ReVamp

by Yygriega

What if Harry was born a vampire but everything else in his life was the same? i tried not to plagiarize but the point is that nothing major has actually been changed in his life. sorry if you feel cheated somehow but i wanted to only tweak one aspect of his life and try to keep everything the same.

1. Chapter 1

REVAMP

Chapter One

My name is Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden, conjure by it at your own risk. My mother died when I was born, the man I thought was my father died when I was 6. With no other family, I went into the system, but was adopted at age 12 by Justin DuMorne. Justin had adopted a girl my age, by the name Elaine Malory. We both had abilities most children hadn't. By 14 I, like most boys, become interested in girls and began a relationship with her. We tried a few things, then one day, she agreed to have sex with me… something changed in me, I could feel her life pouring into me.

And I liked it.

Chapter Two: Blood Rites

A lot happens in 17 years. I met two women: well I met lots of people but these two are important. See, a bunch of stuff I don't want to discuss happened pretty quickly once Elaine died, basically resulting in me homeless at 14, being pursued by a council of wizards, and a demon from the bad part of the demons' neighborhood. After living on the streets for 2 years, the council caught up to me and were more than ready to cut my head off but an old man stopped them, and took me in. he taught me magic from his point of view; a more constructive and safe method. I learned respect, and appreciation from him, then decided to move to Chicago, where I was allegedly born, and become a private investigator. Before I got my start, I apprenticed a different investigator, Nick Christian. We saved a little runaway from a troll and a cute little cop saved me from the troll, not to mention jail time. Karen Murphy later became a detective and started hiring me for the weird cases. That's when I met the second woman; Susan Rodriguez. The three of us solved the highest profile double Homicide in Chicago since the Great Depression, also linking it to the fastest major drug bust since Depression era too.

I teamed up with some teenage werewolf vigilantes to fight FBI Hexenwolves, and a biker gang of Lycanthropes, to save a loup-garou from himself, Susan got turned into a red court Vampire and moved to Peru to keep from eating me, my fairy godmother, yep fairy godmother gave my obligation to her over to Mab, Queen of the winter Sidhe, a war erupted between Vampires and Wizards, that I remain precariously on the fence from despite kind of being the dumb ass that started it, and a party of fallen angels and their sociopathic hosts tried to snag the shroud of Turin. Just this week I was attacked by mold demons and braved flaming purple monkey poop, thrown by flying god damned monkeys, while my new white court vampire friend Thomas and I tried to return a litter of Tibetan temple dogs from being sold on the Black Magic Market. The stress must have gotten to me because I accidentally kept one of the pooches. He was small and grey like a mouse, and squeaked like one too, so that's what Thomas and I took to calling him.

The little runt was pretty useful, I mean he warned me before I got attacked by a black court Vampire, one I recognized from Mavra's scourge, and tried to help which was cute, but counter productive, and now he was scoring me cute points at a party Thomas took me to. I was Supernaturally sexy and all that sure, but so was Thomas, and the party attendees were mostly adult film stars. Thomas and I looked like brothers. He and I shared the lazy curl of our hair, the shape of our storm cloud grey eyes, and the strong chin, but his face was more boyishly charming, and mine was a manly handsome. One would hardly think, looking at us, that he was 5 years older than me. I hated that about him. He also exuded a lazy confidence, which I could only feign for a little while before growing tired. He was also pretty well fed, while I was not in either sense.

Susan was the one I always drank the deepest from, she enjoyed the sex, and our dates, and didn't think about it as a feeding me. Lieutenant Murphy was my source of income, she had me consult her on the supernatural, and knowing I was a vampire that fed off life force she preferred I fed on her than an innocent bystander. Murphy didn't have sex with me to feed me, she knew I only needed a touch so sometimes she would just touch my face, or rub my back, or let me hold her hand in the car. It was like a torturous diet. Added to that, business was slow, so I wasn't eating healthy. I went on dates with random women and had small bites from them, the rare occasion I had money to go out, but even that was like craving a lobster dinner and eating half a tuna sandwich. Thomas had a girlfriend no less; a steady source of energy, who was brimming with it, and wanted him to take it. Some guys had all the luck.

Oh, I guess I should elaborate. I was raised by a man named Malcolm Dresden; a stage magician who named me after his faves, but obviously he wasn't my real father or I wouldn't be a white court Vampire.

A pretty woman invited us into her home for the party and led us to a quiet room to meet with Arturo Genosa. The man was a big time adult film producer; the pretty lady throwing the party was his first ex wife. We spoke about a job. The women who worked close to him were dropping like flies and the job was to confirm it was a curse and stop it. I may have upped my rates, charging him 75 an hour and 1000 up front. He took the deal. As part of my gig I had to be on set with Genosa. He tried to talk me and Thomas into being actors but we both declined vehemently. I was made production assistant, a fancy word for gofer.

At the party I got to see Justine and Thomas together. Justine reacted to Thomas a lot like Karen to me. They had the CPL, as we called it; short for creepy psychic link. Oddly enough, I didn't form that link with Susan, or Kim, or Linda. The women I actually slept with and fed on for a long time and a lot deeper than Karen, but I spent all my time with Karen and took my little bites from her more often. I suppose that emotional intimacy that we had, the kind between friends, the profound trust of partners who deal with life threatening situations on a constant basis was far more bonding than just inserting rod P into slot V. Thomas and Justine had a similarly profound bond... I think about my food a lot.

I went home after the meeting and brought the puppy to my lab to keep him safe from Mister cat. When Bob woke up he reacted comically. "Holy cats, Harry, you stole one of the temple dogs?" we moved on to discussing White Vampires. Watching another vamp at work gave me all kinds of questions that Bob patiently answered, but when I asked him what happens to a girl who was fed on long term, he scared the crap out of me. "Eventually they kill them." That meant no matter how small my bites were, eventually I would kill Karen.

"How long do they last?" I didn't want to know but I had to. Bob understood the question and mulled over how to dumb down the answer to my level.

"Well let me put it this way… imagine Justine has a dozen cookies, and every time Thomas feeds, he is taking one cookie, and she makes another dozen each month. If he eats two dozen cookies in one month she is dead, but if he maybe only eats one dozen or 18 cookies a month, he can keep her alive until… well as Justine ages, she makes less cookies. She hits 40 and is only making half a dozen a month, but meanwhile Thomas is still eating 18. In a month or two, no more cookies."

I gulped. "How many of Karen's cookies have I been eating?"

"Judging from your pallid complexion, and stark cheekbones I'd say not enough. Its like you're taking a bite a week." I was still in a panic, but I had to rest up. "You have my permission to go out at sunrise for the purpose of finding Mavra's hiding place. In the meantime watch the mouse."

I went to bed, falling asleep the instant my head hit the silky cold plush pillow. My room had been upgraded in comfort courtesy of Linda Randall, a person I met on a case 4 years ago. She went into witness protection but with a new name and new job she still paid me a few visits, and insisted we get new sheets. Instead of my miss-matched but all cotton ensembles, she bought crème colored satin sheets and pillowcases, 4 decadently fluffy feather pillows and an overstuffed 5-foot long pillow. Eventually, my worn out comforter was thrown out for a feather pillow comforter that went under the satin sheets. I missed my comforter so I bought myself one that had a Moroccan print on it, which she approved of. She was mostly with me because her addiction to sex was sated by her occasional visits. Somehow emotional imbalances like that went away when a White Court Vamp fed on someone, just like Justine's whatever her problem was sated by Thomas. Linda was cured, and decided to get a real relationship, which I wasn't interested in, and she also found Karen's bag of things under my bed, which couldn't have tipped the scales in my favor. All the same, my bed was amazing.

I woke to my cat walking across my face at the crack of dawn, and begrudgingly I shambled to the door to let him out with Bob, his ride along. I showered, shaved, and cooked breakfast, then heard a scratching sound from my lab and opened the trap door to find the pup had escaped the box and learned to climb the stepladder. "Hells bells, dog, you're insane." I only had to reach my long arm in and grab him by the scruff of his neck. He stopped moving, and let me hoist him out the trap door, and sniffed at the lab from a cautious distance while I closed the hatch. I gave him some ham and eggs with a bowl of water while I ate too. I thought about how to go about the curse, yes my presence would help in that I could counter it, but that wasn't enough. I needed to stop whoever was casting it and push their face in a little. In order to do that I had to figure out who it was which I might not be able to do without some help. I made two phone calls and left two messages, then threw on my black leather duster over my sweats and tee that read, 'I've got a theory: It could be bunnies.' Over a photo of two detectives examining a dead body and pocketed the pooch.

I got to the gym in time to catch Murphy giving a demonstration. Two big guys, skilled at takedowns, working well together, went in for an attack, but got taken down by a tiny blond. Some guys in the group of students grumbled and paid others in the crowd. I noticed the ones paying up were younger. Kids these days. They must have thought two big guys stood a chance against Karen, but they had never seen her in real action. I had seen her take down a hexenwolf with one broken arm, a red court vampire, a ghoul, and a chlorofeind, and came out on top, and for the most part unscathed. These kids were out of her league. After kicking their asses, Murphy instructed them how to get her next time, then let the kids spar with each other.

If I were to describe Murphy in one word it would be a scream too high pitched for human ears and running in place while flapping my hands. She's too cute to process. If I could say so without being hit, I would blurt it out at inappropriate times without bothering to control the volume of my voice. She picked up a staff while I took off my duster and boots, and then swung at my back hard. I blocked by sweeping my staff one way, while rolling the other, placing me behind her. The guys stopped to watch the show; some got flipped because of it. I stood then had to duck her jab, and swung my staff at her knees, which she blocked by jamming her staff in the ground. There was a loud crack sound of impact, then she lifted her staff sliding mine over her head, shifted her weight into almost a shoveling motion, and extended the other end of the staff into my chest while I was still crouched, and off balance, pinning me backward.

"You let me win?" she accused me under the chorus of applause.

"No." I said. It wasn't exactly a lie. I pulled my strength and speed, but she still out skilled me. She shook her head, and then we began the exercises.

"What have you been up to? I haven't seen your face in weeks."

"Miss me?" I wiggled my eyebrows. She looked concerned. My bite a week look was still roguishly handsome but obviously I was sick. "Been on a case… got a couple now I could use some help with."

"Sure." She said as if she already said yes, but I was still asking. She slapped my knuckles with her staff.

"Hells bells, ow!"

"Pussy." She remarked, taking another shot, but I blocked this time.

"I got attacked by a black court last night." I began. Her look went from mild concern from a work associate to the deep maternal worry. "I got out okay, it was just one, but I know there's a nest in town somewhere, and black court aren't as harmless fun loving as the reds. When they feed, they don't leave much behind."

"Meaning?" Karen looked sick. I think she understood, but she doesn't like to leave things undefined.

"The longer we let them hang around the more innocent people will be killed or turned. Fledgling black courts have pretty healthy appetites." She shuddered, I took a swing, and she blocked it.

"What's the plan?"

"I got Bob looking for their nest, once he finds it, you, me and two others are going in and making John Carpenter proud." She got a fierce grin on her face.

"Any way we can arrange it for Saturday night?" I cocked my head to the side. "Clan Murphy Annual." She rolled her eyes. "Since my divorce from Richard it has been the most dreadful time of the year." Ah, the divorce, I remember it well. Karen was taken out bar hopping to get her mind off of it and they happened into Mac's Pub. She sat at the bar beside me, I bought her a drink, then finally she recognized me. We talked, gave her my number, she left, then called me to ask about a case two days later. Not the call I was hoping, needing to feed and all. I found the goblin killing folks by granting wishes and stopped her, then convinced Murph to take me home and banged her on the washer while it was running. Delicious energy but after that, she became extra guarded around me. Bummer. Fortunately I met Susan.

"Most people would rather go to a family picnic than a life or death, evil blood sucker raid, but I guess I could swing it."

"I don't expect-" she stopped the insensitive remark then looked up at my face. "Sorry, I-"

"It won't be a long job. We break in, free some hostages, pound some steaks into hearts, cut off some heads, sling some holy water,"

"Living the cliché? Garlic, and crosses?" she accepted the change of subject graciously. "We could use more bodies…"

I shook my head, denying her offer to throw SI guys my way. "I like yours." She rolled her eyes at my wording.

"What about that Knight of the Cross? Is he coming?" I shook my head.

"Well if these things are hurt by crosses he should come. Isn't he like a walking talking cross? He would make short work of these things."

"The almighty will send him if we need him." I shook my head. She nodded at the two guys she put a hurting on earlier, Stallings and O'Toole.

"O'Toole there is Malone's nephew. After what you did for his uncle, I started training him in the creepy stuff… he would come if you asked. And he would be just as good as me." I gave her a look that meant drop it. Murphy did but I knew it'd come up again. She's stubborn. Heh. But I'm more. "What about the White council? Isn't this kind of their job? Especially since the war is wizards versus vampires."

