Rain is what the thunder brings
For the first time I can hear my heart sing
Call me a fool but I know I'm not
I'm gonna stand out here on the mountain top
Ben Talbot's office, lunchtime . Ben is out, but Beth is in having lunch with Simone, the rain outside is pounding against the window.
"So what's his story?"
"Who's?" Beth looks at her friend questioningly before taking a bite of her salad.
"Ben's."
"What do you mean?"
"He's you know" she whispers "a werewolf isn't he?"
"Does everyone know this by now?"
"Well it's the kind of rumour that spreads fast in vampire society."
"You'd have to ask Ophelia really…"
"Have to ask me what?"
They both turn to see the siblings stand there.
Mick smiles at Beth, who smiles back radiantly and stands up to hug her boyfriend tightly in greeting.
Ophelia seems to be confused.
"Ask me what? And where's Ben?"
"He's been called away to a crime scene. And Simone wants to know what his story is."
"Don't know, ask him yourself. What crime scene?"
"Wait, you don't know why your boyfriend is a werewolf?" Mick sounds disbelieving.
"Well I never asked, I suspect it's not as straightforward as getting turned!"
Mick voice-over
"Only one person in the world would call getting turned straightforward, leave it to Ophelia…"
"You should ask him you know."
"Brother dearest, if you want to know so badly, why don't you ask him. Or better yet, if you're all too embarrassed to, make Simone's other half do it, Josef has no shame we're all aware of that fact."
"If he were here he'd resent that you know." Mick retorts in defence of his best friend.
His words only to be met by a shrug of his sister, who wanders back out leaving him to flop down next to Beth and join the conversation.
The vampire gentleman's club
Classical music playing
Josef is playing pool with Guillermo, having a discussion about women when they both look up, breathing in the scent. Other vampires around them are doing the same, they all seem to be ill at ease.
Lance walks in, accompanied by a blonde gentleman with cold blue eyes. He seems to be in his 30ties.
Josef nods politely in greeting, looking at Guillermo as if silently making a plan to exit without drawing attention to themselves.
"Look at the time, I need to go to that board meeting. Don't you need to go back to work?"
"Yeah yeah you're right, best not get late or my boss will have my hide!"
Without further ado they both get out, Josef breathing an involuntary sigh of relief when he gets to the door. Freezing on the spot when he hears his name called out.
"Mr Kostan. Before you leave. Could you possibly be so kind as to tell me where I can find my grandchild these days."
It's a demand, not a request and Josef knows it all too well. Digging up his best confident smile he turns and nods politely.
"Forgive me for asking Elder Duvall, but would you be looking for Mick or Ophelia?"
The elder's eyes darken when he hears mention of Mick and his voice is barely conceiling his anger. "I should have been more specific, I am looking for my granddaughter. Where that imputent half-breed whelp of a grandson of mine is, is not of interest to me."
"Ah. Well Ophelia and Mick are sharing a home, I believe your son knows where it is, if not I shall be happy to provide you with the address."
"That will not be necessary." Lance's voice is cold, his disapproval obvious.
A wave of the hand of the eldest of the two makes it clear Josef is dismissed and to him that can't be soon enough.
As soon as he's in his car and on a safe distance he calls Mick, who is just exiting the justice building.
Yeah hey Josef.
Where are you?
On my way home why?
You might want to avoid home right now.
Why? What's wrong?
Your family is in town?
What do you mean?
I just had the misfortune to run into your mad uncle Lance and your grandsire Cédric.
WHAT?
They're looking for your sister so you should be ok, but I do believe they'll be going by your place. Mick?
His only response is a disconnection on the other end.
Mick voice-over
Just what I need, not one but two crazy elders around. I wonder what they want with my sister.
Mick's apartment
He's running to the door, coming to an abrupt halt when he breathes in the decay of the other vampires present, moving slower, far more cautiously, putting the key in the lock and opening the door, breathing in deeply as if to reassure himself.
They're sitting in the sofa, patiently. Lance, with his one brown eye and one pitch black. And next to him his grandsire, with those cold blue eyes, an even scarier predator than his eldest son.
They seem to be disappointed.
Mick sighs deeply, his grandsire clears his throat and Lance rolls his eyes before speaking.
