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The Slayers Ch. 03

By: kalamazoo707



Note: I apologize for the lengthy wait. I was/am going through a major life change and needed to take some time to think things out. Part of the change is trying to fit my writing into my new circumstances. I ask that you be patient as I figure this out. In the meantime, here is chapter 3 of 'The Slayers'. Chapter 4 will immediately follow. Thank you... Kalamazoo707.





Brittney woke up sometime around three am with a sick feeling in her stomach. She knew that it wasn't food poisoning, she had it before. This was more of a nausea resulting from anxiety. Unable to go back to sleep, she got up and went to the kitchen. She put the tea kettle on to make a cup of mint tea to soothe her queasy stomach and turned on the television. At three in the morning there wasn't much on other than infomercials advertising all kinds of kitchen gadgets that promised to make life in the kitchen easier and more fun. She knew that she was experiencing a weak moment when she actually began to pay attention. The featured product was a juicer; something that she had thought about purchasing at some point. One cup of honey sweetened mint tea later, the juicer was ordered. She grinned when she imagined Amanda's face when she told her that she did an 'impulse buy'. At the thought of her older sister, the nervous feeling in her stomach returned stronger than ever. Brittney looked at the clock. It was now four am and much too early call. Amanda would have her drawn and quartered if she called just because she was nervous. She turned off the television and turned on her laptop. She had several games of scrabble going with 'AL' the computer generated player and won all but two of them. After thirty minutes, her nerves settled enough that she could go back to sleep.

***

Jian couldn't rest. He unlocked the closet that contained all of the weapons that he and Brittney would use. He took out the pieces, examined them and gently laid them on a blanket on the floor. He would polish and hone them again although they didn't need it. Once they were all out of the closet, Jian looked at the matching weapons. Brittney's were smaller and lighter than his but just as deadly. He had no doubt that Brittney would be proficient in their use once she got used to the fact that they were real.

At three am, he froze and looked in the direction where Brittney lived. She was disturbed but not in danger. He relaxed and went back to his task. He wasn't at all surprised at the strength of the connection that he had with her. It had always been there just waiting for that final confirmation. He was sure that she felt it too and wrote it off as something else. No matter- she would see the truth soon enough.

By six am, the last of the weapons was locked away. He stood, stretched and headed for the shower. Before he got there, the phone rang. It was one of two people- Brittney or his father. He knew before he picked up the receiver that it was the latter.

"Father," he said quietly with reverence and respect.

"Jian," his father replied with equal respect. "You are well?"

"I am well-how is mother?"

"She is well and sends her love. I apologize that it took me so long to return your call, but I needed to do some investigating. Before I go any further- is she ready?"

"She will be," Jian replied. "Today we will start practicing with the real weapons. She knows that there is something between us but she does not acknowledge it."

"Has she met all of your criteria?" 

"Yes, the last piece of the puzzle fell into place last night. Father, there is a woman who lives three doors down from me. At first I thought that she was an elderly woman, but she isn't- she is or was a slayer. She uses the name of Nolan- do you know of her?"

"No, but I will find out. Nolan will not be her real name. Did she tell you anything?"

"No, she refused to speak about it. She is without a mate- I suspect that he has fallen."

"That is useful information," his father said. "There are but a handful of widowed slayers and widowed or not; she is still a slayer. It is her duty to assist you in any way that she can. When you talk to her again remind her of that fact. If she still refuses; invoke my name."

"Understood," Jian replied. He didn't want to go that route but would if he had to. "What have you found out?"

"Not much," his father replied. "Whatever is happening -it is contained to your section. Maybe it is something minor or it is just beginning. I will keep searching and will call if I have any further news. Jian- I know that you feel that you have something to prove because you are my son. You don't. I am proud to call you my son. I say this because my fear is that you will not call for help if and when the need arises because you are my son. I want you to understand that there is no dishonor in asking for help no matter who you are. I also want you to remember this- you are no longer responsible for just yourself."

"Yes father," Jian said softly, "you are right and thank you for reminding me of those things. Just as you are proud to call me son, I am proud to call you father. Give mother and grandmother my love."

Jian hung up and went to shower. He sincerely hoped that it was as his father said-that whatever was happening, it was a minor thing. Somehow; he just didn't think so. Whatever it was- it was just beginning.

****

Xavier was out much longer than he had intended. The short walk had turned into several hours. During the walk, he hadn't approached anyone since the girl. Instead he decided to observe. He walked through a neighborhood where there was a block party going on. No one seemed to care that he wasn't from the area. Almost everyone spoke to him with some of them offering him food or something to drink. All was well until a little girl- she couldn't have been more than eight being chased by another child ran into him. 

"Exc..." was all she got out before she started to scream. Everyone stopped what they were doing to see what the problem was. Xavier didn't move. He couldn't just vanish so he did the only thing that he could think of- he smiled in what hoped was a reassuring manner. Instead of helping, it made things worse. The girl screamed even louder and now there was a crowd around her. 

"Micki?" A woman called as she broke through the crowd, "Why are you screaming like that?" The girl didn't reply, but pointed at Xavier. The woman looked at him, paled, grabbed the girl by her shoulders and moved away.

"Wow," Xavier said jokingly, "I knew that I was ugly..."

That elicited a laugh from the crowd and a few comments from people about the sanity of the little girl and the woman who was her mother. Xavier tucked the information away for later perusal and continued his walk. When he reached the end of the block, he turned around and saw the woman watching him. His gray eyes flashed in acknowledgment of her. He was surprised when she met his gaze with one of her own. He realized that the fear that he saw earlier wasn't for herself, but for the little girl.

He had heard that there were humans that could see them for what they were, but until recently; he hadn't met any. This woman and her child made three. No one knew why certain people could see them and why others couldn't. The general consensus was that it was genetics. Xavier smiled at the woman and moved on. As long as people thought her and others like her insane then all was well.

Not wanting to take the chance of being spotted again, Xavier stayed to the shadows. After a while he realized something. His kind and the humans weren't all that different where their families were concerned. They loved and protected their children at all cost and would even die for them. They played, cried and laughed together as he had done with his own family in the past. He considered the love of one's family a weakness in that one would do almost anything to protect them. It was a weakness that he was counting on when it came time to step up his plan.

He arrived home around three am. The house was quiet- a sound that he loved. He stopped in his office, logged on to his laptop and did a quick check of his assets. Technically, they weren't his; but the ones they had belonged to had no further need of them. Next he checked the various feeds into his warehouses. They never knew when they were being watched so productivity was always high. Content that all was well, he was about to turn away when something caught his eye. One of his foremen was-"What the hell?" Xavier whispered as he watched the screen. He was being stolen from.

The foreman, Thomas Markham looked around as he took an envelope that was full of money. The man that handed him the money was one of Xavier's staunchest competitors. When the money was tucked into his pocket, Thomas led the man- Troy Cross to where the product was being made. Xavier watched as one of Troy's goons lifted four cases of the product onto a wagon and walked away with one-hundred thousand dollars worth of his product.

Enraged, he forgot about the woman waiting in his bed. His first reaction was to go to the warehouse and kill the man. Then he decided that it had been a while since he had made an example of anyone. He waited a few minutes and then called the warehouse. The foreman answered after five rings and then stammered when Xavier identified himself.

Thinking of himself as fair, Xavier gave the foreman a chance to come clean. It wouldn't have changed the outcome except that his death would have been relatively painless.

"Thomas- how are things?" Xavier asked smoothly.

"Fine sir," Thomas replied nervously. "I think that the new additive is working. The shelf life of the wine has been extended by two months."

"That's good news," Xavier replied. "Is there anything else that you need to tell me?"

"Sir?"

"All of the kegs are accounted for?"

"Oh... yes sir, I'm watching them myself."

"Good-Thomas I have a few ideas that I need to discuss with you; I'll be there at eleven tonight."

"Yes sir," Thomas replied breathing a sigh of relief. He couldn't believe that he had actually gotten away with it. The timing of the deal and the phone call hadn't occurred to him. All he knew was that the boss had sounded like he always did and he was several thousands of dollars richer. It was all about the money and power. He was guaranteed a place in the new organization once Dubois was gone. There would be no more doing guard work- Cross had promised him that. Unbeknownst to him, he was still being watched.

Xavier took one last look at the other warehouses and went to his room. The woman was awake and afraid. 

"Hello darling," Xavier said in his most seductive tone. Until her he had never spoken to any of them. It was time to learn how to act more human. "I apologize for keeping you waiting, but something came up that needed my immediate attention."

The woman didn't speak but tracked him with her eyes as he approached her. Her first thought after her initial fear was that he was as sexy as hell. Her second thought was why he had to pay for someone to fuck. She had only agreed to come because the money had been astronomical. She could retire from the streets and start over somewhere else. The being put to sleep thing hadn't thrilled her, but she thought about the money and where she was going to go with it. The fact that she watched the money being transferred into a special account created in her name helped soothe her anxiety.

"I suppose you understand what is expected of you?" he asked relaxing when he realized that she didn't see him as he was.

"Y...Yes," she replied nervously.

"Good- tell me, what will you do with all of that money?" he asked trying to relax her further.

"Move away to someplace where they don't have winter," she replied.

"That sounds lovely," Xavier replied with a smile. "Just keep thinking of that lovely place as I take what I paid for."

"Wait- don't you want to know my name?" she asked as fear settled in her belly.

"No-I don't," Xavier politely replied. "It isn't a requirement."

Before she could say anymore, Xavier was on her and in her as far as he could go. He inhaled the scent of her fear and admired her attempts to control it. He liked this one- she had spunk. She began to cry as he pounded away at her and screamed when at the point of his climax, he bit into her shoulder.

Xavier licked the fear rich blood from her shoulder and moved to a breast. The woman was now in full panic mode which suited him just fine. It just made the blood even sweeter. He made no moves to calm her, but bit into her nipple as he continued to thrust into her. He nursed from her and moved to the other nipple not bothering to lick the wound on the one breast closed. He didn't move his lips from her skin as he moved to the other breast leaving a trail of blood from one breast to the other. He paused long enough to look at the bright red in contrast with her pale, white skin. "Beautiful" he whispered and went back to nursing on the breast.

The woman had quieted in acceptance of her fate. She now knew that she wasn't leaving this place alive. Once she understood and accepted that, there was no need to continue struggling. She would never move to that place of endless summers nor take back her real name. Suddenly it was important that someone – even if it was the man who was about to murder her, knew her real name.

"My name," she said softly, "is Kelly Ann Wilkins."

Xavier ignored her as he made his way down her body leaving a trail of drying blood on her flat stomach as he went. He was so intent on what he was doing that he hadn't noticed that she was no longer struggling. He didn't realize it until he reached her groin, bit into her femoral artery and took a large gulp of her blood. Something was missing. It now tasted flat. The element of fear was missing. He looked up at her ready to put the fear back into her.

"My name," she said in a soft dreamy voice, "is Kelly Ann Wilkins."

Xavier was so shocked that he forgot about the blood that was pouring from her wounds. None of the others had conquered their fear. They had all cried and begged until they took their last breath. In an attempt to reinstate fear, he showed her what he really was. He was shocked for the second time in a few minutes. She simply looked at him, smiled and then closed her eyes. For the first time, one of the women died before he killed them. He didn't know what to make of it. His curiosity however was piqued. What made her so different than the others? If there was one like her, there had to be others- hopefully not many because if there were..."

He rolled out of bed and headed to the bathroom. Instead of a shower, he opted for a bath so that he could relax and think. He turned on the water, added a liberal dose of the bath oil that he had specially ordered and waited for the tub to fill. As he waited, he made several phone calls. Finally the tub was full enough for him to get in. He leaned back sighing with pleasure as the almost scalding water covered his shoulders.

"So Kelly Ann Wilkins," he mused. "What makes you so special?" Even the issue with his foreman was forgotten as he tried to understand Kelly's acceptance of her fate. The foreman issue was solved and didn't need any further attention, but this new development...

He finished his bath, brushed his teeth and went back to the bedroom. Kelly's body was gone and the bed freshly made complete with new linen. Xavier lay on top of the bed and looked up at the ceiling. He had learned a great deal today. Slowly his gray eyes clouded over and he was in a state of deep rest.

****

Winona Trump aka Mrs. Nolan sat at her kitchen table trying to calm her nerves. She had known who Jian was the moment she laid eyes on him four years ago. He was a replica of his father. She was going to leave, but decided to stay. He apparently didn't know what she was and had treated her persona of an old woman so nicely that she had grown fond of him. She even knew who the girl was and wondered why he hadn't bedded her as soon as he recognized her for what she was. Her mate, Justin had wasted no time in bedding her and then training her. Perhaps if he hadn't...

Now she was stuck. She should have left the night that she sensed something in the air. She even had the place picked out. If she left now, Jian wouldn't know she was gone until evening. She stood up to go to her bedroom. She was leaving. She was no longer a slayer, had never really considered herself to be one and didn't want anything more to do with them.

She walked into the small room and began to pack. She didn't have much just in case she had to leave quickly. She had just closed the small suit case when her cell phone rang. She stared at it. The last time it had rung was more than six years ago. It had been Jian's father. He had a mission for them. Her heart still ached when she thought about that mission. It had been her fault and her fault alone that Justin was dead. If only she had listened to him.

With a shaking hand, she picked up the phone.

"Winona," the voice at the other end said without as much as a hello. "I understand that you are acquainted with my son."

Winona closed her eyes and said nothing.

"In spite of what you may think," the voice continued, "you are still a slayer. You are still duty bound to help in whatever way that you can. Am I being clear?"

She understood all too well. Why she hadn't asked to be relieved of duty- she didn't know. Yes she did, she realized. Hsin Bo wouldn't have allowed it. All slayers no matter their condition were still slayers. Even if they couldn't fight in the field; they could help in other ways. Hsin had just given her an order and to refuse it by disappearing was tantamount to treason.

"I understand," she replied softly as tears rolled down her face. Hsin had just entrusted her with the safety of his son.

"Winona," Hsin said gently. "I know that you are still in pain over the loss of your mate. I can do nothing to take that pain away, but Winona- you are a slayer. As a slayer you have family- us. You are never alone."

"You knew that I was here didn't you?" Winona asked. "Is that why you sent Jian here?"

"I did not know of your location until I spoke with Jian," Hsin replied. "I could have located you if I needed you and I haven't needed you before now."

"What do you want me to do?" Winona asked sarcastically. "Protect him?"

"He doesn't need protecting," Hsin replied ignoring the sarcasm. "For now I want you to be a source of information to him. If his mate needs help in accepting who and what she is; I expect you to help her adjust to her new role."

"I understand," Winona replied.

"Sometimes," Hsin said, "things are not as bleak as they seem. Sometimes the gods are kind to us and we are given another chance at happiness but we have to be open in order to receive it. If you, Jian or his mate need anything; you only need to ask."

Winona hung up, unpacked her bags and sat down on the bed. She looked at her reflection in the mirror that hung over the dresser. She was once again Mrs. Nolan the elderly neighbor. She sat staring at her reflection for over an hour before she stood up and walked to a small double padlocked chest that sat in the corner of the room. She stood in front of it as tears ran down her face. She hadn't touched the weapons inside since Justine died. They would need to be honed and cleaned. She stepped back. Hsin hadn't said anything about her bearing arms. But- he would expect her to be fully prepared for battle mate or not.

With a shaking hand, she reached inside of her blouse and pulled out a chain that held three items. Two of the items were her and Justin's wedding bands- the ones she insisted that she had to have. The bands that he told her that they didn't need in order to know that they were married. He warned her that it could be a problem if one of them was caught, but she had insisted. Finally, Justin gave in. When he was caught, it was his ring finger still wearing the wedding band that she got back. In fact that was all she got back. A body had never been found. For weeks after she received the ring, she held out hope that he was still alive somewhere. The weeks turned into months and now it was more than five years. When she touched the ring, a feeling of hope resurfaced. Maybe he wasn't dead. Maybe he escaped and couldn't find her. Except that he would have found her just as she would have been able to find him had he been alive.


The Slayers Ch. 03



She took the necklace from around her neck, kissed Justin's wedding band and took the keys to the padlocks in her hands. Her hands were shaking so hard that she almost dropped the chain. She tried to put the first key in the lock, missed it and had to try again. Ten minutes and three tries later, the chest was open. She almost slammed it shut when she saw the cloth covered weapons. Biting back a sob, Winona reached into the chest and began to take the weapons out and laying them on the bed one at a time.

Justin would be angry with her. The one thing that he had drilled into her was that their weapons must be kept maintained at all times. She could imagine him looking at the weapons on the bed and then at her. His pale blue eyes would be filled with disappointment. He would also be disappointed in the way that she had hidden. He would see it as a dereliction of duty.

"You would be right on all accounts," she murmured as she began to take the weapons out of the thick material. When they were unwrapped, she touched each piece gently as if it were a lover. Her eyes flashed as she came to a decision. She would use Justin's weapons. If she died, it would be fighting with his sword. She knew that she could handle it. Justin had made her practice with his as much as he did with hers.

""Winnie," he said, "You never know when you may have to use my weapon so stop griping and get to work."

Winona laughed out loud. Most of the time she griped just to yank his chain. The laughter turned into sobs. She still missed him. Part of her prayed that he really was alive somewhere and didn't know how to get home. She wiped away her tears, went back to the chest and took out the honing and cleaning equipment. As she sat down, she wondered if Jian would oppose to another workout partner.

****

Brittney was up early. The nervousness was back in full force. What she wanted to do was to go for a run, but she hated running alone. It was barely seven, but she was almost sure that Jian was up. Taking a chance, she decided to call him. After all, the worst thing that he could say would be no. Jian answered on the first ring.

"Brittney?"

"Yeah- hey are you up for a run this morning? I would have gone alone, but it's no fun."

"I would enjoy that," Jian replied. "But under two conditions."

"What are they?" Brittney asked warily.

"One- you complain until we reach the two mile mark and two we add another mile to the run."

"Six miles?" Brittney asked. "We just ran five yesterday."

"This is true," Jian conceded. "It is time for us to push ourselves even harder-unless you do not feel able..."

"Jian Bo! Do you think that I was born yesterday?" Brittney snapped. "I can run six miles no problem! So stop trying to dare me into doing it. What else you got?"

Jian chuckled. "I am glad to hear that you can take whatever I throw at you. I will be there in fifteen minutes."

After she hung up, Brittney wondered what she had been thinking. She should have known that he would say yes to the run. Grumbling, she changed into her running clothes and was already doing warm ups when Jian got there.

"Good morning Brittney," he said with a smile.

"Whatever," Brittney snipped. "What are you grinning about?" she asked when she saw his smile.

"I am glad that you are keeping your part of the bargain- shall we begin?"

Brittney complained until they got to the two mile mark although she had been the one to suggest the run. By the time they got back to her apartment building; she was panting. Jian on the other hand had barely broken a sweat.

"Why aren't you breathing hard?" Brittney asked through her pants.

"After we do our two mile run after work, I do seven more miles," Jian replied.

"Seven- that's nine miles a day! Will you run again tonight?"

"No, I want to begin working with you on using real weapons," Jian replied. "The most difficult thing will be the psychological proponent. The replicas are of the same weight and make as the real ones. Your mind will have to make the transition from fake to real. You already have the skills."

The thought of finally being able to practice with the real weapons made Brittney smile. It was even enough to make her for get her nervousness. Jian smiled back at her happy that she was happy.

"Excuse me," he said with mock severity, "I do not hear any grumbling."

"Whatever," Brittney said and took off running."

After the run, Jian left Brittney at her apartment and ran home to see Mrs. Nolan waiting for him. The first thing that he noticed was that the smell of death was gone. She was indeed a powerful shifter if she could mimic smells. He greeted her warmly as he always did and invited her in for tea. To his surprise; she accepted. He pulled a folding chair from a closet, offered it to her and went to change. When he returned, it was Winona Trump sitting in the chair.

"Skip the tea," she said brusquely. "I'm going to get straight to the point. This morning I was reminded of what I was. You could have done that, but you didn't. You were going to let my guilt and sense of duty do that for you. It wouldn't have worked and I still would have left."

"No you wouldn't have," Jian said as he sat on the floor in front of her. "If you had left, you would have returned. Your sense of honor and duty would not have allowed you to stay away. The thought that Justin would feel shame also would have brought you back."

Winona couldn't deny anything that Jian said so she changed the subject to the reason for her visit.

"As I was saying, I was reminded of what I am-a slayer. I am here to offer you my services in whatever way that you need them. In light of that, I was wondering if I could train with you and your mate. It's been a while since I've wielded a sword or fought hand to hand."

"Thank you for your offer of acceptance and I accept on behalf of myself and my mate. Of course you are welcome to train with us. We have just finished a six mile run and tonight Brittney will be using real weapons for the first time. You are welcome to join us."

"Thank you," Winona said with a bow of her head. When she looked up, she was once again the old woman.

Jian walked her to her house. Once there, she turned to look at him.

"I'm sorry that I didn't reveal myself sooner."

"There was no need for you to have done so," Jian replied. "You revealed yourself at the appropriate time. I do have something that I would like for you to do tonight. When you meet Brittney, see if she is able to change forms like you can. If she can, I want you to teach her how to do it."

"I can do that," Winona said, "but why can't you do it? Your ability is even stronger than mine."

"Brittney needs a female to relate to," Jian replied. "I also think that it will do you some good as well."

"I'll do it," Winona said as she walked away.

*****

Twelve fifteen and Jian was at Brittney's door. She came out dressed in a light pink sundress and pink flip-flops. Jian eyed her appreciatively. One of the things that he liked about her was that she didn't feel the need to show her body. He knew some of the female mates wore clothes that left nothing to the imagination. Why their mates allowed it he didn't know. There was one female mate-Arden who dressed so provocatively that an unmated male- Baron offered to take her home with him. Adam, Arden's mate took great exception to this and a fight broke out. Jian who happened to be nearby broke the fight up.

"What is this nonsense?" he demanded. "We are brothers who are to fight together and not each other."

Adam told Jian what happened and waited. Jian looked at each male and then the female that had been the bone of contention. He addressed the unmated male first after taking them to an empty room.

"You are in the wrong. You know that she is a mated female but you made an inappropriate request. I heard you from where I was sitting. It matters not how she is dressed- she is the mate of another. You will apologize to her and then to Adam."

"I apologize," Baron said humbly.

"I accept your apology on behalf of myself and my mate," Adam said with a nod to his head.

Jian then turned to Adam. He took a moment to think about what he was going to say. He was about to insult both Adam and his mate. He excused Baron and turned his attention to them.

"Adam, as you are aware; your mate and her actions are your responsibility. How you choose to handle that responsibility is your choice. Along with that choice comes consequences. You have decided that the way in which your mate dresses is appropriate. As I said, Baron was wrong to approach her as he did; but what of her responsibility in this? You were prepared to fight for her which is as it should be, but..."

"She should be allowed to dress any damn way she pleases!" Adam broke in his voice furious. "You're making this her fault!"

Jian didn't flinch as the slayer a good five inches taller and several pounds heavier than him raged on. He waited until he was through and then continued.

"Yes she has the right to dress as she pleases," Jian replied. "But she does not have the right to cause disharmony amongst us. Do not say that she is mated, we all know that, but Adam; many of the males who look at her are not. They are not seeing a female who is mated; they are seeing a woman flaunting her sexuality. That may not be what she is doing, but that is what they perceive."

The conversation ended with Adam taking Arden home. They weren't at the next two gatherings, but when they came to the next one, Arden was fully clothed. She still exuded sexuality, but it was tamped down by the clothing. 

"Hey," Brittney said as she got into the car.

"Hello- you look very nice," Jian replied realizing that aside from their work out clothes, he had never seen her dressed in anything other than slacks or jeans. He began to feel a tingle in his groin that he hadn't felt in four years and ignored it. There would be plenty of time for that later.

As he drove, he told her that another woman would be joining them for their training sessions.

"Who is she?" Brittney asked unaware of the jealous tone of her voice. "How do you know her?"

Jian looked over at her and smiled basking in the jealousy.

"She is from the neighborhood. Her name is Winona Trump."

"Is this Winona married?" Brittney asked and then she blushed. She was acting like a jealous girlfriend. "Never mind, it doesn't matter so when does she start?"

"Tonight," Jian replied. "You mentioned something about your sister's husband wanting to train with us- he is also welcome."

"Well, they aren't married although I don't know why," Brittney said, "but he's a nice guy and he'll be thrilled."

The closer they got to the Roosevelt Boulevard part of the city, the more anxious Brittney became. She was to the point of nausea. Jian looked over at her, reached over and took a hand into his. Brittney jumped in surprise and then held his hand tightly. The nervousness was turning into fear that she didn't understand.

Jian pulled up in front of the house and waited. Something was wrong. The vibes coming from the house were-wrong. He quickly got out of the car before Brittney could open the door, ran to her side of the car and stood in front of the door so that she couldn't get out. He sniffed the air and grimaced. He finally moved from the car so that Brittney could get out. 

"What the?" and then she vomited.

Jian put a cool hand on the back of her neck and held it there until she was done.

"I'm sorry..."

"Don't be, it is in reaction to this place," Jian replied looking around him. If he had been alone, he would have misted and gone into the house alone. He was going to tell Brittney to wait by the car but knew that it would have been pointless. Now wasn't the time to exert his authority.

Taking her hand, they walked up to the house where Brittney stopped. Why didn't she smell food cooking? She could always smell the food from the front door. Alarmed, they walked to the front door and rang the doorbell. After ringing it several times, Brittney pounded on the door.

"Maybe they are not home," Jian said hoping that he could convince her to leave. He didn't want her to go inside the house.

"They're home," Brittney said turning around so that she faced the street. "See that silver Jetta? That's their car. Come on, maybe they're out back and can't hear us."

Jian followed Brittney to the back yard which was empty. A faint odor that he knew all too well assailed his nose. A pain shot through his heart in anticipation of Brittney's pending pain and horror. He moved so that he was as close to her as possible without actually touching her. 

"The patio door is wide open," she murmured. "They never leave it open."

She walked in, followed by Jian and looked around. The kitchen was immaculate. Ingredients for one of the vegetarian dishes sat on the counter by the sink, the coffee pot was full-Paul liked a cup of coffee even before he kissed Amanda good morning and his cup sat beside it unused.

"Amanda! Where are you?" Brittney called out as she walked through the house.

A few seconds later, they heard a low mewling sound coming from upstairs.

"Let me go first," Jian said moving Brittney behind him. Brittney allowed herself to be moved and put her hands on Jian's waist peeking around him as they climbed the stairs.

"Paul? Amanda?" she called out. "Are you guys alright?"

They followed the mewling sounds that had gotten louder. The anger, grief and pain in the sounds gave Brittney the chills. They stopped in front of Paul and Amanda's room. Suddenly, Brittney didn't want to go any further. Tears were already streaming down her face; her throat was so tight that she could barely swallow.

"Wait here," Jian said softly as he touched her hands.

"No," she said softly but firmly. "I'm going with you."

Jian nodded, gave her hands a squeeze and slowly opened the door. 



The Slayers Ch. 04



The mewling sounds grew louder as Jian reached for the door knob. Brittney tried to figure out if the sounds were coming from a male or female. They were so low pitched that she couldn't really be sure. As much as she loved Paul, she hoped that the sounds were coming from Amanda. Her stomach roiled and she fought the urge to vomit. She buried her face between Jian's shoulder blades too afraid to look.

When the door opened, an odor so strong wafted out that Brittney let go of Jian, turned and dry heaved. Jian went into the room glad that Brittney wasn't with him. It gave him a moment to prepare her for whatever he found. 

Paul was sitting in a chair motionless. His eyes were glazed over, but opened wide as if in horror. The mewling sounds were coming from him. Jian looked to see if he was tied to the chair and was initially perplexed to see that he wasn't. He turned in the direction that Paul was facing and paled. Amanda's lifeless body was sprawled across the bed. The smell was coming from her. He saw the bite marks on her neck and understood why Paul was sitting as if he were tied. He turned to leave the room and intercepted Brittney as she was going in.

"No," Jian said stopping her. "Do not go in there."

"Amanda!" Brittney screamed around him. "Answer me! Amanda!"

"Brittney..."

"Where is she?" she screamed crying. "Let me go!" she screamed as she pounded Jian's chest.

For the first time since he met her, Jian held her. It wasn't how he envisioned the first time that he held her but it was what it was. He didn't have to tell her that her sister was dead-she knew it, had known it but hadn't accepted it. Now she had no choice. 

"I- I want to see her," she cried into Jian's chest. "I need to see her."

"Brittney..." 

"If that was your sister wouldn't you want to see her? Now let me go damn it!"

She had forgotten about Paul until he cried out again.

"Paul?" she yelled as she pushed past Jian. "Paul? What happened? Who did this? Where's Amanda?"

Like Jian had done, Brittney turned in the direction where Paul's glazed eyes were staring.

"Oh godohgodohgodohgod OHGod!!! Amanda? Oh my god wake up! Please wake up!"

Jian stood back watching as Amanda approached the bed where Amanda's body lay in an unnatural position. Her neck had clearly been broken and large gaping holes were on the side of her neck. Brittney didn't seem to notice them as she touched Amanda's cold body and then shook it.

"Who did this to you?" she crooned as tears ran down her face. "Who took you away from me?"

"Brittney, we must take Paul for help," Jian said.

"What?" Brittney asked half dazed. 

Jian recognized the signs, Brittney was going into shock. It was a mixed blessing. On one hand she wasn't thinking clearly enough to want to call the police, but on the other hand it delayed the grieving process. 

"Paul needs our help," Jian gently repeated. "He saw who did this..."

"We have to call the police," Brittney said suddenly snapping out of her shock.

"No Qin ai de-beloved, we cannot. They cannot help with this."

"What do you mean they can't help?" Brittney yelled. "Someone killed my sister and drugged Paul! We have to call for help!"

"Brittney you must listen to me," Jian said firmly but gently. "The police will not find the one who did this..."

Brittney wasn't listening. She took out her cell phone and tearfully called the police. Jian didn't try to stop her. If it was what she needed to do in order to begin dealing with her sister's death then so be it. He would deal with any fallout later.

"Ummm police? This is Brittney Marsh- I'm at my sister's house and – and sh... she... she's dead. I- I don't know- I found her and... y... yes. No... her boyfriend, but I think they drugged him... He's breathing- no he hasn't said anything can you just get here?"

Brittney gave the address and hung up, touched Amanda's body again and moved from the bed. She gave the body another look and began to sob.

"I felt something! I felt something and I didn't do anything! Yes I did- I bought a damned juicer! I ignored the feeling that I should call you for a damned juicer!"

Jian watched her with a heavy heart. "So this is what it feels like to watch your mate hurt" he thought to himself as she walked toward her. He ignored Paul's soft moans and went to Brittney. She was his focus and not Paul. When he reached her he put his arms around her. This time she didn't pull away but wrapped her arms around his waist and held on tight. They could hear the sound of rapidly approaching sirens. The police would soon be there.

"Amanda? Baby?" Paul weakly, "are you ok?"

Brittney pulled away from Jian and looked at Paul. He was fully awake. His eyes were clearer but still glazed. She watched as he toppled from the chair to the floor with a loud thump. She ran over to him and called put his name as she touched his face.

"Paul? Wake up! You have to tell us who did this! Paul!"

But he was out cold. 

A few seconds later, the police were pounding on the front door. Brittney ran down the stairs to let them in. Jian stood back in a corner to watch. He didn't want to interact with human law enforcement unless he absolutely had to and so far; Brittney was doing relatively fine. When they asked if she was alone; she said yes. Jian nodded with satisfaction. The need to protect him was there and she acted on it twice without understanding it and without being aware that she was doing it. He watched as the police followed by EMTs entered the bedroom.

"Hey buddy! Can you hear me?" The paramedic who was taking his vital signs asked. "Does anyone know if he took anything?" He called out.

"He doesn't take drugs if that's what you mean," Brittney replied hugging herself.

"What about prescription meds?"

"No-wait- Amanda said that he just started cholesterol medications, but that's all I know. Is he going to be alright?"

"We need to get moving," the other paramedic said after he started a large bore IV. A moment later, Paul's large body was on a stretcher. A liter of normal saline was running wide open and was already half gone. The paramedic had another bag open and ready to spike as soon as the current one emptied. His partner checked Paul's vital signs, documented them and gave the okay to move him.

"I'm coming with you," Brittney said. She knew that Amanda wouldn't have wanted Paul to be alone. There was nothing more that she could do for her sister, but she could be there for Paul. The police asked her one more question that made her flush with anger.

"Do you think that he's capable of murder?"

"Paul? Absolutely not! He loved her!"

Jian watched as the medical examiner made the inevitable discovery of the neck wounds on Amanda's body.

"Whoa!" he exclaimed and started snapping pictures. "Detective did you see this?"

What impressed Jian was that the medical examiner acted as if he had seen something similar before. The detective had a much stronger reaction.

"What the hell happened to her? It looks like something bit her."

By then, much to Jian's relief; Brittney was gone. How she hadn't seen the gaping wounds he didn't know, but he was thankful that she hadn't. It was one less thing to deal with. The priority was getting her over her grief and teaching her how to control her anger. The anger hadn't come yet- but it would especially when the police would clear Paul and have no other suspects. There would be no prints and no physical evidence. They swabbed Amanda's neck for DNA but there would be none. The neighborhood would be canvassed but no one will remember hearing anything out of the ordinary. People at Paul and Amanda's jobs would be interviewed and none of them would recall if they had any enemies. They might find that Amanda had a few unrequited love interests who they would interview and then later clear. In the end, Amanda's case would join the hundreds of others in the cold case department. Some of those cases would eventually be solved bringing a measure of peace to the families and justice to the killers. But Amanda's case wouldn't be one of them. It would be up to Jian and Brittney to find Amanda's killer.

Jian was thankful for another thing- Amanda was truly dead. The vampire that killed her had made sure of that. Had he not, there would have been a problem-he or another slayer would have had to hunt Amanda down and kill her. More than likely, they would have had to kill Paul too because Amanda could have inadvertently turned him. He slipped from the house, went to his car and drove to the hospital where Paul was taken.