"By and large they don't like me. As basic principal of magic, monsters don't tend to have power like I do, and if they do its all focused on one survival tactic like grounding out magic thrown at them… I'm a vampire and a wizard level practitioner… that's like a third world country with a dozen nukes to the White council. Yeah, I need their help like I need a sword in my neck."

"Someone resisted the Dresden charm?"

"What can I say, they got no taste."

"How many laws you planning to break?" she eyed me. She doesn't like me breaking laws, so when she's around I've managed to limit it to breaking and entering… when she's around.

"None." She eyed me. "If I can help it." I shrugged. We completed the sequence in silence. I knew she was working out what she had to say, and I knew to wait till she came out with it, so after we finished, and bowed, I waited for her to say it.

"I really don't want to sidestep any laws. Vampires are one thing but going vigilante is another." She was thinking of how far gone agent Denton was. He became a hexenwolf to stop murderers, and rapists, and other scum that got off scot-free by playing the system. But he changed. The power, the blatant indifference for his strict guidelines, and the paltriness of the system, was like a drug, and soon he was killing because it was fun. It was because he lost control that her partner Carmichael died, sacrificing himself gallantly for her. Karen was afraid it would be her to become a monster next.

"Done." We moved to the edge of the mat, where I passed Karen my staff so I could throw on my coat and boots.

"And if we can do it Saturday…"

"Hey if we end up doing it early, maybe you can get laid up in the hospital or something." I took back my staff.

"I'd like that, yeah." She said sarcastically.

"Do me a favor, and keep an eye on missing persons. Maybe it'll clue us in on where the nest is."

"Gotcha… Harry?" she bit back laughter as she eyed my coat. "That a puppy in your pocket or you just happy to see me?" She asked as she plucked the puppy out my pocket and let him lick her nose. I fished out my phone and took a picture of the cute moment to set as my background, and Karen's caller ID picture, and the lock screen. It was so precious; if I had a face space page I would post it and like the shit out of it.

"Yeah, I got a new fur ball."

"What's his name?"

"I don't intend on keeping him, but it looks like I'll have to. Thomas calls him The Mouse, I guess that's as good a name as any."

"Thomas, the other lust sucker?"

"Ew, but yeah." Karen didn't like being in both our presence at the same time for obvious reasons, and we were hanging out a lot, so Karen and I hung out less. "Hey, you want a dog?" she gave me a look. Karen is afraid of animals. Not deathly, obviously, she just feels that dogs would erect cities if they belonged in them. She stuffed the lucky little fur ball into her aikido pajamas top where he curled up and kicked one of her boobs trying to figure the new place out.

"Today is paperwork day, I could use something cute to distract me."

"Darn, I have someplace to be today, sorry." I replied. She snorted. The puppy looked as confused as I had the first time I heard her snort too. How could that adorable little turned up nose make that sound?

"So what's the other job?"

"Porno set is cursed. I have to break it." I shrugged, trying to seem board by the notion of being in a studio full of naked sexy women. She slowly shook her head at me. Our cpl probably bypassed any way I tried to spin it, the fact of the matter was that I was nervous that I might lose control or worse, the women would. And I was also excited, because duh, a studio full of naked sexy women that might lose control.

"You… pig." She said in her disgusted tone. She backed away shaking her head disapprovingly and called out, "be back at 5 pig!"

"Come on, Murph!" I begged. The guys all made assorted pig noises at her behest. I shook my head and escaped with her repeating "5, Dresden!" among the racket of the guys oinking.

Chapter Three

I had a tackle box full of essential items in the trunk of my trusty Blue Beetle that I pre stocked with some warding items. I took it out and set it on the hood then smoothed a wrinkle I missed out of my black slacks, looked over my work boots, for any scuffs or stains, then absentmindedly checked my black polo shirt for scuffs stains or wrinkles. I smoothed down my hair and sighed. I was nervous. A car pulled up and two men got out. The driver seemed cool, and greeted me. "Morning."

"Morning." I replied. "New guy?" he asked. "Is it obvious?" I asked. "Cameraman?" he asked nervously. "Stunt double" I joked. He laughed and replied, "cool." We both got our things together and headed for the warehouse made studio, and shook hands when our paths met. "Jake." He said over his firm, but not threatening, handshake. "Harry." I answered.

The other guy looked like a douche. He scowled and asked, "Who the hell are you?" "I the hell am Harry." I answered. "You always gotta be a wiseass?" he snapped. "Sometimes I gotta sleep." He shoved the heel of his hand into my shoulder and tried to pass, but I didn't budge at all. I stood inhumanly still for a little creep factor sake. When we were all silent for a dramatic second I dropped my eyes to where he touched me, and smirked. "Wrist is a little limp there, guy." He balled a fist and took a swing but I ducked it and he went past me fast. Jake got between us and put his hand up.

"Whoa, Bobby! Take it easy!" Bobby picked up his bag and eyed me on his way to the door.

"You can just forget about it, creep" he called at me. "Forget about what?" I asked in an amused tone. "I know what you're thinking, It ain't happening!" he spat. "You're psychic now too?" I drawled. "Wiseass stunt double." He muttered, "It happened once! You ain't gonna make a name for yourself, so just go home!"

"He isn't a stunt double, Bobby." Jake explained. "He said-" Bobby countered. "It was a joke." Jake replied.

"I'm warning you asshole!" he went with a final word to mask his confusion, and walked inside. I pretended to quake with fear, dramatically chewing the nails of both hands. Jake sighed.

"Someone woke up with his testosterone in a knot." I muttered.

"Try not to take it personal."

"Whys he so worried about being replaced by a stunt double? What happened once? Are there really stunts in erotica?" my eyes went wide "what kind of stunts you do in these movies?" Jake laughed. I was sincere.

"You really are new…. Sometimes, the actor has a hard time closing the scene, you know?" he gestured below the belt. "So they bring in a stunt cock for the big finish."

"Oh dear lord." I rubbed the bridge of my nose.

"Heh, he'll calm down once he comes up with his performance name."

"Heh, performance name." I smirked at the double meaning.

"Hey, names have power!" didn't I know it!

"What's your performance name?"

"Jack Rockhardt." He said with confidence. I didn't react. He looked despondent. "You never heard of me?"

"Don't get upset, I don't watch this stuff." I shrugged. He looked worse. He introduced me around, I got a few good laughs and some valuable information and set to work assembling cameras and putting them in place. I got the name 'stilts' from Joan, the producer, but after a while of trying to covertly discern if she was a suspect or not she got flushed and gave me busywork while she vanished. Oopse. The whole notice me noticing you thing. Then I felt it. The palatable anger and ill will, surging through the building seeking out its prey. I followed it, grabbing my tackle box, and made my way to the dressing rooms apparently.

There was a scream just as I tore into the room surprising and passing a man and a naked woman, and shoved a man out my way to bust through a second door. My senses warned me just in time to jump, landing on my but onto the counter. A woman sprawled on the floor, while blood began to pool around her as scalding hot water spat out the broken shower glass onto the floor. The water spread to a broken light fixture, I hexed it, then the power went out… in the entire building. I sighed. It would be nice to have finesse in some aspect of my life. I got down to the girl, letting my mother's amulet fill the room with light, and examined her wounds. A large shard of glass cut her ear to collarbone. There were questions and panic but I barked orders and they were obeyed.

Bobby called the ambulance, Jake brought me ice and Joan and Emma held flashlights for me while I tried to wrap Gisele up and ice her wound. She stopped breathing so Jake and I administered CPR. When the EMTs arrived they said we saved her life with our quick decisive action. Everyone looked at me. I ran to her rescue like I knew it was going to happen, furthermore, I knew instinctively how to take care of everything and save her life. It was a little suspicious.

I snooped around the bathroom for a while, piecing together what happened. "How did you know?" Joan asked from the door in a shaky, almost accusatory tone.

"I felt it; I didn't know where from, but I knew something bad was coming and followed it to her. I saw the downed light and the shower running, so I didn't touch the water, then the power went out, thank god, so I just-"

"You've seen a lot of people get hurt before?" she asked. I could tell she was shaking. I could feel her fear; of me, of the curse. No one ever seemed afraid of Thomas. I was doing something wrong. I nodded.

"Her face was burned, there wasn't fog on the windows yet, but it was hot and muggy. I think the water turned hot she broke through the glass, cutting herself, and then the light dropped, electrocuting her. She could have died three times over." I shook my head. "Poor girl."

"But you saved her. My god, I set up the water heater, and the power- I-"

"It wasn't you. It was the Molochio."

"Damn it, Stilts, did Arturo fill your mind with that crap? The superstitious fool. If it wasn't mistakes on my part, it has to be sabotage, not some hocus pocus." We were all sent out for a long lunch, told to return at 3pm so I returned to my office where Kincaid; a mercenary I met a while back who had a knack for vampire hunting and was never far from a little girl with all the world's written knowledge downloaded into her brain, held me at gunpoint to negotiate our contract. The Archive was in town with him I presumed, which made me a little weary considering bloodthirsty monsters were lurking about. We came to terms and he left me to investigate more into Genosa.

I got as much info I could and decided to check up on the pup while I had time. I went back to SI and found the little scamp fighting Snoopy in the waiting room. I greeted Murphy's partner Stallings and traded some banter, then grabbed the pup and knocked on her office door. She swore up a storm, but let me in, knowing it was me. The heat off this woman scared the piss out of me. I laughed nervously and tried to escape but when she slammed the door on me I knew something was up. She never threw fits.

"Murph? Or are you some sort of doppelgänger?"

"I don't want to talk about it." She pouted through the door. Fine, don't talk we have cpl remember? I thought as I felt out her mood, and the pup had begun to growl at me. My eyes were turning silver and I couldn't help but think of my chat with Bob. I was hungry. I had skipped my last two bites and now I craved a cookie; a warm, moist, sweet, delicious cookie. To the dog's high-pitched growl, the other cops in the area were watching me press my hands and forehead into the door, growling myself, in a deep quiet rumble. But the sound Karen made from inside her door; that unmistakable deep groaning scream of climax, made everyone snap to attention. "Oh, God I need a cookie!"

O'Toole hurt himself jumping out of his chair, muttered an affirmative and hurried away to get his boss a cookie. The door swung open, and I could see her flushed cheeks under a forced scowl. I laughed. "You are going to have so many cookies!" she dragged me out to the thicker walled emergency stairway and pushed me into the wall.

"Why am I coming about cookies? Or why are you coming about cookies?" she shook her head. The cpl thing was hard to tell who was who as far as source of thoughts. Like hive mind.

"It was a metaphor."

"Nice first day on the job?" she asked with a smirk.

"Terrible." I replied quickly and sincerely. "I'm going back at 3. You first, why you bat shit crazy?"

"My mom called."

"Bad news?"

"Not really but yeah." She chewed on her lip some, not making any effort to elaborate.

"You want to clarify or cum to cookies again?" I threatened. She shook her head.

"My sister is engaged…"

"I didn't know you had a sister!"

"Worse yet, my baby sister will be showing up to the reunion with a fiancé, while I go stag."

"Take me." I offered. She shot me a look that read, 'like I'm bringing a family foreign, lust sucking, vampire/wizard to a family function.' Ouch. "I'm sure your boyfriend, O'Toole will go then." She shot me another look reading, 'shut up, it's not like that.' When I feed on a girl she carries herself a little different, she exudes a level of confidence men find very appealing, and she typically is imbued with a sexual energy that also attracts. That said, the cute cheerleader look plus being really cool, with a dash of me feeding on her, and that equaled a hell of a catch. So for O'Toole, yeah, it was like that. And that kind of pissed me off. I mean, he probably felt pretty special, spending all that extra time, learning how to spot and protect against monsters, taking out trolls and what have you with her, and I was on a case, out of sight, out of mind. Maybe there was a moment she let her guard down around him too. He was younger too and young guys read whatever they want into situations like that. I mean he was god-knows-where grabbing cookies for her right now because she said she needed some… in a really sexy voice.

"I'm just worried about talking to my mom. I don't want to let her down, but I feel like I already have. I'm the oldest, I should be the one with a family of my own, but instead, Lisa and the triplets are all married or engaged, JR already has two boys and a third on the way-"

"How many siblings you got?" she held up 4 fingers. I whistled.

"And I want to be close to her but since Rich left, and the monsters thing…"

"I get it. You want to be close but you can't share everything and she'll know you're holding out. But I don't get why you have to avoid her altogether." Murphy made a whimper and slumped and put her head in the pit of my chest. I pet her hair "I wish I did though. I wish I had 4 siblings, a mom, uncles, Clan Dresden Annuals… hell, I'll take a Clan Murphy Annual, if you'd let me."

