Glancing at the clock and then at the silent cellphone laying on the corner of his drafting board, Henry sighed in resignation. Another night almost gone and she wouldn't be calling. He thought about throwing out the old cellphone and canceling the number. He only kept it because that was the last number Vicki had for him and he wanted to give her a chance to reach him. She'd left their house to go on another assignment for the ARCANES and never came back. He'd argued about her going alone, but no, Miss Independent had to have it her way. That was twelve years ago and in all that time he only heard from Linden, Vicki's ARCANES handler, once. "Henry, Vicki asked me to tell you to keep the phone charged and she'd call as soon as she can. Thanks to her, the ARCANES work is finished and the aberrant portals will all be sealed by the end of the week."

Henry spent months trying to find out more including using the magic arts, but there was nothing else he could learn. There wasn't a trace of Vicki or the ARCANES anywhere, but because of a lingering hope, Henry kept the phone bill paid and the number active, just in case.

Henry walked down the alley stalking the night's prey when he caught the teasing scent from the past. Shaking it off in anger he focused on his hunt, but the scent grew stronger and his anger deepened. He argued with himself, "Not now! Not again! I'm through with hoping." Snarling deep in his throat as fangs filled his mouth he reached for his prey as another set arms reached for its target.

Snarl met snarl as fangs met flesh. Biting down on exposed skin blood gushed into the mouths of both vampires and they froze in place pressing tongues to bleeding wounds allowing the healing properties of their saliva to stop the blood flow.

Love lust replaced blood lust as both tore away the offending cloth that was blocking them from fore-filling the overwhelming need for each other.

He pressed her against the wall as she pulled him toward her. Their desire and need mutual. Kissing then caressing as backs arched and their sexes united. Wave after wave of orgasmic pleasure washed over them until they were left panting sitting side by side on the dirty concrete.

Henry spoke first, "Why here? Why now?"

She answered, "This is where I am."

Henry was to angry to say anything else.

She waited for almost an hour before asking, "What's next?"

He leaned in and gave her a tender kiss just below the ear where he'd been known to take a bite now and again in the past and whispered, "Why did you leave me?"

She shook her head in denial, "I didn't leave you. I got lost and couldn't find my way back."

She sensed that dawn was close and remembered she hadn't found a den before looking for food. If she planned on surviving another day she needed shelter and Henry's continued silence left her with the feeling of rejection. She slowly stood and started to pick up what remained of her clothing.

Henry's hand shot out and circled her slender wrist. "Where do you think you're going?"

She pulled her wrist away and answered, "Dawn's coming. I've got to find a place to hold up."

"Stay with me." He stood and added, "Don't ever leave me again."

"I'm not sure I can stay. I've changed."

Henry moved with preternatural speed gathered their clothing picked her up and with a blur of motion not visible to the human eye he took her to his home.

They had time for a quick shower and another bout of love making before the first rays of the morning sun touched the top of his building and stopped all movement.

Vicki woke with a sense of peace that she hadn't felt in years. She'd made it. She survived hell and found him again. Now she had to make him understand she'd had no choice in staying away for so long and prepare him for the changes in her that couldn't be undone.

Opening her eyes she looked at the pale form resting on the black silk sheets. The reddish gold curls framed his youthful face and his lips turned up slightly in the corners to give him the look of a secret joke being enjoyed even in death.

She was pleased to know that she still woke up faster than he did. Reaching out she hesitated before using the pads of her fingers to touch him in all the places she loved. His lips and cheeks, the small dent in his chin, the curl that rested on the curve where his neck met his shoulder, down the center of his chest, taking a moment to savor the crisp feel of the hair just below the navel that told the story of his human birth. At last her fingers wrapped themselves around his sex and she felt it start to grow. She smiled to herself thinking about the way a man's erection would stand to attention even before his mind was awake. She decided to take advantage of the opportunity and straddled his groin positioning herself and eased down on to his willing member as she found a satisfying rhythm. She was so into her own pleasure she didn't feel him joining her until his hands grasped her waist. Together they greeted the new night with love.

They shifted their weight and ended up lying on their sides facing each other.

At the same time they both said, "We need to talk." And, "I know."

Hurt and anger clouded his eyes as he said, "You left me."

Vicki shook her head in denial as she said, "I didn't leave. I told you, I couldn't find my way back."

"Explain."

"I will, but I'm so hungry. Can't we feed first?"

He held out his arm, "Take what you need. We're not leaving this room until I get a few answers."

Hunger overcame the urge to argue and Vicki bit down on the side of his wrist near the thumb. She took enough to quiet her vampire.

When the pain of her hunger eased she stopped feeding and said, "Look at me Henry. Really look and tell me what you see."

He screwed up his face and shut his eyes tight and said, "I don't need to look. I know your face better than you do."

Taking her finger tips she gently pried an eyelid open. "Please Henry. Don't make this any harder than it has to be."

He looked at her then. The gray green of her eyes were a more peridot green and the pupil was a slit, very much like a cat's eye. She tilted her chin to the side and pulled her hair back from her ear. Henry's hand came up and his fingers traced the outline that came to a point again very much like a cat's.

She jerked her head slightly away from his touch then pressed her ear back into the palm of his hand, "Careful, they're very sensitive."

"What other changes do you have to show me?"

"These are the visible ones." A big tear rolled from her eye and landed on his arm. He felt the heat of it as it traveled along the side of his arm to drop on the sheet. Another tear followed the first as she waited for what he would say next. His ears picked up the sound of each drop as it fell twice, once from her cheek to his arm and then from his arm to the bed.

"Are you my Vicki?"