"Where's Ophelia?"
Mick knows better but can't help himself.
"I don't know Lance, I'm her brother, not her babysitter. You could have called her you know, you don't have to keep up the habit of coming into my home looking for female relatives unanouced and uninvited."
"That will be enough! I can see why Coraline is so fond of you, she always had a thing for those that had problems knowing their place."
It's the first time Mick hears his grandsire speak and it sends shivers down his spine.
Before he can continue there's a knock on the door before it's pushed open. Ben walks in, his eyes wolflike whilst he stands next to Mick.
"Everything alright?"
"Ah… so it is true…" The patriarch of the Duvall clan doesn't even try to hide is contempt.
"Ben, meet my relatives. That's one of my 6 uncles, Lance and that is my grandsire, Cédric. They're here from France looking for your other half."
"Oh…" Ben's eyes turn back to normal and he extends a hand to the elders.
"Benjamin Talbot."
Lance looks as if he's about to strangle someone but shakes Ben's hand nonetheless. His sire just looks as if he's about to get very very upset at both Mick and Ben.
"Grandpère! Uncle Lance!"
Mick is amazed at how fast the faces of both elders are going from "looks could kill" to "radiant smiles" when they see Ophelia walk in with her tripod and camara bag.
She puts them right down and runs up to her relatives, jumping right into Lance's outstretched arms. He turns her around whilst hugging her.
"I'm so happy to see you both, I missed you!"
She reaches out to hug her grandsire.
"Ben, this is my grandsire, Cédric Duvall, and my uncle Lance."
"Mick's introduced us."
Mick just glares "Why are you both here?"
"I wanted to see how my granddaughter was doing. And to meet my grandson at least. See what Coraline's fussing was all about. See if you were still mortal. I must say I am somewhat pleased that you are not. And I wanted to see if the rumours were true."
"Which rumours would that be?" Mick is getting more and more annoyed by the minute.
"The rumour that my niece is romantically involved with a lunar wolf. But it's safe to say we know that answer."
"Oh that's rich!" Ophelia sounds annoyed!
"Lia…" Mick's voice sounds barely conceils the warning he tries to issue, keeping his eyes on both elders.
"No Mick! I'm not about to stand for this. Granddad you're being a hypocrite! You can't marry a werewolf yourself and then wander in here being all indignated about me being involved with Ben. It's just not done. If you wanted to see me you could just have dropped me a line and I would have happily met you! But you can't just fly to LA and grump like an old sod."
It's clear from Mick's face that he's expecting a row, but Cédric seems to be amused.
"Finished?"
"Just about."
"Good, then you can get your brother to find his ex-wife. Make him do something useful with his talents. As for you and Benjamin, why don't you join us for dinner, we're staying in the poolhouse. I thought you would be too, which is the reason we went looking for you when we found it empty."
"Wait, I thought you had Coraline." Mick's surprise is momentarily masking his anger.
"Oh yes, we did, but she escaped. And managed to get the compound. Again. Staked one of her brothers. Dire situation, it displeases me. Lance says you have a knack for finding her, so find her."
Ophelia is shivering with anger, so much that Ben is holding her by the shoulders.
Mick is flabbergasted, watching the men leave, nearly exploding at Lance's patronising smile which he flashes his cousin before closing the door behind him and his sire.
Beth's apartment
Beth is reading in the sofa, putting a page marker in the book when the door rings and getting up to open it.
"Mick what's wrong?"
"It's Coraline, she's back."
"What? How?"
"I don't know, but my grandsire and Lance showed up entrusting me with the mission of finding her."
"Can't they do it?"
"They can but Lance will probably go berserk whilst at it. He's not subtle."
"How's Ophelia taking it?"
"I'm hoping Ben can calm her down. We need to leave, you'd best stay with him, I don't want to risk Coraline going after you."
She nods, going into the bedroom to start packing, followed by Mick.
Mick-voice over
I sure as hell hope Coraline isn't here to try to get me back. I know now for certain that I never want to be separated from Beth. I love her more than I ever loved Coraline. If she's come for either of us, we are in very real danger, especially Beth.
Song list:
Madonna "Rain"
Igor Stravinsky "Firebird Suite - 1919 Version"