She shook her head rubbing that little button nose, wet from tears, over my sternum. It felt hot, and made me think how vulnerable she was… how she needed me to console her and distract her from her pain. The stupid little pup growled and bit me. But I was thankful he did. I had at some point pinned Karen against the wall, and was working my way into her pants. She seemed shocked like she didn't notice either, and O'Toole seemed shocked too. He had run up the stairs with a box of cookies to find me one hand still in the cookie jar, one hand holding a crying Murphy against a wall by her hair with a growling grey puppy hanging off my leg by the teeth. I backed up, scooped up the pacified puppy, and whispered an apology to Karen then retreated down the stairs to get back to the set.

A girl with thick black hair braided into princess lea buns, and deep purplish grey eyes dressed like a hippie, clinging a clipboard greeted me on set. We got along well enough but when she fought me tooth and nail about the consumption of meat, I decided she was a heathen meant to be tolerated but not liked. Then I had a private chat with Genosa to go over what I figured, which I didn't want to jump to any conclusions yet, not to mention I hadn't learned everything I needed to know yet. Trixie Vixen showed up and made a dumb sexy ass of herself, then Arturo introduced his replacement for Giselle. Lara Romany, another white court vampire. We faced off a bit, her eyes were a deep grey purple, but we broke off before a soul gaze happened. She smiled mischievously, and my pants tried to entertain her. After introductions and a chat about how Inari was old enough to act in the films, and how they were sisters and how Thomas was their brother, she escorted Arturo to take his medication. So Thomas, Lara, and Inari were siblings? Hells Bells. I resolved to punch Thomas when I saw him again.

I used Arturo's phone to call Murphy and apologize again, as well as ask her help tracking some leads. While Murph was reciting every euphemism for breasts in the book someone tried to kill me… with poison darts. I gave pursuit but was tangled in phone cord and had to give up the chase, she was long gone. "Harry? You alright?" Murph asked from the phone.

"Yeah someone tried to kill me with a poison dart." I dug a discarded cigar tube from the trash bin and stored the dart in it.

"Get out of there, Harry." Her fear poured out of her voice, my cpl let me feel it like electricity through my body.

"Don't worry about me, doll." I said in my best detective voice, as I snooped some more. I eventually had to do my cover job so I found my way to the set, reclaimed my dog, and got to work. When Lara went onset for her scene I decided to go out for fresh air. That's when I found a dark figure lurking about and chased it down. Oh it was Thomas, so I punched him in the face. We sat in the light of the parking lot discussing things and were greeted by Lara, toting two guns, wearing something lacy that didn't cover much, in heels that made her half a foot taller.

"Harry Dresden, I presume." My god, her voice was sexy. "So this is what you were planning little brother?" She addressed Thomas. I listened on the sidelines and basically gathered that the Raiths were like the Romanovs of the White court. There was about to be a rebellion and some division in the white court and Thomas was making a play for boink czar.

"Lara." He said in a strange tone. Lara swayed, and her eyelashes fluttered. "Lara, listen to me." He said, in a hypnotizing tone. We stood together, and then moved away from each other, flanking Lara. She held out her guns, and then shot us both. I hissed as the bullet pierced my leg. Thomas spun at the hip. Lara backed away from us. Inari plowed out the door and saw the standoff and screamed, then a slithering feeling came over me, and the other three white vampires felt it too, though Inari was proving herself less tolerable by the second. She screamed and fell to Thomas's side and despite seeing that Lara stood over both of us with two guns in hand, the two of us shot, Inari accused me of shooting her brother.

3 black court vampires emerged from the shadows but stayed just out of sight while they seemed to sway and converse with a fourth party. "Lara, I realize you are somewhat invested in killing us, but from where I'm standing it seems the tides have changed."

"I concur, Dresden." Every time she spoke my name it seemed to insult her. "Pax then?" I pushed the bullet out my leg by flexing the already healed muscles around it then the flesh healed behind the bullet hole. I went to Thomas, and had to fight Inari for the pleasure of fishing his bullet out but he took seconds to heal as well. He didn't look too good. Like the way a normal person looks with a hip fractured by a bullet. I turned my attention back to the three black vamps.

When Inari saw them I was hit with a nauseating yet delicious wave of fear. "Their faces, what's wrong with their faces?"

"Hells Bells, what kind of vampire are you?" I asked her. She turned to me with a startled confused face and I knew.

"You never told her?"

"Father's policy." The tall sexy Raith shrugged her soft milky shoulder.

"Your family is twisted, Lara, It really is." I stood beside her and she passed me a gun with a mischievous grin and bedroom eyes. I focused on the Black Court. "Why aren't they moving?"

"Speaking with their master."

"Should we attack?"

"That will just rile them up. We have time on our side."

"I wouldn't be so sure of that, Miss Raith." I said.

"What's going on?" Inari shrieked and split my eardrums.

"Be a good girl and don't ask any more questions, Inari." Lara said. The girl went silent thank god.

"Raith's favorite, his baby, and his bastard sons? This is a fortunate night." The female said, though it wasn't her voice.

"Evening Mavra, if it's all the same to you, I'd like to hurry things along. I got a hot date after this." I mouthed off.

"Jesus, Harry." Thomas said as he stood beside his baby sister. "You drunk or something?" I laughed and winked at the Vampire.

"Just thinking positive." I said. A few things happened at once, the center vamp was called one ear, I took it from him a while back, and he went for Lara. The shorty went for Thomas, and I got the female. I sidestepped out of the way of her charge and elbowed her in the back then shot her in the head until I ran out of bullets. At the same time, the shorty bypassed Thomas and grabbed Inari by the arm and twisted it, bone crunched and popped, and she screamed. Thomas kicked it away from her and followed it into a wall. Lara shot one ear's legs out from under him. Then I felt the Molochio coalesce over poor Inari, I had seconds to act. I grabbed her right arm with my left hand and when the power of the curse surged into her I drew it through me and after the slow charging one ear. Inches before he reached Lara, a whole frozen turkey came falling out of the sky, and caved his head and rib cage into the bulk of his mass, and dropped him to the concrete. His remaining limbs thrashed for a few seconds, then he was dead. "And for my next trick, Anvils!"

The struggle paused to look at that for a second, and then we turned our attention to shorty. The female, missing the lower half of her face, and barely holding her head up with hopes and dreams flew from the ground after Lara. Lara turned with her gun and unloaded it into the black vamp's eyes but that only slowed her down. Lara sidestepped her as I had before, then grabbed her by the head, stuck one sexy heeled shoe on her back and pulled head and a little spine right out of the charging vamp.

Shorty was holding his own with Thomas, the two bled from fingernail scratches and scuffs from being thrown into walls. Then Thomas's eyes went white, with no pupils or anything, his skin seemed to shrink over his face, and became luminescent, and he dug his thumbs into shorty's eyes, and spat "keep away from my family." Then yanked the black vamp's head off and passed out. Inari began to scream again.

I sighed in anger and turned to Lara. "We need to go. I'll bring my car around." I dashed through the building, grabbing my coat and puppy, and went out the other end to grab my car. I brought it to the back and put Thomas on the driver side rear, while Lara loaded Inari on her side. We got in, and the pup tried to comfort Inari while I started driving. "They need a hospital."

"I have a doctor at our mansion." Lara shook her head. "And Justine is there, Thomas needs to feed or the hunger will kill him."

"Where to then?"

"North, along the lake, I don't know the street names." I turned to blindly head north at the behest of the vampire… well we all were weren't we? I looked at the puppy… 4 vampires and a baby demon. Heh. Lara fished my phone out of my duster on her lap, and then made a call. We arrived at Château Raith, which was built to look like a castle and had lighted reflecting pools that cast an interesting lighting effect on the walls. As we pulled in, two silver Rolls Royce came up behind us. The first had a man and a woman that took up guard positions while the second Rolls had an identical pair of twins to the first who opened the door for a man who's features split the difference between Thomas and me. He had Thomas's boyish charm, and height, but I shared his nose and brows. Thomas and I didn't have his eyes or chin, but I felt something from the man, and got a sinking realization about a few things.

As we got out of the car and gathered our fallen friends, we were met by big daddy Raith. Mouse didn't want to let Lara touch the girl so I put on my duster, and pocketed the pup, so the he couldn't threaten her any longer. I carried Thomas like a child, and a doctor came out of the house to gather Inari. Then Lara made me wait with Thomas.

"Lara, and Mister Dresden, what a pleasant surprise." "It is my lord." Lara replied. "Please," Daddy Raith plucked a rose from a nearby bush and trimmed the thorns and leaves off it with his longish nails, "this is hardly a formal meeting, I've missed you." "As have I, Daddy." Lara whispered as she hugged him and kissed his cheek. "That's a novel ensemble you're wearing there." He drawled. "Its been a busy night." She said, looking up at me. Her eyes conveyed something odd I didn't understand but knew to take as warning. I looked at daddy's eyes and understood. He was hungry, driven mad like a bloodthirsty beast that'd been chained up inches from a delicious steak. And he was angry with me for it.

"What have you let happen to your baby sister?" He turned to Lara. "Forgive me father, but that's why I brought Bruce. He will fix her up." She answered. "And the wizard?" Justine must have been patiently waiting behind me for some time. I didn't notice her with all that was going on but when I took an instinctive step back from Raith, I bumped into her. "I invited him, as a guest." Lara emphasized 'invited' which was monster law for 'off limits.' MC Hammer came to mind, and I suppressed the urge to dance. "Justine, please show Mister Dresden where he can put Thomas." Lara instructed.

Justine led us to Thomas's room. It was massive with columns and mirrors, and a fireplace, and a door to a luxurious bathroom then another to a ridiculously rich and beautiful bedroom. We were followed by one of the female guards. "She's here to dispose of the body." Justine said to me weakly when we got to Tommy's room. "Thomas is going to make it." I assured her. "Not him… me." Justine's voice cracked. I put him in the bed then looked up at the girl. "He's too far gone, he won't have any control. Most assuredly he will…" she began to cry. "Then don't," I told her. "Do you think he'd want you to die in his stead?" she gave me a sturdy look, the most direct and stable I've ever seen her, then she said clearly, "I love him."

It rocked me to my core. I pushed her off of Thomas then turned my eyes to the guard who waited at the door. I had never intentionally used my come-hither vamp vibe before but it was a part of me and I knew the principles of evocation well enough to fake it. The guard fought tooth and nail, but my will was greater. She moved sensually toward the bed, undressing as she approached. She crawled to me, my outstretched hand; as if she were a cat and I had a treat for her in that hand. She rubbed her face in my hand and let me pull her into a kiss and undress her. Then I suggested she kiss Thomas. Justine helped her by undressing Thomas and guiding her hips down over him. She kissed Thomas's head and instinctually he began to feed. The pup growled and I watched the woman arch her back then look at me, desire in her eyes. I held her hair and pulled her in for a kiss, but realized she would definitely die if I lost control. I forced myself not to feed and waited.

I watched Thomas as he grew visibly healthier, then I looked at the woman, and could feel her life draining fast. I threw her off the bed her hair was blond before, I could tell it was white now, but Thomas wasn't done. He took Justine by the neck and pulled her from kissing his hair to kissing his lips. I turned to stop him but Justine told me to bring the guard to Bruce, up the hall. Reluctantly I left them, and did as Justine requested. Bruce had me put the guard down next to Inari, which I felt was a terrible idea but Bruce was confident Inari wouldn't feed on her. Bruce directed me to a room that had clothes set out for me already. I let Mouse out and took a long shower.

When I finished and got dressed I was over disturbed by the fact that it fit perfectly and what's more, looked great on me. The pants were khaki so light they were almost white, and a fit that could only be tailored. The white comfy cotton undershirt was the kind Michael Jordan always advertised without a tag, and the shirt that went over was thin, white, and also a fit that could only be tailored. There were only 4 buttons so I buttoned them all and left the cuffs open, and put on my mother's amulet, my force rings, and shield bracelet. With the two days of stubble and hair that was already falling into a fashionable coiffure though I hadn't brushed it yet, I was ruggedly handsome. I shook my head at the mirror and turned to the pup. Without food, drink, or a lady friend to feed on, I was feeling kind of empty, drained. I let the little psycho sniff around and passed out on the bed that felt exactly like mine at home.

Chapter Four

I awoke to Thomas entering the room and packing up my discarded clothes. He tossed the pup and my duster onto the bed, and shouldered the bag. "Harry, quick, get up, were leaving." I was groggy, and had a feeling something good was coming to me, like Christmas morning. I dawned the duster, got into my work boots then pocketed the pup and followed Thomas to a room lined with massive paintings. The women in each were life sized, as if they might step out the paintings to talk cheerfully with us. "Were here. I mean… I actually have you here, in our home. I've wanted to show this to you ever since I was little. But now…" Thomas laughed but his eyes watered a bit. I frowned at him, not sure what question I wanted to ask first, so I just looked around.

That was when I spotted the portrait of mom. It read Margaret La Fey. I fell to my knees in her presence. Thomas sat beside me on the floor. I understood now. McCoy told me my mother was in with the White Court. I knew there were 3 families of white court vamps, so I never assumed the Raiths to be the same vamps… and these suspicions I'd had since I arrived, all equaled one conclusion. Big daddy Raith was my father so Thomas was my brother. I chuckled then quoted Luke and Lea. Thomas laughed a little too, albeit nervously.