****

Brittney sat in the cubicle holding Paul's hand. He was going to be devastated when he found out that Amanda was gone. There was so much to think about. A service to plan, what Paul wanted to do about the house...

"We're going to find them," Brittney said softly. "They won't get away with taking her away from us."

In Brittney's mind, there had to have been more than one person. Paul was a big guy and even if taken by surprise, he would have put up a hell of a fight. Now that she was relatively calmer, a few things began to niggle at her. There had been no signs that he had put up a struggle. Maybe the assailants had a weapon. Maybe....

Jian stood outside of the cubicle listening. He listened to the tone of Brittney's voice and tasted her words. He heard the determination in her voice and tasted the sincerity of her words. Some of the anxiety that he had about her controlling her anger lessened. The focused Brittney was coming out. He stepped into the small cubicle and sat on the stool next to her. To his surprise, Brittney leaned over and put her head on his shoulder. He moved closer to her and took a hand in his.

"We will find him," he said quietly. "I promise you this."

The doctor came in a few minutes later.

"The drug and alcohol screens are all negative. The paramedics said that he just started a new medication- when was that?"

"I-I don't know for sure, but it hasn't been for very long- Friday I think. Do you think he's having an allergic reaction?"

"Not if he's been on it for a few days," The doctor replied. "I think that what we're seeing is shock. He witnessed something horrific. We're going to send him to ICU for a few days. I don't like how he's in and out of consciousness. When he wakes up we'll do a psych consult. Does he have any relatives close by?"

"He has a mother and sisters but they live in New Jersey..."

"Do you have a number?"

"No-but I can get it," Brittney said before she realized that it meant going back to the house which was now a crime scene.

"Fine, can you call the ICU with the number?" The doctor asked. "They'll be moving him after we do a CT scan and MRI."

They stayed until Paul was transferred to the ICU. Jian drove Brittney to his house and made her sit while he made tea. By the time he returned to the living room, Brittney was on the floor curled into a tight ball and sobbing. He sat the tea down, sat next to her on the floor and pulled her onto his lap and wrapped his arms around her. He didn't speak- it wasn't what she needed. Nor did he make the small sounds of comfort that humans tended to make. She needed to grieve. 

****

Xavier rose early. He hadn't rested well. He couldn't forget the way that the last woman- Kelley Ann Wilkins had died. It was-dignified- a word that he had never used in the same sentence as human. He wondered where she had found that dignity and decided that it had always been there in spite of what she did for a living. He wondered how many other humans had that quality. He pushed his thoughts of Kelly aside and thought about the thief in his employ. 

Unable to settle, he got up and walked around the room to think. If there was one thief there were others. His hope was that after tonight thievery would no longer be a problem. He pushed the intercom button located by the bathroom door and waited for a response.

"Yes sire?"

"I'm up for the evening- bring my usual breakfast."

"Yes sire-there is also news that you will be interested in hearing."

"Tell me when you bring my meal," Xavier said.

He was curious as to what the news could be, but the servant hadn't said that it was an emergency. He went into the bathroom and as he did every morning and evening; examined himself. He wasn't sure of what he was looking for during the exam. He never found anything. But it was an integral part of his morning and evening preparation. He couldn't start or end his night and mornings without it.

He checked his dark hair, his teeth and then finally his face. The odd thing was that he didn't examine the rest of his body in the same meticulous manner. He looked down at his semi-erect cock and continued to his feet. Finished with the examination, he turned so that his back was to the mirror. He craned his neck so that he could see his back. He gave his backside a cursory glance and pronounced himself perfect.

"Sire? Your breakfast is here," the servant called from outside of the bathroom.

Xavier walked out totally nude. He was comfortable with and loved his body. The staff no longer paid any attention to him even if he walked through the house naked. Any guests that came to the house by either invitation or drop in never knew what to expect. If he greeted them in the nude, they wisely ignored it.

"Tell me this news that you think that I would be interested in," Xavier said as he sat at the small rollaway table.

The servant who had been with Xavier for longer than any of the others filled the crystal goblet with spiced wine and stepped back.

"Sire- a contact from the police department called last evening. Apparently a human woman was killed by one of our kind."

"So?" Xavier asked not seeing the issue. "Was she one of my stock?"

"No sire."

"Then I don't see..."

"The woman was one who had connections-family. There was also a witness."

This gave Xavier pause.

"What of the witness?" he asked.

"He is in the intensive care ward and unable to give any information."

"Then no problem," Xavier said relaxing. "No one will believe him if he even saw whoever it was as he truly is and-they may even pin the murder on him."

"Sire-there's a bit more."

"What else can there be?" Xavier asked as he took a sip of the cool blood spiced wine.

"It was the woman's sister who found the body and called the police. Your contact believes that she wasn't alone."

"I'm assuming that he has the name and address of the sister?"

"Yes sire."

Xavier realized that the servant was waiting for permission to speak freely.

"Say what's on your mind."

"Your contact has reason to believe that the other person was a slayer..." 

"Who was the contact?" Xavier asked nonchalantly. Depending on whom it was there might be nothing to worry about.

"It was the medical examiner- he did not leave a name."

This was cause for concern. One of the reasons that he hired the medical examiner was because he was psychically sensitive to other beings- especially slayers. It was an extremely rare gift and he counted himself fortunate to have found the man. At some point he planned to have the medical examiner working at his side but not yet. 

"Thank you Mitchell, you are dismissed."

Xavier finished his breakfast thinking about the news that he had just received. He knew about the slayers although he had never met one. He knew that they traveled in pairs-mated pairs which meant if there had been a slayer at the house, the female was his mate.

His heart raced. Slayers could ruin everything that he had worked for. Entire financial dynasties had toppled because of a slayer. If the female of the dead woman was a slayer's mate- they would never stop looking for the culprit. This killer- whoever he or she was had just made things more difficult for him. He had to find out who it was and dispose of him. He also had to find out who and where the slayer was. If there was one pair, then others weren't far away. Later he would call the medical examiner and get the name and address of the female slayer.

**** 

Jian held Brittney long after she had stopped crying and was asleep in his arms. As he waited for her to wake up, he thought about the crime scene. It had been careless of the killer to leave Paul alive. There was always a chance that someone would believe him if he said that it was a monster. That led to the next question- what had Paul seen? They wouldn't know that until he was fully awake. 

Next he thought about the medical examiner- his reaction to seeing the bite marks was something other than what Jian assumed it was. Where would he have seen something like that? The monsters while brutal made sure to kill only those with no connections, but this one had made a mistake. The monsters also always made sure to leave no trace of their presence. Something was wrong.

Jian closed his eyes and replayed the entire scene in his head. It was like watching a movie but much clearer. He could hear the sounds and smell the smells that had been there. When he got to the part where the medical examiner found the wounds, he paused the memory and examined the man. On the face of it he looked normal. But his reaction to the bite marks wasn't. He wasn't as surprised as he should have been, Jian realized. The medical examiner was familiar with vampires. Jian restarted the memory and paused it when the man slightly turned his head to the left- the direction that he –Jian had been standing and then turn away.

"He saw me," Jian murmured. "He tried to act as if he didn't, but he did."

Although he hated to do it, he eased Brittney onto the matted floor and covered her with a light blanket. He needed to find out what the medical examiner was going to do with the information and who he worked for. He wasn't worried about being reported to the police but if he worked for the monsters there could be a problem. Many humans worked for the monsters if only for financial gain. The monsters as were the slayers were always watching for humans to sway to their side. Which side was this man on?

Jian took his cell phone out and called Winona.

"Are you home?" she asked.

"Yes and I need you here. I will explain when you get here."

Five minutes later, Winona aka Mrs. Nolan was at the door with a plate of cookies in her hand.

"What's happening?" she asked as she handed Jian the plate of cookies.

Jian led her to the living room and explained what happened.

"Do you think that this is what we've been feeling?" Winona asked.

"Maybe," Jian replied, "but I do not think that this is all of it. I think that Amanda's death was a random thing that may have caused unforeseen ramifications. You know how the monsters work- they are meticulous in covering up their brutality. Why was a witness left? Why take the chance that someone will believe him? But what concerns me more is that the medical examiner saw me."

"Maybe he is with us," Winona said as she looked over at Brittney.

"Maybe, but maybe he isn't," Jian replied. "I want you to stay with Brittney. If she wakes and asks where I am tell her that I will return shortly."

Before he left, Jian planted a soft kiss on Brittney's head and murmured a few words. Then he was gone.

****

Medical examiner Ephraim J. Cook was quite proud of himself. After today he was quite sure that his time in the medical examiner's office was close to an end. He hated his job with a passion, but it paid the bills. He had been counting down the years until his retirement- now it could be a matter of days. He was surprised but not shocked at the way the woman had died. He had seen it before. But a living witness did surprise him. The real shock had been spotting the slayer. He hoped that the slayer didn't realize that he had been spotted, but they were damned good at what they did. Had he not been gifted with being able to sense slayers, he wouldn't have spotted him.




The Slayers Ch. 04



He sipped at his coffee while looking at the real-estate section of the paper. He could afford to buy a new home now- he had the money. He had been working with the monsters for years. That money sat in a separate account under a different name that his greedy mother didn't know about. She and that damned HSN, QVC and her trips to Atlantic City was why he had been in so much debt. The money from the monsters had saved him from financial ruin. Finally he got smart and got his mother one of those prepaid debit cards. Each payday he loaded a certain amount on it and when it was gone, it was gone. She would have a coronary if she knew that her baby boy had well over five million dollars sitting in the bank.

There was another reason why he didn't spend much of the money. It would have drawn too much attention. The "I won a little from the lottery" excuse wouldn't work. He didn't gamble and everyone knew it so on occasion he would treat himself to something small. No one ever questioned him about it because he didn't go hog wild. 

As he perused the real estate ads, he decided that he no longer wanted to stay on the east coast. It was time to move somewhere warm. Of course that would depend on what his employer said, but he could still purchase a condo for vacations and live there part time. In fact, he could purchase one now or he could go on a cruise. Who would know where the money came from? He could always say that he saved for the cruise. The condo would be harder to explain but he didn't have to mention it to anyone. He began to plan for his first vacation without his mother and he couldn't wait. Who knew? He could meet a nice woman, settle down and get married. He didn't know what he was going to do with his mother, but she sure as hell wasn't going with him. Maybe he'd send her on a cruise. He jumped when the phone rang. He glanced at the phone and saw that the number was blocked. He knew who it was.

"Ephraim," Xavier's smooth voice crooned. "You have something to share with me?"

Ephraim's stomach roiled. He had never seen his employer nor did he want to. Hearing him was more than enough. And if he looked anything like the others that he had seen....

"Ephraim?"

"Ah yes sir- I think –no I know that I saw a slayer. I didn't get a good look at him, but he looked Asian."

"I see," Xavier replied, "and this slayer- did he see you watching him?"

"No sir, I turned away before he saw me."

"Very good, now what about the woman that was with him? Was she a slayer too?"

"I don't know sir, if I had to guess..."

"I don't pay you to guess," Xavier cut in coldly. "Is she a slayer? It's a yes, no or I don't know question."

Ephraim swallowed before he answered. "I-I don't know sir."

"Was that so difficult?" Xavier asked sarcastically. "You have an address?"

"Yes sir."

"Well give it to me," Xavier said as if he were talking to dolt.

Ephraim gave Xavier the address while fighting the urge to vomit.

"Well done," Xavier said and then hung up.

Ephraim didn't make it to the bathroom. He threw up everything he had eaten in the past two hours all over himself. During that time he reconsidered what he was doing. By the time he was done throwing up, he had gotten over his doubts.

****

Xavier tapped his desk with long thin fingers weighing his options. He could go after the woman and dispose of her if she wasn't a slayer-but she was; he could feel it. The other option was that he could leave well enough alone. If he did that, the attention of the slayers would be focused on finding the killer. There was a small chance that the killer was one of his, but he didn't think that any of his people would be that stupid. But then again one of his own foremen was stealing from him in a monitored setting. If the killer was one of his people it was only a matter of time before the slayers were knocking at his door. He had to find out who the killer was before they did. Once he did that he would know what to do.

He pushed the intercom button on his desk and got an immediate response.

"Yes sir," a soft feminine voice said.

"Get Cherie on the phone and then you get in here-I need attention."

"Yes sir."

A moment later, the secretary was under the desk and Xavier was on the phone with Cherie. He really didn't like the female but she was the best at what she did. She also wasn't cheap.

"Xavier darling! To what do I owe this call?" Cherie asked in a voice that some found seductive but Xavier found grating. To his ears she sounded like fingers being scraped across a black board.

"First of all, drop the darling," he said coolly. "I am not your darling."

Suddenly he found the woman under the desk a distraction and shooed her away.

"I want you to find someone for me."

"Of course da-Sir. Who am I looking for?"

"All I can tell you is that he or she is one of our kind. They murdered a human in her home and I need to be sure that whoever the murderer is that they can't be linked back to me."

"I see and since when are you concerned about murdered humans?" Cherie asked

Xavier hesitated. He wasn't sure of how much he should tell her but if slayers were involved, she needed to know.

"I tell you this only because this could become dangerous. I also know that you know how to keep your mouth shut."

"Your secrets are my secrets," Cherie replied.

"There may be slayers involved," Xavier said. "The human woman is the sister of a slayer."

"Oh fuck..."

"Oh fuck is right," Xavier agreed. "I need for you to find the killer before they do and dispose of him if he's one of mine."

"And if he isn't?"

"Find out who he belongs to and lead the slayers there. If he belongs to no one, dump him on Troy Cross's doorstep. I want this to work in my favor. One more thing, I want you to find out what you can about the female slayer. Her name is Brittney Marsh. You report to me and no one else is that clear?"

"Am I to approach her?" Cherie asked.

"No just gather information on her," Xavier replied.

"There is the matter of my fee," Cherie cooed. "I'm actually doing two jobs and I expect to be compensated for both of them."

"Of course you do," Xavier replied. "What is your fee?"

The fee agreed upon, Xavier hung up and motioned to the secretary who was still under his desk to continue tending to him. He reached under the desk and held her head in place as she thrust into her mouth as hard as he could. He ignored her cries of discomfort and released her only when he had climaxed.

"Get back to work," he snarled suddenly in a bad mood.

He leaned back in his chair thinking of all the possible scenarios and their outcomes. Best case scenario was that the killer belonged to Troy Cross, his biggest competitor. Cherie could lead the slayers to him thus opening his operation up for a takeover. Somehow he didn't think that the killer belonged to Cross. Cross was as controlling of his people as he was. But there was an opportunity here- he could smell it. His mood brightened. Things were going to be just fine.

***

Jian walked into the M.E.s office unseen. He didn't expect anyone to be there but he needed a name and an address. There was a woman at the desk, a Dr. Julia Reynolds M.E. her name tag said. She was the night shift M.E. Jian stood in the doorway to see if she looked in his direction. When she didn't, he knew that she couldn't detect him. He slipped behind her to see what she was reading hoping that it was something useful.

"Ephraim," she muttered, "what is this shit?" 

She turned the page of the notebook and laughed. The notebook wasn't work related but a manuscript that Ephraim was working on in his spare time. It took Jian a minute to realize that the woman was invading Ephraim's privacy. The drawer with his name on it was opened and the combination lock lay on the desk. 

"Close the notebook and put it back," Jian whispered in her ear. 

The woman hesitated and then put the notebook back.

"Now, lock the drawer."

The woman complied and sat back in her chair.

"You will forget everything that you just read. They are Ephraim's private thoughts. You will not invade his privacy again. Do you understand me?"

"I understand," the woman replied.

"Good, now tell me about Ephraim."

Twenty minutes later, Jian had a good idea of what Ephraim was like and why he would be drawn to a monster. They probably promised him everything that he didn't have and boosted his ego. He left with Ephraim's address and phone number. Instead of going there, he went back home where Brittney was still asleep on the floor.

"She woke up once and went back to sleep" Winona said when Jian walked in. "What did you find out?"

"I have the phone number and address of the medical examiner but I will wait to approach him," Jian replied. "I believe that he is working for the monsters, which one I do not know."

"But you suspect that it's someone big," Winona said.

"Yes, I also believe that whoever killed Amanda is a free agent."

"And?" Winona prompted.

"I don't know yet," Jian replied. "Brittney cannot be alone so she will need to stay here."

"How do you plan to convince her of that?" Winona asked. "As far as I can tell you haven't moved beyond a friendship."

"True, but we are friends," Jian replied. "She will stay here and train, but first we have to get her through the services and grieving process."

"What about the man Paul?" Winona asked. "You know that she's going to feel responsible for him and here's another thing, what if what killed Amanda comes back for him?"

Jian had already thought about that. He wasn't without resources of his own and was confident of Paul's safety. He didn't know who would be watching him, but he would be safe.

"It is taken care of," he replied. "I also think that you should stay here as well."

"No, I'll be fine," Winona replied. "I can be here in a split second if need be and it's important that things appear as normal as possible. No one will think much about Brittney staying here since you're together so much as it is, but Jian you have to tell her."

"Tell me what?" Brittney asked sitting up. 

"Brittney this is Mrs. Nolan from two houses down," Jian said.

"Oh sure, I remember you."

"Jian was just telling me about what happened, I am so sorry for your loss."

Brittney felt tears welling up but fought them back. It was time to pull herself together so that she could plan the service and help Paul.

"Thank you," she said as a tear managed to escape.

"It's a hard thing to lose someone," Winona said. "There's no pain quite like it. Jian, I'm going to head on home now, you call me if you need anything."

"I should be going too..."

"You will stay here," Jian said. "I have room and you shouldn't be alone."

"You've done more than enough for me today and besides; I don't have any clothes or anything."

"Then we will go to your home and get what you need," Jian replied. "But you cannot stay there."

"Why not?" Brittney asked.

"Because whoever killed your sister could be after you," Winona replied before Jian could say anything. She knew that he would tell her the truth and she wasn't ready to hear it. 

Brittney looked at her and didn't believe her. There was much more going on than they were telling her but she was too tired and sad to argue about it.

"Fine," she said wearily, "but there's something that you're not telling me," she said to Jian, "and as you know; I hate secrets."

Jian and Winona exchanged a look that wasn't missed by Brittney. She felt an inexplicable surge of jealousy toward the old woman as she watched them turn away and walk to the door.

"What the hell is wrong with me?" She murmured as she waited for Jian to come back.

"We will drive," he said a few minutes later."

"Drive? Jian it's only ten blocks from here and I'm not moving in..."

"We will drive," he said again more firmly.

"Fine," she grumbled as she stood up. "So what's with you and the old woman?"

"She is a friend," Jian replied pleased to see the jealousy. "Shall we go?"

"I want to go see Paul first."

****

Paul wavered in and out of consciousness. When he was unconscious, he had the most horrific dreams except that they didn't feel like dreams. Amanda was dead. He watched as that... that thing killed her. He had been powerless to move. He had been terrified, but he was trying to break free. He tried to distract it, but its focus was on Amanda.

"Hey you! Over here!" He had yelled several times.

Someone shouting woke him up. It was him. A nurse came in when she heard the shouting and was calling his name. Paul took one look at her and began to scream. The nurse was a female version of what had killed Amanda. Another nurse, a male ran into the room to see what the ruckus was. 

"She's a monster!" Paul screamed. "Oh Jesus get her away from me!"

The male nurse said something to the female nurse that made her grotesque features turn even more grotesque. Before she left, she gave Paul a look that made him cower.

"Did you see her?" Paul asked still panicked. "She wasn't normal."

"Paul- I need for you to calm down and listen to me. My name is Josh..."

"You're not a nurse are you?" Paul asked scooting back on the bed as far as he could go.

"No I'm not, but I'm not one of them either. I know that you've had a really rough time and I know that you haven't had time to mourn the loss of your woman, but I need you to listen to me. I'm here to help you."

"Help me? Help me how? Are you going to help me find that thing that killed Amanda?" He demanded.

"You aren't ready for that," Josh replied. "The first thing that we need to do is to get you out of here. Can you walk?"

"I'm not going anywhere until you tell me where we're going..."

"Your life is in danger!" Josh hissed. "That thing that was in here is making calls as we speak. I could have killed her, but that would have caused more of a problem. You my friend would have been accused of murder and a manhunt would have begun. You're already under suspicion for the death of your woman now let's move!"

Josh began pulling the telemetry leads off of Paul's chest while Paul yanked out the IV. 

"Let's go!" Josh yelled as the alarms began to sound. 

The next thing Paul knew, he was tossed over Josh's shoulder like he was a sack of potatoes. The walls of the hospital whizzed by making him dizzy and then nauseated. Just as they reached the door to the stairs, Paul caught sight of the monster nurse. This time he vomited and then passed out.

When he came to, he thought that he was at home and that it was time to get up to make his coffee. He reached over expecting to find Amanda's warm body next to his. When he felt nothing but an empty space, reality came crashing back. He closed his eyes and sobbed. 

"I'm sorry baby..."

Josh stood outside of the door listening to the big man cry. A tear of sorrow slipped down his cheek. He quickly wiped it away with the hand that was missing its ring finger. He felt for the man and in a way; he envied him. At least this man knew that his beloved was gone never to return. His beloved was an entirely different story. She was close, but he couldn't go to her just yet. His only hope was that she knew deep in her heart that he still lived.

When the sobs quieted, Josh tapped on the door and went into the room. Paul was lying on his right side staring at the wall. He didn't move although he had to have heard Josh come in. 

"We've got some clothes that you can wear," Josh said. "I know that you want to go back to your home, but that isn't possible..."

"Why her?" Paul asked. "Why not me? I would have done anything it wanted."

"I don't have any answers," Josh replied. "But what I do know is that you're being searched for. The thing that killed your woman should have killed you as well. At the very least it should have taken her body."

"What are those things?" Paul asked. "Why haven't I seen them before?"

"The humans call them monsters but what they really are is rogue vampires. There are those of you that can either see or sense them. Most of you never see one."

"Vampires?" Paul asked. "There aren't any such things as vampires."

"Yes," Josh said, "there are. There are different types of vampire ranging from the ones who live peacefully with other species to those like what you call the monsters. There was a time when they ran rampant but their numbers have decreased and they've become smarter. They've learned to assimilate with other species even pulling a few into their ranks."

"How do you kill them?" Paul asked.

"I know why you're asking," Josh said, "and it's impossible for a human to kill them..."

"You keep saying human- what are you?" Paul asked.

"I'm not one of them and I am not human although I appear to be human. I am also not vampire- I am what is called a slayer. My primary function is to hunt and kill monsters of any species."

"Where do I sign up?" Paul asked.

"You don't," Josh replied. "This isn't like your military where you enlist. It is something that you are born with just as you were born with the ability to see the monsters. Your ability to see them is where you will be the most help."

"Are there others like me?"

"There are, but far too few. We are in the process of trying to locate as many of you as we can, but it is a slow process. Many of you go through an entire lifetime not ever seeing one of the rogues. Some of your kind is in mental institutions being treated for psychiatric conditions that they don't have."

"How do you know when you find one of us?" Paul asked.

"I received a call about you," Josh replied. "Sometimes one of you will send us to someone that they know can see or sense the monsters. The thing is this; the monsters are looking for you too. Not as aggressively as we are because they rely on the fact that the person will not be believed. They are looking for one particular type of person- the person that can sense other beings- slayers in particular. Fortunately these humans are extremely hard to find. "

"Are you saying that there are humans who work for these things?" Paul asked shocked. "How could they?"

"Humans have one fatal flaw," Josh replied. "You love pretty things. You equate material things with happiness. Those who work for the rogue are easily swayed by the promise of riches. The rogue plays on human weaknesses and exaggerates their strengths. What they don't understand is that as soon as they outlive their usefulness-they will die. The only human that is relatively safe is the one that I have described. They are worth their weight in gold."

Paul didn't say anything for a long time. When he did, it was about Amanda.

"I was going to ask her to marry me. I had it all planned out. I was going to take her on the late night river cruise- the one where they have dinner and dancing you know? I even had the song picked out. My family didn't understand at first, but then they met her and they fell in love with her... and now some fucking monster took her! You tell me what you want me to do and I'll do it."

"For now get some rest," Josh said. "We also need to figure out a way to get you into her services."

"I'm glad that you said that," Paul said. "I was going no matter what. I need to call her sister Brittney; can I do that?"

"I'll work on it," Josh replied as he left the room.

***

"Gone?" Brittney asked. "Gone where? He was unconscious when we left!"

"I know, but he woke up screaming about monsters, attacked a nurse and ran off," a doctor explained.

He was lying and Brittney knew it.

"So you're trying to tell me that Paul woke up and attacked someone?" Brittney challenged. "You're lying! Paul would never hurt anyone- especially a woman. Where is this nurse?"

"She's indisposed..."

"Get her," Brittney demanded. "I want to hear what happened from her!"




The Slayers Ch. 04



Jian stood back watching. Even through her grief, Brittney was thinking clearly and not reacting with just emotion. He was immensely proud of her. His question was if Brittney would see the nurse as she really was if she was a monster.

Ten minutes later, a nurse came out. Jian knew right away that this wasn't the nurse.

"That isn't her," Brittney said quietly. "Either you bring her out her or I'm calling the newspapers and television stations. I'll even call my lawyer and file a lawsuit. It may not go far since Paul isn't a blood relative, but imagine the damage that it can do if it goes public. How's this for headlines? Local hospital loses unconscious ICU patient- Now bring her out here!"

The doctor and nurse didn't move until Brittney pulled out her cell phone.

"It's going to take me a couple of minutes to Google the television number of local television station. They'll probably put me on hold... you have that long to get that nurse out here."

Jian stood up straighter and watched Brittney work. She was using her gifts without thinking about it. This was very, very good. The doctor rushed off leaving the nurse alone with Brittney.

"Look, I'm sorry that I lied. They just sent me out here..."

"I know," Brittney assured her. "You aren't in any trouble, I promise."

The nurse thanked her and rushed off leaving Brittney to Google the television station. She had just hit the number when the doctor and the nurse in question were back. Brittney looked at her and put her hand on her stomach. She wanted to vomit, but she fought it.

"Where is Paul Masters?"

The nurse looked at her and relaxed. She didn't think that Brittney saw her as she was- not all slayers could, but she knew exactly what Brittney was. If there had been any way that she could have gotten away with it, she would have taken her. But she knew that Brittney's mate had to be close by and she had no desire to be in the hands of a slayer. It had happened once and it wasn't going to happen again. She had barely escaped with her life.

"As I'm sure the doctor told you," The nurse said in a voice that reminded Brittney of scrubbing clothes on a washboard, "he woke up screaming something about monsters. I went into the room to see what was going on. He was pulling his equipment off and when I tried to stop him, he attacked me and ran out."

"Why didn't you call security? And why wasn't I notified as soon as it happened?"

"We were about to do that when you showed up," the doctor said. "We've already notified the police since he attacked one of our nurses."

While Brittney was talking to the doctor and nurse, Jian went to Paul's room. He looked around and sniffed the air. Someone else had been here. A slayer- which meant one thing; Paul was for the moment safe. It also told him that while the killing of Amanda had been seemingly random; it had caused a problem for someone. It was time to find out what rogue was in the area and time to start telling Brittney what she needed to know.

****

Thomas Markham packed up his desk. He had no intentions of meeting Xavier. After his phone call with him, he became nervous. The timing was too perfect. What were the odds that Dubois would call him right after he made a deal with Cross? He tried for a long time to convince himself that it was a coincidence, but he knew that it wasn't. Xavier had been watching the entire thing or had seen enough that he knew what was happening.

"Shit!" He swore as he picked up his briefcase. He had taken a gamble and had more than likely lost. He took a last look around his office and headed toward the door.

"Going somewhere?" Xavier asked pleasantly.

"No... I was..."

"Going to go to your little Fiji hideaway," Xavier said smiling. "I like Fiji- the people are so-friendly. Surprised that I know about that? Thomas, Thomas, Thomas.... I know everything about everyone that I employ. For instance- I also know that you have a place in the Cayman Islands and in the Philippines. I like those places as well."

"If you give me a moment- I can explain..."

"I'm sure that you can and will in due time," Xavier replied. "Walk with me. I want you to see something."

"Please- Mr. Dubois..."

Xavier wasn't listening. He was already several feet ahead of Thomas. With a pounding heart, Thomas followed Xavier to the center of the warehouse.

"Look around you and tell me what you see," Xavier said.

"Product," Thomas replied in a shaky voice.

"Exactly," Xavier said with a smile. "And to whom does this product belong?"

"You sir."

"Then tell me Thomas, if that's true; why did you sell my product to Cross?"

Thomas didn't reply. To lie anymore would only make matters worse. Xavier could go after his family. As it was he would make sure that they were penniless. Bright lights illuminated the room and several large screen televisions that were strategically placed flickered on. A moment later their images filled the screen.

"I thought that I was a reasonable man- and I use the term man loosely," Xavier said his tone still soft. "I pay well- apparently well enough that you own three lovely homes out of the country so tell me, what would lead you to betray me? And answer honestly- our audience wants to know what it that Cross offered you that prompted you to take such a risk."

"Sir..."

"YOU WILL ANSWER THE QUESTION!" Xavier yelled making the darkened windows shake.

"He offered me a position... an area of my own to run," Thomas said softly. "All I had to do was sell him a few barrels of your product. He wanted to find out what was in it that made it last longer than his."

"I see," Xavier said as he stripped Thomas and then himself with a thought. "I hope that you are all watching," he said to the hidden cameras. "I will not tolerate traitors for any reason. Thomas- are there others?"

"N... no..."

"Are you certain?" Xavier asked, "Because this is your one chance to save your family which by the way is watching these proceedings. Would you like proof? Look over there."

Thomas looked at where Xavier was pointing and cried out. On a smaller television screen sat the terrified images of his wife, son and two daughters. Behind them stood two vampires waiting for the command from Xavier to kill or maim them.

"They don't know anything about this! Please! I know that there is a shred of decency in you. Don't let them watch this!"

"That Thomas depends entirely on you," Xavier said as he ran a sharpened fingernail down Thomas's chest leaving a shallow cut from which blood seeped. "Are there others? Don't lie..."

"One! There is one other!"

"Who is it?" Xavier asked as he made another cut-this one deeper on Thomas's chest.

"I don't know! I only know that he exists!"

"That makes sense... which warehouse?" Xavier asked while making another cut.

"I don-Please I don't know! Cross didn't tell me!"

"I see... how much did he pay you for the barrels that you sold him?"

"Market value! Mr. Dubois please... turn off the camera! Don't let my family see me like this!"

"I think that I mentioned that I am not unreasonable so I will grant you that one wish."

Thomas watched as the screen went dark. Tears of pain, humiliation and sadness ran down his face when he saw the looks of fear and shame on the faces of his family. Three hours later, it was over. Thomas's skinless body was tossed into a large cask of wine earmarked to be delivered to Troy Cross.

"I hope that you remember what you witnessed tonight," Xavier said as he looked into the camera. "To the one remaining traitor- have no doubt that I will find you."

The televisions went dark as Xavier stark naked and covered in blood went to his office to shower.

"One thing crossed off my list," he murmured and then began to hum. By the end of the day, Thomas Markham's family would be both penniless and homeless.

****

Cherie checked her bank account before leaving her posh London flat. Not only did she dislike Xavier Dubois, she didn't trust him but money was money no matter where or who it came from. As far as she was concerned he and others like him were animals that needed to be put down. She had no love for the humans but they were necessary and they weren't going anywhere. She had developed the live and let live philosophy. She fed from humans but they were all willing and she never harmed any of them.

She pushed aside her dislike of Xavier and concentrated on the task at hand. Philadelphia was a big place and she had no real idea of where to begin. Xavier mentioned something about the dead human woman's sister being a slayer. That alone made the stakes considerably higher. 

"I should have asked for more money," she muttered under her breath.

Dressed in a opaque lavender top with skin tight black jeans and six inch stiletto heels; Cherie left her flat. Moments later she was in her equally posh Center City Condo debating as to where she would begin.

****

Brittney and Jian left the hospital and went to her apartment so that she could pack. The drive had been quiet and Jian left her to her thoughts. He could see that questions- the right questions were forming in her head. He could see her arranging them in order of importance with the first question being about Paul.

He made her wait in the car while he checked the surroundings. The night was calm and peaceful which in an odd way disturbed him. It was too quiet. He opened the car door and helped Brittney out- something that he had never done before. He pulled her close into his side and walked her to the door.

"Give me your keys."

Brittney handed him the keys without argument. Her mind was on other things namely Paul and Amanda's services. Jian looked around the small but tidy apartment while Brittney packed. He had always admired how she lived so simply.

He ran to her room when he heard a stifled cry. He found her sitting on her bed holding a piece of paper.

"Do you know what this is?" she asked when she saw him. "It's a damned confirmation number for a juicer! Instead of calling Amanda like I wanted to; I ordered a damned juicer! Maybe if I had called I would have interrupted him. She might still be alive!"

"No qin ai de-beloved, it would have made no difference," Jian said as she sat beside her.

"How do you know that?" Brittney asked looking at him.

"I know this the same way that you do," Jian replied gently. "Finish packing and I will take you home where I will answer any and all of your questions."

Brittney nodded, stood up and finished packing. Whether she realized it or not, she was packing for more than an overnight stay. Jian didn't comment on it, but took her bag when she closed it. It was going to be a long night for both of them.

****

The monster curled up under the bridge to rest. He knew that he should have walked away from the human home but he couldn't help himself. Just hearing the human male's obvious love for the female had been too much. He should have killed the male too and was at a loss as to why he didn't.His master was going to be angry that he had killed a connected female, but he was going to be furious that he had left a witness and that the human police were now involved. He huddled into himself and closed his eyes promising himself that he would be more careful and that he would avoid the homes of connected humans. Surely his master would forgive him- he hadn't broken that promise in a long time. He knew that he would be severely punished, but he also knew that if he ever heard the gentle words of love again; he wouldn't be able to control himself. But for now- he was sated. 



The Slayers Ch. 05



Note: I know that you are all wondering about Reese and Joseph. They are in the works. I am submitting Slayer because it was already written and I wanted to get something posted. Thanks for your patience and for continuing to read. 

