Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The plot and original character are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Characters: Josef; Emma [original character]; Mick; Beth; Coraline.

Rating: M Very high level sex scenes; occasional coarse language; adult themes.

Revelations Chapter One.

The circle was complete. Once again, I found myself sitting in an exclusive LA jazz club with the woman who had become a very close friend and two dangerously handsome vampires. As before, I was wearing a slinky black dress, only this time the ridiculously expensive garment was mine, not borrowed.

So much had changed and yet in a way, I still felt like a little girl playing dress-up.

Self-consciously I raised my hands to my hair, to check that my chic up-do was still in place.

"You have such a lovely neck, Emma."

Josef's softly spoken words jolted me out of my reverie. I smiled, remembering those words as the ones that had started me on this whole wild adventure, but before I could respond, Beth delicately cleared her throat.

Raising her glass of champagne, she said, "To Emma and Josef. Who could have foreseen – on this night exactly a year ago – the wonderful way destiny can work to bring two people together when it is truly meant to be!"

Mick smiled but remained silent as we all raised our glasses in a toast.

Josef took a sip, replaced his glass on the table and in one elegant motion, extended his hand across the table to me.

"I'm still thirsty."

I smiled at Beth and Mick.

"Excuse us please. We'll be back in a few minutes."

When Josef and I returned less than ten minutes later, Mick looked at me first, frowned, inhaled sharply, and finally shot a look at Josef.

"You're playing with fire Josef, and you know damn well how dangerous fire is to our kind. "

Josef shrugged and silently feigned complete innocence.

Beth turned to look me in the eye, and she carefully observed, "You look like you have a little buzz going on there, Emma. What did he give you?"

I leaned over and whispered in her ear, well aware that the two vampires could hear every word anyway, but not wishing to share secret vampire business with any jazz club aficionado who just might have been able to hear our conversation over the music.

"Don't worry ... it's not Black Crystal. For the past six months that Josef and I have been living together, every so often when he has a drink, he gives me a taste of his own blood–" Being so physically close, I sensed more than saw the mortified look on Beth's beautiful face and I broke off in midsentence, but then hastily decided that I should continue my explanation. "It's not what you think, Beth! I actually started it – back home in Sydney – and Josef was extremely worried about the effect that his blood could potentially have on me ..."

I let my voice trail off, seeing a strange mix of concern and disgust in my friend's eyes. I decided that it would be better to explain the situation some other time, after the initial shock had worn off.

But Beth's next words cut deep.

"Won't that kind of behaviour get you kicked out of the vegan union?"

I straightened in my seat and smiled at Josef before I responded to Beth.

"Admittedly my behaviour is unusual – but then so is our situation."

Beth gave a disgusted huff and glared at Josef. I smiled uncertainly at Mick, hoping for a little understanding.

Mick frowned, shifted his gaze from me to Josef and said, "I understand why Emma enjoys the high she gets from – you. But you have no idea what effect repeated exposure could have on a ... on Emma. How could you allow something so incredibly stupid to go on?"

"It's not stupid, Mick." Josef spoke with an air of authority that was obviously intended to put the younger vampire in his place. "I know what I'm doing."

Suddenly the tension was so thick the very air could have been carved with a knife.

And since I felt responsible, I tried to change the subject.

"I have some exciting news! I'm going to do a photography course with a view to becoming a photojournalist. Everything is so expensive here and expanding my skill set would certainly expand my career opportunities..."

I let my voice trail off when I saw the expression on Mick's face, and Beth filled the lull in the conversation with a sharply voiced enquiry.

"Doesn't Josef take care of you, Emma?"

"Well yes, he does – I don't pay any rent if that's what you mean – but I don't want to be a kept woman either!" I saw a fleeting shadow cross Mick's face but unfortunately I disregarded it and carried on. "Beth, would you just give up your career if you moved in with Mick?"

"No, of course not."

Abruptly, Mick rose from the table.

"Sorry to break up the party so early in the night, but Beth has to be at work in the morning. Emma ... Josef ... happy anniversary."

Beth kissed me lightly on the cheek and then stood up. She and Mick left without another word.

Upset and confused, I looked across the table to Josef.

"What just happened?"

"I'll explain at home. Since we're only here for old times' sake, would you like to stay for another drink or would you rather go somewhere else? Your choice," Josef smiled.

"Can we go for a walk and then go home, please?"

"For you Emma, tonight, I'll do anything."

Outside of the club, Josef offered me his arm and we immediately fell into a comfortable step. I loved to walk the streets of LA with Josef. I felt completely safe in his company, and on the odd occasions that we encountered an individual, or even a group, with predatory intentions, some type of ancient survival instinct apparently alerted them that despite appearances, we were definitely not prey.

We walked for an hour before I realised that we'd circled back to the club.

Josef drove us home in his treasured Ferrari. The way he treated that machine, there were times when I was sure that if it could make love to Josef, I would have had serious competition for his affections.