"You wanted to know why I had been helping you all this time. It was because of this." Thomas advised me. We had a nice long chat after that. Thomas told me some things important to a fledgling Vamp like Inari and myself.

"Hells Bells she doesn't know what she is, and she's drained from breaking her arm! Bruce is in danger!" I leapt to my feet but Thomas grabbed my arm.

"Bruce is fine. He knows how to handle our kind. My hope is that Inari is in love for her first time. The love can kill our hunger before we change." Thomas explained the love thing. That helped. He also explained the white court politics. No offense to Thomas but I made him soul gaze with me to make sure he was on the up and up, then I helped him to his feet so we could make a few calls. Once the sun came up I snuck out and returned to my apartment.

Nothing evil lurked at my home, but I saw signs that it tried to get in. I went back into my lab and called for Bob. He floated out of my cat and into his skull then began idly pumping up his ego. "Bob, did you find them?" I grew impatient. "Not yet," he answered. "But I narrowed it down." "To what Bob?" I asked, rubbing my stubble. "she's not hiding in any strip clubs or brothels." I threw an empty sports bottle at the skull. I took a few breaths, letting my eyes turn silver. I found a claw hammer and began to move toward my lab hand while he stammered excuses for his actions. "I need to know about MAVRA not strippers Bob. Now get your ethereal ass back in my cat and go find her. Check around Cabrini Green. Murph says there were a few missing persons reported there." I let the cat out with the boob crazed boob riding along, then headed to the police station.

Murph seemed to be in a good mood when she pulled her bike up to me. I stayed still as the front tire rolled to a stop between my legs. I could tell she waited till she was done admiring the view before removing the black helmet with tint so dark, it didn't look like it had a visor at all. "Good morning Harry."

"Morning, gorgeous." I answered. Its true, her hair looked nice slightly mussed and the helmet had messed it all up. My hunger lurked on the surface thanks to all the exertion lately so the compliment wasn't as flattering to her as I would have preferred. She looked at the bike. "You seem in high spirits." I tried to make conversation.

"I never realized how much I love riding my bike."

"All women love motorcycles, it's like a giant vibrator."

"You pig." Karen said with a smile, finally looking me over.

"Something's up." She said. I shrugged.

"Took a beating."

"You heal from beatings, this is another thing."

"I feel like Luke Skywalker right now." I looked down at Karen and I don't know if it was the reference or cpl but she nodded wisely then got off her bike and moved to my car. I moved to the drivers seat, kicked the blue beetle into gear and whisked her off to IHOP. Once out of the car, Karen rushed to me and gave me a full body hug. She felt my moods and knew I needed one very resounding.

We let go after a long pause then walked into the creepily barren IHOP. We were led to a booth where the archive sat eating pancakes that had once been a cute teddy bear shape with a side of fries and fruit. Kincaid eyed Murphy then smiled. "You said this was business, why'd you bring a date?"

"Well what's this, bring your daughter to work day?" I gestured to Ivy but when she looked at me I bowed and winked. She smiled, the cutest little freakishly powerful creature in the world. "She's my wingman. Person." I advised Kincaid. He laughed.

"Oh, I get it, she's a snack. Is that it vampire? Why don't you grab you a booster seat and join Ivy at the kids table, cupcake? Your boyfriend and I got business." Kincaid got scary, but so did Murph. She took a step in front of me and before even Kincaid could draw his gun all the way out it's holster, she had grabbed his gun hand, twisted it the wrong direction, and pushed her gun under his chin. He laughed, "I heard a report about her, but I wanted to make sure. I like this one."

"I bet you go for your gun with every girl you like." I grumbled as I sat at the booth next to Ivy, who had already completed all the activities on her placemat, and was coloring it in while munching on a fry. I couldn't help but rush to hug the little darling, and then present her with the puppy from my pocket. Ivy gave me a hug from under my arm with Mouse licking her chin. Murph stood there with the gun still in Kincaid's chin.

"She going to let go any time soon?"

I shrugged. "Ask her."

"What report?" Murphy asked him.

"Yeah, I'd like to know that too." I agreed.

"The vampires compiled a threat assessment on you, wizard Dresden. It includes where you live, work, measurements-" Ivy started to explain.

"That explains my threads. I spent the night with the Raiths, they had a whole wardrobe for me."

"Well it includes information about your allies as well. Karen Murphy, Aikidoka since age 11… I keep telling Kincaid I should learn a martial art… dabbled in over 8 other forms of martial arts, a competition shooter… She has been your ally for almost 8 years and your thrall for almost 6." Ivy continued then took a drink of her milkshake.

"Thrall!?" Karen and I said at the same time and equally indignant. Karen let Kincaid go then sat with me and the little girl, "what do you mean thrall?"

"Well, he IS a vampire of the white court. He chose to leave some of himself inside of you." Ivy began to say.

"Ewwww." I interrupted again. "You're too young to know about those things."

"You left a psychic conduit in her mind. A sort of two way radio between you." Ivy sneered at me.

"Oh okay, I was wondering about that actually." I said.

"Um, get rid of it." Murphy said to me.

"Yeah, how do I do that?" I asked Ivy. She shrugged. That was helpful. Kincaid waived in a waitress. She was so afraid when she got there I shuddered. I turned my silver eyes up to her and she and Murphy froze. The pup growled then I took control of myself. I flirted a bit, we ordered breakfast, and Kincaid and Murphy talked about guns briefly while I played with Ivy until I had food to consume. Murph ordered some healthy rabbit food crap so I held a delicious bite of strawberry stuffed French toast in her face till she ate it. "I can feel how much you like strawberries. Why deprive yourself"

"My hips hate you Dresden!"

"That's not what your hips said." I wiggled my eyebrows then was assaulted by a handful of lettuce. We discussed how scary and dangerous the assault would be then I paid for our breakfast and tipped the waitress handsomely and I drove Murphy back to the precinct. While in the car she seemed more than troubled.

"Murph?" I asked. She jumped out her skin. "Stars and Stones, are you okay?"

"I'm trying to adjust. In my head, I know what were doing is about the only thing we responsibly can, but I've been a peace officer since before I could drink and this kind of cowboy thing, isn't what a good cop does." She spoke slowly picking each word carefully.

"Mavra and her scourge think they're above the law in every sense that matters. The only way we can keep them from killing more people is killing them. If it helps, they're already dead anyway. And throwing them in jail won't do anything good either. We'll have another loup-garou incident best-case scenario. We're setting things right here."

"I know that here." She pointed at her head, "but I don't feel it here." She pointed at her heart. "The vampires aren't the problem. They'll have innocent people with them. People I signed on to protect." I looked down and put my hand on hers. "You once made a pocket full of sunshine-"

"I cant."

"Why not?"

"I have to be happy." She squeezed my hand as if I was going to fall off the face of the earth and her grip was all that was holding me there. "Sorry I didn't get to drag you into some horrifying, morally questionable, suicidal bloodthirsty carnage in time."

"Ill have my phone on me. Wolf Lake Park." She sighed. "T minus two hours and counting down."

"Whoa!"

"Whoa?"

"Whoa!"

"What's the matter with you?"

"A timer, or a schedule- the curse is on a schedule! Let me see the case files for the deaths in LA." Murphy rushed to get them out the compartment in her motorcycle and returned to the car with them. I scanned the documents then closed them and returned them to Murphy. "I get it now."

"Glad one of us does."

"The killer has to use a ritual. They don't have any magic of their own so they need a sponsor. And every sponsor has a set of rules to make things easier on all parties involved. This one needs to be cast 13 min before midnight or noon."

Murphy checked her watch. "It's 10:30 now." She hurried out the car. "Go get em" she said with fire in her eyes. I nodded and pulled out of CPD to stop the curse from claiming another.

Chapter Five

I spoke with Genosa briefly, and then wrangled Jake into helping me make a sort of ward against the evil magic. It would get trapped inside the chalk lines I had him draw, and be channeled toward a mirror I placed in a circle. The mirror would bounce the Molochio back at the bitch or bastard who cast it. From my conversation with Jake, I gathered that Arturo was about to marry again. I dialed Murphy while I got some coffee in me. The just of our convo was that Arturo had 3 ex wives and was about to marry again, but if he did, his exs would stop getting their alimony. I was about to learn who wife number 4 was when I heard a gun cock.

"Hang up your phone and put it on the table." I hit speaker instead of end and thought real hard for Murphy to be vewy vewy quiet. Trixie Vixen turned to the phone in her own hand and told the other end "I got him." Before turning her attention back to me. "Now put your hands where I can see them, Barry, I don't want to shoot you."

"You know, people don't want to crash their cars either, but there's always some idiot who drives while talking on the phone and crunch!" Trixie flinched. "Why don't you put the phone down, and come here. I'll make you that latte. Or maybe we can just chat." I tried that hypnotizing thing I did with the guard last night, and it worked a lot better this time. I speculated because Trixie wasn't much of a mental heavyweight. I had Trixie on her back on the table, feet pulling my hips toward her. I licked her neck from cleavage to chin then heard the screaming from her phone turn to static. I took Trixie's gun, and emptied it then stuck the gun in my pocket and ran out into the hall.

I figured Emma was the next target, and I found her on the side of the set being instructed to bring Arturo his pills by Joan. I stopped her, still radiating my vamp vibes, then grabbed her arm the same way I did with Inari. The power came quick and hard this time, and didn't give me time to redirect it. I just took the curse into myself, then the scaffolding dropped and a broken metal pole impaled me in the stomach, just under the ribs.

Had I been, say Emma's height, it would have struck my heart, but I'd bleed out the same. I pulled myself off the pole and fell to my knees to vomit from the pain. My blood was pink, like something pale was mixed in with normal blood, and it poured out my wound while my insides franticly stitched themselves together. It was more painful than the injury itself. Once all that was done, my skin covered the new muscles and I looked around at the frightened folks who just watched a silver-eyed monster repair a big hole in his gut. I moved toward Joan and she took a step back, shielding Emma from me. I nodded then ran to my car and got the hell out of there.

I retreated to my apartment and met Bob at the door. I stripped the second the door was closed and headed for the shower. After I was clean, I dressed in a pair of faded worn jeans, a black muscle shirt, and a white button up shirt that was missing a few buttons since Linda had torn it off of me. I packed a few things, and then dropped into the lab where Bob was already doodling something. It was incredible work, I felt like I was looking at a satellite picture of the homeless shelter but without a roof or color. There was a second page that was the basement. "Bout time!" I scolded Bob. "Where?"

"Just where you said, a homeless shelter near Cabrini Green." Bob was about to explain, but I stopped him. "Save it for the whole class. Get some rest, I'll wake you up in a few." I looked at my watch and went to my cell phone on it's charger. After telling Kincaid where the vamps were and making a different call with a box of rocks, I left my apartment and waited with Bob and some Vampire killing essentials and the maps Bob drew in a bag. The pup did his business then ambled around me and the staff in my hand felt particularly comforting.

An old beat up ford truck from before there were seat belts pulled into my gravel parking lot. I threw my pup and things inside and thanked my teacher for coming to help. "Glad to see you sir, I was feeling a bit swamped."

"In over your head again, I see. And you ain't been eating well in any sense of the word."

"Lets just get moving please. Wolf Park, first, we need to pick up Murphy." Ebenezer McCoy pulled out of the gravel lot and headed for the park.

"The police girl?" He asked shaking his head.

"Please don't call her that." I asked him, hoping she didn't feel him call her that through me somehow.

"I must be getting old, I thought you said Blampires over the stones…"

"I did. I was pressed for time so I shortened it from Black court vampires." Ebenezer McCoy tisked at me and shook his head. "What, too many acronyms? Hey I'm glad you took time to RSVP, I have a problem that needs to stay on the QT, but is rapidly going FUBAR. Sorry to call you LD, instead of UPS, but I needed your help ASAP. Hope that's OK"

"That's what's wrong with the youth of today. Trying to shorten everything. Who's scourge?"

"Mavra." Ebenezer shook his head. "Heard of her?"

"Heard of it! Killed a good friend of mine in the Venatori. Read a wardens file we have on it. Seems to have a bit of power."

"More than a bit. She's almost wizard level."

"So you want me to shut down her magic?"

"The thought occurred to me yeah. You drive us there, shut her down, I got a mercenary named Kincaid who's good with vamps, he Murph and I go in, sever some heads and save some mortals then come out. "

"I'll be able to throw a wet blanket on her, but she might still have enough juice to be annoying."

"I'll take whatever help I can get."

"And what about her death curse?" I looked at Ebenezer… man I need to shorten that… Geezer? No, too disrespectful. Neezer. I looked at Neezer and thought about things then got flustered.

