing since he called home the night before. Maybe it was nothing, but he knew it was. Brittney sensed it too. Not only her, but Mrs. Nolan did too. He wanted to know what she knew and who she really was. He left his house, walked to the same Korean owned store that he had been to the night before and bought her some of her favorite snacks. The store owner was there and gave him a wary, but respectful look. "Why did you tell me that it wasn't safe last night?" Jian asked as he paid for the purchases. "What do you know?" The man looked around to see if anyone was listening and then spoke. "There are those of us who can see and feel the monsters that walk among us. We can also see those who are slay those monsters. You are one of the latter. Last night when I saw you; I knew that you were not ready- the monster was roaming the streets. I know this because I felt it. I also know that he roamed the streets tonight-but... he was close." "Who is this monster?" Jian asked. "And how do you know that I am not ready?" "I don't know who or what the monster is," the shop keeper applied. "I only know what I have told you and I also know this- if you have not found her- you must and you must do it quickly. You will need her." Jian watched the man and tasted his words. He detected no lie. "I thank you for your assistance," he said as he picked up the sac. "Slayer," the man called after him, "I am at your service as are others if and when the need arises." Jian bowed his head to the man and walked out. Something was happening; he had to find out what it was. **** Brittney was disturbed. She shouldn't have had dinner with Jian. Something had changed between them although she couldn't say what it was. "You know," a voice whispered. "I don't know anything!" Brittney said out loud. To take her mind off of her disturbing thoughts, she decided to call Amanda to finalize plans for Sunday. "Hey! What's doing?" Amanda asked. "Nothing much- I was just wondering about tomorrow. What do you want me to bring?" "Nothing, we got it. Just so you know- Paul has decided that there's something to this vegetarian thing so there'll be plenty of vegetarian dishes." "Really?" Brittney asked surprised. "What brought that on?" "Well- he went to the doctor yesterday," Amanda said. "Apparently he's borderline diabetic, his blood pressure was a tad high and they started him on medications for cholesterol. In other words; they scared the crap out of him. He also wants to talk to you about working out with you and your mysterious boyfriend..." "He isn't my boyfriend!" Brittney exclaimed. "Whatever- by the way why don't you invite him? I find it odd that after four years we still haven't met your-friend." "That's because he's busy and it's not that kind of friendship now can we change the subject?" Brittney asked now irritated. "Who was it that said me thinks the lady protest too much?" Amanda teased. "Mandy..." "Alright- I'll stop," Amanda said laughing. If Brittney used her nickname then she had had enough teasing. "Seriously, he's more than welcome to come." "He's busy so what time is dinner?" "Come around one. We've had a long day and we want to sleep in. You know- why don't you come over tonight? We can watch movies until we fall asleep. I think I even have some of that microwave popcorn you like." "No," Brittney said after thinking about it. "I'm whipped myself." "Oh yeah- the infamous Saturday work outs- what does his girlfriend have to say about him spending so much time with you?" "Good night, Amanda," Brittney said and hung up. After she hung up, Brittney changed her clothes and stretched out on the bed. She planned to do the same thing as her sister- sleep in. Sunday was the only day that she and Jian didn't work out and she planned to enjoy it. Beginning Monday and for the rest of the week they would intensify their training. After vacation it would go back to two hours every day after work. She picked up the book that she had started several nights ago and before she had read one page, she was asleep. ***** "Is it my birthday?" Mrs. Nolan asked when Jian showed up at her door with the bag of goodies. "No grandmother- at least I don't think so. You have never told me when your birthday is- is it your birthday?" "You are so smooth," the old woman chuckled. "You come across all quiet, but you know how to woo an old woman don't you? Speaking of woman- when you going to tap that pretty girl I see you with?" "Tap?" Jian asked not sure he understood what she was getting at. Mrs. Nolan rolled her eyes. "Ain't that what the young people are calling it these days?" He blushed when he finally understood what she was asking. The old woman laughed at him and looked inside the bag. "How many stories I got to tell for this?" She asked when she stopped laughing. "Just one," Jian replied. "I want you to tell me about the monsters." Her good humor left her as she stared at him. Jian saw naked anger in her eyes and wanted to know the cause of it. "How do you know about that?" she asked as she straightened up. The crackly voice changed into a smooth, soft and cultured alto. The odor of death faded until it was gone. "It appears that I am not the only one who is more than they appear," Jian said softly. "You didn't answer my question," the old woman who no longer looked so old said icily. "How do you know about that?" The Slayers Ch. 01-02 "Let us say for the purpose of our conversation that I just know. Someone recognized me for what I am and I think that you know who and what I am as well," Jian replied. "Is this true?" "No." "Pardon me," Jian said quietly, "but you are lying. You've known about me since I arrived. I should have known about you as well. You are very good at what you do- you are a slayer. Only a slayer is good enough to hide from another slayer." "Get out," the woman hissed. Jian didn't move. The woman had been a slayer, but something horrible must have happened for her to be so afraid and angry. "Where is your mate?" Jian asked and then watched her carefully. The slayers hunted and worked in pairs- mated pairs. As far he was concerned, it was a mixed blessing. The advantage to working with ones mate was that they could be depended on. They ate, slept and at times breathed together. In a battle situation who better than ones mate to fight by ones side? The downside was that the mate also became ones Achilles heel. That was also why pregnancies were discouraged until the couple retired. If a pregnancy occurred, the couple was taken out of the field. Children of the slayer race were more precious than the rarest mineral. "Get out!" the woman who now in no way resembled an old woman shouted. "Get the fuck out of my house!" Jian slowly stood up, looked at her and left. There was no point in trying to get her to talk. She was far too upset. He decided to give her a few days and then he would try again. The first thing he did when he got home was to check his answering machine. There was still no word from home- a fact that frustrated him. The second thing he did was to arrange for a car