Kal

*

Cherie went to Paul and Amanda's house and looked around starting with the kitchen. She liked the house with its simplicity and thought had she been born in another place and time; she would have loved to have lived in a house like this. But over the years her extravagant taste had grown even more extravagant and there was no going back. She walked over to the patio door- the point of entry and touched it. She knew that she wouldn't be able to tell anything but she tried anyway. Her thoroughness was what made her so good at what she did. Another investigator wouldn't have tried. It was a small step that could and often did yield large rewards. As she had expected, she felt nothing and continued her search for clues. She stopped in the dining room and moved on when she caught no scent of the intruder. He hadn't gone that way. The closer she got to the stairs, the stronger the scent became. She actually found herself gagging. It had been a long time since anything had affected her that way. Whoever this was whether it was male or female -was sick and a danger not only to humans, but to every other species as well.

She followed the scent to the bedroom and actually threw up. She actually felt sympathy for the human woman that had been touched by the thing. The fact that it was sick explained why it had left a witness and why it hadn't at least taken the woman's body with it. It hadn't been thinking. But now that it was sated, it would realize its mistakes only to make the same mistakes again. As she examined the room, Cherie realized that this wasn't the first time that it had done this. Someone had cleaned up the mess and somehow the murders had gotten swept under the rug. Experience told her that something had triggered the attack. It could have been anything from a smell to a sound or the command to attack. Any rational vampire wouldn't have entered the home of a connected human and then not only leave the body, but a witness.

She righted the turned over chair, examined it and then put it back in the same position before moving to the bed. "Poor human," she murmured when she saw the dried blood on the bed. She found herself hoping that the woman was at least unconscious before the thing raped her. The human police would look for evidence of a sexual assault and if they found evidence of sexual activity they would assume that it was the male witness. Convinced that she had seen all that she came to see, she called Xavier.

"I am at the human woman's home."

"Did you find anything?" Xavier asked.

"Only that whoever this is- he is very ill. That explains why he did what he did. I will also tell you that he will do it again."

"How do you know that it's a he?" Xavier asked.

"I just know, and besides the human woman was raped." Cherie replied. "Xavier- all of us are at risk because of this creature. It needs to be put down..."

"I told you what I wanted to do with it if it wasn't mine," Xavier said his tone icy.

"I understand, but..."

"I am paying you to do as you are told," Xavier said. "Find it, kill it if it is mine or put it on Troy Cross's door step if it isn't. Is there something that you don't understand about those instructions?"

"I understand that this assignment is more than you said it would be," Cherie replied. I didn't charge you nearly enough. But seeing as we made an agreement, I will do exactly as I said I will do except for one thing- I will not endanger myself. If you are willing to renegotiate the terms of our agreement; I am willing to listen."

"Bitch," Xavier hissed.

"Whatever," Cherie replied not bothered by the name calling. "But you and I both know that this bitch is the one that can do what you want so what's it going to be? Am I going to find this thing and just tell you who it belongs to or are we renegotiating?"

In the end, Cherie got what she asked for in addition to being able to bring in extra help at Xavier's expense.

"Thank you darling," she said knowing that he didn't like it. "It's a pleasure doing business with you."

In response, Xavier slammed the phone down hanging up on her.

****

Xavier was still in a tizzy over his conversation with Cherie when he got his next phone call. He knew that it wasn't good news when the servant timidly knocked on his office door, gave him the message and scurried away before Xavier could ask any questions.

"What?" he snapped into the phone. "What the fuck?" He screamed. "Bring her ass over here NOW!"

While he waited for the nurse from the hospital to arrive, Xavier paced. How could things have gotten so fucked up in twenty four hours? He forced himself to calm down. He knew that if he didn't calm down he would make mistakes. It had taken him centuries to learn that lesson and to curb his need for instant gratification. It was a lesson that had nearly cost him his life.

** 

He had been relatively new to the business and a fast learner. His mind was always working on finding ways to improve the business and the product. His goal was to take control of an area and move up from there. At the time he had been working for the Chekovs- one of the most vicious families in New York City. He had to start at the bottom as runner, but he was alright with that. It gave him an idea of how big of an area the Russians controlled and how many people were needed to run it. While it wasn't the biggest area, it was by far the most lucrative. After working for them for a year, he decided that he was ready to take over. The problem was- he wasn't. In his haste to take over, he placed his trust in the wrong people. The night of the attempted takeover began as planned. Somewhere along the line his neck began to tingle. It was an indication that something was wrong, but he ignored it attributing it to nerves. This was his first attempt at anything so huge. He had been skimming money for years but a takeover?

He and his supposed cohorts went to Anatolii Chekov's home expecting to catch him home with his family. The plan was to kill them all and then take over. It was what he considered to be a sound plan even though it was simple. Even as he walked to the front door, Xavier knew that something was wrong, but his eyes were on the prize. He had come too far to turn back. Once they were in the house, his friends jumped and then bound him. Anatolii walked into the room followed by his sons Alek and Sasha both of whom were as big as their father.

"So," Anatolii said in his thick Russian accent, "You think that you can betray me."

Xavier was at a loss for words as his friends and cohorts dragged him to Anatolii's basement and chained him to the wall. He looked at each of them and made a promise. "One day I will kill you." All but one of the five laughed at him. He believed him even though Xavier was chained to a wall. For four solid hours Xavier experienced the most intense and agonizing pain that he had ever known. There were tiny cuts all over his body that they all took turns pouring salt water into. Even the one that had believed him took part.

"Enough play," Anatolii finally said as he tested the sharpness of his knife against his thumb. "It is time to show you what happens to traitors and thieves."

Xavier struggled to break free of his chains and soon gave up. 

"Who would like to remove the first piece of skin?"

"I will," the one who had believed him said as he reached for the knife.

He approached Xavier testing the weight of the knife in his hands. When he was close enough, he whispered, "Have courage." And made a cut in his left chest and slowly removed the skin. Xavier screamed as warm blood ran down his stomach.

"Take your time and let the skin grow back!" Anatolii advised. "I mean to use this one as an example."

Xavier lost track of how many times he had been cut and peeled. The areas they cut from were meant to cause the maximum amount of pain. As of yet no one had touched his cock and he prayed that it would remain that way. The torture didn't end until sunrise. As a parting 'good rest', Sasha one of Anatolii's son's opened the shutter to the one basement window and let a few rays of sun in. Xavier screamed as the rays touched his sensitive new skin. Finally, he passed out in agony. 

He didn't know how long he had been out before he heard someone calling his name.

"Xavier! Wake up! You must wake up!"

He slowly opened his eyes and tried to focus on the speaker. It was Vanya, the one who had told him to have courage and that had tried to hurt him the least.

"Wake up! I am going to take you out of here!"

Xavier gagged as blood was forced down his throat, but he felt its healing qualities within minutes. 

"I will have to carry you," Vanya said as he hefted Xavier onto his shoulder. "Hold on and have courage."

Xavier bit back a cry of pain and then forced himself to relax and fell asleep. When he awoke, he was somewhere deep in the Poconos Mountains where Vanya nursed him back to health. 

"I'm still going to kill you," Xavier said on the second day.

"No you will not," Vanya replied. "You need me and you will not make a second foolish mistake. You were not ready to move on the Chekovs and you placed your trust in the wrong people."

"And you are trustworthy?" Xavier asked. "You were the first to cut into me."

"It was the only way that I could stay alive. What do you think would have happened to me if I had refused? Both of our carcasses would have been laid out in the sun that's what! Of everyone that you chose to be a part of your little coup, I was the only trustworthy one, but the one that you told nothing! I risked my life to bring you here and you threaten me?"

Xavier didn't apologize but he had just learned a very valuable and painful lesson. He would trust no one and he would never make a move without planning for every eventuality. He stayed in the mountains for months planning and revising his plans. The first person to die would be Ivan. He had been the one that he had trusted the most and had been the one to lead in his betrayal. He would hunt them one by one, but first he had to get stronger. 

It took him almost a year of meticulous planning, but he finally got his revenge and Anatolii's business. He gave Anatolii's wife a choice of being his whore or death- she chose death. The same offer was made to Sasha and Alek's mates-they also chose death. Word of the takeover spread quickly and just as quickly there were attempts to take over the area. Xavier dealt with each threat decisively and brutally with Vanya's help. Vanya, the one person that he considered a friend was killed during the attempted takeover of another territory. Vanya was also the last being that he allowed to get close to him.

* 

"Sire," a voice called through the door bringing him back to the present, "you have guests. Where shall I take them?"

Xavier shook his head to clear it of the memory. He needed to be focused.

"Take them to the study," he called back.

Five minutes later he was in the study looking at a very nervous vampire nurse and an equally nervous human doctor.

"Explain," he said as he sat down, "and leave nothing out."

"So," Xavier said when the nurse was through talking. "He was unconscious?"

"Yes sire and then he started screaming," the nurse replied. "As soon as he saw me he started screaming about monsters."

"This other person- the slayer; where did he come from?" Xavier asked.

"I don't know sire," the nurse replied. "I was in the room with the human and suddenly he was there. I had no choice but to leave as he demanded..."

"Or you could have let him kill you," Xavier said icily. "They would have blamed the human thus removing him from the equation."

The nurse paled. Xavier turned his attention to the human doctor.

"Why did you not sense the slayer?"

"I... I was busy- and then the woman showed up. I had barely found out that the man was gone..."

"More excuses!" Xavier yelled making both vampire and human jump. "Tell me about the woman- did she recognize you for what you are?" he asked the nurse.

"No sire," she replied knowing better than say, 'I don't know'.

"How do you know?" He asked as he leaned forward staring at her with cold gray eyes.

The nurse blinked. It wasn't a question that she had been expecting. 

"She didn't react the way that humans usually do when they see one of us..."

"That means nothing," Xavier interrupted. "She is a fucking slayer! Which reminds me," he said turning to the doctor, "did you sense her mate?"

"I..." was all he got out before he fell to the floor dead.

"Now," Xavier said to the nurse, "take that with you and put it in its bed. The humans will find it and assume that it had a heart attack. After that, you may go home until I decide what to do about you."

The nurse didn't need to be told twice. She scooped the dead doctor up in her arms and was gone. Xavier rubbed his temples. This was turning into a nightmare.

****

Troy Cross sat in front of his big screen television watching sit coms. It relaxed him better than sex did although he did enjoy sex. His mate of three centuries was the light and love of his life and his mistress. No one knew that she was the brains behind his operation. He was the figurehead. If anyone found out, there would be simultaneous attempts to take over.

"Pet," his wife Danielle purred, "come here."

Troy's groin tingled and he was erect before he reached her. He knew that tone.

"What is your pleasure my love?" he asked as he knelt before her and put his head on her lap.

"You, my dear have done well," she complimented. "With any luck, we'll know what Dubois puts in his wine within a week. Tonight I think that I shall reward you. Tell me, what is it that you desire?"

"Anything?" he whispered as he relished the feel of her hands running through his shortly cropped blond hair.

"Anything," she confirmed.

"I wish to take a long hot bath with you like we used to do," he replied. "I want to wash your hair and allow my hands to do things that they haven't done in months. I want to drink from you and make love with you and not just to you..."

"Is that all?" she asked with a deep chuckle, "Well then today you may do all of those things and more."

"Thank you mistress," Troy said softly as he buried his face between her legs inhaling the scent unique only to her.

"Shall we go to our rooms?" Danielle asked as she bent down and kissed his head.

"Yes," Troy replied with a smile. Even though he wasn't looking at her, he could hear the smile in her voice. She was indeed pleased with him.

Troy stood up and held his hand out to her and kissed it when she placed it in his hand. He looked down at his mate and wanted to drown in the blueness of her eyes. He couldn't wait to run his hands through her waist length hair that was so blonde that it looked white. His mouth salivated at the thought of feeling her pink nipples in his mouth. He had just started to lead her across the room when a servant entered.

"Pardon me," he said nervously, "but a ... a package has arrived for you."

Danielle stepped back from her true role and looked up at her husband beseechingly.

"It can wait can't it? I am so looking forward to our day together."

"Pardon me mistress," the servant said, "but I think that you will want to see this."

"I won't be long," Troy assured her. "Why don't you go get started?"

"May I come with you? I love surprises," Danielle cooed. "Please?"

"I... mistress..."

"Of course!" Troy replied interrupting the servant.

They walked past the servant and to the foyer where a large barrel sat in the middle of the floor. Danielle and Troy looked at each other when they saw the stamp on the barrel. The lid was already pried off and sat loosely over the top. Troy removed the lid, looked into the barrel and paled. 

"Troy? What is it?" Danielle asked as she looked in. "Son of a fucking bitch!" she swore when she saw the skinless body of Thomas Markham sitting in the wine. Troy didn't say anything. His day of fulfilling his desires had just been blown to hell. 

Troy watched as Danielle paced the foyer thinking of her next move. This had been a surprise. They had taken a chance on doing the transaction at Xavier's warehouse and they had lost but not entirely. They still had someone at another plant. 

"Where is Markham's family?" Danielle finally asked. "We must find them and see to it that they are cared for."

She wasn't doing it out of the goodness of her heart and Troy knew it. His beloved was as cold hearted and ruthless as Xavier was. She was gathering Xavier's enemies. Markham's family was now on that steadily growing list.

"Steven, find them," she said to the servant. "Take them somewhere safe and see to their needs. Call me when they are found. While you're at it check on the other family as well."

"Yes mistress," the servant said with a bow and walked away.

"My love...."

"Later," Danielle said as she walked away. "We have plans to make."

Disappointed, Troy followed her back to the room from where they had just come. It was going to be a long and frustrating day. He watched as she paced back and forth trying to figure out their next step. Finally she stopped, looked at him and smiled.

"Call our friend Xavier and thank him for his generosity. Don't do it in anger, but as if you are genuinely pleased by the gift. He won't expect that- he will be expecting anger or a declaration of war."

"Are you certain of this?" Troy asked.

"I am sure, now make the call," Danielle replied.

This was one of the many things that Troy loved about Danielle. He could question her without repercussions. The reason being that on more than one occasion he had saved them from certain disaster and financial ruin simply by asking her if she was sure about a decision. Later she thanked him by giving him free reign in the bedroom. 

Troy picked up the phone and dialed Xavier's number and waited for him to answer. Finally Xavier picked up the phone.

"What?"

"Hello Xavier, this is Troy Cross. You sound-disgruntled. Is something wrong?"

"Troy!" Xavier exclaimed. "You must be calling about the gift that I sent you. I hope that it was to your liking."

"I was calling to thank you for your generosity," Troy replied sounding sincere. "So tell me, are dead vampires part of your secret ingredient?"

"No," Xavier replied laughing, "that was created just for you. I do have to admit that it took balls for you to enter my warehouse. It took even bigger balls to buy my product when there was a chance that you were going to be watched. So have you tried the wine?"

"No," Troy replied. "We're saving it for a special occasion and who knows? Maybe you will be the guest of honor. At any rate, I just called to thank you. Have a pleasant rest."

Troy hung up and looked at Danielle. 

"He knows about the other one doesn't he?" She asked.

"Yes- I think that we should hold off on contacting the other person for a while. Xavier is going to be hyper vigilant. Everyone will be watched and he will hire in moles if he hasn't already."

"I am aware of this," Danielle replied, "and you are right. For now we will watch and wait. By the way, I liked the comment about saving Xavier's gift for a special occasion. Why don't we do that? We can have him drink it as his final drink before he leaves this earth. There's nothing more to be done- shall we continue with our plans? You deserve an extra reward for your performance."

Troy grinned with excitement. He knew what that extra reward was. It was something that she did only when she was exceptionally pleased. It had been months since she had been this pleased and that was when he managed to get not only Thomas Markham on their payrolls but the second vampire as well. That day she sucked him off not once but three times as well as allowing him to do with her as he wished. He grabbed her by the hand and dragged her to the bedroom before anything else happened. As he led her away, he had a thought. He had liked being in control and wanted more. As if reading his mind, Danielle gave his hand an impatient tug pulling his thoughts toward her. She didn't like what he was thinking. 




The Slayers Ch. 05



****

Xavier stared at the phone. His head was pounding with a rare headache. It was an indication that he needed to take a step back and regroup but not yet. He had to find out about the male that had escaped. It was clear that he was able to see them and that meant that he could identify the vampire that was in his home. Things would be resolved even more quickly if they knew what it looked like. He picked up the phone and called Ephraim. He gave the man a chance to recover before he spoke.

"Is the human male a suspect in the murder of the woman?" He asked although he knew the answer. He was starting out with something easy so that the medical examiner could adjust to the sound of his voice. He often wondered what he sounded like to the human ear and took the time to find out. He waited until Ephraim answered the question about Paul before asking him about his voice.

"What does my voice sound like to you?" He asked. "And please- be honest. You have my word that there will be no repercussions from what you say."

"I- sir- I vomit every time I talk to you," Ephraim replied. "I don't know if it's the sound of your voice as much as it is the pitch."

"Hmmm," Xavier mused. "If you had to give it a sound what would it be?"

"I... a squealing rat that's caught in a trap but the pitch is much higher." Ephraim replied in a shaky voice. "It grates on the nerves and makes me dizzy and sick to my stomach."

"Interesting," Xavier replied not in the least offended by being compared to a rat. "What is happening in the investigation of the murdered woman?"

Ephraim told him what he already knew. There was neither DNA nor proof that she had been raped although there was proof of sexual activity. That surprised Xavier as the lower rogue tended to be brutal when they took a woman. So was she not raped or did the rogue take extra care with her? It was possible he supposed. But he doubted it.

"As you know, they're looking for the male," Ephraim continued. "As far as they're concerned, the fact that he ran proves his guilt."

"I assumed as much- who is the lead investigator?"

"Someone named Jack Atkins. I don't know him- he's relatively new, but I hear that he's good at what he does. His specialty is solving cold cases and cases that are for lack of a better term- out there. And this case is being classified as being out there because of the bite marks- we know that they aren't human."

Xavier didn't like the sound of this. 

"Have you met him?" Xavier asked.

"Once," Ephraim replied obviously wanting to get off the phone. Xavier could hear him trying not to vomit. "They brought him around when he first started. I know that he's already seen the body- I saw his signature on the log book and the night M.E. was with him."

"What did she have to say?"

"Not much," Ephraim replied his voice strained. "Sir? Could you excuse me for a moment?"

Xavier waited as Ephraim vomited into whatever container was closest. As he waited, he wondered if he could sway Jack Atkins to his side.

"I'm back," Ephraim said breathlessly. "I apologize. But back to the medical examiner. She said that he was an odd bird. He didn't ask to see the reports until after he looked at the body- something about preconceived ideas."

"And????" Xavier asked exasperated.

"He didn't ask her any questions but made a lot of notes and took a lot of pictures with his cell phone. Then he released the body to the family so they could have their services."

"That isn't normal is it?" Xavier asked

"Well it depends, but in this case no- at least not this quickly. Word has it that the department is giving this guy free reign. Sir- if I may speak freely..."

"By all means," Xavier replied ignoring the tickle in his neck.

"I've been here for almost fifteen years and I've never seen anyone given that kind of clout. I know that you don't like guesses, but sir; this man is a threat to you. I don't know if he's a slayer- no he isn't- that much I'm sure of but he's something."

"On what do you base your suspicions?" Xavier asked agreeing with Ephraim's assessment.

"I don't have anything solid," Ephraim replied, "Just a very bad feeling. And sir? You need to find that vampire before anyone else does."

Xavier sat straight up in his chair. "Why do you say that?" He asked his voice intense.

The pitch must have changed because he could hear Ephraim vomiting again.

"I don't know sir, it's just a feeling. This man- Jack Atkins- he knows things," Ephraim replied when he stopped vomiting. "The medical examiner on duty said that he didn't act shocked when he saw the bites in the neck. He just took pictures of it. They usually ask all kinds of questions including what we thought caused the bite."

"Ephraim," Xavier said softly. "You have done exceptionally well. Thank you. I need you to stay in your present position until this is over. I want you to call me with any new developments no matter how minor. When this is over, you will be very well rewarded."

"Thank you sir!" Ephraim gushed. He knew what that meant. He would be able to choose his reward and he already knew what it was he wanted.

Xavier hung up, sat the phone down and picked it up.

"Hello captain," he said when the phone was answered.

*****

Paul was up, dressed and anxious to make contact with Brittney. He didn't even know if Amanda's body had been released yet or if the services had been planned. Then he thought about his family in New Jersey. What was going through their minds? He hoped that they didn't believe that he was capable of hurting anyone. He had to reassure them that he had nothing to do with Amanda's death.

"I need a phone," he told Josh when he found him in the kitchen. "I need to call my family and Amanda's sister."

"Let's eat first," Josh said as he put a large cheese omelet on a plate.

"I'm not hungry," Paul replied.

"I know, but eat anyway," Josh said pushing the plate toward him. "You won't be any good to me or Brittney if you don't eat. We'll talk about the phone calls after we eat."

Reluctantly, Paul sat down and pulled the plate containing the omelet to him. Suddenly, he was ravenous. He ate the entire omelet and the four pieces of lightly buttered oatmeal toast in no time flat.

"Feel better?" Josh asked.

"Yeah now about those phone calls..."

"First- Brittney is safe and she knows that you didn't kill Amanda. You'll get to talk to her in a few minutes. As far as your call to your family is concerned- their phones are tapped and they're being watched by the police and others. The best thing that you can do for them is not to contact them. You can't afford to be caught by the police but especially by the rogue. They will torture you to find out what you know about the slayers and when they're done with you they'll either kill you which would be merciful or use you as a slave. If you don't cooperate-they'll go after your family."

"But..."

"Brittney is safe- she's one of us but your family isn't! The rogue will take them and find out if they have the sight or if they can detect slayers. If they can do none of those things- they will be turned into servants. They'll be taken back home and their neighbors won't know the difference. They will be at the beck and call of the rogue for whatever they need or want- do you get what I'm saying here or do I need to be explicit? If that's what you want for them then by all means call them."

The speech had the desired effect. Paul looked away not wanting Josh to see the tears in his eyes. Not only had he lost Amanda; he had just lost his family. Brittney was all that he had left.

"I understand," he said miserably. "I need to talk to Brittney."

*****

"You must eat all of it," Jian coaxed as Brittney looked at the bowl of peach yogurt. "You ate nothing yesterday and you must keep up your strength."

Brittney picked up the spoon and sat it back down. She just couldn't do it. She was too worried about Paul. Amanda's body hadn't been released yet so she had no idea of when she could have the services, but the least of it was Jian and her confusing feeling toward him. When they got back to his house after leaving the hospital; she didn't have the energy to listen to any explanations. Jian made her take a shower and put her to bed in his room.

While she slept, he sat by her side with a hand on her back caressing it and murmuring words of comfort when she cried out and now he was trying to get her to eat. He was about to tell her again to eat when her cell phone rang.

"This is Brittney Marsh- it has? Great! I'll call you back with the name of the funeral home."

"They are releasing her body?" Jian asked surprised.

"Yes, they said that they don't need it anymore," Brittney replied. "I need to talk to Paul- you said that he was safe; do you know where he is?"

"No, but you will speak to him soon. After the arrangement s are made and you talk to Paul we must talk. I have many things to tell you. Now please eat."

Feeling a little better that Amanda's body was going to be released, Brittney to eat. Once she started, she ate the entire container of yogurt.

"Good," Jian said pleased when he saw the empty container. "Lunch will consist of more than yogurt and fruit and you will eat."

"Hey!" Brittney snapped looking at him.

"Yes?" Jian asked raising an eyebrow. "If you are not going to take care of yourself then it falls upon me to do so."

"I think I've asked you this before," Brittney said tersely, "but when did you become so bossy? And why am I just noticing it?"

"I have always been this way," Jian replied with a smile. "You just chose not to see it as you chose not to see many things. Please excuse me; I need to go get the telephone."

He left Brittney sitting on the floor wondering what he meant by his comments. How could she not have noticed how bossy he was?

"Yes, she is here," she heard him say as he came down the stairs. "But he is well? Good. I will put her on the phone. It is Paul," Jian said as he handed her the phone.

"Paul?"

"Britt! I didn't do it! I didn't kill Amanda- I could never hurt her like that! I loved her- you know that right?"

"Paul- I know that you didn't kill Amanda and it never crossed my mind that you did," Brittney replied. "I even told them that- but what happened? Are you alright?"

"First, I'm fine," Paul said, "but Britt- it's my fault that she's dead. I knew that the patio door was open. I should have gone back down to close it, but- but I didn't. I wanted to- you know before she fell asleep. I- I killed her! I couldn't even protect her! As big as I am, I couldn't protect my baby! I watched as that thing- that monster... Brittney, it bit her! It made these holes in her neck while I watched! I tried to get it to look at me, but it wouldn't -- not until it... it raped her! It made me watch while it raped her and it kept saying something about love. Brittney... I am so, so sorry!"

Paul was sobbing and had become hard to understand. Brittney didn't interrupt him. He needed to get it all out and then he would be able to talk. While he sobbed, she tried to remember if she saw holes in Amanda's neck. She just couldn't remember...

"I would have let it do whatever it wanted to me," Paul said softly. "I would have died for her."

"I know," Brittney soothed. "I know, but Paul we need to find this guy. What did he look like?"

"It wasn't a man," Paul whispered. "I mean it was a man, but it was a monster!"

"I agree that whoever did this is a monster..."

"Brittney listen to me! This thing- it wasn't human! One of the nurses at the hospital is one of them too! I saw it and I swear to you on my sweet Amanda's heart- I am not crazy! If you don't believe me talk to Josh! He was at the hospital!"

"Paul," Brittney said gently, "calm down- I believe you. As crazy as it seems, I believe you."

"Y-you do?" Paul asked relieved. "You aren't just saying that?"

"No I'm not just saying that," Brittney assured him. "I met the nurse that you mentioned and well- let's just say she gave me the creeps. I also wanted to tell you that Amanda's body has been released. I don't know if she ever mentioned this to you, but she wanted to be cremated."

"She said something about that, but can we have a memorial service for her?" Paul asked. "I need to say goodbye to her."

"I do too," Brittney said. "That night, I was going to call her. But it was three in the morning. Instead of following my gut; I watched an infomercial and ordered a juicer. My last thought of her before I finally went to sleep was that she was going to be shocked at my impulse buy. I keep thinking that if I had only made that call..."

"It wouldn't have mattered," Paul said. "This thing was single minded in what it was doing- nothing was going to stop it. So don't feel guilty."

"If that's true, then neither should you," Brittney countered. "Maybe we should stop playing the guilt game and go after the bastard that took her from us. I'm going to try to have the service in a couple of days... can you call me tomorrow?"

"Yeah and Britt? Thanks for believing me," Paul said. "I'm glad that you're okay."

Jian listened to the conversation and was impressed. Explaining things wasn't going to be as difficult as he had originally thought. Paul had broken the ice so to speak. 

"I have a place where we can perform the cremation," he said after Brittney hung up. 

"Do you know someone?" She asked somehow not surprised.

"Yes and it will be safer for both you and Paul. If you wish, I can have them pick up Amanda's remains and take to the site."

"Jian... never mind- thanks."

"It is my pleasure," he replied as he took the phone. A moment later he handed it back to her. "Call the morgue and tell them that Amanda's remains will be picked up within the hour."

****

Ephraim was giving report to Dr. Cook when he saw them. They weren't slayers, but they were associated with them. By the time he thought to duck into the bathroom, they were already in the office. One of them- a man introduced himself as Robert Norton, a friend of the family. He introduced the man with him as his associate Bruce Wilson. They were lying. They were there on behalf of the slayers.

"What can we do for you gentlemen?" Ephraim asked before Dr. Cook could say anything.

"We're here to pick up the remains of Amanda Marsh," the one named Robert said. "Is it ready?"

Ephraim cursed. No one had informed him that the body was going to be picked up.

"I'm sorry, but no one informed me that it was going to be picked up. There's paperwork and things like that. If you like you can come back in the morning."

"We will take the remains tonight," Robert said his tone cool and firm. 

Ephraim involuntarily shivered when Robert's black eyes stared at him. Ephraim realized that whatever this man was; he wasn't human. Dr. Cook stood back watching but not interfering. She had the willies as well.

"I have the necessary paperwork," Bruce said as he reached into his left jacket pocket. "It has already been signed by all necessary parties except for you. There are two copies- one is for your records. Are there any other questions?"

"Let me see those papers..."

"All of the information that you require is there including where the remains will be cremated," Robert said icily. "Now please retrieve the remains so that we can be on our way."

For some reason, Robert frightened Ephraim even more than Bruce did. A second later he figured out why. Robert was a full blood vampire. He had never been human-he was a descendent of the originals. Ephraim's mind whirled. He had been told that the originals and their descendants had been eradicated, but one was in his office standing less than five feet away from him. It finally occurred to him that there was much, much, more going on than the death of a connected human woman. It went even beyond the fact that the woman's sister was a slayer.

"The remains-please," Robert said his impatience beginning to grow.

"Ummm sure- right this way," Dr. Cook said anxious to get the men out of the office.

"Thank you," Bruce said as he cast her appreciative glance that made her blush.

"Tell me Dr. Cook," he said smoothly, "what are the chances that one such as lovely as yourself is single?"

"Come along Bruce," Robert called over his shoulder. "We have things to do."

Ephraim listened hoping that the creature would ask Dr. Cook out. He then would be able to pump her for information. He almost did a cartwheel when Dr. Cook scribbled her home number in the back of one of her business cards and handed it to the creature. Xavier was going to be extremely pleased with him. If he kept this up he just might get more than one wish.

Twenty minutes later, Amanda Marsh's body was gone. Dr. Cook was left alone wondering why she had initially found Bruce so disturbing. Now she was hoping that he would call her as promised. Ephraim couldn't wait to get home to call Xavier. He was halfway home before he remembered that he promised his mother that he would bring Chinese take-out home for dinner.

"Shit!" he said as he turned around. In the long run it was better to get it than to listen to her bellyache about not asking for much and complaining that she had to cook. To save time, he called the restaurant from his cell phone placed the order and told them that he was on the way.

An hour later, his mother was happily full and surfing QVC.

"Don't forget ma," he told her as he went to his room, "That's all the money you get until next payday."

"I know, but Effie... that's two weeks and I'll be out of money by then..."

It was a familiar conversation and one that he no longer participated in. He went to his room, locked the door and turned on the television. He had learned to do both of those things when his mother had walked in on him one too many times catching him with his dick in his hands. He changed his clothes and took out the smart phone that she didn't know he had and dialed Xavier's number. He had long ago stopped using the landline phone when he caught her eavesdropping on the few phone calls he had. 

Taking a deep breath, he waited for the phone to be answered. At the last minute, he moved the trashcan next to him. It was inevitable that he was going to vomit.

*****

Xavier had just finished with the woman on the bed and was disappointed. This one like the others had begged for her life. None of the women since Kelley Ann Wilkins had shown the dignity that she had in accepting her death. Their blood and cunts were delicious, but he wanted to see that dignity again. He shoved the dead woman's body off the bed, rang the bell and went into the bathroom. His headache was gone and he could think clearly. It had been a few nights since he had been out and about-tonight was the night.

He did his usual examination and got into the shower. When he came out, his evening meal was waiting for him and a servant was standing by the table. This wasn't a good thing.

"What is it?" he snapped.

"The gentleman from the medical examiner's office request that you return his call as soon as possible."

Xavier quickly drank his dinner and called Ephraim back.

"Are you sure?" Xavier asked when Ephraim finished his explanation for the call.

"Yes sir... I'm sure."

"What is the address of this crematorium?" Xavier asked. "Once again you have proven to be an invaluable asset. Keep me posted," he said when he had the information.

Xavier hung up, and then called Cherie for an update.

"I won't find anything if you keep calling me!" she said irritably.

"As far as you know," Xavier continued ignoring her, "Are all of the originals dead?"

"Well," she said after a few minutes, "that's the story, but I never believed it. Why are you asking about them?"

"So you believe that they're alive?" Xavier pressed.




The Slayers Ch. 05



"Yes I believe that they're alive- some of them at least. They are nearly impossible to kill which makes me wonder why everyone believes that they're dead. My theory is that they went to ground. Again- why are you asking about the originals?"

"One was spotted today," Xavier said.

"Where?" Cherie asked. Xavier could hear the doubt in her voice.

"Here in Philadelphia," Xavier replied.

"Shit... are you sure? It's hard to tell them from your garden variety vampire."

"My source swears to it," Xavier said. "Why would they reappear?"

"Who knows" Cherie said, "They don't need a reason but you know that they are the final authority. Maybe they're here for someone specific. To be honest, I'm not convinced that what your source saw was an original. Anyway, I still haven't found your rogue but I'll keep looking."

Xavier hung up and had a nervous flutter in his stomach. Something was brewing and it was big. Slayers plus the originals even if it was only one equaled trouble and not just for him. He wondered if he should call the heads of the other organizations and decided to wait. Maybe Ephraim was wrong- maybe it was a garden variety vampire that he saw, but the man had never been wrong about anything. A little off but never wrong. After debating with himself for several minutes, he decided to wait. Maybe if he was lucky the originals would take care of one or more of his rivals for him.

****

Winona wandered around her house in her true form. The time was coming when she would no longer use the disguise of the old woman. The sooner Brittney saw her as she was and understood that there was nothing between her and Jian the better. She had noticed the jealous way that Brittney had looked at her when she was in her old woman form just as she saw Jian's pleasure at the jealousy.

"Men," she grumbled as she did some stretches to warm up before she started her work out. Justin's wedding band bumped against her heart and she missed him. Other single and widowed hunters had approached her and she had always shied away from them. It meant retraining to their way of fighting and she felt that to do so would be a betrayal to Justin. When she was warmed up, she picked up Justin's sword and held it close to her. In that moment, she knew that he lived. She didn't know where he was or what he was doing, but he wasn't dead. That she couldn't feel him as she once could didn't matter. He was alive. Suddenly she felt lighter than she had before his supposed death. She began her workout with vigor swinging his sword as if it was made specifically for her. For two hours, she thrust and lunged with Justin's sword before picking up her own and beginning again. The phone rang just as she was doing her cool down exercises.

"Welcome back," Hsin's soft baritone said. "I am pleased."

"You were right," Winona replied. "I am and always will be a slayer. Is there a reason for this call?"