"Oh come ON she's already dead!" I shouted. Neezer laughed. "Not fair."

"Where we headed?"

"A picnic."

Chapter Six

Wolf Park was no longer a province of Illinois but won land by the massive forces of Clan Murphy. There were gazebos with grills and folding tables, mosquito tents, and bounce houses, all overpopulated with redheads and blonds of all the shades of ginger from the other end of the rainbow. It closely resembled military camps in Medieval movies. Any moment some king Henry or Arthur was going to trot his white stallion through the camp to greet me. I even spotted, I kid you not, a trio of old, impressively white-bearded, men in kilts of dark green, light green and gold with the slightest bit of red. A banner with three crossed spears scrolling the motto 'brave and hospitable' stood out the ground by the trio's mosquito tent. Some younger folks were chatting with them over some beer, no doubt learning about their heritage. Finding Murph in this was going to be like finding a strand of hay in a haystack. I tried to be methodical but I was drawing attention to myself from a set of identical triplets who had apparently brought a generator to power their giant TV so even this family function couldn't keep them from football. They had manly bridged noses and the builds of mma fighters but the cornflower blue eyes, and dirty blond hair made it clear they were Karen's younger siblings. And they were cops.

A man just barely an inch over average, with a perfectly cut and groomed hair and goatee followed the attention over to spot me, in my black duster, black boots, and black mood. He approached me with that cautious cheer that clued me in that he too was a cop. Hells Bells, Murph, way to not be a stereotype. "Hey there." "Hey." "Mind if I ask what you're doing here?" "Yes" "listen buddy, this is a family function, maybe you can pick a different part of the park to look foreboding." I shook my head, if I wanted these copprechauns to adopt me some day, I should probably make them like me, huh?

"Sorry, I'm looking for-" forgive me "-my girlfriend." I answered as I scanned the masses. No good, there was a girl at the soccer field that resembled Murph enough but she was a girl. I was looking for a fearsome Valkyrie; none of those anywhere.

"Oh, what's her name?" he asked.

"Karen, Murphy." I answered. The guy looked surprised, but he tried to hide it.

"Soccer field."

"Thanks."

"You know it wouldn't hurt to be more polite."

"Maybe, but why take my chances now?" darn I should have asked for something more specific, but as I approached, the non-Valkyrie turned and it really was Karen. She hurried to give her whistle to a tall kid next to her then met me on my way to lead me to a different gazebo.

"You found them?"

"Yeah, our drivers here- you're in a dress!"

"Kincaid know?"

"I called him 20 minutes ago. You're in a dress!"

"I put an APB out for Tricia Scrump for holding you at gunpoint and attempted murder. She should be in jail but without proof she might be released and who knows what she might say. You did kind of sexually assault her. If she's a smart enough criminal she'll try and at least drag you through the red tape with her."

"Heard that part too huh?" I felt kind of dirty.

"Well I was worried about you feeding, so I guess you got some. I don't have to worry."

"Yeah well I kind of took on the Molochio and got impaled on the way. Whatever I sucked out of Trixie, I'm sure I've used up. But back to what's really bothering me. You're in a dress!"

"Mom made it for me. We gotta stop by her tent before we go. There she is." Murph walked up to her mother and performed a strained greeting ritual then she introduced me to her mom, then sister Lisa, then-

"RICH?" aka dude with the goatee from earlier. "What are you doing here?" rich helped Lisa off his lap. "You miserable son of a bitch."

"Karen!" Marion Murphy scolded her daughter. Karen did that thing that scares me, the laugh she gets when she's about to kill a man with her bare hands. At the same time Rich was trying to defend himself, something I learned in a month not to do when Karen laughed. She got real relaxed like almost a swagger and I knew she was going to strike so I put my arm around her shoulder, mostly to encumber her movements.

"Whoa, whoa, Karen, at least finish introducing me so I'll know who to duck." I said, feeling like I should have written a will. Karen tensed up, which was a good thing.

"Thank you Harry, I'm glad there's at least one other adult here." Marion sighed.

"Harry, this is my baby sister, Lisa, and my second ex husband… whom are now engaged without anyone giving me a heads up."

"Not my fault you're too big a bitch to keep a man!" Lisa bitched at her sister like she was on Jerry Springer then gave me a look of confusion. I was decidedly an upgrade from Rick in the looks and temperament department.

"LISA" Marion scolded.

Karen tried to lash at her sister but since her dress had no sleeves, and my arm was over her shoulder in just a way that I could touch her without moving much, I quickly found some skin up her arm then trailed my fingers to her neck, then I bent to her ear and whispered, "no time, remember?" her eyes kind of rolled in her head and she went from piano wire to mildly annoyed kitten in half a second flat. Rich made a face that conveyed 'how the hell did you do that?' then I gave Rich a 'do your job' look and he nervously took Lisa's hand.

"Oh-kay, come on babe, lets find a beer." Rich risked another glance at me then frowned and kept going. I let go of Karen before she hit me, and was rewarded with a burger with all the fixings but cheese. One bite and I was in heaven. I munched while Karen talked to her mother, then she got a call on her cell and walked out of earshot.

"That'll be work, I presume. She's always so busy. I'm surprised you have any time to yourselves." Ah, asking about our relationship. I chewed and swallowed to answer but she moved on. "You're the wizard, yes?"

"Yes ma'am" Karen told her about that?

"I saw you on Larry Fowler."

"Ah. Yeah." I said. She laughed.

"I'm sorry my daughter dragged you into our family squabble."

"I volunteered."

"You regret it?"

"Heck no. She's been there for me too many times, Mrs. Murphy-"

"Call me mama."

"Well mama," I suppressed a giggle of glee. "The kind of things she's faced in SI, and with me, can be especially difficult and disturbing. Your daughter saves lives, there are lots of people who would be dead right now if it weren't for her, and I'm several of them."

"Before SI the detectives in precinct 13, who handled the ghosts and goblins and that sort were called black cats." I looked taken aback. She smiled. "My Collin, Karen's father, was a Black Cat Detective."

"She never told me."

"I never told her. She could have figured it out by now. But it makes her feel like she's protecting me from some awful truth; by keeping what she does a secret. It makes her happy to believe she's fooling me, so I hassle her about things to show I care." Mama Murphy looked me over "I'd say she's doing just fine." A grin spread across my face. "What?"

"I see where she gets it." Karen beckoned me to her I rushed right over.

"its Kincaid The red cross just arrived."

"Crap."

"I'm calling it in."

"No!" I grabbed the phone. "Kincaid? Get those Red Cross guys to get lost or something keep them away. Were on our way." I hung up then turned to Murphy. "No backup. We'll only get people killed."

"Don't tell me how to do my job."

"This isn't your job, it's mine."

"You think I'm too stupid to know how to handle this?"

"I think you're too wound up to think straight. Getting the mortal authorities involved will be bad for everyone, any hostages, your SI guys, and IA is chomping at the bit to have another go at you. This could give them that chance." She swore and looked down. Thomas never has this problem with his thrall.

"What do you expect me do?"

"I expect you to trust me, Murph." I dared not touch her but I really wanted to. I put myself at eye level, and she looked up for a moment then looked back down.

"Fine… but were going to have a talk after this." I nodded and returned to Mama Murphy while Karen gathered her things.

"Work?" Mama asked. I nodded. "That was quite the argument." I shrugged. "It would seem you've won."

"And I'll pay for it later." I answered. That response seemed to please her. She passed me a coke, the angel.

"Let me make you another burger." She assembled 3 more burgers, and then looked at me. "Will you take care of my daughter?"

"Yes, ma'am, of course I will."

"Let me get you some cake." She smiled brightly.

I hugged Mama goodbye then Joined Karen in the parking lot where Neezer pulled up on que. After some getting to know each other Karen ended up in the driving seat and I passed McCoy a coke, burger and slice of grilled pineapple upside down cake. I ate my cake blissfully distracted from Karen's crazy but effective driving. Once there, she pulled into a parking garage, I asked her to stop at the first floor so we didn't' spook Kincaid, so she did and Neezer gave us a bit before he would pull up.

Chapter Six

As we walked up I bent to Karen's ear. "I know you're afraid, I can feel it." She shrugged "hey it's smart. That's why I picked you; because you know what's in there. I'm scared of it too."

"What if I freeze again?"

"You wont."

"But what if I do?"

"I'll be there."

"The people-"

"We'll get them out first."

"But what if-" I could feel everything she felt, her fear of becoming like Denton and his crew, her fear of innocent blood being spilled, and fear of letting me down. There was no quick and simple way to ease those fears with words so I pulled her into a full body embrace and kissed her.

"Shut up and dance." I tried to sound as suave as possible. She nodded.

"I got it, let go." She half reluctantly pushed herself out of my arms and fixed her hair and dress. "I kind of needed that."

"Uh… I don't think I said it well before… you look good in the dress." She snorted and pulled my hand to get me walking again. I turned to look at Neezer shaking his head in the truck. Murphy dropped my hand before we were in view of Kincaid we warned him about Neezer and then I put the pup in the protective custody of the archive and laid out the maps and pulled Bob out my bag.

"Why'd you bring that thing?" Murphy asked. Bob yawned. I forgot he was always asleep or in my lab when Murphy was over. "Jesus, Marry, and Joseph!" she jumped into me.

"Hey, the cop chick! And in a dress! Hubba Hubba." Bob said while giving the impression he was wiggling eyebrows. Karen gave me that 'you are in trouble' look.

"A talking skull!"

"Well he's a spirit inside the skull. He just feels better when he makes the jaw move."

"It's a talking skull."

"Tell me that ain't the incredibly powerful and dangerous air spirit. The thing I could have sworn was destroyed decades ago because it had knowledge from centuries of working with THE most terrifying necromancer to ever live." Kincaid drawled.

"I just call him Bob, its shorter." Ebenezer McCoy arrived and for a second he and Kincaid tried to kill each other, but they mutually didn't want to kill me so I used that to make peace. Then Neezer had a thing or two to scold me about the skull. "Everybody listen to Bob please, he's going to give us the rundown." He did and answered some questions then we strategized, then Karen closed herself inside the van to change. I stopped her and took the skull back much to his protest. She gave me a silent thank you, and I scowled at Bob. Kincaid passed me a paintball gun loaded with holy water balls and garlic water. Then it was go time.

Ivy, Neezer, and Bob waited in the van with the little puppy; Ivy got a slice of cake for being adorable, while I drove the Red Cross van up to the shelter. Kincaid suggested I stay in the van until he and Karen got everyone out. It took him about 40 seconds to bring out 4 humans then he beckoned me inside. There were 6 people just standing there swaying as if waiting in line at the bank. I opened my sight and the two closest to the door were fine so I indicated to Kincaid that he could take them outside. The next person in the corner closest to me was fine too, but the next person closest to me, a large man in his mid thirties it seemed, was horribly maimed in my sight. He lunged at me; I just had enough time to raise my staff into his path. But he could reach my face, with his face. He bit into my cheek from my eye to my cheek. I screamed in pain, but he was human, and I think I screamed that. Human versus me, I'd save the human.

My sight was still open when Karen put her boot in the Renfield's mouth. She was a fiery angel, in that same Greco-Roman style gown as the first time id seen her with my sight, now stained with blood and ichor. A silvery shadow of me stood behind her holding her womb and her head, following close behind her. She delivered another kick to the mortal's head and a large hideous demonic figure came and wrestled him away. Karen handled the other two while I felt out any wards on the stairway, there were none. We regrouped; Kincaid took point, then Karen, then me. We followed the stairs down, far deeper than any normal basement. We were entering undertown, or coming down to it's level. I was glad to release the sight. Undertown wasn't pretty.

We got to the bottom without incident, and Karen covered us while Kincaid and I checked out the cedar closet where the hostages were being held. When I gave him the clear for enchantments he opened it up and found an AP mine. I talked to the kids to calm them while Kincaid checked the mine out. We concluded that someone small would have to go under the infared beams to disarm the mine. Karen gave me her shot gun and slipped out of her Kevlar then I could hear Kincaid talking her through. "stop!" he said. I risked a peak at what they were doing, Karen was still halfway out of the closet. "Unclench."

"Unclench what?"

"Your ass! You're gonna trip the beam, you need another quarter inch. Relax."

"I am relaxed."

"Oh… damn, great ass." Kincaid said, "take your pants off."

"Excuse me?"

"Take off your pants, think of the children."

"I can't"

"Right. Hold still, ill do it." Karen gasped. "I don't bite."

"Okay." Karen replied in a small voice, trying to suppress her arousal. I'm a lust sucker remember? I can tell! I looked again. Ugh! I wanted to slug Kincaid. He began talking her through disarming the bomb while I felt something in the distance.

I threw two of my own chemical lights into the room and could sense and see the movement. I listened; 5 heartbeats belonging to humans, 4 belonging to dogs, and one figure without a heartbeat; Mavra. I gulped audibly but moved foreword, raising the shotgun "trouble. 5 Renfields, 4 dark hounds and Mavra's awake."