to be delivered to his house. It was time to begin emergency preparations. After that was done, he lay on his mat to think things through. The more he thought about it, the more he thought he knew who the monsters were. On whim, he decided to call Brittney. He had to be sure that she knew that she had to stay indoors for the rest of the night. The phone rang several times before she answered it. Jian's heart began to pound- he didn't think that she would have gone out. They had worked out hard and she looked tired. "Jian?" her soft voice said when she answered the phone. "Where are you?" he asked anxiously. "Home-why?" "You are alright?" "Jian-I'm fine, what's wrong?" Brittney asked picking up on his anxiety. "Nothing-Brittney give me your word that you will stay indoors tonight." "Jian..." "Your word please." There it was again- that demanding tone and she didn't like it one bit. In response; she snipped at him. "Since when do you get to talk to me as if you own me or something?" Jian took a deep breath. He was experiencing what was called new mate syndrome and he had to curb it. He had heard of instances where the female partner became so angry that the training and consequent mating took much longer than it normally would have. He had also heard of female mates who had been previously involved in abusive relationships misunderstanding the attitude of the male. Sometimes those ended badly. Brittney however had been involved with only two men, neither of whom understood her. Neither of whom supported her in her training. Both relationships were short lived with the last one ending months before he arrived from China. As for himself, he was a healthy, virile male. He had taken many women, human and of his kind alike and he felt no guilt about it. It was always consensual and the female understood that there could never be anything more between them. The last time he had been with a woman was before he left China. Once he saw Brittney, he wanted no one else. That had been the first clue that she was his. Some of his kind took that as the only indication; but not him. He had a list of criteria that had to be met before he was ready to say that a female belonged to and with him. Brittney had met one of the final pieces of criteria when she leaned against him. She trusted him to keep her safe. "Brittney," Jian said his voice soft, but the tone firm. "I am only concerned about your safety. Something is happening- you felt it as well as I did. Now please- your word that you will stay indoors." That if anything was what made Brittney give her word. Jian was right, something was happening. "Alright," she grumbled still not liking his tone. "Just watch the tone," she added. "Thank you," Jian replied not addressing the issue of his tone. It was a tone that he would be using again. "What are your plans for tomorrow?" He asked thinking that the sooner he upped her training the better. "I'm going to my sisters like I do every Sunday," Brittney replied still a little miffed. "Why?" "I thought that we could train again," Jian replied. "I think that you are ready for real weapons." He knew that was what would get her. She had been after him for the past year to teach her how to use the real weapons. "They are exactly like the replicas," he had told her time and time again. It was true that they were and he had no doubt that Brittney would have no problems switching to the real thing. "Are you serious?" she asked. "Yes- what time will you be home?" "I usually get home around seven- but..." "Yes?" Jian prompted. "My sister said that I could bring you- her boyfriend wants to talk to you about training with us. I should warn you that she thinks that we're a couple, but if you don't care..." The last piece fell into place. It was the last of the criteria. She was taking him home to meet her family. It didn't matter that she didn't understand the significance of it. It only mattered that it was happening. "I would enjoy that," he replied. "What time shall I collect you?" "Collect me? Jian I'm going to be collecting you," Brittney replied laughing. "Unless I'm riding on the handlebars of my bike." "It just so happens that I had my car delivered to me tonight," Jian replied with a smile. "You have a car? How did I not know that?" Brittney asked. "What else are you not telling me?" The question was asked as a joke, but Jian heard the seriousness behind it. "I have a few secrets," he teased back. "In due time I will be sharing them with you. What time shall I come for you?" "Dinner is at one so how about twelve-fifteen? Amanda- that's my sister hates it when I'm late." They talked for a few more minutes and then hung up. Jian felt invigorated now that he knew who his partner and mate was. Too excited to rest, he began making plans. He wondered if Brittney would like to learn how to ride a motorcycle. **** After the phone call with Jian was over, Brittney called Amanda to let her know that she would be brining Jian. She also wanted to give her the 'behave yourself spiel'. The phone rang several times and then went to voice mail. She left a message, hung up and went to bed. She didn't wake up until the next morning. **** Amanda was bone tired. She had worked in the yard all day and then had to go shopping for the ingredients for the vegetarian dishes. To his credit, Paul helped her in the yard, cleaned the house and went to the store with her. To her surprise he had even helped make the dishes that could be made ahead of time. She looked over at him. Her teddy bear as she called him. He was well over six feet three inches with the darkest brown eyes that she had even seen. It didn't matter that he was balding or that he had a gut- she loved him and he loved her enough to try to change his lifestyle. "Come on baby," he said to her after the last dish was in the fridge. "I'll give you one of teddy bear's famous massages." She didn't need to be told twice. She often wondered about his ex-wife. The woman had to have been an idiot to have let him go. According to Paul, the main bone of contention had been children. He wanted as many as he could while she wanted none. He tried to compromise with her, but to no avail. He had been divorced for a year when she met him at her job. She worked front desk at a busy clinic and he was a UPS man covering for someone on vacation. He started dropping by on his days off and before they knew it they were a couple. They went up the stairs holding hands knowing what was going to happen during that massage. When they reached the top of the stairs, Paul remembered that he hadn't closed the door to the patio. He almost went back, but he knew that if he did; Amanda would be asleep before he got back. "I'll go back down later," he thought to himself. "My baby needs loving." **** As soon as they were upstairs, someone moved in the shadows. He walked around the house grumbling when each window he came to was locked. Finally, he stood in front of the patio door. A huge smile spread across his face as he entered the kitchen and headed toward the stairs.