As soon as we got home though, Josef set about showing me that he actually did love me more than his car. Much as I enjoyed his attentions, I had become suspicious. Josef was being uncharacteristically sweet and I wondered why.

I gently, reluctantly extricated myself from Josef's arms and said, "No, no! First things first, my love. Please tell me what I said tonight that was so wrong."

Although I got the definite feeling that Josef was concealing more than he was revealing, he did explain – quite succinctly – about Coraline and Mick. I was horrified to learn how poor Mick had been turned against his will. Josef had given me a choice in the matter and after six months, I still hadn't decided. I wondered what kind of a woman Coraline was, to do such an irreversible thing to the man she supposedly loved.

Taking his cue from my unspoken thoughts, Josef told me about Coraline.

"She's very beautiful. Tall. Willowy. Very similar colouring to yours actually." He smiled and gave me a long, appraising look. "Actually, the way you look tonight ... that dress, your hair and make-up ... well, you remind me of Coraline ... so I suspect that's why Mick was looking at you the way he did at the club." Josef looked away for a moment and then continued. "Coraline is sexy in a dangerous way. Apparently she was amazing in bed. And she had Mick wrapped right around her little finger – she literally made him crazy."

Josef paused as if measuring his next words carefully. When he finally spoke, he told me how Coraline had re-invented herself as a freelance photographer and manipulated her way into Beth's life – and in the process back into Mick's life as well – where she had wreaked havoc. My heart broke for both Mick and Beth as Josef revealed how Mick had had a taste of mortality again only to sacrifice it all for the love of Beth.

Tears ran down my face and Josef gently wiped them away.

After a few minutes, he spoke again.

"So you can see now what Coraline took away from Mick. His family and friends; his career as a musician; his independence; his treasured mortality. Because he was so unprepared – and unwilling – to accept life as a vampire, he was forced to depend on Coraline for food, money, comfort, protection, everything."

I felt sick with the knowledge that I had brought up such painful memories for Mick. He was such a nice man.

"Emma, you had no way of knowing. It wasn't your fault."

"Thank you for telling me about Coraline. Now that I know, I'll try to keep my foot out of my mouth in the future."

I reached for Josef and unbuttoned his shirt. By the time I pushed his shirt back off his broad shoulders, he had kicked his legs free of his trousers and was standing naked and very aroused in front of me. He pressed against me as he reached behind me and unzipped my dress.

Like Josef, I had left my underwear off when I had dressed for the evening.

He stepped back and gave me a long, appraising look.

"You are so beautiful."

I smiled and thought: the feeling is entirely mutual. I knew Josef could read my mind and his smile proved it.

We moved over to the bed and lay down together. As Josef rolled on top of me, I opened my legs to welcome him. Although he seemed just a little surprised by my obvious lack of desire for foreplay, he slowly entered me.

I moaned and wrapped my arms around his broad back and pulled my legs up around his hips. He began to move in an unhurried, sinuous rhythm as I raked my nails up his back. Making love with Josef felt so right – in a way that went completely beyond the physical ecstasy that he always gave me – and I never wanted him to stop.

He whispered, "Even I have to take a break sometimes."

He held me close and rolled over onto his back. As I sat upright, my hair fell down like a dark curtain and Josef ran his fingers through it. I placed my hands on his smooth, muscular chest and Josef resumed his former steady rhythm of thrusts. His hands drifted from my hair to my neck, then across my shoulders and down to my breasts. He had such an exquisitely light touch, that when I closed my eyes it was easy to imagine that he was stroking me with a cool silk scarf rather than bare hands.

My throbbing centre confirmed to both of us how close I was to orgasm, yet I was holding back because I didn't want our closeness to end.

Josef moved his hands around and slowly caressed my back. Then he sat up, still holding me close, and began to nuzzle my neck. I knew he was waiting for the perfect moment. His strong hands slid down to my hips and he easily moved me back and forth along the impressive length of his very hard cock.

My skin tingled everywhere Josef and I touched. I was so close. I threw my head back and moaned.

"Josef ... oh my god Josef ... oh ... oh ..."

As I reached the peak of my orgasm, I felt Josef bite my neck as he simultaneously drove his cock deeply into me in one, final thrust.

He fell back against the bed, put one hand behind my head and pulled me down to meet his lips. I felt the sharpness of his fangs receding even as I tasted my own blood.

We kissed for a long time.

Suddenly Josef put his hands on my upper arms and tenderly pushed me into a sitting position.

I was about to ask if he wanted me to move when he spoke.

"Please – stay where you are."

Josef reached beneath the pillow, clearly searching for something. When he pulled his hand back into view, I saw that he was holding a small, square velvet box. With a flourish, he opened it and held up the most exquisite diamond ring I'd ever seen.

I simply stared, dumbfounded, as he reached for my left hand.

"I love you Emma. Will you marry me?"