"No, I just wanted to acknowledge your return and to remind you that you are not to hesitate to call for assistance. Things are happening and the death of the slayer's sister has very little to do with it."

"What do you think is happening?" Winona asked. "I haven't felt anything since Brittney's sister died."

"I do not know," Hsin replied. "I know that Jian is as perplexed as I am. Just keep your senses about you and trust no one except one of us."

"What else?" Winona asked. "You didn't call just to say welcome back and to give me information that I could have gotten from Jian. I've also never known you to be tongue tied so just say it... have they found Justin's body?"

"No, but he is alive."

Winona sank to her knees as Hsin talked.

"It was as he wanted it," he explained. "He stayed away for your safety. He managed to escape his captors but until recently, they pursued him. They are no longer a part of the picture."

"Where is he?" Winona asked.

"I cannot and will not tell you that," Hsin replied. "I didn't even want to tell you that he was alive because I knew that you would lose focus..."

"You don't have the right to keep that information from me!" Winona cried. "You had no right to let me think that he was dead!"

"What would you have done?" Hsin asked. "You would have gone in search of him endangering both of your lives and the lives of others. The fact that you weren't told at the beginning was his doing. I am only telling you that he is alive because he felt that it would bring you a measure of peace. I see that he was mistaken."

"No-wait! Hsin- I'm sorry... I'm just relieved and... angry."

"I understand, but Winona you have a job to do and you must focus."

"When will I see him? Can you at least tell me that?"

"No and it isn't because I don't want to- I truly don't know."

Winona hung up and sobbed in anger and in relief. An hour later, she was working out again as if her life depended on it.

****

Brittney breathed easier now that she knew Paul was safe and Amanda's body was taken from the morgue. She ate everything on her plate even taking seconds of the vegetables. 

"Good," Jian replied. "Tonight we will add fish to our meals. You need the protein."

"Why are you acting like I'm moving in?" Brittney asked looking at him.

Jian looked at her long and hard. She was ready he decided.

"Let me clear the dishes and we will talk."

Brittney wanted to help but he made her sit. As her mate it was his place to serve her and if they had children, he would go through the entire pregnancy with her. He would not leave home until the children were grown at which point he and Brittney could go back into the field if they chose to. Part of him hoped that she got pregnant their first time together, but realistically it wasn't going to happen. Slayer couples usually did not conceive before their tenth year together. That brought up another issue- her mortality. 

Finally, he was ready to talk. He started with Amanda's death and with what had killed her.

"Vampires?" She asked in disbelief. "Are you talking about those things that I read about?"

"In a way yes," Jian replied. 

"When Paul said that it was a monster that killed Amanda- is that what he was talking about? He really saw a vampire?"

"Yes... but Brittney..."

"How do we kill it?" Brittney interrupted.

"Let me explain things to you," Jian said taking her hand and stroking it. "Just like humans, not all vampires are bad or evil. There are many who live peacefully among you. They hold jobs, have families and make positive contributions to the human race. These vampires help us control the rogue population. The vampire that killed Amanda was not one of those. He is evil and his only goal is pain and suffering. Those are the vampires that we hunt..."

"Hunt? Jian..."

"Shush qin ai de- beloved- and let me continue. Then you may ask your questions..."

"And since when do you start speaking Chinese to me? You know I don't understand it."

"Brittney will you shush and just listen not only to my words but to my heart? I told you this morning that there are things that you choose not to see, but I'm getting ahead of myself."

Brittney looked at him. That confusing feeling that she had been having about him for the past few days was back.

"As I was saying, the type of vampire that killed Amanda is called a rogue. They are truly evil creatures with no conscience nor do they care who they hurt. They are usually controlled by a much higher functioning rogue. Where this one's master was I do not know, but I do know that he will be severely punished if his master is not dead. Much of their survival as does ours depends on secrecy. As a rule they do not go to the homes of what they call connected humans..."

"People with families," Brittney murmured.

"Exactly and they never, ever leave witnesses if they do. Paul should have been killed along with Amanda and both bodies taken. Now, not only are the police looking for Paul, the rogue are as well. They also know that it was one of us that rescued him so he is of double importance to them. If they find him they will try to extract information from him that he doesn't have..."

"What about his family? They'll go after them," Brittney said.

"His family is being watched. No harm will come to them and to the few remaining relatives that you have are being protected as well."

"Why? What do they have to do with this?"

"I will tell you in a moment," Jian said, "just listen. The rogues are divided into groups or clans as they call themselves. The clans are run similarly to a street gang or the mafia and like some of these groups; they are into many criminal activities such as drugs, prostitution and human slave trafficking. For the most part they stay under the radar and help us by killing each other in their turf wars. Your sister's death was random- that rogue should never have entered her home but- it set something in motion. Your calling the human police pulled some major players into this..."

"Are you saying that this is my fault?" Brittney asked. "I wasn't supposed to call the police? What was I supposed to do? Just leave her there?"

"No, but we would have handled it..."

"Who is this we that you keep talking about?" Brittney yelled. "Who are you?"

"You already know the answer to that question," Jian replied. "It is one of the things that you refuse to see."

"Will you stop talking in damned riddles?!" Brittney exclaimed exasperated.

"I am of a race called the slayers," Jian said. "We are not of this world and are the natural enemy to the vampire. I am part of the 'we' that I keep mentioning. My father is the leader of all slayers. We are immortal, but we can be killed although it is difficult."

Brittney's head started to pound but she was determined to hear all of it.

"Keep going," she said when Jian stopped talking.

"You need to rest..."

"Stop telling me what I need!" Brittney yelled, "And start telling me what I need to know!"

"Brittney," Jian said softly but firmly, "we are taking a break. Sit while I make tea and do not argue with me."

By the time Jian got back, Brittney was asleep. He sat beside her and sipped his tea. As he waited for her to wake up, he thought about Winona and how she was dealing with the news that Justin was alive. He had never met him, but by all accounts he was an excellent slayer. He had reservations about whether Winona should be told, but if it was Brittney, he would want her to know. But then if it were Brittney, she would look for him until she found him. She was a stubborn one-his beloved.

Finally Brittney woke up. She sat up, looked at Jian and demanded that he finish it.

"I don't want any tea, just tell me!" she demanded.

Jian got her a glass of water and refused to go any further until she drank the water.

"Good, now we can continue," he said. "I have given you the basics of part of what I need to tell you. The rest of it affects us directly. I mentioned that I was a slayer," he said. "What I did not say is that slayers work in pairs-mated pairs. We have been training together for a reason- Brittney you are my partner and my mate. Before you say that is isn't possible think back to when we first met. You were the only one who wanted to work with me. You were the first person to know that I spoke fluent English- you knew just after a few days, probably even before that but out of courtesy; you didn't ask. Most never catch on thinking that I am a fast learner. Have you ever connected with anyone the way that you connected with me? We eat together, we work together and we train together- everything that mates do with the exception of one thing. We have not slept together as mates.

Let's move up to more recent events," Jian said talking quickly. "Do you remember what happened the night that I made dinner for you? We went to the front door together because we both sensed something. We stood in the doorway and you leaned into me. You were seeking comfort and protection. I put my arm around you and pulled you close. Do you remember this?"

"Yes but..."

"The night that Amanda died- you woke up at three am. I know this because I felt it. I didn't know what was happening, but I felt your discomfort. I also knew that you weren't in danger. You invited me to your sister's home-why after four years? You could have continued to say no, but you didn't. When you called the police you told them that you were alone. You protected me-that is typical mate behavior. You not only protected me once, but twice without thinking about it."

"Yes but..."

"Brittney, it's time for you to be honest- you are drawn to me. You have always been drawn to me but you put your feelings in a little box along with the other things that you do not care to see. The time for that is past. We must become what we are- a mated pair. Our lives may depend on it."

Brittney was speechless.

"Yesterday when the old woman was here- you were jealous were you not? It was the same on Sunday when I mentioned that another female was going to train with us. You were jealous which pleases me."

"Of course it would- you're a man," Brittney grumbled. 

"And lastly- you believed everything that I've told you. Brittney listen to your instincts."

"I need to go for a run-alone," Brittney said.

"I cannot allow that and you know this," Jian replied firmly.

"Fine but don't you talk to me," Brittney said as she stood up and went up the stairs to change clothes.

Jian grinned and shook his head as Brittney ran up the stairs. Life with her was going to be interesting. While he waited he called Winona.

"How are you?" he asked when she answered the phone.

"Relieved, angry and happy," Winona replied. "Have you talked to her yet?"

"Yes, I just told her. We are going for a run..."

"Now?" Winona interrupted. "Is that wise? Maybe I should come with you."

"Maybe you can trail us," Jian said liking the suggestion. "My attention will be on Brittney."

"Give me ten minutes," Winona said and hung up.

****

The creature who answered to the name of Colt moved in the shadows still too afraid to go home. He didn't think it odd that his master hadn't summoned him. It had happened before when his master was busy with other things. That didn't mean that he wouldn't be angry and he wouldn't be punished but it was a reprieve of sorts.

Colt wandered along the waterfront looking to feed. He wasn't ravenous as he had been when he entered the human home so he still had his wits about him, but not for long. He made his way to the Benjamin Franklin Bridge where he knew that homeless people sometimes took shelter. He would hide behind a pillar and wait for one of them to leave the group. If there was no one there he would go to the George Washington Bridge. Between the two Bridges there had to be someone-preferably female, but a male would do. His hunger was directly connected to his libido. He rarely fed without sex in some form. The only people completely safe from him were children.

Sometimes in the summer months he would hide in the bushes at the park and watch them play. On more than one occasion he rescued a child who had wandered too far from adults from becoming lost or harmed. He understood his need to protect the children even less than he understood what was wrong with him. It didn't make sense considering once the child was an adult he or she became fair game.

He reached the Benjamin Franklin Bridge and found it abandoned. Cursing, he made his way to the George Washington Bridge and found a lone homeless woman sitting on the ground huddled in a blanket. He didn't care about her age, only that she wasn't a child and she was female. 

She never heard him coming.

*****

They were well into their fifth mile. Brittney knew that they were being followed but didn't worry about it because Jian wasn't concerned about it. They had just started back when Brittney stopped running and looked around. Jian stopped beside her and Winona stopped behind them still out of sight.

"Jian!" Brittney whispered.

"I know, I feel it," he replied, "but it isn't close and it feels-different."

"I know what it is," Brittney said as tears ran down her face. "It's him. I don't know how I know; but it's him. Tell me what I have to do to find it."

Jian hesitated. He wanted her as his mate- she was his mate, but if she agreed; she would be doing for the wrong reasons and that he could and would not allow.

"We will talk later," he said his tone telling her that the subject was for the moment closed. "Let's go back."

***

Colt stopped his feeding and looked around. Sensing nothing, he went back to the remainder of his meal.



The Slayers Ch. 06



Brittney followed Jian back to the house. She had the feeling that she had somehow upset him. The person that had been following them showed herself and Brittney didn't like what she saw. She gave the beautiful black woman a dirty look and kept going. Jian had said that the woman was from the neighborhood but she didn't remember ever seeing her and wondered why Jian hadn't mentioned her before. Her second thought was this woman was the reason why Jian ran again after he finished his run with her. She flushed with embarrassment. Jealousy was a new emotion for her in regards to men and she didn't like it. As she ran back, she pushed the woman out of her mind. The eerie feeling that she had a few minutes before faded and she turned her thoughts to the conversation that she and Jian had before going on the run.

She no had problem believing Jian and Paul about the vampires. To some extent she had always believed that other life forms existed. She hadn't given a lot of thought as to what those life forms were, only that they did exist. That made it easy for her to believe that Jian wasn't human, but why was she so resistant to the idea that he and her belonged together? In all of the vampire stories she had ever read, the vampire had a preordained mate. She didn't know much about the things called the rogue- except in the books they were vampires who chose to change or changed because they hadn't found their mates. When she got a chance, she would have to ask Jian to separate fact from fiction. What she didn't understand was her reluctance to believe that Jian had a mate. No, she amended. She found it difficult to believe that she was his mate. The very thought of it made her nervous and it scared her. How does one go from being friends to being married?

She was a pretty girl who had grown into a pretty woman but men just weren't attracted to her the way that they had been to Amanda. But then she hadn't been the social butterfly that Amanda had been. She had been on a few dates and her longest relationship had lasted four months. The man was someone that she went to college with and was ready for the white picket fence, two point five kids and the dog. But she wasn't ready for that. In her mind four months wasn't long enough to decide if they should be together until death did them part. They had been intimate and she had enjoyed it so that wasn't the issue. It just hadn't felt right. They parted ways and six months later, he was married with a baby on the way. She met Jian not long after that.

By the time thy reached Jian's house, he was running beside her instead of slightly in front of her. The woman who had been trailing them now joined them.

"Let's go inside and I will make the introductions," Jian said as he ran up the stairs and unlocked the door.

"Can I shower and change first?" Brittney asked glad that she had brought more than one change of clothes.

"That's sounds good," Winona replied. "I need a shower too. I'll be back in thirty minutes."

Brittney took a quick shower so that Jian would have time to shower and change before the woman came back. She prepared herself for a long night. She had so many questions and she knew that Jian would tell her what she said that upset him. The more she thought about it, the more she didn't understand his reaction.

Thirty minutes later, Winona was back. Jian served water and tea and made the introductions.

"Brittney, this is Winona Trump. She like us is a slayer. Winona this is Brittney Marsh my partner and mate. Brittney, Winona is here to help us and is the woman that I mentioned that would be training with us. Winona has a gift that I am hoping that you possess. If you do, it will be an added defense mechanism for you. Winona, will you show her?"

Before her eyes, Winona changed into the elderly woman that lived two doors down from Jian and then back into herself. Brittney was flabbergasted and speechless.

"Jian can do it too," Winona said. "His gift is actually much stronger than mine. He is able to change into anything."

"Can I do that?" Brittney asked now intrigued. Her earlier jealousy at Winona was forgotten as she waited for an answer.

"I hope so," Jian replied. "In theory the female mate is supposed to possess whatever gifts the male mate does. That however hasn't always been the case. On occasion the female mate will possess a gift that the male doesn't."

"So how do we find out?" Brittney asked excitedly.

"We will do a series of examinations," Jian replied. "By the time we are through we will know if you at least have the capability."

"What happens if I do? How do I learn how to do it?"

Winona and Jian looked at each other but it was Jian who spoke.

"We will talk about that later. For now I want to see if you have the capability. If you do, Winona will teach you how to control it."

"Why not you?" Brittney asked Jian.

"Because he wants you to have a female to help you adjust to your new life," Winona said. "There are things that I am better able to help you with and there are things that you might feel more comfortable discussing with a woman."

Jian watched Brittney as Winona explained her role to her. On the face of it she didn't seem upset, but he knew differently. She was nervously picking at her sweatpants and wouldn't look at him. He knew that many of the male mates coddled their females. He had never coddled Brittney and he wasn't about to start. When Winona left he would lay it out for her, leave her alone and then move from there. She wasn't a virgin; he knew that because he knew about the man that wanted to marry her. He unlike many males wasn't bothered by the fact that she had been touched by another. He was no virgin himself and to his way of thinking, it would make their first joining easier.

"Jian has my number if you want to talk about anything," Winona said, "or if you just want some female company. Also let me know when the cremation service is, I'll go as extra security."

"Thank you Winona," Jian said on behalf of him and Brittney. "We will start training with the real weapons tomorrow night."

"Good, I'll see you then," Winona said as she stood up.

"I will see you home," Jian said standing. "Brittney, I will be back. We have things to discuss."

When he came back five minutes later, Brittney hadn't moved.

"She didn't do the tests," she said not looking at him.

"Yes she did, you weren't aware of it," Jian said as he sat down. "You do have the capability to change your form. But in order for it to be activated, we must lie together as mates. This is difficult for you and I understand, but..."

"Why didn't you say something sooner?" Brittney asked. "How long have you known?"

"I have known since we first met," Jian replied. "I didn't tell you because there was no real reason to. I had the rare opportunity to get to know you as a person and a friend before I got to know you as a mate. The past four years have been in preparation for this time and we are better connected than couples who have been together for years. There is also this, you knew and chose not to see it."

She didn't try to deny it. What he said about her being in denial was true.

"So now what?" She asked.

"We discuss what being my mate means for us," Jian replied. "You asked me how you didn't see how --I think bossy was the word that you used I was. I have always been as you now see me. The ultimate responsibility for your safety and care lies with me. That means that I am the ultimate decision maker. That does not mean that you cannot disagree with me or fight with me about a decision, but in the end the decision is mine. In an emergency situation you will always leave first and not come back for me. If you were caught you would be used to extract information from me and then they would rape and kill you while I watched."

He waited to give her a chance to ask questions. When she didn't speak, he continued.

"My other responsibility is to care for you at home. That means that I cook for you and take care of any other needs that you may have."

"And what am I supposed to be doing?" Brittney asked.

"Whatever you wish within reason," Jian replied. "Many female mates take online classes or spend time together."

"Does it have to be that way?" Brittney asked. "I mean can't I do things around the house? You know like a partnership?"

Jian knew that this would be a sticking point for her and was actually surprised that she hadn't taken issue with the decision making process. 

"It is negotiable," he replied. "Our entire relationship is a partnership and when we are in the field you will make decisions. It isn't like you will have no say."

"What about work?" Brittney asked. "I won't give that up."

"Nor will you have to," Jian replied. "We will remain here for a time and keep our jobs."

"Oh my god!" Brittney exclaimed. "I didn't call work!"

"It is taken care of," Jian said calmly. "We are off for an additional week."

"You too?" Brittney asked already thinking about the office chatter.

"Yes- Brittney we are now inseparable. What the people at work think has been and is immaterial. It will be another adjustment for you but we will get through it together. It will pass quickly- they all knew what you refused to see."

"So we leave as single friends and go back married?"

"Yes," Jian replied.

"And I'm just supposed to give up my apartment? What about my stuff?"

"There is plenty of space here," Jian replied. "We can pack your things after the service on Tuesday or we can do it the day before if you wish."

"All we have to do is have sex?" Brittney asked.

"It is much, much more than that," Jian replied. "Tonight when we sensed that being, you were willing to do anything to be able to kill it. I understand the need to avenge but that has no place in the mating process. As your mate I will hunt this thing with you- that is a given, but we cannot mate unless that component is greatly reduced from your reasoning."

Suddenly she understood. She was upset that he would think that she would marry him just so she could kill the monster.

"I would think that you would know better than that," she said tersely. "I won't lie and say that I hoped that killing it would be a part of it, but it wouldn't have been the only reason."

Jian assessed her for a long time before speaking again.

"Your point is well taken and I apologize," Jian said. "The next question is do you accept that you are my mate? That acceptance is the first step and it must be sincere or the process will not begin."

"Before I answer that," Brittney said, "you never told me what you are and what I'll become. You're not a vampire so what are you?"

"I am of a race that was at one time human. We as well as the vampire have been in existence for as long as there have been people. As the vampires evolved so did we because as I said, we are the natural enemy of the vampire. As we evolved, our cells and organs mutated until we are what you now see. Along with that mutation came different gifts such as immortality, the ability to change form and telepathy. If the rogue mutate, then we will as well. We will notice the change but that is all."

"So you always look like that," Brittney asked.

"Yes and I do not age. Once we are mated, you will not age either. I would also like to clarify something," he continued. "When we mate it is not just sex. It is the blending of our beings that will connect us for as long as we both are in existence..."

"Wait- you said that we would be immortal," Brittney interrupted.

"We are but we can be killed although not very easily. If one of us dies the other will feel it unless the death is intentionally blocked," Jian explained. 

"Then what?" Brittney asked. "Does the remaining mate die like they do in the books?"

"Those are vampires but it has been known to happen with our kind. If something were to happen to me, you would be free to become a mate to another. It is what I would want for you."

"Is Winona's mate dead?" Brittney asked now curious about the black slayer.

"That is her story to tell," Jian replied. "I also want to reassure you that there will not be another for me as long as you live. Even if you should die and I take another; you will always be my beloved. The rationale behind being able to take another mate is so that we can continue to procreate."

"What about love?" Brittney asked. "You haven't mentioned that at all."

"You as my first mate will always have my love even in death," Jian replied. "The second mate if there is one will be cared for, but love is not a requirement as it is with us. I know that you do not love me, but all that is required is that the male mate love his female and Brittney, I have that love for you. It is another one of those things that you chose not to see."

She was shell shocked and her head began to pound again.

"Sleep on it," Jian said as he took her hand in his. "We have the services to get through and we'll talk again. "You go upstairs and I will stay down here."

"I'll stay down here..."

"No, you will not," Jian interrupted his voice firm. "You must get used to being taken care of. Now go to bed."

No amount of arguing could make Jian change his mind. Brittney went up the stairs, changed into her pajamas and lay down on the mat. She was tired, her head hurt but she couldn't stop thinking about everything that had happened. Tears that began as tears of sadness turned to tears of anger when she thought about Amanda. Her emotions ran from sorrow to anger to hatred and ended with determination. The determination was for two things. She was going to kill the thing that killed Amanda and she was going to face and accept that everything Jian had told her about them being mates.

Jian looked toward the stairs and went to the closet containing the weapons. When Brittney got up and the cremation services planned, they would begin to work out. Instead of starting her out with the real weapons as he had planned, he was going to have her start out with the replicas. He had the feeling that she would become angry and then accidentally hurt herself if he allowed her to handle the real weapons. All in all he was pleased with how the talk with Brittney had gone. She hadn't argued with the fact that they were mates which told him that she knew he was right. He spent the next three hours cleaning their weapons. They each had a pair of solid silver 'sai' fifteen inch for her and eighteen inches for him as well as an extra one that was worn in the belt. They each had a 'bo' or staff that could be used against swords as well as striking from a safe distance and finally a silver 'naginata' a reaping sword for her and a silver 'katana' for him. Each of them would also carry a 'tanto' a knife for close combat. There were various other small weapons that could be hidden in sleeves and pockets and Brittney was as proficient with them as well as the bigger weapons. She also knew how to use common articles such as keys and rocks as weapons. She was well prepared.

When he was through, Jian put the weapons away and went to check on Brittney. She was turned on her side facing the door sound asleep. Her soft snores told Jian how tired she really was and he decided to let her sleep until she woke up. Once they mated, she wouldn't need to sleep. What they did was rest every so often but even so they were completely alert.

Jian sat on the floor beside her and was reaching out to touch her when she grabbed his hand and held it tightly in hers. She had just consented to be his mate. Jian blew out a breath and then chuckled at how nervous he had really been. His hope was to have the mating completed before the cremation, but he would follow her lead. Now that she had decided, he lay down beside her, pulled her into his arms and kissed her temple. A moment later, he closed his eyes to rest.

****

Xavier paced. He didn't like the confident tone in Troy Cross's voice and he definitely didn't like what the police captain told him. As far as he knew, this Jack Atkins had no obvious weaknesses to exploit including family. He set his own hours and worked alone.

"Why is he so special?" Xavier asked the captain.

"I don't know," the captain replied. "He isn't FBI or anything like that; he's a gold shield detective. He just showed up here with the correct paperwork. I tried to find out where his home district is, but he has none. He just goes from district to district."

"Is that not unusual?" Xavier asked.

"Very," the captain said. "I have people watching him, but so far there doesn't seem to be anything special about him."

"Thank you captain," Xavier said meaning it. The captain was one of the very few in his employ that did what needed to be done without being told. He was also one of the very rare humans that could tolerate hearing his voice without throwing up. The captain told him that he got slightly nauseated but that was it.

So far Cherie had made no headway on locating the rogue nor had she been able to find out anything about the originals. Xavier had the feeling that time was slipping away. Then an even worse thought occurred to him. Those of his kind that had businesses in the city would have to find a way to work together. He could no longer wait to contact the others. He could feel it in his gut. Next to him, Cross was the most powerful rogue with the Angelo's and the Rivera's being third and fourth respectively. There were a couple of other groups, but he considered them a waste of time. But they could be used for something.

"Fuck it," he thought as he picked up the phone to talk to Troy Cross for the second time in less than twenty-four hours.

"Xavier!" Troy said genuinely surprised, "calling to accept our dinner invitation?"

Xavier almost hung up but didn't. His survival could depend on his biggest competitor.

"No," Xavier replied. "I'm calling about a matter that concerns all of us."

"Now what could that be?" Troy asked.

Xavier told him everything except about the lower rogue who had killed the connected human woman and Jack Atkins. He had to keep some things to himself.

"Do you really expect me to believe this?" Troy asked laughing.

"Believe it or not," Xavier said. "I really don't give a fuck, but when the originals and the slayers show up on your doorstep don't say that I didn't warn you."

"Why are you warning me?" Troy asked suspiciously. "What do you get out of it?"

Xavier almost slammed the phone down but tightened his grip on the receiver.

"Trust me when I say that if that I was certain that I could take them on alone and survive; I wouldn't have called you. I would let them kill all of your asses and I would pick up the pieces. You need to decide what you want to do. If we decide to work together with the others, we must all agree to a truce that says we will not attack each other until the threat is over or we know exactly what we're dealing with."

"Do we agree to share all information?" Troy asked still not convinced.

"Of course!" Xavier replied lying through his teeth, "we'll share all information."

They talked for a few more minutes before agreeing to a truce that would last long enough to figure out what- if anything was going on. They agreed to meet at a neutral place that evening and not to mention anything to anyone else until they talked.

"We'll meet at 'Phillips's' at eleven if that's agreeable with you," Xavier said.

"Fine," Troy replied. "We are now under truce- do you agree?"

"I agree," Xavier replied. "I will even call the club to reserve the room."

***

"What do you think?" Troy asked Danielle he hung up.

"I think that he believes what he's saying, but he isn't telling us everything either," she replied.

"So you don't believe him," Troy commented.

"Do you?" Danielle countered.

"I think that he wouldn't have called us if he didn't believe something was happening. He was nervous even though he tried to hide it." Troy said. "I do agree that he was lying, but it was by omission. We need to find out what it is he's hiding and the way to do that is to enter into a truce with him. I want to know everything before that meeting."




The Slayers Ch. 06



"I agree," Danielle said after a moment. "And whatever we find out, we don't let on that we know. Call our contacts and find out if they've heard anything."

"Do you think that he's right about the originals?" Troy asked.

"You said yourself that he's nervous so I would say possibly. You and I both know that the originals aren't dead no matter what anyone says. Even one original along with the slayers is enough to do us great damage. We should err on the side of caution." Danielle replied. "We need to be ready to leave at a moment's notice."

"I'm already thinking about that," Troy said now nervous. Xavier's anxiety was catching.

While Danielle took care of the escape plans, Troy made calls to their sources and called in their investigator.

"I want to know everything no matter how minute the detail."

When that was done, they sat down and discussed what they knew. By the time they were done, they were convinced that Xavier had already violated the terms of the truce. They only needed to find out what he knew.

"Leave it as is," Danielle said calmly. "It will come back to bite him in the ass."

****

Xavier hung up very satisfied with himself and the way that the conversation with Cross had gone. He relaxed in the knowledge that he had the upper hand. He called the club, reserved the room and arranged for unopened bottles of wine to be made available. If he drank, it would be that. He had no intentions of drinking anything that Cross and his mate brought to table.

He went to his room where a woman lay nude on the bed. As always he stopped to look at her to see what her reaction would be. The woman, a medium sized black woman with hair fixed in tight little braids that fell to her shoulders looked back at him. There was anxiety in her eyes but no fear. 

"Hello lovely one," he murmured as he approached the bed.

"Hello monster," she replied with a smile.

Xavier froze. Humans always gave some sign that they knew what he was. Usually they paled and then had a panicked expression on their faces. Most times they vomited but not this woman. Other than the anxiety which could have been caused by not being able to move; there was nothing.

"You see me?" he asked intrigued.

"Yes I see you," she replied, "and for the record- I'm not scared of you."

"I can see that," Xavier replied unexpectedly pleased. "Why is that?"

"I have been seeing your kind since I was a child," the woman replied. All traces of the anxiety were gone. She looked at him with undisguised hatred.

"That does not tell me why you aren't afraid," Xavier replied taking a step closer to her and taking in her features. He liked her high cheekbones, her full lips and the fire in her dark eyes.

The woman surprised him by laughing. "You're nothing to be afraid of," she replied. "Sure you could and probably will kill me, but so what? I'm no more afraid of dying than I am of you."

Kelley Ann Wilkins came to Xavier's mind. She had dignity when she died, but this woman had something more. She was strong and courageous. She could look at him without flinching and wasn't afraid to defy him. He was-intrigued. 

"You aren't nauseated?" He asked.

"Nothing that a little Mylanta wouldn't take care of," the woman replied. "I had just finished eating one of those foot long hotdogs with everything on it when I was picked up by your man. They upset my stomach but they're worth it-oh I see," she said obviously amused. "You thought that you were the reason."

Xavier was at a loss for words. The woman was openly defying him and he was allowing it, but he had to know what made her the way that she was.

"Are you going to kill me or not?" She asked impatiently.

"Why are you in such a hurry to die?" Xavier asked as he sat on the bed beside her.

"All I ask is that the money you pay me goes to where I designated. In other words don't cheat me because you killed me," she replied ignoring the question.

Suddenly, Xavier wasn't sure if he was going to kill her. He could keep her alive and have her examined to see what was in her genes and blood that made her the way that she was. He had geneticists under his employ.

"Well?" The woman asked sharply. "Are you going to do what I asked?"

"I could say yes and be lying," Xavier replied. He was enjoying this woman and her attitude.

"True," the woman calmly replied, "but give me your word anyway."

Xavier then broke a cardinal rule. He asked the woman for her name. Every instinct within him was screaming at him to stop; but he ignored it.

"Please- tell me your name. I am Xavier Dubois."

The woman looked at him surprised. This was far from what she had been expecting. In fact, she expected to be dead long before now.

"Your name-please," Xavier repeated.

"Mary Todd Lincoln," she replied without thinking about it.

Xavier looked at her and for the first time that he could remember- he burst out into a full bellied laugh. He was thoroughly enjoying the quick wit of the restrained black woman.

"Alright Mary Todd Lincoln," he said still chuckling, "which by the way I know isn't your real name- tell me how a beautiful and obviously intelligent woman falls into your line of work."

Once again Xavier was shocked. He had never considered any human male or female beautiful or particularly intelligent. But that was how he was seeing this woman. His instincts screamed at him to kill her. But he ignored it. All of the hard lessons from centuries past were forgotten as he looked into Mary's dark brown eyes. He reached over and touched her soft, mahogany skin and sighed with pleasure as he ran his hand up and over her knee. No woman human or otherwise had done this to him. Once again his instincts clamored for his attention; to bring him back to reason. And again he ignored them. He was completely taken by this woman who showed him no fear.

The woman watched him with interest. He wasn't the ugliest monster that she had ever seen and there was vulnerability about him that she had seen in none of the others. But he was still a monster. She didn't flinch as his hand moved from her knee and to her thigh lightly stroking it in a slow leisurely manner. 

"I will not hurt you," he promised.

"Why not?" Mary asked. "Isn't that the way of your kind? You ram your cocks into a woman so hard that she bleeds and her bones break while you drain her dry? What do you do with her afterwards? She gets no burial or respect because all we are to you is ingredients for your product and necessary trash. So tell me Xavier Dubois, did you promise the others that you wouldn't hurt them and then lie? Did you at least cremate them?"

"Do not," Xavier said his tone icy, "mistake my kindness and curiosity as permission to speak to me as you wish..."

"What are you going to do? Kill me?" Mary asked nonplussed. "You're going to anyway so why not die speaking my mind? Enough talk, get it over with and don't do me any favors by holding yourself back."

As he listened to Mary talk, Xavier felt something that he had never felt for a human before grow- respect. His instincts had gone quiet. Xavier was horrified as to the meaning of it. The fact that he had been able to exercise self-control was huge. He had had other human women mouth off to him before and they were dead within minutes. He had asked her name and knew that she was lying and he had been amused by it. He had actually laughed! His interest in her was much more than because she wasn't afraid of him. He pulled his hand back when he realized that he was still caressing her skin. 

"Damn it!" he cursed as he shot off of the bed. "Damn it!"

The woman calmly watched him as he stomped off into the bathroom and slammed the door behind him. She didn't know what the problem was nor did she care. Knowing wouldn't change the end result. She closed her eyes and waited for him to come back.

Xavier paced the large bathroom undecided about what to do. The reality of it was that there was no decision to be made. The window of opportunity to kill her had closed and he could no more harm her than he could his mother. He opened the door a crack and peeked at the woman who said her name was Mary. She appeared to be asleep. It was yet another indication of who she was.

"Damn it all to hell!" Xavier swore as he undressed to begin his morning routine. He didn't want this but what was he supposed to do? Deny her? "Fuck!" he exclaimed as he did his self-examination and got into the shower. The woman wouldn't resist him, he knew that but unlike the slayers and some of the other vampire races, he didn't have to tell her who and what she was. He would take her and tell her afterwards. But-he wanted a little fight and she would fight if he told her beforehand. As he calmed down, the idea of having a mate began to appeal to him. It eliminated the possibility that his servants would accidentally bring a connected female to him and she as his mate would be unable to betray him. Whatever gifts she had she would have to use for him.

By the time he was finished with his shower, he had accepted the fact that he had a mate. He dried off and called his head servant.

"The woman in the bed is my mate," he said the words sounding strange to his ears. "She is to be afforded every amenity that comes with that position. Later this evening I will give you a shopping list of things that she will need. You are to purchase the best of everything and get her whatever it is that she desires. Am I being clear?"

"Yes sire," the surprised servant replied.

"When I go out this evening, I want her guarded. When I return there had better not be a mark on her."

"Y-Yes sire but what of the linens?"

"Leave them," Xavier replied. "Have a tray with fresh juice and rolls ready when I call. She will be very hungry."

"Yes sire will there be anything else?"

"No," Xavier said and hung up. He looked down at his cock which was fully erect and wondered how this woman would see it. The others had seen it as something large and grotesque. He lightly stroked it and moaned in anticipation of the taking of his mate.

The woman turned her head when she heard the bathroom door open. She blinked but didn't say anything as Xavier approached her.