"Indeed." Mavra replied. "I've been watching you, Dresden. I've admired you a long time; another vampire who can use the art at such a level. But I wonder… how you fare against your weapon of choice?" at that moment two Renfields stepped into the hall with flamethrowers. I barely had enough time to react. I fired the shotgun twice then tossed it behind me and grabbed my staff. I tried to focus my shield far away from my body as it was spattered with home made napalm. The flesh of my arm shrank and reddened as the pain became unbearable. I could barely keep conscious, never mind hold up a shield and focus a spell. Then I thought of the children huddled behind me, and the women who were cursed for just working on Arturo's set, and that made me mad.

I called up wind that churned down the hall splattering the two Renfields with their own concoction, but the others seemed to see it coming. They ducked into the side compartments, escaping the initial blast, but the tanks spewed more napalm over the area, and my winds spattered the walls until the entire space was coated with streaks of flames. Two bursts of 3 round shots hit me in the chest, I raised my shield in time to stop the third, fourth and fifth, then the Renfields stopped shooting. I only hoped my body kept the first shots from reaching the others.

I gathered another gale force wind to slam into the remaining Renfields but was piled with dogs. "Kincaid! Get inside and arm the bomb!" a few seconds went by and I heard Karen scream my name. I swung my staff and called the wind, tearing the dogs painfully from where they clung to my sleeves, pants and stomach. I ran, preparing my shield then slid through the door through the infrared beams and put up my shield.

The mine went off, and threw metal balls bouncing off my shield and hurdling down the hall. Once the smoke cleared, I broke the chain joining the cuffed hostages but Kincaid found the keys to the cuffs and uncuffed everyone. Karen and I tried to calm the children while Kincaid left to ensure all the vamps were dead. I put my coat on Karen then she began to lead the children out while I went to help Kincaid. It's a good thing. As he walked down the hall toward me, I spotted a mangled female form. Kincaid saw my face and dropped and I shot Mavra with the paintball gun loaded with holy water balls, and it actually worked. Kincaid drew his spear and tore it through her neck, and lit her up with the incendiary round loaded inside it.

Once we got out to the red cross van, we loaded up the kids into it, and Kincaid got into the driver seat while Karen helped me onto a gurney. "My god, Harry, your arm!"

"It's fine, I was going to send it back to the kitchen anyway. I ordered it medium well."

"Why aren't you healing? You still have the bites from earlier."

"More importantly, pink panties with little white bows?"

"I won't hit you because you're injured, but once you recover…"

"Hey, it goes well with your Kevlar. Shows you're a woman with her priorities straight." She slugged me in the arm. We got to the garage and Neezer and Bob got into the red cross van while Kincaid passed me an envelope then Ivy risked pecking me on the forehead with a sweet smile then got solemn and looked to Murphy.

"His hunger is eating him. He will die if he does not feed." She said gravely before returning to the other van with Kincaid. Murphy turned to look at me, I was in so much pain, but I shrugged and told Neezer to head for Mary of the angels church and give the kids to father Forthill, then regroup at my place for round two.

"Round 2?" Neezer and Murphy asked together. I fell asleep before I could answer.

Chapter Seven

When I awoke I was sprawled in my bed. I heard Murphy and Neezer arguing about something then Karen entered the room. I couldn't move my arms and legs and felt a heightened sense of what Karen was feeling.

She removed the Kevlar vest then her shirt and lacy pink bra. Then climbed into the bed and began to undress me. She was more afraid than she was before the raid on the scourge. At least there was a chance for success there, but here there was only one outcome definite; death. One of us was going to die. I felt my hunger reach for her, my eyes went completely white, and Karen's skin flushed as she bent down to kiss me, her hair fell over her shoulder and brushed my face and neck. She moved lower and I felt it start to draw in her energy.

It was slow at first. I gained enough to regain myself. My wounds all began to heal, the bullets had gone clean through me and were stopped by my duster, so there was nothing to remove. The deep bites in my gut and face closed first, then the bullets, all the while my hand was casting off the charred flesh for pale pink new flesh, and I could feel Karen more and more. No this was wrong. It had to stop or I would kill her. I tried to push her away but I was still weak, so I shouted "no" but it came out as a rough rasping sound. The puppy growled ferociously from the other side of the door and I heard someone try the handle. Then the door just blew in off it's hinges and Ebenezer McCoy grabbed Murphy and took her out of the room.

The puppy and my cat scampered into the room and whined under my bed, apparently confused by the happenings but taking my side. I heard Ebenezer speaking to Murphy softly then the door opened, there was scuffing sounds then it closed. I sat in the quiet dark for an hour before the door opened again. I could move now so I put on a pair of white sweatpants that didn't have elastic in the waist or ankles just pull strings in the waist and sat in the living room.

"How is she?" I asked Ebenezer.

"She's fine, actually. I got her off of ya in time. Told her not to do it, but she said you'd die, and shoot, I would of let any other vampire dry up right there…" Neezer stopped tears from welling up then sat beside me.

"How did you know Kincaid?"

"We're both-"

"Assassins? But the laws of magic."

"The council got to realizing there were forces out there that wouldn't abide by the councils laws. They needed someone who would take care of those threats."

"An enforcer, who was forgiven of the laws."

"Yes."

"Kincaid called you BlackStaff."

"Yes."

"You called him HellHound."

"Some times there are folks born with blood from the Nevernever, like changelings, but there's more than fairies there, as you well know. Their offspring are often deformed, crazy, vile monsters… but sometimes, they seem normal like Kincaid. He was working for the creature, Vlad Drakul."

"Dracula?"

"His daddy. Far worse of a monster. By comparison the impaler was a pale skinny kid who went to the black court as a teenage rebellion. No, the creature was far worse, and far crueler. And Kincaid was his right hand. He was given the name hound of hell."

"You told me the council gave me to you because they wanted to annoy you. Punish you for not showing up. But they wouldn't send a potentially dangerous element to live with their hatchet man. Why did you get me really?"

"To observe you, and kill you if you got rebellious."

"I was plenty rebellious."

"Jehoshaphat boy it wasn't your fault you was raised wrong. It wasn't your fault who your daddy was, what you turned out to be. Had I known sooner, I'd have picked you up myself before DuMorne had a chance at ya."

"Known what? What is it?" the old man mulled over his words then stood. "The council knew you were the son of Margaret LeFay, a dangerous warlock, and-"

"Lord Raith." I finished. Ebenezer nodded.

"That snake, Raith killed her with an entropy curse. I was one of the investigators. I assumed you had died, but your mother found a mortal man to take you. You were below our radar. I didn't know it was you until your trial, all I could do was offer to take you in and kill you if you got out of hand."

"You aren't telling me everything. Why would black staff McCoy bother about the son of a warlock and a vampire?"

"Even the council doesn't know."

"Tell me." My rage and hurt burned, my eyes turned silver, then Ebenezer looked right into them and the tears wouldn't stay back.

"Margaret LeFay was my daughter. I couldn't help her, so I thought," the pain of a child who lost everyone he loved, the pain of betrayal by my mentors, and the physical exhaustion I felt all drop out of me. I had a brother, and now a grandfather. I stood too fast but directed my fall onto the old man, and he held me there for a moment. "I'm so sorry Hoss." I was crying too. We were both so wound up we didn't notice Karen's motorcycle pull up, or her walk up to my door, linger a moment then walk in with a big black bag, a brightly colored baby bag, and a baby only a couple months old swaddled in pink and yellow and green blankets.

I looked up at her and said, "Stars and Stones, you work fast!" She rolled her eyes.

"She's not mine, she IS yours apparently… and Susan's." she passed the child into my arms and pulled a tri folded Peruvian certificate of live birth out the baby bag. Ebenezer took the certificate and gave me another teary look, but he wouldn't cry in front of Karen.

"Name's Margaret Marry Dresden. Child born of two vampires"

"She's pink court." I rocked her in my arms. "Uh, how-"

"When a man and a woman love each other very much." Murphy began to explain.

"No, I mean, Susan must have been here between Neezer arriving and you. And she just left the kid and took off?" I was defused I couldn't think straight. This was a curve ball to say the least. Karen put her things down then took the bundle of joy from my arms and sat in a chair. The baby began to make soft happy dream noises and the puppy and cat came to investigate. I had to force myself to get moving. I got into the shower then once I was clean I threw on some black bdu pants and black turtleneck. "Yeah, baby later, Raith now."

"Hoss, you can't kill him, magic just slides right off of him. He's protected by a demon or elder thing, or god."

"Is that even possible?"

"Aye, I don't know how, but it explains how he got to be the white king."

"But mom was close to him, had two damn kids with the guy, and if she was the big bad warlock you say she was, then she wouldn't spend her curse on nothing."

"She threw it. She wasted it."

That pissed me off. Mom wasn't dumb, she had to have done something with the curse like the soul gaze thing she put on Tommy and me. "Death curse doesn't have to be a curse of death necessarily… Bob!" Karen pointed at her bag, where I fished the skull out. "Bob, could mom have done something with her death curse other than kill Raith if he's protected from magic?"

"Sure sure, if she cast the spell on you to have a continual effect on him. Blood is powerful. His own blood too, that hurts." Bob sounded excited about it.

"That's thinking outside the box, boy, but how does that help?" Neez said looking at me.

"Thomas said Raith use to do this kiss of death thing; its like feeding but it only takes a second and boom the person is dead. But he doesn't do it any more. And I've looked into Raith's eyes. He looks like a hungry animal. I think… I think mom cursed him to never be able to feed. At some level the other whites are aware that he's lost power and are vying for his position, my brother included."

"Brother?" Neezer asked.

"Thomas Raith, is your brother? Merciful Minerva." Karen asked as she rocked the baby.

"Speaking of." I dialed Thomas's cell. It only rang once before Inari picked up.

"Hello? Thomas?"

"No it's Harry Dresden. I was hoping to talk to Thomas."

"Some of my fathers men took him, made him drop his phone in the parking lot. I have your phone too."

"Where are you?"

"The studio. I was told that you-"

"Is Lara there?"

"Yes"

"Put her on." I rubbed the bridge of my nose.

"Hello Harry. Such a pleasure-"

"Can it, sis, I know Pops is the one behind the curse on Arturo's set, and he's using the ex Genosas club as his stregas."

"Oh?"

"Yep. You were probably a plant too. Gain control over Genosa once his love was all gone."

"And you. A White with your power would be very useful."

"Where did you take Thomas?"

"You know it excites me when you're so direct. So debonair."

"Well get ready, because I want him in one piece, and I'm willing to destroy anyone who gets in my way. But I'm willing to pay you to help."

"With what?"

"Control over the white court. Remove your father from power."

"You make it sound so simple."

"I know you whites get a hard on for conspiracies and mind games, so you just put my pawn ass in place and watch me take the king for you. Good old cat-paw Dresden."

"Few would have such close seats to their own schemes fruition…"

"And if things go south, you'll be in place to side with dear old dad, and kill or enthrall me on his behalf."

Lara purred over the phone "naturally."

"Figure out where Thomas is being held, then once pops is out the way, I want you to tell Inari everything, let her choose what she's going to be."

There was a pause then Lara asked "that all?"

"Yup"

"Dresden, I don't know if you are mad or genius, but you excite me!"

"All the ladies tell me that. So, your place in an hour?"

"It's a date." She purred again as she hung up.

"Can I ask you something?" Karen asked, looking skeptically over the baby at me.

"We got a little time. Ebenezer, you mind taking the baby while Karen and I dethrone the white king?"

"Hoss, you might need me there to-"

"I need Karen. I got some semblance of a plan and it requires a feminine touch. Plus I don't trust Lara so it would be best to not show up with two men. What'd you need to know Murph?"

"This ritual magic, you once called it a cosmic vending machine. Regular people can just do the dance and someone dies?"

"Yup."

"So what happens when someone publishes a book?

"We have. So have the vampires." Neezer interjected as he tried to take Maggie. She seemed attatched to Karen so he gave her some time.

"Shadow man had one. It was how he learned all his cool tricks, but the idea is get enough in circulation and the spells loose power. It's a lot like the cookies thing."

"God, again with the cookies."

"Well if only I am taking one of your fresh baked cookies a week, and you make a dozen a month, its no big deal, but if 6 or 7 people each take a cookie a week, you'll run out of cookies."

"Got ya. People who get ahold of the cookie jar aren't gonna share." To my nod she continued, "so how did a vacuous porn princess get her claws on one?"

"That's why I think Raith is the cookie dealer."

"What does he have to gain? I like Greed for the old stand by but this is just too far for some dumb money."

"Not greed for money, greed for power. Raith is losing face in the white court. I heard someone was buying up all the major porn companies, I bet you money to doughnuts it's Raith. But Genosa breaks off, defying Raith in a very public way, so Raith needs to show he is still in control so he sends Lara. But Joan said Genosa is always in love. So Lara couldn't do anything."