"Are you going to give me your word about the money?" She asked her voice strong and resigned to her fate. She took note of his nakedness and to his pleasure; she didn't turn away.

"You have my word," Xavier said as he approached the bed and lay next to her. "You also have my word that I will not cause you unnecessary pain. You are very lovely, do you know that?"

Unease filled the woman's eyes as she watched Xavier circle a dark tipped nipple with his finger. He wasn't supposed to be saying things like that. His kind saw all humans as ugly and good for one thing, but here he was caressing her as he would a lover.

"So Mary Todd Lincoln- what is your real name?" he asked as he kissed the now erect nipple.

The woman gasped when he took the nipple into his mouth and sucked on it.

"Tell me so that I may know what to call my mate..."

The woman froze and began to struggle. It wasn't out of fear, but because she had no desire to be mated to one such as him. Her dream had always been to be mated to a slayer.

"Shhh," Xavier crooned. "As my mate you will live as a queen. Now my queen- what is your real name?"

"Son of a bitch!" she spat out.

"I do not believe that to be your name either," he said as he kissed her heaving chest. "I could look, but I would much prefer that you tell me."

She wouldn't speak but Xavier really didn't care at the moment. He took the neglected nipple in his mouth and lightly bit down on it. The woman although she struggled was responding to his touch. He sniffed the air and smelled her arousal. That was his final confirmation. The others never became aroused but remained dry thus making his entrance into their bodies more painful.

"Tell me your name," he demanded as his hand stroked her flat but soft belly. Telling him her name would strengthen the bond between them.

"BASTARD!" she screamed in anger.

His fingers tangled in her moist pubic hair and he slid a finger between her wet vaginal lips. He could hardly wait to taste her essence and to feel her tightness around him, but first things first. He wanted her name.

"Your name!" he said s little more firmly as he toyed with her mound. "I am growing impatient, but do not worry- I will not kill you," he said when he saw that she was hoping that he would. "So this resistance is futile. Tell me your name."

"My name," the woman said breathlessly as Xavier toyed with her clit, "is Carmen Eloise Thomas. I make this promise to you," she moaned as Xavier pressed on her little button. "I swear to you that one day I will kill you. Mate or not I will find a way to kill you. You will never have my love or my loyalty."

Xavier slipped two fingers inside of her while manipulating her clit with his thumb. Moments later, Carmen was screaming her release.

Xavier kissed her cheek as he removed his hand from between her legs and pulled her into his side with his free arm.

"Love," he said as he sniffed and then licked his fingers and gave her a squeeze, "has absolutely nothing to do with this but please- if it helps, continue to hate me. It doesn't matter. Your loyalty however is a different matter. Once I come inside of you it is assured. You will not be able to harm me or any of my kind unless they are an enemy to me. You will be incapable of betraying me.You will be unable to turn me away when I come to our bed. You will please me as I like to be pleased as I will please you. You Carmen Eloise Thomas are mine. As of this moment the last name of Thomas no longer exists for you. Your last name is now Dubois."

He turned her face toward him and gently kissed her lips.

"So very soft," he said as he slipped his tongue into her mouth and touched hers. He inwardly grinned when against her will she began to respond. He broke the kiss and smiled at her as he eased down her body until his head was between her legs. "Open them," he commanded in a soft but firm voice. He patiently waited as Carmen tried to fight the command. Finally she gave up. "Thank you my sweet," he said as he took his first taste of her. 

Carmen cried out as Xavier's tongue explored every fold of her pussy. His hands were on her hips holding her in place as he nipped, licked and sucked on her avoiding her clit. If felt like forever before he latched onto it and began to suckle on it. Before she knew what was happening, he nicked it with a fang and she was coming as he fed from her. 

Instead of licking the wound closed, Xavier let it bleed as he nicked his cock so that it bled and mixed their blood together. Slowly he eased his large head into her small opening groaning with pleasure at her tightness. He moved with slow deliberate thrust wanting to make sure that their blood mixed and that he didn't hurt her any more than necessary. Finally satisfied that she was wet enough and that their blood had mixed, he slid all the way in with a loud moan.

Carmen moaned even though she didn't want to and began to move with him.

"Yes my sweet," Xavier murmured as he felt his orgasm begin in the balls off his feet. His thrusts became faster and harder but not hard enough to inflict pain or injury. Carmen was already close. Her vaginal walls were squeezing his cock hard. He could feel her clit throbbing against his hairless pubis. He ground hard against her smashing her clit between them.

"Oh-oh god!" Carmen called out as her orgasm began.

Xavier barely heard her as his orgasm traveled from the balls of his feet, up his legs, to his groin and into his cock. He threw back his head and bellowed as his blood tinged seed left his body and entered Carmen's. She screamed again as she felt the hotter than normal semen splash against her insides.

When it was over, Xavier lay on top of her kissing her neck and then her lips satisfied when she returned the kiss. He lay on top of her for several minutes enjoying the feel of her body against his. Finally he rolled off of her and took her into his arms.

"That was magnificent," he breathed against her head. "And it will only get better. Stay here and rest while I prepare our bath."

Carmen made no response when Xavier released her from his arms. When he came out of the bathroom, she was gone. A second later he heard outraged screams and curses. He wasn't worried. By the time he got home from his meeting; she would no longer be a flight risk. She would think about it, but she would be unable to act on it.

The guards banged on the door and opened it without waiting for permission to enter. They wanted this hellcat off of their hands. 

"My sweet," Xavier said gently as she struggled against the guards. "You must calm yourself."

"Bastard! LET ME GO!" Carmen screamed as she pulled against the guards.

"Release her," Xavier said realizing that restraining her was only making matters worse.

He looked at her naked body and wanted her again but it was too soon for the second exchange although...

"Leave us," he said with his eyes on Carmen who was getting to her feet after being dropped like a hot potato.

When the guards were gone, he pushed Carmen down to her knees and placed his cock at her lips. A moment later her full lips were wrapped around his erection and he was in heaven. He knew why she did it, she was biding her time. He didn't tell her that it would make no difference. She was home.

He held her head in place as she used her tongue to pleasure him. When he was close to coming, he released her head and allowed her to have her way not at all concerned that she would bite him. She wouldn't try anything so stupid after just being captured. He emptied into her mouth with a satisfied groan and helped her up.

"Our bath water is waiting," he said leading her by the hand.

Carmen looked at him with undisguised hatred. "I am going to kill you," she said loud enough for him to hear.

"Of course you are," Xavier replied the humor evident in his voice.

****

Brittney woke up and snuggled into the warmth that surrounded her. She moaned in protest when the warmth moved and she moved with it. The warmth stopped moving and seemed to envelope her even more. She sighed in contentment and went back to sleep. It felt as though only seconds had passed before the warmth was moving again. 

"No," Brittney murmured as she wrapped her arms around the warmth trying to hold it in place.

"Beloved, it is late; we must get up," the warmth said.

Brittney slowly opened her eyes and frowned trying to remember where she was. Her head was resting on Jian's chest. She almost pulled away but didn't as she remembered her decision to accept what she was. It had been a long time since she had been held while she slept and she didn't want to move.

"How late is it?" she asked thinking that it was six or so. She rarely slept past seven although she tried,

"It is almost eleven and Paul will be calling soon," Jian replied.

"Eleven?" Brittney exclaimed as she sat up, "Why didn't you wake me up?"

"You needed the sleep," Jian replied. "And I did try to wake you, but you wouldn't allow me to move," he teased.

"Oh-what time is Paul going to call?"

"Noon, so you have time for breakfast. My friends Robert and Bruce are expecting a call around one pm," Jian said. "I will leave you to get dressed- by the way dress in your workout clothes. We will work with weapons today."

When she was alone, Brittney changed clothes and went downstairs to the smell of eggs and toast. Jian served her but she insisted on doing the dishes. By the time she was done, Paul was on the phone.

"How are you holding up?" Brittney asked.

"As well as can be expected," Paul replied. "Have you seen the news? My face is everywhere! I can't even call home to let them know that none of it is true!"




The Slayers Ch. 06



"They already know," Brittney said. "They saw how you were with Amanda and they know that there is no way that you could have hurt her."

"I hope that you're right. How are you?"

"Like you as well as can be expected," she replied. "The service is going to be tomorrow at eleven. Apparently Josh already knows where it is so you only have to tell him the time."

"I want to kill that bastard so bad," Paul said tearfully. 

"I know," Brittney soothed. "So do I and we will kill it."

"You?" Paul asked. "And what army? No offense, but Britt you weigh no more than a hundred pound sack of potatoes."

"We'll talk tomorrow alright?" Brittney said avoiding the question. 

She hung up and Jian called Robert.

"We will be there at eleven... I understand," Jian said and hung up.

"You understand what?" Brittney asked. 

"Due to the time of day Robert cannot attend but he sends his condolences," Jian replied. Let's begin our workout and I will tell you about Robert later."

After an hour of warm-ups, Jian brought several mannequins up from the basement and sat them around the room. He took the weapons out of the closet and handed Brittney the replica 'naginata-reaping sword.'

"I thought that we were using the real thing," Brittney said confused as she took the weapon.

"We will later, but for now we will use these. You may begin."

Jian watched as Brittney began. Her movements were slow, concise and deliberate as he had taught her. There wasn't a wasted movement. Then gradually she began to lose focus. Her movement lost their fluidity and became erratic. Her anger was building. Silently he watched as she ran from one mannequin to another stabbing and slashing at them blindly while sobbing loudly. Finally exhausted and sobbing, Brittney dropped the weapons, sat on the floor and sobbed. Jian gave her a few minutes before going to her. When he sat down beside her, she threw herself into his arms and cling to him as she cried.

An hour later her eyes were red and puffy but she was under control. Even so, Jian held her until she released him.

"I-I'm sorry," she said looking down at her hands. "I don't know what happened. I just got so angry- It won't happen again."

"There is no need to apologize," Jian assured her. "I knew that this would happen. That is why we started with the replicas. It was important that you get the bulk of your rage out before we started with the real weapons. Are you ready?"

They trained until late afternoon. Once Brittney's brain made the switch from replica to real, she was more than proficient. She was going to be deadly in a fight Jian thought proudly.

"You have done well," he complimented. "It is time for lunch; you may use the shower first."

Brittney ran up the stairs stripping as she went. She looked in her bag and frowned. She really needed to go to her apartment. She had enough clothes for today and that was it. She took her shower, dressed and ran down the stairs. She stopped when she heard voices. Winona had come for lunch.

"Congratulations on progressing to the real weapons," Winona said when she saw her.

"Thanks," Brittney replied wondering if he had told Winona about the mannequins. 

Over lunch, Brittney asked Winona about her mate.

"I thought that slayers worked in pairs, so where is your mate?"

Winona's face took on a pained expression and then cleared.

"Brittney one of the first things that I want to tell you is this. One of the hardest things for me to learn was that when Justin was being bossy, he was looking out for me. I was already thirty-five when we met. I had been living on my own from the time I was seventeen. I had never been married, made my own decisions and put myself through school. I was also into the martial arts- not nearly to the extent that you are, but I was no slouch. It took me much longer than it took you to progress to using the real weapons, but I made it.

But at any rate, Justin swept me off my feet. Me Miss. Independent was head over heels in love with a man that I had known for less than two weeks. Everyone was shocked- so was I for that matter but three weeks after I met him, Justin and I mated."

"You had no problem accepting what he told you?" Brittney asked.

"At first I thought that he was kidding," Winona said, "but I saw that he was serious and when he introduced me to other slayers I had no choice but to believe. Now this is where I refused to be bossed around. I wanted a wedding. I wanted to experience the engagement-all of it. Justin agreed as long as we were already mated before the wedding. So I planned a small, intimate wedding- less than fifty people. I wanted to exchange wedding bands but Justin didn't want to. He told me that it was safer not wearing them because the rogue couldn't always tell if a slayer was with his mate. Wedding bands was a dead giveaway. I couldn't be persuaded otherwise and because he loved me; he gave in.

Winona stopped and wiped her eyes.

"We had been married for almost four years when we were out in the field. We were living in Miami at the time. We had gotten word about a lower rogue who was killing homeless people. Since we were closest to the area, we went. It was a trap. The lower rogue was doing the killing under the direction of her master. He wanted to capture a slayer in the hopes that he could torture information out of him or her. At first she overlooked me. Then the streetlight shone on my ring. The lower rogue looked at me and said 'mate'. The next thing I knew, more of them were coming."

"Oh god," Brittney whispered as she reached out for Winona's hand.

"Justin started screaming at me to run, but I didn't want to. I couldn't leave him there alone. Finally, he looked me in the eye and said; do as I command you. What choice did I have? I shifted into a homeless person and got away while he kept their attention on him. Two days later, I couldn't feel him but I believed that he was alive. I was staying with a slayer couple when I got the package. It was Justin's left hand ring finger still wearing the wedding band."

Winona took a break and wiped away more tears.

"It started when that rogue saw my ring. Had I not been wearing it we would have made it until help arrived. By the time help arrived, he was gone. After that I disappeared and came here. I had been living here a year before Jian moved into this house."

"But what about Justin?" Brittney asked. "What happened to him?"

"His body never turned up and it could have been anywhere. I tried to accept that he was gone but there was always this little spark that told me that he wasn't. As I was saying earlier, I moved here and went under the radar. I didn't want anyone to know where I was so I took on the persona of the old woman. But you knew something- that's why you were jealous of me. When I came here I locked away our weapons and didn't take them out again until the other night. Justin would have been upset to know that I hadn't trained nor cared for our weapons but I just couldn't bring myself to look at them."

"You thought that it was your fault that Justin got taken," Brittney said.

"I don't think- I know it is," Winona replied.

"How can you fight without a partner?" Brittney asked. "Jian said that slayers fought in pairs."

"In the field that is true," Winona said, "but there are many ways to serve. The one thing that I forgot and tried to forget when this whole thing started was once a slayer, always a slayer. As much as I wanted to deny it, I was duty bound to help Jian in any way that I could. Now for the good news- Justin is alive. I don't know where he is, what he's doing or when I'll see him; but he's alive. I now understand why I never mated with another slayer. I couldn't because he was alive."

Jian watched Brittney as Winona told her story. He hoped that the part about following orders would stick in her brain. There were several things that he wasn't concerned with. Brittney wouldn't want a public wedding. She might need a wedding, but it would be done at the courthouse. He also wasn't concerned about the ring issue. She never wore jewelry- not even a watch. The only visible thing that would indicate that they were mates would be the Chinese symbol for beloved and even that wouldn't be visible unless she wore something very revealing. That was something else that he didn't need to worry about. She was a very modest woman.

"So what I'm saying is," Winona was saying, "is that as hard as it may be, you need to listen to Jian. He's been around a lot longer than you have. You also have to remember that you're no longer responsible for yourself. We're all responsible for each other. By wearing that ring I put not just Justin in danger, but all of us. I know that they must have tortured him without mercy to find out what they could about us and I doubt that he told them anything. Even if he had the information would have been outdated. We all moved right after his capture. All I'm saying is that it's a change in mindset. You are as independent as I was and you don't have to give that up. It's a matter of knowing when to step back and let Jian make the decisions and when to exert your independence. The one thing that you have going for you is that you've known each other for so long. You already know how each other thinks. That puts you ahead of many mated couples who have been together for as long as you've known each other. Because I was so independent I had to learn how to completely trust Justin. You and Jian already have that trust."

"I'm sorry about what happened," Brittney said. "And I hope that you see him soon."

"Me too," Winona murmured with a small smile.

****

"Paul," Josh said. "Sit down- I want to tell you a few things."

He waited until Paul was sitting and began to talk.

"I know how hard this has been for you and I can't imagine what it must feel like not knowing what your family believes about you. I did something that I hope will at least ease your mind a little. I sent someone to your mother's home. They are worried about you but they don't believe that you hurt Amanda. They know how much you loved her and they are mourning her loss with you."

"Thank you," Paul said as tears of relief ran down his face. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Josh replied. "The second thing is regarding the services tomorrow. I cannot stress the importance of following my instructions to the letter. The service is at a location known only to slayers so once we are there all will be well. The dangerous part will be getting you there. The streets are swarming with Rogue, human rogue servants and the police looking for you. When we leave, you will wait in the house until I tell you to come out..."

"Wait... you just said that the streets are swarming with people looking for me."

"There will be a distraction." Josh explained. "I don't know what it will be but some of my fellow slayers are taking care of it. Once I call for you do not hesitate. Do not stop to look to see what is happening. Chances are that not all of those searching for you will be distracted. Get into the van and get on the floor. Do not sit up no matter what happens. Are there any questions?"

"No, I got it," Paul replied feeling like he was in a movie.

"Good. The next thing is what happens after the services. You won't be coming back here. You will be going with someone named Bruce. He and his employer are friends to the slayers and enemies of the rogue. He will take you to their home where you will be safe. The rogue may find out that you're there but they won't attempt to take you."

"Why not?" Paul asked.

"Robert is what we call an original," Paul explained. "He and those like him are what the rogue were before they changed. He is pure vampire whose line is the beginning of the vampire race no matter the species. They are also a friend to the human race. You will also be protected by a pair of slayers who will also serve another function. They will teach you self-defense, arm you and then discern if you have any other gifts. It is imperative that you do everything that they say."

"I understand- will I be able to talk to Brittney tomorrow?"

"Yes, there will be time allowed for that," Josh replied. "The last thing that I must tell you is that my name is not Josh. It is Justin Trump."

Paul quietly listened as Justin told him the reason for the name change.

"She thought that you were dead all of this time?" Paul asked.

"Yes and no," Justin replied. "She cannot sense me and that is an indication that I am dead but she didn't feel me die and my body has never been found. Those last two facts are what kept a glimmer of hope alive. She now knows that I am alive and I hope to see her soon."

"Damn..." Paul murmured temporarily forgetting his own grief.

"The last order of business is that we are going to begin your training tonight," Justin said. "The easiest weapon for you to learn will be the 'bo'. It is a six foot spear that will allow you to fight but will give you some distance from the enemy. Are you ready?"

Paul jumped out of his chair happy to be doing something besides sitting around and missing Amanda.

"Let's go!" he exclaimed.

****

Colt spent the day in hiding. He hoped that his master wouldn't call for him during the daytime. He did that once when he was very displeased about something. What it was, Colt couldn't remember, but he did remember the pain that he experienced that day. Even thinking about it made his cold, gray fish eyes water.

He huddled further into the corner of the basement of a vacant house alert for anyone entering the house. Finally he relaxed and let his mind drift. It was during these times that he could remember some of his life before he became what he was. He had no real recollection of his family or if he had been married and had children. He thought maybe that he did have children. It would explain why he was so protective of them. He didn't remember ever going to school but he was sure that he must have. His last real memory of being human was the night that he had been changed.

He was on his way home from-he couldn't remember, but it was nighttime and it was late. He couldn't remember where he was going, but he was a young man and unafraid of being out alone. He was carrying a sack-milk! He remembered. Someone needed milk and he decided to walk to get it. It wasn't cold out although he was wearing a jacket. He was three blocks away from home when he first heard the noise that sounded out of place. He stopped, looked around him and started walking again when the noise stopped. He made it to the corner and heard the noise again. Now he was nervous and cursing that he hadn't driven as....he couldn't remember her name had wanted him to. Suddenly someone- no something was standing in front of him. Before he could react, the thing was on him and dragging him to an alley.

He remembered trying to scream but no sound came out. The pain in his neck was excruciating as the creature bit and then began to frantically suck the life from him. His arms hung uselessly at his sides both of them broken by the creature's rough handling. Finally he blacked out from blood loss and pain after praying for his soul. When he woke up, he was in a dank, smelly basement chained to the wall. He tried to free himself but only succeeded in making his wrist bleed.

"You are awake," a smooth tenor voice said.

Colt licked his dry lips and tried to speak.

"I am now your master," the voice said. "You are replacing the servant that turned you without permission. He no longer lives."

"Please," Colt said. "I don't know what's going on here but could you let me go? My wife is waiting for me. I have children."

"That is not possible," the voice said. "By tomorrow evening you will no longer be as you were. My regret is that it was a lower rogue that turned you. There is nothing that can be done about that. I will however feed you my blood so that we are connected. You will be at my command and cannot deny me."

The rogue who called himself sire fed Colt and then left him alone in the dark basement. By the next evening, Matthew J. Colt was no longer himself. He tried to remember how long ago that had been but he couldn't. Nor could he explain why he went into connected human homes risking the wrath of his master.

He huddled down deeper into the corner and went to sleep.

****

Colt's master knew exactly where he was and let him rest. He had done exactly what he was supposed to do even though he didn't know it. The only thing that he wished was that the woman hadn't been connected to the slayers. But that wasn't Colt's fault therefore he wouldn't be punished. There was no way that he could have known and what were the odds of that happening? His simple plan had become quite complicated. The good thing was that no one knew that he was in town. Colt was a pawn and an acceptable collateral loss. Lower rogues could be made in no time.

"Good boy," master murmured as he turned to his goblet of blood. He preferred his straight and not diluted like the younger vampires. Still he recognized a money maker when he saw one. If all went well, Troy Cross, Xavier Dubois and the other two major competitors would be dead giving him most of the east coast to add to his overseas operations. He had to admit that he wasn't happy about some of the developments. The arrival of the bitch Cherie topped the list. The appearance of Jack Atkins was the other. The two of them together meant trouble add the slayers to that...

He finished his blood and prepared to rest. He was very old school preferring to rest in a coffin as opposed to a bed. He found that the confined space gave him a feeling of security that helped him think better. He had done enough watching. It was time to start manipulating events to his advantage.

****

Jack Atkins brushed his sandy blond hair back from his eyes as he reread his notes for the tenth time and then looked at the pictures he had taken on his phone. The lower rogue had been careless but relatively gentle with the female victim. It didn't make sense. Then there was the witness who was hiding somewhere in the city. He had to have had help. That was the only explanation for why he hadn't been spotted yet. He hadn't called his family in New Jersey nor had he made contact with the victims' sister at least as far as anyone could tell. But then, no one had seen her either.

"Where in the hell are you?" Jack murmured.

He looked up when he felt that he was being watched. He was used to it and shrugged it off. He spoke to no one not even to say hello unless he absolutely had to. He looked up to see who was watching him and saw the captain. The way that captain Nash was staring at him told him that he was about to have one of those times when he had to talk. He sighed, put his small notebook and cellphone in his pocket and walked over to the captain.

"Yes sir," he said politely.

"Step into my office, I need to ask you a few questions," the captain said and walked away.

Jack followed him in and took the offered seat.

"I like to get to know all of the men under my command and that includes the loners," The captain said. "For instance, I know that Montoya's grandmother is going to be celebrating her one-hundredth birthday tomorrow night. Ellis over there is going to pop the question to his girl next weekend- do you see what I'm saying? I know absolutely nothing about you other than basic information."

"What is it that you would like to know?" Jake asked. He wasn't fooled. He knew a fishing expedition when he saw one and he wondered which of the monsters Nash worked for. A fishing expedition went both ways.

"Do you have a family?" Nash asked.

"No and there is no one special in my life," Jack replied. "What about you? I see that one of your children is special needs- that must make things difficult. Do you work another job somewhere?"




The Slayers Ch. 06



"No I don't," the captain replied tersely. He had been caught.

"How is it that you work alone?" Nash asked changing the subject. "In all my years on the force I've never had someone with your clout."

"Let's just say that I don't play well with others," Nash said. "Was there anything else?"

"How is your investigation going? Do we know who killed that poor woman?"

"No we don't and it's too soon to share information," Jack replied.

"But you released the body already so you must have found something," the captain persisted.

"I found nothing that I care to or am ready to share," Jake said firmly. "I released the body because there was no point in keeping it. I have all of the information that I need and that family needs to say their goodbyes."

"Do you have a working theory?" Nash asked. "I say that the boyfriend is good for it."

"No he isn't," Jack said, "and I'll tell you why. By all accounts he loved her. Even the victim's sister vouches for him. I'm well aware that people snap, but in this case that didn't happen. They both had good jobs and money in the bank. There have been no major withdrawals or transfers. He was going to propose to her so it doesn't track. Let's look at the physical evidence. The victim was sexually assaulted but had been sexually active before her murder. The boyfriend told us that. The internal lacerations show very rough sex. She was a small woman, the male dwarfed her but whoever did this to her was very strong. But let's continue.

The victim's sister found her. The victim was on the blood covered bed- but the suspect didn't have a drop on him. He could have showered, but we both know that he didn't. Forensics would have showed something. If he bit her, why was there no blood or skin between his teeth or under his fingernails? Mr. Master's did not murder this woman."

"Why did he run then?" Nash asked. "He attacked a nurse."

"He may have thought that whoever murdered his fiancée would come back for him. He saw who did it. As to the nurse, he was in and out of consciousness. Maybe he just panicked."

"So you're saying that he's innocent but you have no other suspects." Nash said dryly.

"I never said that I didn't have another suspect," Jack replied. 

Seeing that he wasn't getting anywhere, Nash dismissed Jack. As soon as he was alone, he made a call to Xavier. He wasn't going to be happy, but he had done what he could.

*****

Winona stayed for dinner and left shortly afterwards. She had picked up on the nonverbal cues from Jian and made an excuse to leave.

"You did well today," Jian said to Brittney as they washed the dinner dishes.

"Yeah but I lost it," Brittney replied. "I can't afford to do that again."

"But it is out of your system," Jian replied. "It was better done here than in the field. Now we can focus on what needs to be done. Brittney, you are aware that this is now your home are you not?"

"I know," Brittney replied. "That was one of the things that I thought about last night. I actually need to go back to my apartment tonight. This is my last set of clean clothes."

"Does this mean that you have accepted your place at my side?" Jian asked sitting the dish he was washing in the sink.

"I guess it does," Brittney replied.

"I am sorry," Jian replied. "It is a yes or no question. There is no room for ambiguity."

"Yes," Brittney said after a few seconds. "And it's not just because I want to kill that thing. It's because you were right about me. I tend to hide the things that I don't want to see. I had feelings for you but I didn't want to deal with it so I put you in the friendship slot and kept you there until I had no choice but to accept it. I can't say that what I feel is love- I don't know, but you say that it only takes one of us to love so if you're okay with that..."

"I am more than fine with that," Jian replied. "There will come a time when that love will come. We will lie to rest one evening and while you are resting it will sneak in. When you wake it will be there and there will be no need to tell me. I will already know."

"You guys have really strange ways of doing things," Brittney commented. "By the way, I don't want a wedding of any kind. It wouldn't feel right without Amanda." Her voice caught when she said it. "She used to tease me about you. She called you the mysterious Jian. The last time we were together... she... she... this isn't fair! She was a good person!"

"Yes, she was a good person," Jian agreed as he hugged her. He felt her sorrow but none of the rage that she had shown earlier in the day. He pushed her away from him, lifted her tear streaked face up by a finger and for the first time since he knew her; kissed her moaning at the softness of her lips.

Brittney put her hands on his waist to keep her balance. The room felt as if it was spinning as Jian deepened the kiss. She put her arms around him and returned the kiss shivering when he moaned into her mouth and touched her tongue with his. He broke the kiss first but kept his arms around her.

"We need to go get more of my things," Brittney murmured against Jian's neck. She inhaled taking in his scent. His scent reminded her of how the park smelled after a spring rain. He was refreshing, invigorating and calming at the same time.

Reluctantly, Jian released her. It had taken over four years for them to reach this point and he was in no hurry to end the moment, but she was right, they needed to go. They quickly finished up the dishes and drove to Brittney's apartment.

"Hey Britt," the older man who lived below her said when he saw her. "Some funny looking white lady was here asking about you."

"Excuse me," Jian said politely, "did you know this woman?"

The man gave Jian a suspicious glance even though he knew who he was. 

"Mr. Joe, it's alright- you can tell him," Brittney said.

"Like I said, she was white, but a funny color white- pasty. She didn't look none to healthy."

"Brittney, let's go inside and talk," Jian said looking around. "Mr. Joe, may we come to your apartment?"

"Come on," the man grumbled as he pulled his head back into his window.

"Tell me about this woman," Jian said after they were sitting. He would have pulled Brittney into his lap but he thought that it was much too soon for such public displays of affection.

"She was tall and skinny," Joe said, "and dressed like one of those fashion models from France. I don't know how she walks in those heels..."

"Umm Mr. Joe..." Brittney said softly as she reached for Jian's hand.

"Oh-yeah as I was saying, she was dressed up like a model. She was wearing sunglasses even though it was dark."

"Did she talk to you?" Jian asked.

"Yeah and to a couple of others too. She said that she was a friend of you and your sister and that she was trying to find you so she could get details about the service. I don't know how I know, but that skinny assed wench was lying. Then she tried to get me to let her into your place. You didn't tell me to let anyone in, so I didn't. She was pretty mad about it too. So when do you think you'll be back?"

"I-I..." Brittney stammered. She hadn't thought about what she was going to say to people about her and Jian.

"Brittney will be moving to my home," Jian replied giving her hand a gentle squeeze. "Our relationship has moved beyond friendship."

Mr. Joe looked at Brittney and then back at Jian. "In my day..." he started.

"Mr. Joe I have some things that I can't use in my cabinets and fridge. Take what you want," Brittney said interrupting him.

"Why thank you! I appreciate that!" Joe replied happily forgetting his speech on the decline of morals in young people.

"Good, let us get going and then you can go take whatever you want," Brittney said as she stood up.

"Who was looking for me?" She asked when they were in her apartment.

"An investigator," Jian replied. "She is also looking for Paul and what you call the monster."

"Who is she working for?" Brittney asked as she threw clothes into a large suitcase.

"There are four major clans in the city," Jian said. "It's one of the four. There are other groups in the city, but they are insignificant and the death of a connected human wouldn't faze them. The biggest clan belongs to Xavier Dubois. He is ruthless and at times impulsive. Troy Cross is next. He is just as ruthless but he is methodical. The last two groups are always under constant threat of takeover by the bigger two, but they have always managed to hold their own sometimes even banding together to fight off a common foe."

"So you think that it's one of the two biggest groups that hired her?"

"Yes and my guess would be Dubois," Jian replied. "According to what my father found out, he has made frequent but unsuccessful attempts on the Cross's clan. If he can obtain it, the others will fall into place with little resistance."

"But what could he want with us?" Brittney asked.

"The mate of a slayer is worth his or her weight in gold," Jian replied. "Paul is valuable because he saw the lower rogue that killed Amanda. That means one of two things, the lower rogue is Dubois's in which case he will have it killed or he is trying to find out to whom it belongs. An uncontrolled lower rogue is a threat to all of them. Come beloved, the hour grows late. We can talk more at home."

On their way out, Brittney saw the juicer sitting on the counter. Mr. Joe must have brought it in she thought. She stifled a sob still believing that if she had only called..."

"It would not have mattered," Jian said softly.

"I know but..."

She left the juicer on the counter. She didn't care what happened to it.

Jian made her wait in the house while he unpacked the car. It took him less than ten minutes to have the car unloaded and the house locked up. He helped Brittney unpack her books and put her clothes away. By the time they were done, Brittney was exhausted both mentally and physically.

Jian undressed in front of her wanting her to see what belonged to her. Brittney stared at him surprised, but pleased. His small body was compact but powerfully built. With his clothes on it was hard to see just how muscular he was. His cock proudly jutted out in anticipation of being held within the body of his mate.

Very slowly, Brittney began to undress. No man had seen her naked in four years and she was nervous. She trembled as if cold when she was finally nude in front of Jian.

"You are very beautiful," Jian said from where he stood.

"So are you," Brittney replied softly.

"Come here," Jian commanded. His voice was gentle, but the command was clear. Brittney walked over to him and stood before him. The nipples of her small breast were erect and she was breathing too fast. "Match your breath to mine," Jian said taking her hand and placing it on his chest. "Breathe with me."

A few breaths later, she was calm as Jian took her by the hand and led her to the cot.

"We will lie together," he said as he sat down and pulled her down with him. "When it is time; we will know." He lay down and took Brittney into his arms. Once again she thought of the woods when she took in his scent. She lost track of time as they lay on the cot not speaking. She gasped when Jian cupped a breast into his hand and kissed her.

His cock seemed to have gotten hotter and was pulsing against her stomach. Jian pushed her onto her back, lay on top of her but didn't move. He wanted her to get used to the feel of his weight on top of her in case he had to protect her with his body. Slowly he slid down her body kissing and tasting her skin. Brittney let out a soft moan and ran her hands through his shoulder length hair as he took a turgid peak into his mouth and sucked with obvious delight.

She arched her back and cried out when he sucked even harder and then flicked the tip of his tongue across the now swollen and sensitive nipple. Brittney tried to remember if it had felt this way with the last man she had been with and decided that it hadn't. She would have remembered. Jian switched breasts paying the same amount of attention to that breast as he did the other. 

Finally he left her breasts and made his way to her stomach where he stopped, kissed it and said something in Chinese. He laid his head on her stomach and stayed there for several minutes. Brittney was beginning to think that he had fallen asleep. He kissed her flat belly again and moved further down until his face was less than an inch away from her mound. He took a deep breath taking in her scent and then slowly blew it out. He would now be able to find her anywhere just as she would be able to find him unless he blocked it.

Brittney instinctively opened her legs wider in invitation. All of her nervousness was gone as she gave herself over to Jian to do with her as he pleased. Sensing her acceptance of him, Jian spread her vaginal lips and looked at her. Ever so slowly and gently, he touched her with the tip of his tongue.

"Jian," Brittney whispered wondering why she had refused to see what was in front of her. She felt a slight burning under her right breast but ignored it as Jian took her nub between his lips and sucked on it. She clamped her hands over her mouth to stifle the scream that had almost escaped.

"Remove your hands," Jian commanded after he released her from his mouth. "One of my greatest pleasures will be to hear you scream as you climax. Do not ever try to contain that scream."

"Men," Brittney thought as she removed her hands from her mouth. When he took her back into his mouth, she fought the urge to cover her mouth. She let out a low pitch scream that she hoped no one could hear.

"Do not hold back," Jian said as he pulled away from her again. Before she could say anything, her clit was back in his mouth and she was screaming the top of her lungs. The burning sensation under her right breast increased to the point where it was painful. Jian toyed with her button until she screamed a second time forgetting about the pain under her breast.

As the orgasm waned, so did the burning under her breast. Jian was experiencing the same discomfort but without the intensity. But that was about to change. He slid up and placed his narrow hips between her legs. The head of his cock rested at her entrance. He pushed the head in and then waited to give her a chance to adjust. With each push the pain under the right side of his chest increased but he ignored it choosing to focus on the pleasure instead. Instead of holding his moans of passion in, he let them out getting louder as the pain under his chest increased.

Brittney lay still following her instincts not to move. Finally, Jian was buried deep inside of her and began thrusting going faster as the burning under his chest reached an excruciating peak. Suddenly, Brittney was moving with him. Holding him tight against her as he screamed his release into the air. By the time he was silent, the pain was gone. 

Jian lay on top of Brittney for a long time before rolling to his side still holding her in his arms.

"Was that it?" Brittney asked.

"Yes beloved, that was it now rest."

She wiggled around until she was comfortable and closed her eyes. Jian stayed awake trying to put the puzzle together. His gut was telling him that there was one more player. The question was who.

****

Carmen Eloise Dubois paced the room like a caged animal. Xavier had been gone for just over a half hour and hadn't said when he would be back. She felt ill and it had nothing to do with the monsters that were guarding her. It had everything to do with the monster blood that was now flowing through her veins. She glanced around to see where the guards were in relationship to the window. She began to edge her way toward it but was stopped.

"Don't even try it," the guard said blocking her way. He had been one of the ones to scrap with her when she tried to escape the first time. He had no desire to tangle with her again. Xavier would kill anyone who left even the faintest mark on her so physical restraint was not an option.

"Move!" Carmen demanded as she reached toward the guard and pushed against his chest. She had pushed as hard as she could and he hadn't moved. "I'll tell you what," she said looking up at him. She was five- seven and he still towered over her. "Let me go and if I see you again, I'll let you live."

The guards looked at each other and burst out laughing. They weren't afraid of her- it was Xavier they were afraid of. Word of what he had done at the warehouse had spread like wildfire. As quick as a whip, Carmen pulled out a fork that she had hidden from dinner and stabbed the guard. Reacting from instinct, he backhanded her making her fly across the room.

The room was silent as all of the guards looked at the heap that lay unmoving on the floor.

"Oh fuck me," someone murmured verbalizing the sentiment of all of them.

"Fuck is right," someone else whispered.



The Slayers Ch. 07



"What are we going to do?" Lenny, the guard that hit Carmen asked, "And how did she manage to hide that fucking fork?"

"We?" another guard asked, "WE didn't hit her and how she hid the fork isn't going to matter once Xavier finds out what happened."

"Don't you think we ought to see if she's alive?" Someone else asked.

"What the fuck? Of course she's alive! He turned her didn't he?" Another anxious guard asked.

"Yeah but I don't think it's complete- she could still be dead..."

An anxious silence filled the room as the possibility that Carmen could be dead sunk in.

"I don't think so," Lenny said after a few seconds, "she's turned after the first exchange; the last two are like the sealants."

"Whatever," someone else said. "The bottom line is this; all of our asses are in the sling. I suggest that we find out if she's hurt or dead and hope that there isn't a mark on her. God help us if there is."

The room again went silent as they remembered what happened to the male who had stolen from Xavier.

"Lenny," the guard by the door called, "since you're the one that hit her, you should be the one to check her out. And for god's sake don't hit her again!"

Lenny looked around the room hoping that someone would offer to check on Carmen. When no one stepped forward, he issued a warning.

"Be ready- she could be faking."

Carmen lay on the floor listening to the conversation going on around her. Her head hurt from where it hit the floor where she had landed. She could already feel a lump growing on the right side of her head but otherwise she was uninjured. She lay perfectly still until the guard was almost on top of her and then she jumped up and made a run for what she thought was the nearest exit. 

"Where are you going mistress?" A male servant asked when she ran into him. "What happened to your face?" he asked looking down at her. Which of them damaged you?"

Carmen turned around and looked at the guards. Telling on them would do nothing except get them punished if not killed. She needed to start cultivating allies.

"No one," She replied looking at Lenny. "It was an accident, I tripped over the rug."

"Mistress, if any..."

"Are you deaf?" Carmen asked tersely. "I said that it was an accident."

"Yes Mistress," the servant replied. As far as he was concerned the subject was closed. One did not argue with the mate of one's master any more than they argued with the master. May I get anything for you?"

"When is it coming back?" She asked.

"It mistress?" The servant asked confused.

"Yes it," Carmen replied. "The one you call master. When is it coming back?"

The guards looked at each other in shock. No one ever disrespected the master and here his mate was referring to him in a derogatory manner.

"He didn't say," the servant replied. "Was there anything else?"

"No," Carmen said not looking at him. "Leave and close the door behind you-wait is this house bugged?"

"Bugged mistress? I don't understand."

"Bugs- listening devices so that he can hear what's being said from anywhere in the house; are there any?"

"Only the intercom system," the servant replied.

"Good now get out," Carmen said. When the servant was gone, she turned to face the guards. "I just saved your asses."

"What do you want?" the guard by the door asked.

"Right now nothing, but don't you ever forget what I did."

All of the guards with the exception of one nodded. He didn't like the master's bitch and he'd rather take his chances with him than with her. He watched as she walked around the room and sat in a recliner to wait for Xavier to return. His face scrunched in distaste as he looked at her. She was ugly no matter what anyone said. He curbed his thoughts. No one ever knew when Xavier was around and what the full extent of his power was. That was another reason to not to owe the bitch any favors. He sat back, watched and listened.

****

Xavier was at 'Phillip's early. He looked around before going inside of the two-story home ironically located just a few blocks from where Amanda Marsh had lived and died. He felt a vague disturbance that came from Carmen, but discounted it to her being her spitfire self-raising hell with the guards. He was greeted at the door by Philip himself and led to a room located in the basement of the club. No guards or weapons were allowed as this was a place of neutral ground and not even he would violate the sanctity of it. 

He sat in the room and allowed his mind to wander. Who would have thought that he-Xavier Dubois would have a mate? That she didn't want him didn't matter anymore than the fact that she didn't and wouldn't love him did. What did matter was that he could now have an heir provided that it was a male. If it was a female, she would be loved and cared for, but he would keep Carmen pregnant until he got his son. His cock stirred at seeing Carmen in a few hours. He had to wonder what kind of hell she had raised. 

He looked toward the door when he heard Troy and Danielle's voices. They walked in carrying a bottle of wine with a bow tied around it.

"For you," Danielle said sweetly as she sat the bottle on the table.

"Thank you, but I'm sure that you'll understand if I decline," Xavier replied with a smile that didn't reach his gray eyes.

"Why not?" Troy asked. "Don't you care to taste test your own product?"

"I enjoy my own product," Xavier replied. "I just don't care for that extra special ingredient that was added. Please sit and let's get started. I have things to attend to." 

Xavier told them what he knew and why he thought that they needed to work together.

"Is there anything else that we should know?" Troy asked.

"No, you now know what I know," Xavier replied. 

"I don't understand something," Troy said. "The Slayers don't appear unless something happens so why are they here?"

"I don't know the answer to that," Xavier replied. "Maybe one of the smaller clans did something to attract their attention."

"Maybe," Troy mused, "but I doubt it. In many ways the smaller clans are smarter than we are. They stay under the radar and are small enough that they can quickly move when and if the need arises. If you ask me, when it comes down to it, they'll be the ones to survive."

"Obviously you know something," Xavier said not liking the direction that the conversation was taking.

"As a matter of fact, I do," Troy said with a smile. "I found out a bit of information that I'm sure you weren't aware of."

"Do tell," Xavier said snidely, "I wait with bated breath."

"It seems that several days ago a human woman was killed in her home."

"What does that have to do with anything?" Xavier asked. "The humans rob, kill and rape each other on a daily basis."

"Yes-that is true except that this female was a connected female in her home. One of the lower rogues entered the home, killed her and then left a witness."

"Again..."

"The slain woman's sister is a slayer. That is what brought them here. Do you know anything about this?"

"No- of course not," Xavier replied smoothly, but he was seething on the inside. "I would have told you."

"See darling?" Troy said to Danielle who had remained silent. "I told you that he wouldn't break the terms of our truce. Now, we need to find that lower rogue before he kills again. I assume that you will help with this?"

"Of course," Xavier replied. "But I do believe that we should include the other clans. At the very least they will be acceptable pawns and losses."

"Interesting," Troy mused, "But you do know the history of the smaller clans. They may hate each other but they don't hesitate to join together to protect themselves- again, they are much smarter than we are."

"What's your point?" Xavier asked sharply.

"My point is," Troy said slowly, "is that maybe we should think about doing the same thing. You and I both know that there are clans much bigger than either of ours. If one of them decides to attempt a hostile takeover would either of us survive on our own? I am proposing that we agree to an alliance of sorts."

"Continue," Xavier said wondering what Troy knew that he didn't.

"As you know, the Russians are growing in strength by the day. So far they have New Jersey, Delaware and New York. How long will it be before they look to Pennsylvania and our other states? Then we have the Greeks. They're establishing a strong foothold in the Southwest and they're already looking to the Midwest. Do you see what I'm saying?"

Xavier had been watching the clans that Troy had mentioned for quite some time. His reasoning was that as long as they stayed where they were he didn't care but Troy was right-at some point they would begin to look in their direction.

"I see," Xavier said, "and what are you suggesting?"

"I am suggesting that we form an alliance as the lower clans have. Ours however will be much more structured as we have more to lose. If we do this there has to be total honesty. We cannot afford to keep information from each other."

"Agreed..."

"Really?" Troy interrupted. "Then perhaps you can tell me why you haven't been forthcoming with the information regarding the lower rogue. Don't bother to lie, my sources are as reliable as yours are. What else haven't you shared with your allies?"

Xavier was caught and he knew it. If they knew about the lower rogue what else did they know about? The only way out of telling anything else was to deny the request for an alliance but if he did that the current truce would be null and void since he violated it with lies of omission. But there was something else. Troy was right. At some point they were going to have to become allies and it was better to do it now instead of when there was no choice.

"I apologize for not mentioning the lower rogue," Xavier said. "It was an oversight on my part. You must forgive my neglect as I have found my mate and have been very distracted. I am sure that you understand."

"Well then, congratulations are in order!" Troy exclaimed. "But back to business. Do you agree that we need to form a lasting alliance?"

"Yes," Xavier replied after a few minutes of thinking about it. "I also agree that the alliance needs to include a full disclosure clause."

"Good," Troy replied. "I agree and I also will give my word not to attack or to do anything to undermine your operation as long as the alliance is in effect. I expect you to do me the same courtesy."

"Agreed," Xavier replied hating to do so but it had to be done.

They spent the next hour hammering out the details of their alliance. When they had it to their mutual liking, Xavier called for a scribe who wrote the details down and then had both males sign it in their blood.

"Just a moment," Xavier said when the scribe stood to leave. "Troy, I think that your lovely mate Danielle should sign as well. I am well aware of how much influence she carries with your decisions."

Troy looked at Danielle who was looking down to hide her expression of frustration. Her not signing the agreement had been their loophole. She would have been able to do things and then say that she acted independently and that she hadn't signed an agreement. They would have had to make a show of her being punished, but it would be just that; a show.

"I agree as long as your mate signs it as well," Troy said thinking and hoping that Xavier would decline.

"Of course," Xavier replied. "It's only fair. If you will wait here, I'll have her sign it then your mate may sign."

"I want it witnessed," Troy said, "and it must be signed in her blood. Oscar- are you able to accompany Sire Dubois to his home? My mate and I will enjoy some of your fine wine while we wait."

"But of course," Oscar replied with a small smile. "It will be my pleasure."

"Shit!" Danielle swore when she and Troy were alone. "There went our loophole, but there's more he hasn't told us. When he gets back here he has to tell us what it is."

"I agree," Troy replied stroking her hand, "but I'm curious about this mate of his. Who is she and where did she come from?"

"Does it matter?" Danielle asked a little jealousy showing. She hated for Troy to express interest in a female whether she was mated, old or human.

"Yes my love, it could matter," he soothed. "We don't know what her gifts are or even if she has any other than those she inherits from Xavier. If she was human then her gifts are just beginning to manifest and I want to know what those gifts are."

"True," Danielle admitted her jealousy abating. "I hope that she gives him hell."

*****

"Sire has returned," a servant said. "He is on his way to speak with you."

"So?" Carmen asked. "Am I supposed to say welcome home honey?"

"That would be nice," Xavier said as he walked in followed by Oscar. "I have a paper for you to sign and refusal is not an option. As my mate you are obligated to do as I say and I can and will force the issue if you refuse."

"What am I signing?" Carmen asked not really caring.

"It's an alliance agreement between us and another clan," Xavier replied. He was under no obligation to tell her but he knew his new mate well enough to know what would happen if he didn't. He planned to have a long discussion with her about how things worked in his world. But that was for later.

"Why should I sign it?" Carmen demanded. "I don't care if you bastards kill each other off, in fact; I wish you would."

Before she knew what was happening, Xavier was standing in front of her, grabbed her arms and had her out of her chair his face less than an inch from hers.

"When I enter a room you will stand and address me as either sire or by name. You will do as you are told without question and when you are told to do it. Now- you will sign this paper and you will do it now."

She started to argue with him and decided to comply. Her mother used to say, "You get more flies with honey than you do with vinegar." It was time to start taking that advice.

"Where do you want me to sign?" She asked with feigned sweetness. 

"That's much better," Xavier said with a smile that told her that he wasn't fooled. "You will need to sign your name in blood and remember to sign with your new last name."

Carmen didn't flinch when Xavier took her hand, brought it to his lips and nipped it with a sharp fang. Oscar was standing beside him with a quill type pen in hand and handed it to Xavier. Xavier dipped the pen into the flowing blood and handed it to Carmen.

"Sign it."

"Son of a bitch," Carmen grumbled as she signed her name on the paper. She was tempted to misspell the last name but didn't. All it would do was piss him off and he'd be back with another one for her to sign.

"Beautiful penmanship," Xavier commented when he checked the signature. "I shall return shortly, be ready for me."

Carmen bit back a response and turned away. 

"What?" Xavier asked teasing her, "no farewell kiss for your mate?"

"Go to hell," Carmen replied and walked away.

Moments later, Xavier was back at the club.

"It's signed," he said to Troy. "Now your mate signs it."

Danielle signed the paper clearly unhappy about it, but they had no choice. Now they needed to find out what else Xavier knew.

"You know nothing about this detective?" Troy asked after Xavier told them what else he knew.

"You know what I know," Xavier replied. "I am still searching for information. All I can tell you is this; the death of the human woman started something. At first I believed that it was accidental. I am coming to believe that less and less as time goes by. I don't believe that she was a planned target. No one in their right mind would target the family member of a slayer. I have an investigator working on several things- looking for the lower rogue and who he belongs to as well as finding information on the female slayer and the detective."

"Please," Troy said, "allow us to help with the investigations. We will have the detective researched and see what we can find out about the originals. I would suggest that we have our investigators make contact with each other so that there is no duplication of tasks and to share information."

"Agreed- who are you using?" Xavier asked.

"His name is Anthony," Troy replied. "You?"

"Cherie- I'll call her now."

Danielle watched the men work and didn't like the degree of independence that Troy was showing. It confirmed that he really didn't need her guidance. She wondered how long it would be before he finally realized it. He considered her his mistress but that could change at the drop of a hat. When they got home she needed to tamp down that independence.

While Oscar went to make copies of the truce for each of them and for his records, Troy decided to be blunt.

"We know that you knew about the lower rogue. You knew about it before you found your mate and even if that had been the truth, you forget nothing. You were also withholding information about the detective. Withholding such information is in violation of the truce. We have overlooked it this once because like it or not, we need each other. Now that the alliance is witnessed and signed, you are expected to be forthcoming with any and all information that concerns both of us. I propose that we meet once a week and compare notes. Do you have an issue with this?"

"Not at all," Xavier replied.

"Good, is there anything else that you care to tell us?"

"We are still investigating the female slayer but we still know very little about her. We are sure that she is a new mate and thus not trained yet," Xavier said.

"So you think to take her," Troy said. "What purpose would that serve other than to anger them even further? She will know nothing other than who her mate is."

"But if we take her, he will come for her..."

"And bring every slayer in the area with him," Troy interrupted. "They are as protective of their new mates as they are of their children and let's not forget the originals. I think we need to leave her be until we have more information. Do you know where she is?"

"At the moment no," Xavier replied. "Cherie went to her apartment and tried to talk to the neighbors. No one is talking and she offered money."

"Interesting," Troy commented ignoring Danielle's hard glare. He found that he liked being in charge and was coming to realize that Danielle didn't want him to like it. The realization somehow freed him, but he would always consider her his mistress- except in business matters. "I still say that we leave her be for now. If she is new then she is nowhere close to being trained. What say you?"

Xavier tapped his long fingers on the table. What Troy said had merit. The slayer bitch was the least of their concerns.

"I agree, but I still want to find her. She could come in handy."

"Agreed," Troy said. "Shall we talk in few days?"

They parted ways and went to their respective homes. As soon as they reached home, Danielle began to let Troy know that she was displeased with him.

"You made decisions that I should have been a part of!"

Troy silently listened to her list of things that he had supposedly done wrong. If she was to be believed, he had done very little right. It finally dawned on him that he didn't need her guidance nearly as much as she had led him to believe. In fact, he didn't need her at all. She had been holding him back because she liked the control. "Of course she does," he thought. She made him call her mistress rewarding him as if he was a little dog whenever she saw fit. Troy realized that he didn't want or need a mistress in or out of the bedroom. He was the male and it was about time that he started acting like it. There was another thing, it would only be a matter of time before she got angry and forgot her role. Xavier had already implied that he knew who wore the pants. That was why he asked that Danielle sign the truce. It was long past the time that he exerted his authority.




The Slayers Ch. 07



"Danielle," he said softly. 

She continued to berate him, telling him that he would be punished by sleeping alone and that there would be no sex and so on and so forth.

"Danielle, sit down," Troy said in a tone that caught her attention. 

"Troy..."

"I said sit down," he repeated staring at her.

Danielle's heart pounded. The thing that she had feared most was happening. Sometime during that meeting whatever doubts Troy had been having about their relationship came to the fore. She had watched powerless as Troy seemed to blossom in front of her. Even Xavier saw it because he has stopped stealing glances at her to see if she agreed with what was being said. She sat down and waited.

"You are my mate," Troy said, his tone still firm. "And as such I love and respect you, but there is going to be a change in our relationship. I have let you run things including me and it stops now. You are no longer in control of the businesses, me or our sex life. I am. I will include you in the decision making process, but I will have the final say. You will make no decisions without my approval unless it is an emergency situation. I know that this is a change for you but to be honest, I was beginning to have my doubts about this arrangement a long time ago. It was working with Xavier as an equal that made me truly see that I am more than capable of running things. Now, I will do this for you. I will give you a small subsidiary company to run as you see fit. That should help you as you adjust to the changes in our lives and will ease your need to control."

Danielle was speechless. She wanted to tell him that she had made him as successful as he was, but it wouldn't have been true. He wouldn't have believed her anyway.

"Troy- I know that it felt good to be in control and although I said that you did everything wrong; you were spectacular! That was me wanting to retain control and I apologize. Could we possibly be equals..."

"My decision is made," Troy said as he took his already erect cock out of his pants. Unless it was his imagination, it was harder than it had ever been before. "Come here," he said firmly. He felt exhilarated as Danielle approached him, knelt before him and waited for the next command. She was furious that she hadn't nipped this in the bud when she first saw the signs that Troy was changing. "You know what to do," he said softly. As she took the head of Troy's cock into her mouth, Danielle was already planning on how to regain her control.

**

Brittney woke up to see Jian watching her. 

"What time is it?" she asked surprised that she was clear headed and not groggy as she usually was when she first woke up.

"Six am- are you alright?" he asked assessing her for pain or discomfort.

"I'm fine- hungry but fine," Brittney replied. "Do we have to get up now?"

"Are you still tired?" Jian asked frowning. The change should have taken effect while she slept.

"No, not at all- but I'm a cuddler."

"A-a what?" Jian asked perplexed by the term.

"A cuddler, I like to snuggle before I get up. Granted it's been four years since I've been with anyone until you, but..."

"I understand," Jian replied as he pulled her closer. "Thank you for not being afraid to tell me what you want and need," he added kissing the top of her head.

Brittney didn't reply but snuggled even closer. She was dreading the day. It was going to be a long and difficult one because of Amanda's service. A tear escaped followed by a soft sob. She missed her sister and would have given almost anything to tell her that she had been right about Jian. If she could do it again, she would have opened her eyes sooner and taken Jian to meet them. She would have made that call at three am.

Jian knew what she was thinking but said nothing. There was nothing that he could say to convince her that making that phone call wouldn't have changed anything. He hoped that someday she would see and understand that. 

"Beloved..."

"I know," Brittney said, "it's time to get moving."

"That isn't what I was going to say. I was going to remind you of something," he said. "I want to remind you that you do not have to bear your grief alone. I am here as your friend, your mate and whatever else you need me to be. Tell me about your sister."

Brittney hesitated and then the floodgates opened. She told Jian about their childhood and finally about the last time that she saw Amanda alive.

"She teased me about you," she said. "She asked me why they never met you and she had a point."

"You weren't ready," Jian replied. "But I would have liked her. She was a good person- an honorable person."

"She was all of those things and more," Brittney replied. "She wanted to be a wife and mother so badly and it was going to happen. Paul was going to propose. He had the ring and everything- Why her? Of all the places that thing could have gone to, why did it pick her? I mean they aren't supposed to into the homes of connected humans so what happened?"

That was a question that Jian had been thinking about for quite some time. He knew that it had to have been a lower rogue, but where was its master? The higher rogue kept a tight rein on the lower rogue to prevent things like Amanda's death. The more he thought about it, the more he was beginning to see that the death of a connected human was planned. Not specifically Amanda, but a connected human. Paul's leaving the patio door open gave easy access.

"There is more going on than meets the eye," Jian replied. "Amanda wasn't a specific target- she was a target of opportunity. I believe that whoever owns the lower rogue is a piece of the puzzle."

"What are you saying?" Brittney asked sitting up.

"I don't know," Jian replied. "I can only say that a human death was necessary. After the service we need to start looking at the clans that are in the city. The lower rogue may belong to one of them. The lower rogue are little more than pawn to their owners. My guess is that once he has completed his task; he will be killed."

"Jian, what is going on?" Brittney asked perplexed.

"A takeover is being planned," Jian said as the puzzle began to come together. "Whoever owns the lower rogue is the one behind the coup. Beloved, I hate to end our cuddle time but I must make some phone calls."

"I'll make breakfast," Brittney said as she stood up. "Can I ask a question?"

"Yes beloved," Jian replied as he hugged her.

"Is there any chance of getting a bed or a thicker mat?"

"What is your preference?" Jian asked.

"Let's try a thicker mat first," Brittney replied. "If that doesn't work then we can get a bed."

"That is fine; we will get a thicker mat in the next day or so. Is there anything else?"

Brittney couldn't think of anything and took a quick shower while Jian started making his phone calls. She washed her hair and then remembered that she hadn't called her friend yet. It would have to wait she decided. There were too many other things happening. She finished her shower, dressed and went to the kitchen where Jian had already started breakfast.

"It is almost ready," Jian said when he heard her enter the kitchen. "Please sit and I will bring it to you."

"Fine but I get to do cleanup," Brittney said.

Over breakfast Jian told her about the phone calls. 

"I called my father first to find out if he knew anything. He didn't but he is sending three more teams of slayers. He agrees with me that there is something major happening. He is checking to see where the clans in other states are. I spoke with Bruce, Robert's associate and the preparations for the ceremony are completed. We will leave here at ten am and drive to the ceremony. Although the location is secret, we must still be on our guard and be armed."

"They wouldn't..." Brittney said and then stopped. Of course they would interrupt the ceremony. How many times had she seen or read in the news about drive by shootings at family gatherings or funerals.

"I know that I don't need to say this, but I will anyway," Jian continued. "You must follow directions. It isn't that I don't trust you but you have not been tested in a real fight."

He paused to give her a chance to argue with him and was surprised when she didn't. 

"I understand," she said finally. 

After breakfast Winona came over, took one look at her and hugged her.

"Welcome to the family! And remember call me if you need to talk or anything."

"Thanks," Brittney said tearing up once again missing Amanda.

They worked out until it was time to get ready to go to the service. After she was dressed, Jian out fitted her with two small knives that couldn't be seen. Winona came over and they left in Jian's car and drove to a residential area of the city.

"Is this where the services are going to be?" Brittney asked.

"No," Jian replied. "We are exchanging vehicles. There is a chance that one of your neighbors talked and my car is recognizable. In fact, we won't be going back to the house for a few days."

"What?" Brittney exclaimed. "You couldn't have told me that? I have no clothes or anything else for that matter."

"If anyone is watching, I want them to think that we are coming back," Jian explained. "Don't worry about clothing or your other toiletries; we can go shopping on our way to our new location."

"Wait- what about our weapons?" Brittney asked.

"It is taken care of," Jian replied. "Someone came for them while you were in the shower"

"What about Winona?"

"I'll stay at my house and keep an eye on things as the old lady," Winona replied. "You can always reach me by phone."

Jian pulled into the driveway of a large estate and made Brittney wait in the car. He went to the front door of the house, spoke to someone and came back out.

"The cars are in the back," he said when he opened Brittney's car door.

Five minutes later, they were on their way in a small Honda suv and headed out of the city. Brittney held on to Jian's hand as he drove. 

"Where will we be living?" she asked.

"Not far from work," Jian replied. "If this isn't over by then we need to be close to work and if you like it, we can stay there."

Thirty minutes later, Jian turned right onto a side road that led into the woods. They followed the road for five miles before coming to a stop. Ahead of them was a pavilion surrounded by flowers. There was an altar sitting on a table in the front of the pavilion. On a table sat a gold urn that contained Amanda's ashes. Brittney stopped, looked at the urn and then turned into Jian's arms. It was hard to believe that all that was left of her sister was in the small gold container.

"That is not the true her," Jian whispered in her ear as she cried. "The real Amanda is in the stories that you told me and in your heart."

Brittney nodded and pulled away when she heard her name being called. She turned to see Paul anxiously looking at her. Tears were running down his face as he waited for her to respond to him. She walked toward him and then took off running not stopping until she was hugging him.

"It wasn't your fault," she told him. "It wasn't your fault!"

Paul hugged her tight and sobbed deep; gut wrenching sobs that made his whole body shake. Brittney held on until the big man settled. She stood beside him in front of the table with the urn and took his hand. Jian stood to her right with his arm around her waist. Bruce stood to Paul's left and placed a hand on his shoulder. A man of indeterminate age came from behind the altar and began the ceremony. Fifteen minutes later it was over. Brittney and Paul each got to say tearful goodbyes. Each of them asked for forgiveness for not saving her. When it was over, they hugged each other and cried together. Brittney pulled away from Paul and entered Jian's embrace. Bruce stood next to Paul with a hand still on his shoulder.

After several minutes, Brittney looked around to see where Winona was and saw her in the arms of a huge man blond haired man. She was sobbing but trying to do it quietly so the ceremony wouldn't be disturbed. Justin had wanted to wait until the ceremony was over, but once he saw her, he couldn't wait. 

"Brittney! Come here!" Winona called when she saw Brittney watching them. "I want you to meet Justin my mate."

Introductions were made and Jian and Justin talked.

"Thank you for helping with Paul," Jian said. "As far as you know, other than being able to see the monsters, does he have any other gifts?"

"Besides being as strong as an ox? No," Justin replied. "But he's a good man and learns fast. Willie and Myrna will be with him at Robert and Bruce's and will continue to train him."

"Good," Jian replied. "Why don't you take our car and we'll take yours? We can take care of things from here. You and your mate have lost time to make up for."

"Thanks," Justin replied, "Call us if you need anything."

Jian and Brittney took Paul to Robert and Bruce's house and dropped him off. 

"We will talk later," Jian told him, "but in the meantime continue to train."

Brittney gave Paul a hug and a kiss on the cheek and promised to call later. After they left, they went shopping for clothes and toiletries for her. He didn't comment when she bought all store brand items even though he told her that she could buy whatever she wanted. 

"We don't make that much money," she quipped.

She whistled when Jian pulled out a black card when they were checking out. 

"You don't have to work do you?" she asked when they were in the car.

"No, but I enjoy it," Jian replied. "One needs more in life than hunting monsters. Finding one's mate helps but I like being around others. I like to watch their mannerisms when they think no one is watching."

They had barely gotten to the new house when Jian's cell phone rang. It was Justin. Someone had broken into and ransacked their house. Brittney's clothes were torn in shreds and everything that had been in dressers, closets and the kitchen was on the floor. It was the work of lower rogue- but whose?

"One of your neighbors talked," Jian told her after he hung up. "Our home is destroyed."

Brittney was surprised but not really. Many of the people in their neighborhood suffered financially and if enough money was offered, someone would talk. She wasn't angry or upset about it; it was just the way it was. If she had been in that position, she would have talked too.

They settled in for the night with Brittney washing all of her new clothes while Jian made a few phone calls. Brittney yelped for joy when she saw a thicker mat on the bedroom floor. In the corner stood a bed that only needed to be assembled if the mat wasn't comfortable. When Jian walked in, she dropped what she was holding, ran to him and jumped into his arms trusting that he would catch her. Jian was more than pleased with the display of trust.

"Thank you!" she said kissing him.

"You are welcome- are you up to a run tonight?"

"Let's go... should someone go with us?" She asked.

"It's already arranged," Jian replied setting her on her feet.

Then let's go!" Brittney exclaimed.

****

Jack reread his notes for what had to be the hundredth time. He was sure that he had written down the address for Amanda's ceremony correctly. He was meticulous about things like that. He hated wasting time by having to repeat a task. When he got to the supposed address, there was nothing there except an abandoned gas station. He tried various combinations of the number three-five-two and kept coming up empty. He called the number that was listed on the paper and kept getting a recording.

"Fuck it," he grumbled as he threw the notepad on his desk.

"Something wrong?" The captain asked as he left his office.

"No- it's good," Jack replied picking up the notebook.

"The guys are going to the bar..."

"No thanks, I've still got some work to do," Jack replied. "And I no longer drink- it dulls the senses."

"You don't have to drink," the captain persisted.

"I stay away from the bars," Jack replied, "but thanks for the offer."

Jack hadn't lied. He did stay away from bars. Sobriety hadn't been easy for him to attain and he knew from very painful experience how easy it was to lose it. He still checked his mouthwash for alcohol content even though it claimed to be alcohol free. He didn't even drink the synthetic beer because he was afraid that the taste would make him want the real thing. Over the years he had relaxed a bit, but not much. After he became sober, he took up a mission- he wanted every single rogue vampire dead.

He looked at the calendar and his heart ached. It was the tenth anniversary of his wife Emily's death. No he amended; it was the tenth anniversary of her murder. They had just gotten home from a night of dinner and dancing. He hated to dance but Emily loved it so he did it for her. His brown eyes filled with tears as they always did when he thought about that night.

Up until that night he had never believed in the supernatural. He didn't believe in creation and believed that everything had a scientific basis. Now he believed that had he believed in the supernatural, he might have been able to save Emily's life. 

They had pulled into the driveway and he wanted her to wait in the car, but she was out before he could stop her. The man seemed to have come from nowhere. Before he knew it, the man had Emily and was gone but not before he saw his face. It was something out of a nightmare. He began to scream for help and one by one porch lights began to come on. He called 911 and waited for help.

Emily showed up three nights later wearing the same dress that she had worn the night that she was taken. It was ripped and dirty and hung from her in shreds. He was so relieved to see her that he didn't notice the almost blank stare or how she didn't return his embrace. It wasn't until he had her in the house and was calling for an ambulance that he noticed the color of her skin. It was pasty white and her eyes were a strange shade of blue.

"Emmy? Honey?" he said gently. "I'm going to call for an ambulance. I don't know what he did to you, but we'll get through it together." She didn't answer him, but gave him a blank stare that made his stomach drop. His sweet Emmy had been raped. He could tell by her mannerisms. "Oh my sweet baby," he murmured as tears ran down his face. He then prayed that there would be no pregnancy forgetting the fact that he really didn't believe in god. He turned his back on her to use the phone and froze. The hairs on the back of his neck and arms stood up. Without thinking, he reached into the drawer, pulled out the spare gun and cocked it. When he turned around what was looking at him in no way resembled his wife. 

It's face was pulled back into a grimace and her teeth bared. Jack blinked when he saw her fangs descend. His mind rebelled against what he was seeing. It couldn't be! But there it was... his Emmy was a monster. He still tried to reason with her by reminding her of who she was and what she was to him and for just the briefest of seconds; he thought that he had gotten through to her. Her eyes cleared a little as if she recognized him. She took one step and then another until she was less than two feet away.

"Emmy honey, it's me Jack- don't you remember me?"

The response was a low snarl that in no way sounded human. Suddenly he realized that Emily was going to kill him. No he realized. She was going to do something far worse; she was going to turn him into whatever she was.

"Baby please," he begged. "Please stop!" He was crying and the hand aiming the gun at her was shaking.

Then there was a moment where Emily's eyes cleared. She looked at Jack and said two words. 

"Kill me."

"Baby fight this thing! Fight it!" Jack yelled as Emily took a few more steps toward him.

"Jack," she said her voice raspy. "Please kill me."

After that, her eyes clouded over and the last of his Emily was gone. He took a breath to steady himself and fired shooting her in the heart. He watched heartbroken as she fell to the floor. He tried to think of what vampire lore he knew and discovered that it wasn't much. He needed help and fast. He was actually surprised that there were no sirens approaching and was grateful. He wracked his brain trying to think of who could help him.




The Slayers Ch. 07



"Ben Montgomery," he breathed. He had always considered the man an oddball but the man was a walking encyclopedia. He was also the best forensics guy on the east coast. He looked down at Emily to be sure that she was dead and then called the station looking for Ben's number. As soon as he had it, he called praying that he would be home.