"I think Tina Turner has a valid question for you."

"Yeah, Love is bad for White Court Vampires. When someone is in love and commits an act of mutual love like marriage, or sex, or something, it hurts! I burned myself on a wedding band once. My vamp vibes might work on a woman in love… but my mind control definitely wont. So Lara couldn't enthrall Genosa."

"MIND CONTROL!" Murph whispered angrily trying not to wake the baby. "That's what you did to me!?"

"Not on purpose, Murph. And I don't actively use it. Besides, apparently I can use mind control on anyone, thrall or not. Hey I'm new to this."

"You get your psychic conduit out of my brain, a.s.a.p.!"

"I totally will when I figure out how." Bob twittered with glee, and then it turned into an all out cackle.

"That's not gonna happen! It's in there, deep. Only true mutual love might get rid of the thing, but at this point any other method runs the risk of brain damage." He giggled some more. I tried not to look at Karen's face.

"Why not just kill Genosa? Why go after the women around him?" Neez asked.

"Cats-paws. Apparently whites hate to be direct. They're like Rube Goldberg machines with sex appeal. That's why Thomas recruited me to solve this curse thing, he figured pops had some hand in it."

"Hoss, how do you keep landing yourself in these bags of snakes?"

"Clean living?"

"We better get a move on then. Is your cat going to eat the baby if I put her on the floor?"

"Uh, good question." I set to work making a comfy spot on the floor for the baby and corralled her in with pillows then Karen put her on her tummy.

"You do know how to take care of a baby, right sir?" Murph asked Neez. He looked offended enough to be an affirmative so we got our battle gear together and went outside. I looked down at the spot Susan must have put the baby and shook my head. Raith first. "You said you had some semblance of a plan, what is it?"

I told her, she kicked me.

"I know, I hate to ask, but it's our only shot. I don't think firepower will be of any use in this one."

"Fine."

"You sure?"

"At least this way I can do something to help."

"You kidding? The image of you gun fighting in your panties will boost my morale for years." She kicked me again, got on her bike, and then slumped. She had an extra helmet, a lipstick red thing that looked perfectly round. I was about to put it on. "What's wrong?"

"Its been a stressful day for me… relationship wise... First the whole Rich and Lisa thing, then… Kincaid."

"Taking your pants off?"

"Yeah, it's been a while since a good looking guy took my pants off."

"It's been since yesterday. When I did it." She snorted. "Kincaid is bad news. He isn't completely human."

"that's the pot calling the kettle a cliché"

"I know… it's just… You deserve a man who's normal, stable, and open minded, but if you really want a bad news, not entirely human guy to tear your pants off, I'm your man." I nodded emphatically.

She eyed me, smiled, and then said, "Get on the bike, bitch." We dawned our helmets and headed north.

Chapter Eight

When we arrived at Chateau Raith, Murphy shivered but maintained her board cop look. "What's the plan?"

"Watch my back, don't start anything, and don't let anyone touch you."

"Wasn't planning on it." Just then a white sedan pulled into the driveway, fishtailed around, missing us and the bike by inches and parallel parked facing the other direction. Murph looked impressed. I swear she had a wild streak running all kinds of havoc in that innocent looking little blond cop facade. Then Lara came out of the drivers seat and strutted over to us.

"Nice look, very Carmen." She flashed me a smile then looked at Karen.

"Ah, you brought your thrall." I winced then looked at Karen.

"Murphy. I'm a friend." She said with a twitching smile. That's Murph for 'call me thrall again and I'll kill you slowly.'

"I can never have too many friends."

"Not yours."

"No of course not. And an officer of the law." Lara curtsied. I was getting mad about this Intel crap. I think Murph was too, but in general, she was angry about a lot of crap today.

"Inari, Bobby, please get inside, let Justine know were out here."

"Justine? She's alive?" I asked as Lara moved to the trunk and popped it open to tie on a red sash with a rapier. "Still Carmen?"

"Less Carmen, more Pirates of Penzance."

"Gilbert and Sullivan, I may never forgive you that."

"How will I find the will to go on?" I rolled my eyes. "On the subject of going on-"

"Harry!" Justine ran to me and threw her arms around my neck. "Thomas! They took him!"

"That's why I'm here. But I guess, Lara thinks you're gonna help us find him." I looked at Lara. She nodded.

"Our kind creates a link after feeding so long on one particular vassal, while some of her energy is inside him, some of his is inside her. It acts as a sort of psychic conduit, as I'm sure you are aware." Lara said, smiling at Karen in a 'I didn't say it, so nya, nya' face.

Justine nodded with resolve and determination. "What do I do?"

"Concentrate, think only of Thomas. Go in a slow circle until he is right in front of you." I advised her. She nodded and closed her eyes she began to spin.

"I feel cold… he's chained to a stone floor… that way." Justine said slowly as she turned.

"The deeps." Lara whispered. "a natural cavern on our property."

"How far?"

"There's a service road, goes behind the groundskeeper cottage."

I heard the front door of the house get kicked open, then thunder and I hit the ground. Ken doll driver worked the pump of his shotgun, and I had enough time to stand again, but couldn't get to Justine in time. Well I was in time to take shot number two to the back. Then I pulled Justine down. Murph had already gotten down and rolled into concealment. Lara slid over the hood of the car and was behind a nice sturdy engine block.

Murph swung out of her cover and took a knee. Our shooter, the driver from last night, fired a rush shot at her, missed her barely. It was cool; Karen had her vest and bike gear on. She took her time, unafraid, and I could feel her crystalline calm as she found where she wanted to be and cut the slack, paused to verify the target, then squeezed the trigger. Driver Ken whipped his head back with a neat new hole in his head where his left eye tear duct was and Murphy put another into his cheekbone and another into his eyebrow for good measure. I think she was going to fire again, but he fell to his knees then his face. The back of his head looked like one big exit wound. She ran and skid over to me then felt inside my coat.

"You healed already?"

"No, my coat is magically bulletproofed." I said, turning pale and maybe a little luminescent. My eyes reflected light like in those night nature shows.

"Do you need-"

"NO!" I said reflexively. "No, sorry. Even if I did, it shouldn't be from you. I might kill you."

"I thought you were dead. You said a shot to the heart would still kill you so-" she bit back emotion then looked at the guard. Inari and Bobby returned and Inari screamed. "Now there's a fatality on the scene."

"What fatality?" Lara said. Murphy looked at me with something like disgust, and I shrugged.

"How do you want to play it Murph? With a mountain of paperwork and therapy, or jut pretend there was no guard, shootout, or sketchy situation involving you in body armor in the middle of the night on some porn mogul's lawn."

She whimpered. She hated therapy and hated paperwork more, but she hated lies the most. Now the question was what did she want to lie about, how and why she was there or ever being there to begin with. "Damn it. What fatality? Now lets move before I have time to think about it."

"Acting without thinking is my specialty! Lara, wanna squeeze on the bike?"

Lara laughed, Murph gave me a dirty look. "I'll get there faster on my own. First, I must clean this mess."

Murph and I headed north till we found a white picket fence with a gate and while I opened the gate Murph spoke. "She'll turn on us."

"If we look like were loosing. So let's not loose. You cool with the vigilante thing?" I asked, standing where I could look into her face without her turning. She smiled sadly then nodded.

"Get on the bike bitch."

A little way down the road we got trapped in a game of chicken with a limo. I took my staff from its holster in her motorcycle and held it like a lance, and I was a jousting knight. "Faster! Faster, mighty steed!"

Murph gave me a look but revved the hog. It gained speed quickly while I channeled power into my staff. "What are you doing?" Murph asked.

"Faster, don't turn!" I answered. She screamed and cut loose, and purple lights streaked around us in a corona.

"This is insane!" Murphy called out. The Harley continued to accelerate.

"Forzare!" I called as the force flew ahead of us and plowed into the charging limo, flipping it over our heads. I watched them crash then relaxed against Murphy's back as she laughed into the wind. "What?"

"I think you were right about the vibrator thing." We came to the end of the road, where a small European cottage style mansion stood. No doubt the so-called grounds keeper cottage, then got off the bike. "I don't see any caves."

I sniffed the air making a gesture for her to follow. It was feral and drew on my energy but I found the cave by smelling out incents and three sexy angry women. We got half way there when I felt Murphy's alarm and turned to see she was gone. When I turned back, he was there all in black, holding Murphy hostage. "Drop your weapons, and your shield."

"Hey pops. Doesn't the prodigal son get like a goat or something?"

"If I had wanted you to return, but as it is, I would rather you leave this world for eternity. Put your hands behind your back."

"No." Raith dug the knife into Murphy's ribs. The Kevlar took most of the blade but I was sure she was still in pain. "Okay, I was just trying to rebel a little. Making up for lost time before I kick it." Bodyguard Barbie came out of the shadows with shackles for my hands and feet then led me after Raith carrying Murph toward the smell of incents. "Killing me with the entropy curse at point blank range eh?"

"Indeed."

"Hey, I've heard a lot about you: Kiss of death, enslaving women, spells sliding off you like butter on a hot skillet, superhuman badassery all around, but you ain't doin any of that… as a matter of fact, I figured someone powerful as you would be going ham on some wardens right now, but here you are letting three mortal tarts use you to get back at an old flame."

"Watch your tongue!"

"Why? You're killing me anyway. Hell I'm starting to wonder why you ain't kissed me already, or Murphy there."

"Would you like that boy?"

"Raith and Murphy sitting in a tree-"

"Silence!" Raith squeezed Murphy and a pained sound came out with an audible pop.

"The way I figure, mom got ya where it hurts. Your ability to feed. No more enslaving women, no more kiss of death. And I bet I'm not the only one to notice."

"Insolent, just like your brother, and just like your mother!"

"It'll cost you to kill us, even with a ritual."

"No matter. Tonight you and your brother will die, and the blood line curse your mother cast will be broken." He looked at me intently, then a smirk, just like Thomas's mischievous smirk, just like mine, spread across his face. "And such a thoughtful boy. My youngest son had brought me my first snack."

We arrived in the Raith Deeps and as Raith carried Murph ahead of me, I couldn't bear the silence. "Murph? Hanging in there?"

"I'm feeling a bit repressed, and I'm about to go off!"

"Good. I enjoy defiant women. Alexander the Great once told me, it is more pleasurable to conquer than to rule. I feel inclined to agree. Defiant women can be taken, and taken, and taken before they break."

"How's your side?" I asked Karen.

"A little prick like this? Its nothing." She sneered at Raith. He threw her into the wall, she tried to strike, he countered, then pinned her, knife to throat, his body between her legs.

"Warrior women. All you know is how to struggle against another's body. You all forget the needs of your own." He brushed his fingers down her forearm and she whimpered, fluttering her eyelashes. He smirked "I've taken thousands like you; Women fraught against their urges. You were made to feel desire, and I was made to exploit it." He brushed his lips over her throat as he spoke, and did something to Murph that made her try to kick off the wall then just arched futilely against him. She made a sort of crying noise and he laughed. "Now imagine what I'll be able to do to you once I've regained my power." She tried again to get out and away from him, but he found her struggles amusing. Then he jabbed his thumb into the wound in her side and she bucked from the pain. He threw her roughly to the ground then stood over her. "I can feel your desire. I can tell you're tired of being disciplined, of being the good girl. You want to live for yourself rather than serve others. A part of you wants to stay with me and feel the pleasure I just gave. A part of you wants the pain too." He grabbed her by the hair, "admit it!"

"Go Fuck yourself!" she spat. I could feel her fear and a sick heat of need in equal parts. I could tell he was right, that she did want to be punished, and yet she really wanted to have another body with her, making her feel good. He pulled her behind him, using her hair as a lead then tossed her onto the ground once we got to the main chamber. It looked like well…

"Gotta say, Pops, I dig the décor; kind of like Casa Erotica's remake of Arabian Nights, complete with evil harem. What happened to ex Genosa number 2?"

"She tried to poison you with a blow dart then directed the spell at my daughter. She was eager to absolve herself-"

"So you sacrificed her this morning."

"And it was satisfying!" Madge said from her place by a stone table where Thomas was strewn over a sort of large-scale lemon juicer. Trixie was there, but in a sort of drug induced stupor, no doubt on standby to be sacrificed next.

"Indeed. It will be gratifying to destroy the wizard that strikes fear in the hearts of so many of the red court, to restore one of my greatest mortal assets under my control, and be rid of my sons, once and for all." Raith grumbled as he brushed Madge's cheek. He turned his eyes to Murphy, and she shivered though she didn't look up. "And now, I'll have influence with the mortal authorities." He smiled. "Take off your socks and shoes little one." She shivered again then reluctantly removed her socks and shoes. "Now throw them into the quarry." Murph was close enough that she didn't have to throw them far. "Good. You please me, little one."