"Montgomery here," Ben said when he answered the phone.

Previous to this phone call, Jack had considered Ben's voice aggravating with its deep Louisiana accent. Now it sounded like music to his ears.

"Ben- this is Detective Jack Atkins from work?"

There was a surprised pause before Ben answered.

"Yes detective?"

"Ummm look, I know that you know about this vampire stuff and well- I need help. Can you come over?"

"I thought that you didn't believe in things like that," Ben replied.

"I didn't until a few days ago," Jack replied. "Please... I need help and I don't know who else to call. Will you come?"

Thirty minutes later, Ben was in Jack's living room looking at Emily.

"It was a good shot, but we have to decapitate her," he said. "We have to make sure that she can't come back."

"What? Are you fucking serious?" Jack asked shocked. 

"Yes, now get the sharpest knife you have and some trash bags. When we're done we have to take her where her body won't be found..."

"But they're still looking for her!" Jack exclaimed.

"We'll worry about that later now get the knife and trash bags," Ben said firmly.

Jack got the requested items and went to the bedroom while Ben decapitated Emily. He couldn't bear to watch.

"It's done," Ben said after what seemed like an eternity had passed. "Let's put her in the car and go to a place that I know."

"You've done this before?" Jack asked.

"I'll tell you about it later, but let's go. It's a good ninety minute drive.

Ben drove since he knew where he was going. The site was an old abandoned camp ground that had been closed for years. He drove to the back of the camp, parked and got out without saying anything to Jack who got out after him.

Jack watched as Ben went to a shed, got two shovels and held one out to him. Nothing seemed real to him. Was he really going bury his wife? Had he really killed her? It had to be a dream didn't it? Monsters did not exist. The sound of Ben's shovel digging into the ground brought him back to reality. This wasn't a dream but a nightmare. They were burying his decapitated wife. He had really killed her.They buried the head separately from the rest of the body.

"Some say that the head will eventually rejoin the body and the thing will come back," Ben explained. "I don't know if that's true or not, but let's not take any chances."

Three hours later, Jack was back at home looking at the drying blood stain on the floor with a large glass of whiskey in his hand. By the time he finished cleaning the spot; most of the almost full bottle was gone. He stumbled to bed, fell into it and didn't wake up until late afternoon and that was only because the phone was ringing.

"Jack? This is Ben- listen up. They found the body of an unidentified woman that's about the same build as your wife. When they call you to identify the body- say it's her. Do you understand? Say that the dead woman is your wife."

Numbly, Jack agreed. What else could he do? He sure as hell couldn't tell anyone that he killed his wife because she was a monster. He'd end up in a psych ward somewhere and eventually prison. An hour later, the lead detective working Emily's case was at the door.

"Jack," he said softly. "We found a body- we need for you to tell us if it's your wife or not."

He quickly got dressed and was driven down to the morgue. He shook as the coroner pulled the unknown woman's body from the refrigerator. Most of the woman's face was gone because of a brutal beating and her teeth were gone. But from what he could tell, the woman could pass for Emily. 

"Th-that's Emily," he said as tears ran down his face. "That's my wife." 

The tears weren't just for Emily. They were for the woman's real family who probably didn't know that she was dead. They were for him and the lie that he now had to live with.

"Where did you find her?" he asked trying to remember the appropriate questions to ask.

"In a dumpster behind a bar in the red light district," the detective replied. "What I don't understand is why take her there? I mean there are places much closer than that..."

"Was she ... was she violated?" Jack asked to shut the detective up.

"Fortunately no," the coroner replied, "but... but was pregnant-about six weeks along."

Jack's tears that had stopped started again. Now he was mourning the life of an innocent soul. The detective drove him home after he signed the necessary papers. He drank whatever alcohol that he could find in the house and the next day went out for more. Ben became his only friend helping him call Emily's family and planning the service.

*

Jack shook his head to clear it of the memory. As far as he knew no one had ever reported the dead woman that he claimed as his wife missing. Suddenly, that drink sounded good. The urge was almost overwhelming. Instead of giving in, he called Ben with whom he had remained good friends and the only person that he trusted to help him with his quest as he called it.

"Been waiting for your call- how are you doing?"

"I want a drink," Jack said softly.

"I know, but you can't and you know why," Ben replied. "Where are you? I'll meet you for dinner- better yet come over here and we can talk. And don't hand me that shit about putting me out- we're too good of friends for that."

"I'll be there," Jack said gratefully. He wanted Ben to look over his notes to see if he had missed anything. His stomach began to rumble in anticipation of a good meal. He often told Ben that if he was a woman, he'd marry him. To which Ben would reply that he-Jack couldn't afford him.

Jack packed up his things keenly aware that he was being watched and had been since his arrival. As usual, he pretended not to notice. It was much too soon to tip his hand. He locked his desk even though there was nothing of value in it and left. As he walked out, he saw the captain slink into the room and make his way to his desk. Jack stopped to see what he would do. Now confident that he was alone, the captain tried to open the locked drawer. After several seconds, he walked away disgusted.

****

"Well my sweet," Xavier said when he walked into the bedroom, "how was your evening? Did you miss me?"

Carmen looked up at him and didn't respond. Nor did she stand.

"So," Xavier continued in that soft voice that warned of danger. "I see that you have already forgotten how to greet me."

"No- I haven't," Carmen replied coolly looking him in the eyes. "I have no intention of calling you master, sire or anything else for that matter. You are a monster- so if I call you anything; that will be it."

She didn't miss the flashes of anger in his eyes nor did she flinch from it. 

"It appears that we are having a disagreement," Xavier purred as he approached her. "It also seems that you are so much stronger than I realized- perfect. It will make bending you into the perfect mate so much more challenging. So tell me my sweet, where does this inner strength come from?"

Carmen watched him not fooled by the change in tactics.

"All of the other mates have lost their fight by now- why not you? I never told you about Kelly have I? She was one of the last women here before I found you. She didn't have the fight in her that you have, but she did have the same dignity although hers was quiet. She intrigued me in the way that she accepted her death..."

"She didn't beg did she?" Carmen interrupted. "She lay there and let you do whatever the fuck you wanted to her didn't she? Do you want to know what your downfall is going to be? It's thinking that we're stupid animals who are afraid of you. Let me tell you something monster; there are those who aren't afraid of you and that number is growing. You can do whatever you want to me. You can make me scream like a banshee when I come. You can force feed me your shitty tasting blood but there's a part of me that you will never, ever have. That's the part of me that will hate you for eternity. It's the part of me that will kill you as you rest or whatever it is you do even if I die doing it."

"My, my, my," Xavier said softly. "What passion but as I think I mentioned, how you feel or don't feel about me matters. What does matter is that I fill that lovely belly of yours with my children."

"I will kill anything that you plant inside of me," Carmen hissed.

"Hmmm, you would kill an innocent?" Xavier asked. "You could try I suppose, but... my sweet it would be pointless. Once you are impregnated, the child will do whatever it has to short of killing you to protect itself. And seeing as you are immortal, you can have dozens if not hundreds of my children."

Xavier watched Carmen as he delivered the news that he thought would take her down a notch. He was flabbergasted when she laughed.

"Is that all you got?" she taunted. "Go ahead and knock me up but... oh I know," she said with a grin. "Give me those things- I'll teach them how to hate their daddy. Better yet- I'll teach them how to kill those like you, but realistically? You'll be dead before you knock me up with the second monster."

Before Xavier realized what he was doing, he slapped her.

"I guess I hit a nerve didn't I?" Carmen asked as she wiped the blood away from her lip and looked at it.

Xavier was stumped. Where in the hell did this woman come from? He walked away to avoid hitting her again. For one, it was what she wanted. She wanted him to feed her hatred of him and secondly, not even their kind condoned the mistreatment of a mate. He walked out to give himself time to think. He would do the next two exchanges in succession and feed her extra blood. Maybe that would tame her. But there was another issue that needed to be addressed.

"My sweet, what is this I hear about you being slapped by a guard?"

He was surprised when he got a small reaction from her. Encouraged, he continued. 

"I know all about it and it doesn't matter how I found out. I hope that you see that there is nothing that I don't know. You cannot sway my people against me so don't even try. The guard in question and those that by their silence agreed to assist you are taken care of. I do not take to liars and traitors kindly."

"So you killed them is that it?" Carmen asked her composure back. "Good for you- that's less for us to kill."

Xavier laughed until tears ran down his face. He realized that he really didn't have a pain in the ass for a mate. He had an eternity of entertainment.

"You, my sweet are good for me even if you don't want to be. It is time to complete the mating... on the bed and don't bother fighting it- you cannot refuse me."

"Mother fucking son of a bitch!" Carmen spat out as she fought the urge to do as commanded. The struggle lasted for almost five minutes with Xavier watching obviously amused and aroused.

"I prefer monster," he teased as he stood up and undressed. 

Carmen lay on the bed furious that he was going to touch her again and that she was going to respond. "Bastard!" she yelled when her arms flew above her head and her legs opened against her will. A fine sheen of sweat coated her body from the struggles of trying to disobey the orders.

Xavier lay next to her enjoying watching her struggle. Her orgasms would be more intense because of trying to hold back. His orgasm would be more intense simply because hers would be. He wondered how long it would take her to realize that. He certainly wasn't going to tell her.

"I think I will taste you first," he murmured as he kissed her neck and cupped a breast in his hand. "Ahhh you like that idea," he said as he reached between her legs and touched her mound. "You are already wet."

"It's a purely physical response," she spat out. "It has nothing to do with you."

Xavier didn't reply but slid down her body and sniffed at her vee. Carmen yelped when she felt her hips leave the bed and her legs open even wider. With no warning, Xavier latched onto her clit and began to lightly suck on it.

"Ohhh," Carmen moaned even though she had vowed to remain silent. She cried out again when she felt a finger slide inside of her. Her hips bucked toward the mouth that she hated urging him on. Xavier released her throbbing clit from his mouth and grinned. His lips and chin were wet with her juices and he made her watch as he licked his lips.

"Just think my sweet," he said. "We will have an eternity of this and who knows? Maybe tonight one of your eggs will accept my sperm."

He didn't give her a chance to respond. He gave her slit another long, slow lick and mounted her. He gazed into her hate filled eyes and slammed into her ignoring her harsh curse. Time after time he rammed into her seeking his pleasure and not hers. That would come later. 

"Yessssss my sweet... so tight... so wet...fuck me back!" 

Carmen tried not to move but suddenly she was grinding against him and screaming curses at him. Xavier ignored her as his cock hardened and swelled even more inside of her. He waited until she was close before he bent down, kissed her neck and bit.

"Mother...." Then she was screaming her release as he emptied inside of her.

He drank his fill from her, licked the wound closed and bit into his wrist. "Drink until I tell you to stop," he commanded.

Carmen tried to clamp her mouth closed, but failed. She had no choice but to accept the offered wrist. Finally, Xavier removed his wrist and licked it to stop the blood flow. Carmen was still shaking from the last orgasm when he bent down and took a hardened nipple into his mouth.

"Oh god..." Carmen moaned in pleasure but Xavier felt her mounting hatred of him in spite of her pleasure. He sucked on the nipple for several seconds before releasing it to suck on the other nipple- the one that he would feed from. He began a slow thrust and grind into her while he teased the nipple into rock hardness. Once again he waited until he felt her pussy muscles contract around his cock before he bit into the nipple causing it to bleed. Her scream was one of pain mixed with pleasure that soon became one of intense pleasure.

Xavier's scream of release sounded like a wild animal to Carmen's ears. Her hatred of him and those like him had grown exponentially. She lay still as Xavier lay grunting on top of her with his cock still inside of her. 

"Get the fuck off of me!" she yelled and tried to buck him off.

"What?" Xavier mocked. "No cuddle time? I thought that humans loved to cuddle."

He began to thrust inside of her again with only one purpose in mind- depositing his seed in her. The orgasms were quick and strong knocking the breath out of both of them. Xavier remained on top of her only because he knew that she didn't like it. Finally, he rolled off of her and went to the bathroom fully expecting her to follow him. When she didn't, he went back to the bedroom, picked her up and carried her into the bathroom.

"In spite of popular belief," he said as he turned the shower, "We are not dirty animals. After we copulate or fuck we will shower together. Is that understood?"

It was Carmen's turn to laugh. "You hate us so much but you emulate our habits. I find that amusing, but I understand about the shower. I only wish that I could wash my insides out as well."

Xavier bit back a reply. By morning she would be more subdued. He followed her into the shower and handed her a sponge. "The other thing that you will do is bathe me whether it's in the shower or in the bathtub. After you are done with me, you may bathe yourself."

For the second time that day, Carmen laughed. "Are you crazy? Bathe your own ugly self because I'm sure as hell not going to do it."

Xavier took a deep breath and counted to ten before taking the sponge back. It would be better tomorrow.

****

Colt's master pondered what his next move should be. He hadn't counted on Xavier and Troy combining forces. He had counted on their mutual dislike and distrust of each other to prevent it. Their truce complicated things and he had to find a way to destroy it. Until he came up with a way, there were other things that he could do. It was time for another connected human to die. After that he would destroy Colt. It wasn't because he wasn't useful. It was because he was becoming more difficult to manage and at some point he would lose what little control that he had left and all would be lost.

"Colt my son," he called out into the night air. "You have done well. I am pleased with you. Find another human home that have no children and do what you do so well, but this time, leave no witnesses."

Colt's master settled in for the evening confident that Colt would follow instructions as much as he was able to.

****

Colt stirred at the sound of his master's voice. He was relieved to hear the pleasure in it and that he wasn't going to be punished. He was also glad that he could go hunting. He was hungry but not so hungry that he couldn't remember commands.

He got up from the dirty basement floor and tried to judge if it was too early for him to go out. He crept to the single plywood covered window and slowly pulled the plywood back. He quickly closed it with a groan of frustration. He had to wait a little longer. To pass the time, he repeated his master's instructions.

*****

Ephraim didn't get it. He had driven around the city looking for the cremation site. He like Jack thought that he had written the address wrong but unlike Jack, he kept driving around looking for the address. He cursed under his breath and drove home mentally preparing himself to hear his mother's complaining that she was out of money. His hope was that he would be able to find the cremation site and then call Xavier. If he had done that he could have told the people at work to kiss his plump white ass goodbye as he walked out.

But he did have something... he had gotten one of the female slayer's neighbors to talk. It had cost him three thousand dollars but he considered it an investment. As soon as he had the information, he called Xavier who had been polite but made no mention of him leaving his job. He knew better than to ask- he had heard about the doctor who had let the witness leave with a slayer.

He sighed and decided to stop and get Chinese takeout for his mother so that she would forget about money. He hated his life, he hated his job and he hated his mother. He was ready for a change.

***

Jack parked in his driveway after his dinner with Ben. It was relatively early in the night- eleven, but the air felt wrong. He stopped and looked around as he reached for his gun. Something and not someone was watching him. It didn't feel particularly malevolent but more curious.

"Who are you and what do you want?" he called out.

Then it was gone. Jack stood where he was staring out into the darkness for several minutes before going into his home. As he closed the door, he felt the presence again.

It was back.



The Slayers Ch. 08



Jack stood in the doorway of his house and looked around. He couldn't see anyone, but he knew that they were there. Again there was no real feeling of malevolence, but more of curiosity. Jack's hand rested on the butt of his gun as he stepped back into the house and closed the door locking it behind him. He wasn't frightened but angered that the thing whatever it was; was at his home. He found it ironic that it had appeared on the anniversary date that he had had to kill Emily. He waited a few minutes, went back to the front door and slowly opened it. Gun in hand he stepped out of the house and looked around. Whatever it was; it was gone.

*

Cherie watched Jack as he looked around and thought him attractive for a human. She liked his height, his dark good looks and the way in which he carried himself. She also felt his anger and knew that if given a chance he would try to kill her. But even so, she felt drawn to him and then she felt protective of him. She cursed under her breath and left. Her life had just gotten more complicated. Unable to stay away, she went back to watch the house. She thought better of it and vanished.

*

Jack stood watching and listening for a full five minutes before he went back inside. He changed clothes keeping his gun close by and went to the kitchen to make a pot of coffee. While it brewed, he turned on his laptop and began to enter all of his notes so that he could save it on an external hard drive and a flash drive. The flash drive would go to Ben just in case anything happened to him and the hard drive would go into a safe located behind the refrigerator. It was a pain in the ass to move, but no one would think to look there for a safe. No one, not even Ben knew about it. His attorney had three letters that would be sent out in case of his demise telling where the safe was. The recipients, one of whom was Ben would know what to do from there.

He stopped entering his notes long enough to pour himself a cup of coffee and to take a sip. He was glad that he had gone over to Ben's. Ben's fresh eyes saw a few things that he had overlooked.

"This is an attempted coup," Ben said as they ate dinner. "Think about it- we know that there are clans in this area and that they're always bickering. We also know that some of the clans from the Midwest and other places are beginning to look in this direction."

"Shit," Jack swore. "The human woman was intentional."

"Yes and if it hadn't been her, it would have been someone else," Ben said. "Why he left a witness I don't know, but it wasn't planned. I think that whoever owns the lower rogue is the one behind this. I also think that he's going to have the rogue kill again and point the blame at one of the two major players here- Troy Cross and Xavier Dubois. If they're always at each other's throats, all he has to do is sit back and watch as they destroy each other. After that, he cleans up the mess and Pennsylvania's got a new boss."

It was beginning to make sense. 

"I think that we're looking at someone from the Midwest," Jack said. "Philly has what the Midwest doesn't- major water access that is close by which means something else; he isn't going to stop here. He's got plans for any of the states that have ocean or river access."

"Probably," Ben agreed. "I'll make a few phone calls to see if anything pops up. My guess is that there have been some murders that have either been shelved as unsolvable or are being covered up. When the time is right, he'll have those clans at each other's throats too by using those deaths. He also knows that it will bring the slayers so he has to stay out of sight."

"He could be anywhere," Jack replied.

"True which means that we have to find that lower rogue if we want to know who's behind this," Ben said. "I think that it's time to call the slayers. I know that some of them are here, I just need to find out whom and then contact them."

"That sounds like a plan, but Ben; I don't need to tell you to be careful," Jack said. "My precinct has several people working for the monsters and you probably have a few in your office working for them too."

"I know for a fact that I do," Ben replied. "My boss is one of them as is my assistant and a few of the janitorial staff as well. They aren't aware that I know, but they are watching me because of my friendship with you."

"I don't like it," Jack said softly. "I think that you need to take a leave of absence or something. Come stay at my place or we can go somewhere else. The more we talk about this the more nervous I'm getting. We don't know who my captain or the medical examiner is working for nor do we know who your people are working for. For all we know it could be our unknown clan."

Jack kept talking when he saw Ben was balking at the idea of leaving work.

"Ben- I need you. You have been more than a friend to me, you're like a brother. If something happened to you, I swear to god; I'll walk into a bar and never leave. Take a sabbatical or something. Don't go in to the office tomorrow."

By the time Jack left, Ben had promised to think about it. 

*

Jack was on his third cup of coffee when his cell phone rang. He answered without looking at the caller ID. The only person that would be calling him so late was Ben.

"Ben? Wh.....?

"Is the offer to stay with you still open?" Ben asked. He sounded calm, but Jake could hear the nervousness in his voice.

"Of course it is, but..."

"I'm on my way," Ben said and hung up.

Jack tapped his fingers on the table and made a decision. They couldn't stay at his house either. Ben's call combined with the fact that he had been watched when he got home told him that they needed to move to a safer place. He removed the hard drive from the laptop and placed it in the computer bag and packed the laptop up. He then moved the fridge, opened the safe and emptied it of its contents which included cash, an extra fire arm, ammunition and several external hard drives. On second thought, he left the flash drives. He had to leave something in case anything happened to the hard drives that he had with him. Everything else he threw into the laptop bag. He quickly packed enough clothes and toiletries for a few days and was ready to go by the time Ben was at the door.

"We're not staying here," Jack said when he opened the door. "I'll explain while we drive." 

Instead of taking either of their cars, they took Emily's car that Jack had kept up but didn't drive unless it was to have it serviced. It was always hard for him to get into the car and tonight was no exception. The purple dream catcher that he had bought for her on their trip out west still hung on the rearview mirror. In fact, everything that she had left in the car was still there. He couldn't make himself throw them away.

Jack swallowed hard and blinked back tears when he caught sight of the red blanket that Emily always took to the movie theater with her. He started the car, backed out of the driveway and drove away.

"So tell me what happened," Jack said as he headed in the direction toward center city.

"After you left, I got to thinking about what you said about quitting and was about to call you. I picked up the phone and heard something outside. When I looked, there wasn't anything there, but there had been. I knew it, I could feel it. Something happened at your place too didn't it?" Ben asked.

Jack told him what happened and where they were going.

"Emily's parents owned a small storefront type building not far from downtown. When they died they left it to her. We had planned to sell it and put the money away for our kids, but after she... I couldn't do it. I come here every so often and spend the night here. There are a couple of sleeping bags and some basic food stuffs..."

"You stay there?" Ben asked. "Why?"

"I don't know," Jack replied with a shrug. "Maybe because it's the only place that I can sleep without thinking about her. We never went there together so I don't really associate her with it but at any rate, it's a safe place until we find something better."

***

Ephraim waited until Jack and Ben left before getting out of his car. He bribed a woman in personnel to get Jack's address. He was actually surprised to see Jack with someone as he was always alone. He had no idea of what he was going to do with the address until after he had it in his hands. If he could find something at the detective's house, maybe Xavier would allow him to quit his job. He had always hated the place, but it had gone beyond that. He was tired of it and his leech of a mother who he would murder in heartbeat if he could get away with it.

He stood outside of his car watching and waiting for what he didn't know. His heart pounded as he crossed the street and approached the house. He had never done anything remotely illegal and now he was going to break and enter into the home of a detective. He stopped at the driveway realizing that he didn't know if there was a security system or not. He took another quick look around to see if any nosy neighbors were peeking out of their windows. In his opinion, they were worse than any security system.

He cursed under his breath, took a few steps up the driveway. He yelped and then jumped when the motion sensor lights came on. He froze and waited for the sound of a barking dog. He finally decided that what he was doing was a bad idea. He went back to his car and called Xavier. It seemed as if an eternity had passed before Xavier came to the phone.

"What is it?" Xavier asked obviously irritated.

"I'm sorry to disturb you, but I'm at the detective's house. No one is here if you wanted to send someone," Ephraim said nervously. His nervousness compounded his mounting nausea. He looked around for something to throw up in and found an old fast food take out bag in the back seat.

"How long ago did he leave?" Xavier asked.

"About twenty minutes ago and I don't think he's coming back tonight. There was another man with him and they had overnight bags," Ephraim replied.

"Why did you not search the house?" Xavier asked.

"I don't know if he has a security system for the house. He does have motion sensors- it wouldn't do for me to be caught breaking and entering."

"This is true," Xavier replied. "Stay where you are- someone will be there shortly."

"Sir? May I ask a question?" Ephraim asked.

"You may," Xavier replied.

"When can I leave my job at the medical examiner's office? I think that I've proven myself invaluable to you."

"This is true," Xavier mused. "But I need you to stay where you are for the time being."

Ephraim threw up in the bag as Xavier continued talking.

"I do agree that you deserve to be rewarded for your efforts. Go home and your reward will be waiting for you."

"Thank you..." but Xavier was already gone.

Ephraim tossed the vomit filled bag out of the car window and sped home anxious to see what his reward was forgetting that he was to stay until someone came. He parked as he usually did and walked into the house. He paused at the kitchen door and waited for the usual greeting of. "What did you bring me?" When it didn't happen, he became concerned. 

"Mom? Where are you?" he called as he walked through the kitchen.

There was no response, but he could hear the television playing in her room. He found that odd because she always watched television in the living room unless she was cleaning her room to make room for more purchases. He thought that she hadn't heard him because of the television and her door was shut.

"Mom!" he called as he banged on the door. When she didn't respond, he slowly opened the door. "Mom?" He called again and then he saw her feet on the floor at the foot of the bed. He rushed over to her and knew even before he touched her that she was dead. It took him several minutes to realize that this was the reward that Xavier was talking about. It took him another few minutes to pull himself together enough to call nine-one-one. 

While he waited, he looked around his mother's room. Every inch of the room was jammed packed with things that she had bought and had never used. Suddenly, her spending his money had become insignificant. He realized that while she had been a pain in the ass, she was his mother and his pain in the ass. The saying 'be careful of what you wish for' crossed his mind as tears rolled down his face. He wiped his face when he heard the approaching sirens and went to let them in.

He went through the usual round of questioning regarding his mother's health. 

"Yes she had a heart condition," he replied when a paramedic asked about her medical history. "Yes she took her meds..." and so on.

"So you came home and found her like that?" A police officer asked. 

"Yes," Ephraim replied. "I came home after running an errand after work."

"Where do you work?" The cop asked.

"I'm one of the medical examiners for the city," Ephraim replied as he pulled put his ID.

"Oh... I'm sorry for your loss," the cop said as he glanced at the ID.

"Me too," Ephraim replied finding that he really was sorry. "I'll follow you down to the morgue."

There would be an autopsy because it was an unexpected death and they had to rule out homicide. Ephraim already knew what they would find. The ruling would be a heart attack but she had been murdered. Xavier had relieved him of what he- Ephraim had considered to be a problem.

On second thought, Ephraim decided not to go to the morgue. He didn't want the looks of pity that he knew were going to come. He didn't want to see his mother on the cold table knowing what was going to happen to her. He decided to call later to see when he could pick up the body. The good thing was that his mother wanted to be cremated. She wanted no memorial services and that only that her remaining sister and brother be told. The only thing that she hadn't addressed was what to do with all of her stuff.

Ephraim decided to go through it first to see if there was anything of sentimental or financial value before deciding what to do with the rest of her stuff. But not tonight he thought to himself. Tonight he would try to reconcile the fact that his mother was dead because he had wanted her to be. He lay on her bed looking up at the ceiling and let the tears come as feelings of guilt washed over him. He had done this.

*****

Jian and Brittney started their run after a fifteen minute warm up although it was no longer necessary. Brittney could now jump up and take off at full speed even if she had been resting. The warm up was done out of habit.

"How far are we running?" she asked after they had completed a mile.

"As far as you like," Jian replied. "Do we need to adjust your weapons?" he asked. "They need to be easily reached but mustn't be visible or uncomfortable."

"They feel fine," Brittney replied. She hated the idea of having to wear weapons at all times but understood why. She didn't know how they were going to pull it off at work, but Jian had assured her that they would.

"I wore them and you didn't know," he reminded her. "The winter will be easier because you will wear sweaters."

"I thought that I wouldn't be affected by the weather," Brittney replied.

"That is true, but you must appear as you always have. You tend to bundle up more because you hate the cold and complain of being cold when others are saying that they are too warm. If you stop doing that, it will arouse suspicion."

"Do you think that someone in our office works for them?" Brittney asked.

"No," Jian replied, "but there are those in other areas of the college that do. They know me for what I am and if they had a suspicion as to who you were, those suspicions will be confirmed. That makes work more dangerous for us. You are not to go anywhere alone without alerting me first."

"That shouldn't be a problem," Brittney replied. "We did everything together anyway."

"That is true, but once those who work for the rogue realize that we are mated, they will take measures to try to isolate you."

"I don't suppose not saying anything about us being mated will help?" Brittney asked.

"No," Jian confirmed. "They will just know and you will be able to identify them too which is a good thing. Winona will begin working with you on changing your appearance in a few days."

"How hard is that to learn?" Brittney asked hoping for a challenge.

"Like all things, it depends upon the teacher and student. Winona is an excellent teacher and you are an excellent student. I anticipate no problems."

They ran the next five miles in a comfortable silence that it took most mated couples weeks if not months to achieve. Once again, Jian was grateful that they were friends before they became mates and lovers. They were at mile ten when Brittney stopped in her tracks. Jian stopped with her and looked around. Suddenly a pain filled howl filled the night air.

"Weapons," Jian whispered as he took out his 'sai'. Brittney didn't ask questions, but did as she was told. "My back to yours," he directed, "and if I tell you to run; you do it."

Another pain filled shriek rose and then suddenly died. Brittney closed her eyes and quickly opened them to see one of the ugliest creatures imaginable standing forty feet away from her. Another one appeared fifteen feet to the left of that one and another one to its right. Brittney understood what was happening- they were being surrounded. The other slayers were being kept busy- she could hear the sounds of the fighting.

One of the creatures smiled at her and spoke.

"Aren't you the lovely one?" it lisped.

Brittney battled nausea as the lower rogue's oily, gravelly voice reached her ears.

"Beloved, remember the sound of my voice and the nausea will dissipate," Jian said softly. 

Brittney closed her eyes, listened and remembered Jian's voice and the nausea was immediately gone.

"I'm okay," she assured him as she watched the circle of lower rogues move closer. She had to wonder why so many of them were together. It didn't track with what Jian told her about the lower rogues. Suddenly, one charged her thinking her the easiest of two targets. Brittney's heart pounded as the creature approached her. 

Jian was already fighting off two of them while trying to protect her. Realizing this, Brittney shouted again that she was fine. She felt Jian relax a little and focus a little more on the lower rogues that he was fighting.

"Are you the bastard that killed my sister?" Brittney asked through gritted teeth when the creature was less than three feet away from her. "Are you?"

The creature seemed surprised that Brittney had spoken to it. She took advantage of the surprise and lunged stabbing the rogue in the heart with the 'sai'. Brittney gagged as its dark red, foul smelling blood ran out of its body and onto her hand covering it like a glove. She pulled the 'sai' out and delivered a kick to the monster's abdomen that sent it sprawling backwards into one of its kinsmen. Seeing that Brittney wasn't as defenseless as she had appeared, two more rogue; one of them female approached her.

"Come on you ugly bastards," Brittney whispered. "Come on," she urged again her tone soft and luring. "Let me rid the world of you."

By this time slayer reinforcements had arrived and a retreat had been called. The female lower rogue hesitated to leave. She glared at Brittney with eyes that had once been blue as if marking her.

"I'll remember you too you ugly bitch," Brittney said out loud.

The female rogue blinked in surprise and backed away when she saw a male slayer running toward her. On her way, she stopped and glanced at the pile of dust that had once been the rogue that Brittney had killed. She took off when a barbed arrow hit her in her left leg. Another one hit her in the back and a male rogue passing her caught her and ran off with her in his arms.




The Slayers Ch. 08



"Are you guys alright?" Winona asked as she put an arrow back in its quiver.

"We're fine," Jian replied as he put an arm around Brittney. He could feel her trembling and knew that she was fighting for control. The first kill was always the hardest for the female mate. They were in for a long, restless night in which Brittney would reply the scene over and over in her head. But he had another question- other than the couples trailing them, who knew that they were going running? An ugly thought crossed his mind, but he discarded it. In the entire history of the slayers, no one had ever aided the enemy. It was impossible. A slayer wouldn't be able to willingly betray one of their own. That left coincidence and he didn't quite believe that either. There was another option he realized. They were being watched by humans and not the vampires. It could be any human that would recognize a slayer when they saw one.

Those things could be thought about later. At the moment Brittney was his priority. Winona, Justin and another couple escorted them home. Both couples decided to stay so that Jian could give all of his attention to Brittney. Both female mates had vivid memories of how they had felt after their first kill. It was especially hard for those of them in the medical field as Kim the mate to one of the other slayer couples was. It had taken her weeks to come to grips with the fact that she had killed and that she was a killer. It was only through her mate's patience that she came to accept it and learned to keep that part of her life separate from her life as a nurse.

As soon as they were home, Jian took Brittney to their bedroom and led her to the master bathroom. He started the shower, undressed her and then himself and took her into the shower. He didn't speak as he held her against him while the hot water washed over them. In a few minutes, the stink of the rogue blood was washed down the drain.

"I killed someone," Brittney whispered against his shoulder.

Jian rubbed her back and waited.

"It was a monster, but at one time it had been human," she continued. "Maybe in its human life it was a good person. Maybe it was someone's father or brother and I killed him. All I could think of was that this could be the thing that killed Amanda. The thought that maybe it had no choice didn't cross my mind and if it had... it wouldn't have mattered. Before tonight I had never killed anything- not even a bug and ..."

Jian held her closer as she cried and tried to reconcile what she had done with the kind person that she was.

"Beloved listen to me," Jian said when he was sure she was done talking. "The first is always the hardest..."

"Was it for you?" She asked sniffling.

"No because this is all that I know. From the time we are able to walk we are taught what our duty is. It is built into our being. We are taken hunting as soon as we are old enough so that we learn to deal with our first kill when we are boys."

"Hunting?" Brittney asked. "What did you hunt?"

"We are given to a very experienced slayer couple," Jian explained. "We lived with, trained and hunted with them."

"How old are you when this training starts?" Brittney asked not sure that she really wanted to know.

"Seven, but remember we are not human children," Jian replied. "By the age of seven, we have the mentality of a fifteen year old. Our mental capacities far exceed our physical build. We look like normal seven year old children but we are far from normal. Turn around and let me wash your hair."

"Seven?" Brittney asked shocked as she turned around. 

"Yes, by the time we are eighteen; we are skilled slayers and have the mental aptitude of a mature adult. By the time we are twenty-five, we are as you see us. So it is understandable that our female mates have such a difficult time accepting their new roles."

"How do I accept this?" Brittney asked. "How does anyone accept this?"

"I guess acceptance is the wrong word," Jian replied as he gently washed her hair with a fruity scented shampoo. "It's learning how to live with and incorporating it into your human life and ideas that is difficult. Although you for all practical purposes are no longer human, you have human emotions and you always will. It is those emotions that balance us males. We have the capability of becoming cold and jaded. That is why we seek another mate if our mate dies."

"But an eternity of killing..."

"It isn't always like this," Jian said. "There could be years of inactivity before we are called. I just happened to be here when this thing started. The important thing is that we talk and that you hide nothing from me no matter how small."

He rinsed her hair and began to bathe her as he continued to talk.

"Killing is something that most female mates never get used to. After each encounter they are cared for as I am caring for you now. We will spend as much time as you need alone. If you want to talk to one of the other women, that can be arranged. Whatever you need will be done."

"Am I supposed to be sleepy?" Brittney asked.