Raith heard the sound of sirens but didn't react quite the way I would have expected. It was as if he knew even that was going to happen. "A wizard came to me not long ago and warned me of this day. He said he had witnessed you defeat me time and time again. He warned me not to leave you unattended this time. I gather, this was how you wanted to distract me?" My eyes went wide. There was a wizard who could see the future giving my enemies winning lotto numbers? "but I will not fail this time. Madge, be a dear and begin the ceremony. Little police woman, come to me." Raith said triumphantly as he returned to his throne. Murph sat still where she was. I could tell she was calculating her next move. She got strangely unafraid and Raith felt it too. I had to run distraction and give Murph more time. When he stood I just started running at the mouth, not even sure I was being coherent.

"Leave her alone! So help me, when I get free of this, I'll kill you slowly." I threatened idly. "You haven't seen what I can do. What kind of man I am. I will kill you Father."

"My sons: random consequence of desire and response chemistry, and biology. There is no deeper meaning to relation. I've lived centuries and helped build an empire. I've crumbled civilizations, and now you, spittle of my seed into some mortal plaything thinks he can stand against me?" He sneered.

"We value family, father. My brother, and sisters, and I. We believe in love."

"Of course they think that. I raised them that way. It is a simple and convenient way to control them. Love is poison to us. There is no love in any of our kind; it is an illusion. You think I care about any of you?"

"Not even Inari? So what's going to happen once the curse is done? You gonna rape Inari into a good little puppet, and what happens to Lara?" Raith just glared at me then I got an idea. Duh. Dear old dad was loosing his power, but I've always frightened the white counsel because I had too much power, as a wizard, and probably as a vampire too. I kept my mouth running but reached out with my senses. We were two supernaturally sexy men, in a cave full of mortal women. First was Trixie. Not my number one pic, but I already had hooks in her, and she could run interference… then there was Madge. She would be hard, but Raith didn't enthrall her, from what I could tell. My senses told me that Barbie was a thrall somehow, so she would be most difficult.

"Must have been rough, living like that for so long. Never using your reserves, playing it careful." Trixie, in her drug-induced stupor had crawled sensually over to Thomas and began unshackling his hands and feet. Raith was so focused on our conversation, he hardly noticed. But he did notice me making with the sexiness, and Murph was kind of… rolling around, enjoying the texture of the rug and silk pillows. So that's why sexy ladies are associated with cats, she looked like Mister on catnip.

"Shoot him in the leg." Raith ordered. Barbie didn't let him finish the sentence before my ears rang from the thunder of the weapon, and my leg lit up in pain. Then I felt it in my gut. The ceremony was coming to a close, and a dark familiar feeling came over me. I felt it once before when Justin DuMorne called it after me. And this was the energy behind the Molochio.

Madge pronounced every syllable a specific way as she called him by name, "He Who Walks Behind!" but as she drove the knife down, she had no Thomas to carve, instead she was alone in the circle and needed blood to complete the rite, so she dutifully stabbed herself in the gut, and from her blood, boiled the grotesque form of that monster that haunted my shadows for so much of my teen and young adult years. With the circle broken, he was free to do as he pleases, and demons have an order to things. His first prerogative was to finish off the practitioner who called him, then he would rampage the cave, but the ceremony was to bring him to our realm for one unfortunate death, so because he was a creature of habit, and turned his power on Madge, I had no reason to fear him, this time. So why was I still so afraid?

Madge writhed on the floor being torn apart from the inside, "HELLS HOLLY STARS AND SHIT BELLS!" I swore, trying to inch my chained ass away from the low purple fog around the ceremony circle. Thomas threw himself after Raith, and I heard a thumping sound like someone falling softly to the ground. Lara unlocked my chains and curtsied then drew her sword. Thomas was fast but Raith was faster, and the two were beautiful silver luminescent forms as they punched, and kicked one and other. Raith landed a kick in Thomas's gut, then another across his chin, and Thomas landed near the edge of the chasm. Lara approached, and Raith turned to address her.

"Lara, what are you doing here?"

"Claiming what's mine, father."

Raith sneered but soon he was as doped up as Trixie, by the looks of him. I felt a strong pull to Lara, and Thomas groaned. "Harry, we better get out of here." Lara helped him to his feet, and then began to undress. Thomas grabbed Trixie by the arm as I picked up Karen, bridal carry, and we made way for the entrance. I turned for a moment to look at Madge, her face stretched over 'his' form. Thomas opted to grab Barbie as well, and hurry out.

"I remember thee, mortal." 'Madge' said. "I am returned, and we have unfinished business." But I didn't stick around to let anything happen. I got Murph out to her bike and she was still out of it for a while, then Thomas dropped Trixie by me and gave me a wink, and hefted Barbie into the groundskeeper's cottage. Trixie and Murphy pressed me between their bodies and began kissing anything close to their lips as if they were going to die if they didn't kiss every inch of me they could, Trixie working from where she clung to my leg, Murph from my chest.

"What's going on? Murph? What the hell? Thomas! What's happening?" I tried to calm down and turn down the vamp vibes but I was still weak from my near miss with the scourge and the bullet in my leg was still actively healing. Murph removed her shirt then her Kevlar, revealing a sensible solid flesh colored bra that was still darker than her. Trixie was in some lingerie and a white silk robe with red embroidery at the bottom. I backed away, tripped, of all things, and fell on the grass. They got my shirt over my head, then my under shirt, then were working on my belt. I put my foot on Murphy's chest and half elbowed Trixie, then rolled out the way and ran for the cottage.

Thomas was enjoying Barbie at the moment. "This is a horror movie that forgot to make a masked murderer. Instead there's a masochistic cop chick and a doped up dong-jockey chasing me!" Thomas stopped, much to Barbie's protest and walked me through calling off the come hither. A few minutes later I had an angry cop chick and an unconscious dong-jokey outside the door. I let them in, and we all slept until Lara woke us up with Justine and breakfast late in the morning.

"Brothers." She greeted Thomas and me.

I gulped. "So, uh, what happened?"

"Father and i… Came to terms. While he remains the figurehead of the white court, all obligations within will be under my command."

"You enthralled him?" Thomas blurted over his café au lait and grapefruit.

"Please, dear brother, it sounds so abrasive when you call it that. But yes. When my suspicions were confirmed, and I realized he held no allegiance to any of his children, I understood I had no reason to owe him any of the same, however, the white court is not a royalty, if he was overthrown there would be friction, and power struggle for the throne. People may still challenge him, but at least I will rule in the mean time, and there will be some semblance of peace. However, to maintain appearances, I'm afraid I must exile you, dear brother."

"What?" Thomas spat. "Just like that?"

"You did quite publicly defy father. Such an act can't be overlooked."

"The twins put you up to this?"

"Madrigal was quite animate about it, Madeline didn't care either way."

"And I'm sure Madrigal demanded to be given Justine."

"Yes, but I would rather eat my own arm off than give that twit dear Justine. I assure you, she will be safe, under my protection." Lara put a hand on Justine's then Justine put her hand on Thomas, and it burned him. She jerked her hand away and gasped. Thomas left the table to the bathroom.

"Poor romantic fool." Lara said as she left the table. "He doesn't belong with us, Harry. Nor do you or Inari. You deserve better than our lives." She curtsied and took her leave.

Justine turned to me with saddened eyes. "I shouldn't have fallen for him." I got up and hugged her. She teared up a little but for Thomas she was always strong. "Don't fall in love Harry. If you do, and she loves you back… it can kill you." I gulped.

"What girl's gonna fall for me? I live in a basement with a cat, have no money, and even with supernatural come hither, most women think I'm creepy." She giggled.

"But you're sweet, caring, honest, and selfless… and lonely." She put a hand on my cheek, then passed me my cell and Thomas's and got up to leave but stopped, looking at the door to where Thomas was and came back to kiss my cheek then ran out.

Murphy sat quietly munching on melon balls that had been drizzled with something that smelled minty and were plopped onto either frozen yogurt or ice cream. She kicked her feet that swung from the bar stool then finally began to speak. "Sorry, Harry. I wasn't much use to you after all."

"We had a good plan, but we didn't figure there would be a clairvoyant third party involvement. You did good Murph"

"I wasn't acting Harry. I really did want-"

"I know." I cut her off.

"Damn it, Harry. This psychic connection thing we got-"

"I'm sorry about it Murph!"

"Let me finish! It's not all that bad. I could feel Raith worming around in my head but he couldn't get control because you were in there. And remember when Kravos tried to give me nightmares? At first, I was able to fight it, because your psychic-whatsit was there. And when you were trying to play rc controller to Trixie's motorboat, it felt really good. All the wiggling in my head Raith tried just went away. It was embarrassing but…"

"There may be benefits."

"Yeah… I think we should work on them. Flex our mind muscles."

"I'm on board." I flipped through all the texts and found one requesting a rendezvous with Genosa that evening at a hotel. There was a whole thread between my phone and Kincaid's he was reminding me I had until Tuesday to pay his ridiculous bill, but I answered that I'd transfer the funds electronically at that very moment and asked the routing and account number, then he confirmed he received it, then I said pleasure doing business. I looked at the door as Thomas came out of the bathroom. His face where Justine touched him had her hand print in pink, healing burns. I looked at my hand that had been charred and it was still scarred.

"You need more?" Karen offered.

"Not from you. I might kill you this time."

"Trixie then." Murph looked offended.

"Ew. She's hot but-"

"That body guard is still here too." Thomas suggested. I rolled my eyes.

"But you already fed on her. So she would die too."

"So Trixie." Thomas shrugged. I sighed then reluctantly went to the room where Trixie snored. It was actually kind of cute. She woke up, startled then looked up at me blearily through sleepy eyes, then smiled warmly and crooked her finger at me. I moved slowly and reluctantly, despite the fact that a hot redheaded A list porn star was beckoning me to her bower. I moved so slowly she started breathing heavily from anticipation. Then our lips met. I felt her addiction to prescription drugs, her love for wine, and the kind of high she got from combining the two, and how she got into porn because she couldn't enjoy sex without an audience. But she was enjoying the hell out of me with no one else watching.

I fed, heartily, and then we regrouped at my apartment so I could relieve Neez of his duty and Thomas got to meet his niece. Murph let me know later that Trixie and I both got off, I laughed, without any charges. My burns and all the gunshot wounds all went away without a trace, so Thomas, little Maggie, Mouse and I went to the wedding reception for Arturo, and his new bride, Joan.

The films were a success, with the revolutionary new moves and angles suggested by Joan, and the romantic themes of love that built up to the point words could no longer convey feelings, as Arturo had always wanted to produce, the Porn industry was blown away with the premiere. Giselle was at the wedding party, as well as Emma and Trixie who clung to me like cholesterol on arteries. Jake convinced Emma to let him back into their children's lives. The tension I sensed in him was apparently about acting with his ex whom he still harbored a flame for. I was glad things turned out well for them.

The final film was altered to be about the curse that hindered the other two. There were even scenes of me rushing to the rescue and laying down that ward the last day. They had filmed some scenes to tie in the mysterious stagehand saving them and Lara played a sexy villain who wanted Jake all to herself and made misfortune follow Emma until he was hers. And Me? Oh they never figured out where I came from or why I was there. And I was gone as mysteriously as I had arrived. It was a nice twist, though I wished that my debut to the porn industry would be in a group on with Murphy, Lara, and Trixie rather than shaky shots of me running across the camera, throwing people out of the way, and taking a pipe in the chest. When asked my performance name I said "Shvonz Zubrick" Arturo laughed but a month later I got a copy of a movie with Shvonz Zubrick in the credits. Bob was thrilled to know a porn star.

I walked into Karen's office on paperwork day, wearing a nice business outfit in white and grey and whispered "silencium" as I closed the door. The walls and ceiling and floor shimmered a moment then Karen looked up, frustrated, and disheveled and arched an annoyed eyebrow. I bowed, and produced a single red rose tied with babies breath in a red bow, and passed it to her. She leaned back in her chair and sighed as she took it like she expected it to hurt.

"Where's Maggie?"

"With her new Manny."

"Many?"

"Live-in-Man-Nanny. Thomas." To this, she snorted.

"Come to be cute and distract me from paperwork?"

"I came to see a woman about her pants." I looked intensely at her, so she could feel the heat, and busied herself with fixing her hair and the piles of papers on her desk. I considered throwing them all over the place with passionate flair, but I wouldn't survive such a thing so I helped her clean off her desk, then before the moment was completely ruined I pulled her tight to my body and kissed her so passionately, I thought I smelled smoke. Then, of course there was the small matter of ripping some pants off. And I was rough. Rougher than I would have preferred but apparently just enough for my freaky little cop friend. Nobody heard us thanks to the little spell I cast on the office; it lasted until a couple sunrises later so everyone wondered what I did to make Karen so quiet. Heh. She was also really nice the rest of the day, which was disturbing to some, like O'Toole. Double Heh.

So I returned home to my big brother, my little girl, and my new puppy that was already doubled in size, and growing…