"It happens," Jian replied as he turned off the shower and wrapped her and then himself in a towel. "It is your mind telling you that it needs a respite."

"If..." was all she got out before her eyes closed. She wasn't worried about falling; she knew that Jian would catch her. He picked her up, carried her to the mat and gently laid her down on it. He lay next to her, his chest to her back and held her. When she cried or called out, he soothed her with soft words spoken in Chinese until she settled. It was late morning before she fell into a deep sleep.

****

Colt's master watched from a distance. It didn't take him long to realize that while Brittney was a new mate, she was more than capable of defending herself. He hadn't planned on taking the mate of a slayer so soon, but when he received a call that a newly mated pair was in the vicinity- he decided to take a chance and grab the female. He cursed under his breath as he watched the skirmish. He had to admit that the new female slayer intrigued him. She was nervous at first, but then she calmed and actually spoke to the lower rogue that approached her. He was curious as to what she said to it. He would never find out because it was dead.

In retrospect, it was a stupid move on his part but how was he to know how well prepared she was? It wasn't uncommon for a new slayer mate to panic during their first fight. That was why he sent so many of the lower rogues. Numbers tended to unnerve the new mate and the male's attention was divided between her and fighting off the attackers. But not her- she spoke to her mate and he relaxed enough to give his full attention to those attacking him. He had also underestimated the number of slayer couples with them. Why were there so many?

The master took another look at Jian and cursed again. What were the chances that the male slayer would be Jian Bo? It explained why his mate was so well prepared and why there were so many other slayers with them. 

"Fuck it!" He swore again regretting his decision to try to take the woman. He was about to call his servants back when more slayers arrived. He knew that there were slayers around; he had counted on it especially after the death of the human female, but so many? When had they arrived and why hadn't he been informed? He would have planned differently had he known. Like Xavier, he didn't suffer fools or incompetence and the fact that he didn't know about the number of slayers was incompetence.

He watched as a female rogue approached the female slayer and paused. Once again, the slayer spoke. The attackers had begun to retreat when the female rogue was hit by an arrow. "Get the fuck out of there!" the master hissed. The wound was meant to maim and not kill. If the slayers took one of them alive, he would have to kill it. But that would leave a psychic trail that would lead directly to him. In fact, he couldn't communicate with them now for that reason. His old heart pounded as he watched the female rogue try to get away only to be shot again with another arrow. This time she fell and to his relief, another rogue picked her up as it ran by.

He abandoned the plan to capture a female slayer for the time being. They would all be hyper vigilant and in the scheme of things, having one didn't really matter. But- he wanted that one. He wanted her for other reasons than finding out information about the slayers. He already knew that she would die before she told him anything. He now wanted her because she belonged to Jian Bo. He hated the Bos' with a passion and to take one of their mates would be an amazing coup. Not for the first time he wondered if it was possible for one such as him to mate with a slayer. What would the children look like? Would they appear as human to those who could see his kind? Where would their natural loyalties lie?

No one knew because it had never been successfully tried. A female slayer had never been caught and male slayers killed themselves before being made to copulate with a female rogue. After a while they stopped trying, but maybe...Later he told himself as he took a last look at Brittney who was in Jian's arms and vomiting.

****

Cherie went to her penthouse confused. This was a new emotion for her. Her life had always been cut and dried. She knew where her loyalties lie- to no one but herself, but now there was the human male. She had never been sexually attracted to a human other than feeding from them and actually found them ugly in an endearing kind of way. Now she was flushed and her nipples ached- a sure sign of arousal. Her tight clothes suddenly felt as though they were suffocating her. She ripped them off, threw them to the floor and tried to steady her nerves. All of this time and she had never been in heat and the one time it was because of a human male.

She walked around the penthouse naked and tried to control her body temperature. Instead of cooling; she got even hotter. At a loss as to what to do, she picked up the phone and called Troy's investigator.

"Get over here now!" she said and slammed down the phone.

Seconds later, Anthony was in her living room. Before he could ask what the problem was, Cherie had him on the floor and was pawing at his clothes. Not one to turn down a free fuck, Anthony helped Cherie undress him. As soon as he was nude, Cherie slammed onto him so hard that he grunted in pain and surprise. 

"What the fuck are you waiting for?" she hissed as she rode him hard and fast.

Anthony reached up and grabbed her small breasts that had large pink nipples and squeezed hard. 

"Harder..." Cherie screamed as the much needed orgasm approached. She continued to ride him until she had three more climaxes to his two.

"Who's the lucky male?" Anthony asked after Cherie's last orgasm.

"No one," Cherie lied.

"If you say so," he replied, "but I know a female in heat when I see one. Too bad it isn't me that you're hot for, but I don't mind being a substitute until you two get together."

She wanted to refuse, but she knew that she would end up calling him again; but there had to be some rules.

"You cannot come unless I call you and you leave when I tell you to- is that understood?"

"Yes ma'am!" Anthony replied smugly. 

"Good and since you're here..."

"What? No breakfast?" He interrupted.

"Fine," Cherie snapped regretting her decision to use the investigator but he was the only one that she could think of. She regretted choosing him for one big reason- if the human male was her mate as she suspected- the investigator would complicate things and make it more difficult to protect the human male.

She poured him a glass of blood and handed it to him without warming it. When he complained, she pointed at the microwave.

"As I was saying," she said, "Since you're here, let's compare notes."

They talked for about an hour before she made the pitch that she follow the detective. To her surprise, he quickly agreed.

"I'd rather follow the female slayer anyway," he replied. "I also think that he wouldn't pick up on you following him as quickly as he would me."

Cheri agreed and then showed him the way out. After Anthony was gone, she realized that she had violated one of her cardinal rules and chose a side. She had just begun a very dangerous game that if she lost... She also knew that the chances that the human male would accept her were slim to none, but that didn't matter.

She took a long shower, put on a set of pink silk pajamas and logged on to her laptop. She updated all of her personal information and made sure that her assets were going to the people that she wanted them to go to. She had no doubt that she would survive- she would, but she reminded herself that she thought that Xavier and those like him were little more than animals pretending to be civilized. Content that all was as she wanted it. She initiated the code which was connected to her cell phone. If she didn't check in at least once in twenty-four hours, her assets would be distributed. On the off chance that she couldn't call in for any reason, she had a separate account set up so she would be alright financially. That done, she set about trying to figure out how to go about helping the human male without him knowing about her.

***

Danielle watched the new and much improved Troy through hooded eyes. This was her fault she thought to herself. She had seen the signs and thought that she had more time. Xavier's request for an alliance had expedited things. She hadn't anticipated that. The two clans had been bitter enemies for centuries and now they were bedmates. Each passing moment took her further away from regaining control. She had begun to resign herself to the fact that she was now nothing more than a basic mate. Troy had made it clear that he was now in full control of the business and their mating and had refused to listen to any of her arguments.

"I gave you a company to run," he told her. "Use your need to control things there, but Danielle, let me remind you of something. As my mate you cannot betray me in any way. You are duty bound to obey me in all things."

"I know this..."

"Good so let me tell you what you may not do," Troy interrupted. "You may not contact Xavier Dubois or any other clan whether it is directly or indirectly without my knowledge and permission. You will not plan and scheme to take control back from me which is where it should have been to begin with. I will no longer address you as mistress but as Danielle. Do you have any questions?"

"Troy," Danielle said softly, "I think that we should talk about this..."

"There's nothing to talk about," Troy said his tone firm. "Do you have any questions?"

"No," Danielle muttered. She had taught him too well and he had been an apt pupil.

"Good, now let's talk about this slayer situation," Troy said patting the empty seat next to him.

Danielle sat down and waited for Troy to speak.

"Someone else is here. I don't know who, but I can feel it. Whoever it is planned the death of a connected human. He didn't plan on the human being related to a slayer nor did he plan on Xavier and me becoming allies."

"He meant to play one against the other," Danielle said.

"Yes, but now that is no longer an option," Troy said. "We must find that rogue before he destroys it if he hasn't been destroyed already. It is the only way that we can find out who this is."

"May I make a suggestion?" Danielle asked.

"I am listening," Troy replied.

"First, be careful of Xavier. I do not trust him to share all that he knows. He has already broken one truce by lying. Secondly, I would suggest that we find out where the leaders of the other major clans are. It might give us a clue as to who we're dealing with."

"I concur," Troy said after a moment of thought. "I will say this," he added. "Xavier has as much to lose as we do. He may have lied during the first truce, but then I would have too; he just beat me to it. Even though we are allies we will never completely trust each other. To do so would be foolish. My guess is that it's one of the Midwest clans, which one I don't know. But I think that he may have made a mistake."

"Do tell," Danielle replied leaning forward.

"A group of lower rogue attacked a slayer and his mate a couple of hours ago."

"Are you serious?" Danielle asked. "What kind of idiot does that? Before we know it the city is going to be swarming with slayers."

"That's the other thing," Troy said. "There's already been an increase in their presence but here's the kicker... the pair that he attacked was no ordinary pair. The male was Jian Bo."

Danielle was speechless. Jian Bo was in Philadelphia? How could they not have known? How long had he been here?

"Fuck me," she murmured as she understood the ramifications of what Troy was telling her. "Do we know where Hsin is?"

"As far as we know he's still in China but I can't swear to it. My question is why we didn't know that Jian was here. I also think that whoever attacked them didn't know who he was attacking. If he had, he wouldn't have done it. I'm going to call Xavier and fill him in..."

"Is that wise?" Danielle asked.

"One of us has to show that we are taking the truce seriously," Troy replied. "So yes it's wise, now if you will excuse me..."

Danielle blinked and bit back a reply. She had never been dismissed by anyone and she didn't like it. She had foolishly thought that Troy was including her in on the decision making process when he wasn't. All he was doing was informing her as a courtesy. She now had an inkling of how Troy must have felt when she did the same to him.

"As you wish," she said with a slight incline of her head.

"Thank you," Troy said with a small smile. "Close the door behind you and be ready for me when I am finished."

"Yes milord," Danielle said softly as she stood. Troy in her opinion was enjoying this too much. He was like a child in a candy store in his demands on her. Sex no longer had the same appeal to her because she was no longer in control- she was being controlled. 

As she closed the door, she heard Troy on the phone. She thought about eavesdropping, but he would know. She had the feeling that he would be angry and she wasn't prepared to find out what an angry Troy was like. She knew that he wouldn't physically hurt her- that was prohibited, but there were other ways in which one could be punished. She sighed heavily and went to their rooms to take a bath. She hated her new life.

****

Xavier had just finished another go round with Carmen. He couldn't understand why she wasn't more docile by now. Instead she seemed to be worse. He decided to do an unprecedented fourth exchange and was about to take her throbbing clit into his mouth when there was a tentative tap on the door.

"What?!" he roared.

"I am sorry to ..."

"What is it?" Xavier yelled across the room as he looked at Carmen's glistening jewel. She had been fighting him tooth and nail but he had brought her to climax three times and as working on the fourth.

"Sire- Troy Cross requests to speak with you. He says the matter is urgent."

"I will be there," Xavier replied still looking at Carmen. There was a bright side he decided. She would calm down and he could begin again. "Rest, my dear... I shall return," he said as he kissed and then licked her clit.

"Don't hurry back on my account," Carmen snarled even as she shivered with pleasure and wondered what the big emergency was.

Xavier ignored her and went to his office. Mate or not he didn't trust her. If she was able to fight off the effects of his blood and the mating then what else was she capable of? He closed the door behind him and picked up the phone.

"I trust that this is truly urgent?" he asked his tone clipped in displeasure.

His hand gripped the phone receiver tightly as Troy told him what he knew.




The Slayers Ch. 08



"Jian Bo? Are you certain?"

"The attack was witnessed," Troy replied. "Unfortunately my source didn't see who ordered the attack but I believe that it is the same vampire that controls the rogue that killed the human woman."

"He couldn't have known who he was attacking," Xavier replied. "I have reports of increased slayer activity- I am assuming that Cherie has informed you?"

"She has through my investigator," Troy replied. "But do you realize what's going to happen? By morning the city will be swarming with slayers. That means that the chances of them finding that rogue who killed the female slayer's sister increases exponentially. You also might be interested in knowing who Jian Bo's mate is."

"The murdered human woman's sister," Xavier replied with dread. "They won't let this go even if we find and kill the lower rogue that killed her. It will be open hunting season on all of us. Troy- it isn't the rogue that we need to be concentrating on; it's his master. If we want to come out of this relatively intact, we have to offer the slayers something and that rogue won't be enough."

"I agree and I believe that it's time to bring in the smaller clans. We will need everyone that we can get. Do you concur?"

"I concur," Xavier replied. "They will also serve as acceptable losses. I'll call them and arrange for a meeting at Phillips- is tonight good for you?"

"The sooner the better," Troy replied.

Xavier hung up his mind no longer on Carmen. He picked up the phone and called Cherie. There had been no further mention of the originals and he wondered what that meant. Ephraim could have been mistaken, but he didn't think so. Cherie answered on the first ring.

"What do you know?" he asked without greeting her.

"Good day to you too," Cherie said. "What specifically are you referring to?"

"Have you found out anything about the originals?" Xavier asked impatiently.

"Not a word which leads me to believe that your source was mistaken," Cherie replied. "It's difficult for some of us to know one when we see one so how could a human tell?"

"Maybe," Xavier replied, "but my gut is telling me that he's right. What of the human detective?"

"There isn't much there," Cherie replied choosing her words carefully. "He lives alone and was married at one time. I saw the photos in his home the night he left."

"Does the woman still live?" Xavier asked thinking to use her as leverage.

"No, she died several years ago... I found the newspaper clippings in a photo album."

"Did you find anything useful?" Xavier asked frustrated.

"No," Cherie replied neglecting to mention that she knew who the other human male with Jack was or that she knew where they had gone. She found the deed to the small storefront during her search for information.

"There was no clue as to where he and the other male went?"

"No," Cherie lied.

When Xavier paused, she thought that he knew that she was lying. She breathed a sigh of relief when he started speaking again.

"Some of our focus has changed," he said.

"You have got to be kidding," she said when Xavier told her about Jian Bo and the attacks.

"I wish I were," Xavier replied. "We need to find out who was behind that attack and hand him over to the slayers," he continued. "It's the only way that we'll come out of this intact. The lesser rogue who killed the slayers sister is probably already dead so don't waste your time looking for him. Troy has already started trying to find out where the clan leaders of the other territories are."

"What do you want me to do?" Cherie asked.

"Concentrate all of your efforts on finding out who this vampire is," Xavier replied. "Hire as many investigators as you need. Our very survival could depend on this."

"What about the human detective and his friend?" She asked.

"They aren't important at the moment," Xavier replied. "If you have anyone watching them, call them off. We'll have to rely on our sources at the police station for any pertinent information about them. I want to be notified of any information that you find about this vampire and I don't care what the time of day is. In fact, take this number down."

Cherie committed the number to memory and hung up relieved that Jack was of the line of fire for the moment. Then she made another decision- she just didn't know how to go about making it happen.

***

Colt wandered the streets looking for a human that met his master's criteria. They had to be connected and there could be no children. That part of the instructions soothed him. There was a part of him that would have found a way to disobey had he been ordered to harm a child. He stayed to the shadows and eventually ended up at his favorite place- the park. There were families everywhere enjoying the spring evening. He knew that he should leave and complete his mission, but he was in no hurry. He hadn't been given a time frame that he could recall and he loved the sound of children laughing and even crying. It always touched something deep inside of him. Something that was always just out of his reach.

He hid behind a tree and watched as a boy who couldn't have been more than ten played ball with a younger boy.

"Remember what I told you," he was saying. "Daddy always told me to relax my arm..."

Colt jolted. There was something about those words that sounded very vaguely familiar. Suddenly a baseball landed beside the tree. He looked at it and frowned. He bent down, picked it up and examined it. The ball had 'x' marks as a guide to where the fingers should go. Instinctively, he placed his fingers on the marks. He was so distracted that he didn't notice that the older boy was standing in front of him looking up at him. He jumped when he heard the boy speak with a question in his voice.

"Daddy?"

Colt's head snapped up from the ball and fastened onto the face of the little boy who was intently looking up at him intently.

"Daddy..."

Colt stared at the boy trying to place him. Apparently the boy was mistaking him for someone else. 

"Neal who are you talking to?" A striking blond woman asked as she rapidly approached them. 

"Mom! Hurry! It's daddy!"

At those words Colt took off at a dead run still holding on to the baseball. He was long gone by the time the woman reached the boy. He found an old vacant grocery store and huddled in a corner trying to collect his thoughts- what remained of them. The boy had called him daddy. It meant that he had been right. He did have children but was the boy his? He looked at the baseball, and again placed his fingers where the 'x' was. The ball felt foreign but familiar to his big hands. All thoughts of his instructions were gone as he held the ball and struggled to remember who he was and what he had been. 

Surely he hadn't always been a killer...or had he? His head began to pound as he made a conscious effort to remember his past. As the pain in his head increased, he held on tighter to the ball. Suddenly, the ball was crushed and Colt's head exploded in exquisite pain. Instead of driving him even further into madness, it gave him a few moments of clarity.

That boy was his son. So was the other boy. The woman had been his wife. He had not been a bad person and before he had become what he was, he had never harmed anyone. Tears ran down Colt's face as he heard the boy's voice in his head calling him daddy.

He jerked when another voice intruded. His master.

"Colt-have you done as I have commanded you?"

He held the crushed baseball in his hand and then held it tight to his chest where his heart was.

"Colt- you will do as I command," the voice said again. 

This time there was coldness to it that he had never heard before. Colt crushed the baseball tighter to his chest and tried to ignore the voice. If he could just hold out until morning... if he could just ...

"NOW!" the voice screamed in his head.

Colt dropped the ball and grabbed his head ignoring the rivets of dark, warm blood that ran from his ears and nose. He closed his eyes and tried to block out the angry, high pitched sound of his master's voice.

"YOU WILL GO NOW!" his master screeched inside of his head.

"Please master..." was all that Colt got out before another spasm of pain stronger than the last one filled not only his head, but his entire body. He took one hand away from his head and blindly reached for the crushed baseball. Finding it, he picked it up, held it to his chest and for the first time since he had been turned; defied his master.

"No."

For a moment there was no response. Then Colt screamed as pain again ripped through his body beginning with his head. His screams grew in volume and intensity as the pain that felt like hot fire made its way down his body. His last conscious thought was of the little boy that had called him daddy. A moment later, he was nothing more than a pile of ashes. 

*****

Colt's master ranted and raved like a lunatic. Never in his entire life had he been defied by one of his lower rogue. If it happened once, it could happen again. The question was what had triggered the rebellion? It didn't matter that he was going to destroy Colt anyway. It was the principle of the thing. A small part of him urged him to leave the city and to return when guards were down but he had been planning this for too long to walk away.

There was something else to consider. He wanted Jian Bo's mate. He hadn't been able to stop thinking about her since the fight. It had nothing to do with wanting her as a mate although he could do worse. He wanted to experiment. Could she conceive a child with him? 

He pushed thoughts of Brittney aside and concentrated on the matter at hand. He was now regretting killing Colt before he completed his mission. He would have to send someone else. He made his choice and contacted her. He listened carefully to her response hoping that he didn't hear any of the defiance that he heard from Colt. Satisfied that she would do as she was told, the master tossed out the memory of Colt as if he was nothing more than trash.

The next item on his agenda was the alliance between Troy Cross and Xavier Dubois. What had prompted it? The two vampires hated each other but yet they were working together. After thinking about it, he realized that the death of the human woman had been the beginning of it. They had figured out that the rogue had come from neither of them. 

"Shit," he spat out as he realized that his plan was falling apart. But even so, he wasn't ready to give up. He returned to his room, climbed into his coffin and waited to hear from the rogue that he had sent to commit murder.

******

Brittney woke up with a start. She had been dreaming that she was in a fight with the lower rogue. Her face was wet with tears that she didn't understand at first. Then she remembered. She had killed someone. Not someone she reminded herself; something that had at one time been human. After a moment she realized that she wasn't crying because she had killed it- she had to in order to protect her and Jian. She was crying because she didn't know if it had been the one that killed Amanda. At that moment she decided that they all had killed her. If that one hadn't, another one would have. They along with those that controlled them were the enemy even if they hadn't been the ones to do the actual killing. She hated all rogue.

Jian lay quietly with his arms around her knowing that she would talk when she was ready. That time didn't come until after lunch and it wasn't about the rogue or the fight.

"When are we going back to work?" she asked as she put away the last of the lunch dishes.

"Are you ready to return?" Jian asked somewhat surprised by the question.

"No, but I need some sense of normalcy," Brittney replied. "My whole world has been turned on its ear and I need to feel normal."

Jian understood and even agreed to a point. He wondered if she was ready to hear the whispers and comments. Her emotions were still raw from losing her sister, mating with him and the taking of a life.

"I understand but I think that we need more time ..."

"Jian," Brittney said cutting him off. "I need to go back to work. I need to think about something else than Amanda and Paul. I need to think about something besides this new world that I find myself in. I know that we're going to be the topic of many conversations, but that will pass. Can we please go back to work?"

Jian thought about it and agreed under a few conditions.

"You must never go anywhere alone," he said holding up a hand to silence her when she started to speak. "You must give me a chance to get people in place to help me protect you and before you say it, I am aware that you are quite capable of protecting yourself. However, I still insist on extra protection."

Seeing that she wasn't going to get him to budge, Brittney agreed to his terms. They would return to work by the middle of the week. After lunch they trained with their weapons and then went for a run. When they returned, the answering machine was blinking.

*****

Carmen walked around the house listening to every conversation that she could. Unfortunately, none of the conversations contained any information that would be useful. Xavier made sure that the house staff watched their tongues by making them witness the deaths of the security guards who had agreed to help her by keeping silent. The one guard that survived was assigned to her care. She hated him and did everything that she could to provoke her into hitting her. When that didn't work, she tried seducing him knowing that both of them would be killed.

"Are you serious?" he asked laughing. "I wouldn't fuck a human woman if my life was threatened. Your kind are amongst the ugliest beings that I have ever seen!"

Realizing that she was stuck, Carmen decided that it was time to find a way to kill the monster that called himself her mate. However, she did have one concern. Xavier had released his ugly seed inside of her whenever he had the chance. Sometimes it was several times a day. The day always ended and began with him being inside of her filling her womb with his monster seed in the hopes of a pregnancy. She had no way of knowing if things worked the same as they did in human pregnancies. In order to find out, she had to talk to one of the female monsters.

She waited until she knew that Xavier was gone before approaching whom she decided was the most approachable of the female staff.

"Hey you," she said to the woman who couldn't have been more than twenty-five in human years.

"Yes Mistress?" the woman asked without looking up from what she was doing.

"I've got a question for you and before you get all upset it has nothing to do with that thing that you call master. Well it does but not in the way that you're thinking."

"Mistress should be more careful in how she talks about the master," the woman called Ginny said. 

"Whatever," Carmen replied. "I have a question for you- do you have any brats?"

"Brats Mistress? Do you mean children?"

"Baby monsters... babies if you want to call them that," Carmen replied.

"No Mistress, I haven't been given that opportunity. Why do you ask?"

Carmen looked around to see who was listening and saw only Raymond. She was going to tell him to get lost but saved her breath. 

"How does one of you know if you're pregnant?" Carmen asked. "Do you have a monthly cycle or something?"

"We ourselves don't know," Ginny replied with a smile.

"What do you mean that you don't know?" Carmen asked. "Don't you have morning sickness? Don't your tits get sore?"

"We only know when we are pregnant because our mates tell us. They have an enhanced sense of smell and hearing that we as females don't have. You will also know by the way you are treated. Master will become kinder and more protective of you. He will always be at your side and will be the one to deliver the child when the time comes."

"Are you fucking serious?" Carmen asked as she thought about Xavier being by her side twenty-four hours a day. "How long do the pregnancies last?"

"Not much longer than a human pregnancy... a month longer is all," Ginny replied still not looking at her.

"What about miscarriages?" Carmen asked her medical background showing.

"Miscarriages? They never happen. But mistress, when the child is born there will be a big party where his name will be revealed."

"His?" Carmen asked. 

"Yes Mistress, all children are born male. The females of our kind are made."

"So there are no females born like the men?" Carmen asked. 

"Well, a long time ago there were," Ginny replied. "After a while the number of female births dwindled down to zero. That's why I appear human to you."

Carmen digested the information and decided to think about it later. What she wanted to know if there was any way in which to prevent pregnancy but couldn't ask. She would have to find out on her own. The good thing was that she wasn't pregnant. Xavier's treatment of her hadn't changed and she was certain that he wouldn't hesitate to tell her if she was indeed pregnant.

She left the woman to her work and went back to her room closely followed by Raymond.

"You think that you're so smart don't you?" he sneered. "I know why you were asking those questions and I know what you're thinking. There is no way in which to prevent a pregnancy and there is no way in which to terminate it once it happens. Nature has ensured the survival of our male children."

"Has it?" Carmen calmly asked. "There is a first time for everything. Who knows? Maybe your master carries the gene that will give him a female child... what would he do then? Kill her? Deny that she exists? Here is my wish... If I do happen to get pregnant by that abomination, I hope to god that it's a female. I hope that she is born with every power that he has magnified. I will bond with her and together we would kill not only him, but all of you..."

Of all the things that could have triggered his rage, Carmen hadn't expected this. Raymond's hands were suddenly around her neck and she was lifted from the floor. Instead of struggling, she stilled willing him with her eyes to kill her. Just as quickly as it happened, it was over. Raymond dropped her to the floor and walked away.

******

Xavier found a distraught Raymond in his office and knew the reason for his upset. Word of what had happened between him and Carmen had reached him. What surprised him was that the vampire was in his office waiting for him instead of being summoned.

"Tell me what happened," Xavier said as he sat down.

"She committed blasphemy!" Raymond exclaimed. "She wished a female child upon you! She said that she and it would bond and kill you! I beg your forgiveness for laying hands on her, but it was more than I could bear."

Xavier was in a quandary. Protocol dictated that Raymond be punished by death because he laid hands on Carmen but he knew his mate. That was exactly what she hoped Raymond would do.

"You came to me of your own free will," Xavier said after a moment. "That means a great deal to me. However, as you are aware, protocol dictates that you die. I am going to waive that rule because I know my mate. You will have to be punished; there is no getting around that."

"I understand sire, thank you sire," the grateful vampire said. "I will accept whatever punishment that you determine to be adequate for my error in judgment."

"You are to continue to guard my mate," Xavier replied. 

"Sire?"

"You have been the only one that has always been honest with me as far as what happens with her is concerned. You know her, know her tricks and you won't make the same mistake again. Now... I want you to pick someone out to befriend her but who will remain loyal to me. I want to know everything that talk about and every question that she asks."





The Slayers Ch. 08



"That will be difficult sire," Raymond replied. She hates all of us female included although..."

Raymond filled Xavier in on the conversation that Carmen had with Ginny.

"Maybe she will be the one to use."

"Maybe," Xavier replied. "Send Ginny to my office and select another guard to assist you in guarding her. I don't trust my fiery mate. As far as the punishment goes, you will be whipped but not skinned or killed. Report back to me after you have selected your assistant and briefed him. "

"As you wish," Raymond said with a nod of his head. He was thankful that he had decided to be honest and approached Xavier before he had been summoned. The whipping would hurt, but it wouldn't be nearly as painful as being skinned. He would be good as new within two hours after the punishment.

***

Carmen fumed. There had to be a way out of the mess she was in and to kill Xavier in the process. She was surprised to realize that she meant every word that she told Raymond. She really did hope that if she had a brat that it was a female. On the bright side, Raymond was probably ashes by now. The new guard had apparently been filled in about her and made no effort to interact with her in any way but watched her like a hawk. The plus side was that he was young and hopefully malleable.

"Good riddance," she murmured quite satisfied that she had succeeded at getting rid of Raymond.

"Good evening," a voice that she recognized said from behind her three hours later.

She whirled around and stared at Raymond who was looking at her with a huge smirk on his face.

"Surprised to see me?" he asked still smirking. "It seems that your little ploy didn't work. In fact, the master has rewarded me by making you the responsibility of Hermes and me. I assume that you already tried some of your tricks on him- don't bother to continue. I am quite sure that you've already discovered that he can turn a deaf ear to your sickening sweet words. "

Not knowing what to say, Carmen turned and walked away. Xavier had surprised her but he also had made a small mistake. It wasn't over yet.

***** 

Cherie kept watch over Ben and Jack whenever she could. They were still out of the line of fire but that could change at any given moment. Xavier was unpredictable in the best of times and now that things were happening, he would be even worse. They were still staying in the vacant store and always left together. Safety in numbers she supposed but the reality of it was, if they were attacked; there would be nothing that they could do. That concerned her, but there was nothing that could be done at the moment. Her immediate issue was how to obtain their trust. She had done her homework and found out what had happened to Jack's wife. 

"Damn," she swore as she remembered the information. There was no way that Jack was going to trust her or any other vampire for that matter. That meant that she couldn't approach him directly. She had to go through his friend Ben. She had done her research on him too and was quite impressed with his background. But- he was going to be a very hard sell. She still hadn't worked out how she was going to make contact or even how she was going to help them. That would be a moot point if they refused her help and there was only so much she could do without their knowledge. She vanished when she saw one of the men peeking through the window. She couldn't afford to be seen just yet.

*****

Someone's out there," Jack said as he peeked through the window. "I think it's time that we leave here."

"It was one of them wasn't it?" Ben asked concerned.

"Yes but... it doesn't feel the same as the others," Jack replied. "The others have a feeling of evil about them; this one seems to be curious."

"Interesting," Ben mused. "What do you suppose it means?"

"I don't know and I don't care," Jack replied as he began to pack his things. "All I know is that one of those things killed Emily and if I catch it- it's dead."

Ben didn't reply but began to pack up his own things. An hour later, they were in the car and headed to the north part of the city. 

"Where are we going?" Ben asked when it became apparent that Jack had no place in mind.

"First we have to get rid of this car," Jack replied. "Whoever was watching us knows this car. I think we'll go to the airport and rent a car. We might as well try to find a place out there too."

"I know where we can stay," Ben said, "and it won't cost us a fortune."

Three hours later, Jack was driving a blue Nissan Versa and headed to the exclusive section of South Philly.

"Who do you know that lives here?" Ben asked as he pulled into a parking spot that was labeled 'reserved'.

"The building is owned by the people that we work for," Ben replied. "Actually, they own places all over the city but I thought that we needed distance from where we were staying."

They took their bags out of the car and went to the back of the building where there was a private entrance. Jack whistled when they were inside of the spacious condo. 

"Take your pick of rooms," Ben said as he went to the kitchen. "Each room has its own bathroom and a king sized bed. I'll make us something to eat while you get settled."

While Jack was getting settled, Ben made a phone call.

"Hey, it's me Ben... yes we're fine and no I'm not going to tell you where we are. Yes.... Have you found out whose here? Jian Bo? Are you kidding me? Do you know how I can reach him? Find out and let me know."

"Who was that?" Jack asked.

"That was one of my sources," Ben replied. "I asked her to find out what slayers were in the area and you won't believe whose here."

"What?" Jack asked incredulous. "Jian Bo here?"

"According to my source yes," Ben replied. "He's one of the big guns; actually he is the big gun after his father Hsin. My source- Maggie is checking into how to reach him."

Jack was speechless. He had never met a slayer face to face that he was aware of but he knew who Hsin and Jian Bo were. Anyone involved in the fight with the monsters and even the monsters themselves knew who the Bos' were. 

"We have to talk about work," Ben said changing the subject. "If we don't go to work it will raise suspicions."

"Take a leave of absence," Jack said. "Tell them that you aren't done with your family business. I have to go back to work, I'll be missed more than you will be and I have no valid excuse to take a leave of absence. It's common knowledge that I have no family so my absence would be harder to explain. There's another thing, this leaves you free to get in touch with the contacts that I don't have access to..."

"I don't like it," Ben interrupted.

"Neither do I, but it can't be helped."

The men continued to talk while Ben made each of them a sandwich. Ben tried unsuccessfully to get Jack to change his mind about going to work. Jack ended the discussion by changing the subject and would not allow the subject of his going to work to resurface.

****

Cherie couldn't help herself. She had to go back to the vacant store to check on Jack and Ben. As soon as she arrived, she knew that they were gone.

"Shit!" she swore under her breath.

She mentally kicked herself for leaving but she had no choice. She didn't know where to begin to look for them- they could be anywhere and running the license plate of the car would be useless. She knew that they had gotten rid of it. She left the store and went home to think about her next step. She hoped that wherever they had gone to, that they stayed there.

*****

Finally the day that they were returning to work was here. Brittney looked at herself in the mirror trying to decide if she looked any different. No, she decided. She looked exactly the same. Jian was waiting by the front door for her smiling when he saw her.

"Are you ready for our first day at work as a married couple?" he asked kissing her when she reached him.

Suddenly she wasn't so sure, but replied yes. 

"The worst of it will be over by the end of the day," Jian assured her, "but beloved, remember that you are to go nowhere alone. Are your weapons in a comfortable place?"

"Yes and yes," Brittney replied. "Let's get this over with."

She was surprised to find a card and a bouquet of flowers on her desk. Several people spoke to her and offered her their condolences. After a few minutes, Brittney began to question the wisdom of returning back to work. Quietly, Jian moved to her side and put an arm around her totally ignoring the raised eyebrows.

"Let's go take a break before we start work," he said as he led her away after the last person left her desk. 

Instead of going to the break room where he knew that there would be more people, he took her to an empty office and closed the door behind them. He didn't speak as he held her close until he felt her settle.

"I'm sorry..."

"Sh... there is no need to apologize," Jian said as he kissed her forehead. "Let's sit here for few more moments."

"I'm ready," Brittney said a few minutes later. 

As they left the office, someone hurried away. Both Jian and Brittney sensed the person but continued on their way.

"It has begun," Jian murmured to Brittney. 

"I know, I felt it too," Brittney replied as she glanced around.

The person who hurried away was a housekeeper who possessed the skill to sense slayers. She could only hope that the slayers didn't sense her as she had sensed them. She rushed to the housekeeping office and made a call.

"Sire..."