I felt bad about killing poor Scud and thought he deserved a chance to have a life where he got to do a little bit of vampire ass kicking of his own. So I'm giving him that chance. Scud's death is a deception and Blade arranges for him to join a new group in Florida.

You might want to read Betrayal Leads to Bliss first.

The Deception

"Video editing is a wonderful thing" Paulo said clapping Scud on his shoulder. "Scud is officially 'dead'."

"Not until the vamps see it." Blade reminded. "For now as far as they know, Scud is still alive. I'm going for Whistler tonight, but before I do we'll get the video uploaded to the security system and Scud is going to call them with the code."

"Then Reinhardt can get his rocks off watching the little human lose his head. Just remember B, Reinhardt is Damaskinos right hand. He trusts him more than he does his own daughter. Nyssa doesn't have a clue about the reapers. Reinhardt has been in on it from the beginning." Scud said as he tapped keys on the computer.

"You really think they're going to buy this Blade?" Paulo asked.

"I kill vampires and their familiars, They know what will happen to him if I find out what he is." Blade responded.

"They'll buy it. Hell Reinhardt bet I wouldn't last a week." Scud said.

"So what's the story on this kid? A familiar? That's not you Blade." Paulo said.

"Let's just say Scud has opened my eyes to some things. He made a mistake, I'm just trying to give him a chance." Blade said.

"A chance? How do you know that he won't turn on us first chance he gets."

"Because he knows what they will do to him, and he is tired of of the life he had with them. He begged me to kill him. But he's worth a lot more alive. And he's got a lot to make them pay for. Besides, you trust Lorelei." Blade told him.

"Of course I trust her. She's my daughter!" Paulo yelled.

"And up until a year ago she was a familiar. That's why I asked you to take him, Lorelei can understand what he's been through. I'll have Whistler back tomorrow, but you need someone that knows weapons and that knows the vamps like he does. He's been with Damaskinos since he was 14, that kind of knowledge you don't come across everyday."

"The little whore got his head chopped off." Reinhardt laughed. "Told you Blade was gonna ice him."

"Yeah but you said within a week, The little shit lasted over a year" Chupa reminded him. "I told you he wasn't stupid. He fooled Blade this long. Got us what we needed in the end."

"The familiar was nothing but another tool to be used. His usefulness has ended thanks to the Daywalker, but yours has not." Damaskinos reminded them sharply. "Blade has his precious Whistler back. Make contact with him."

"I will put the message in Blade's hands myself." Asad said as he bowed. "My Lord."

A new home

Scud huddled in his jacket, The wet freezing cold seemed to go right through to the bone. As Paulo tossed bags into the back of the SUV. Scud shivered. "I thought Florida was supposed to be warm, the Sunshine State all that shit."

Paulo laughed. "Maybe down south, but up here it in the panhandle it gets colder than a witch's tit. Guess that's why we call it LA, Lower Alabama. Wait till summer gets here you'll be praying for winter."

"I doubt it." Scud said trying to pull his coat a little tighter.

"Get in kid, let's go." Paulo said starting the vehicle. "It'll warm up pretty quick. Got a bit of a drive ahead of us, if you have to smoke make it a cigarette huh?"

"A cigarette is something. And you know I don't have any weed you tossed my baggie." Scud grumbled.

"Yeah I did, didn't I." Paulo opened the center console and took out a pack of Marlboro Reds. "Guess they will just have to do, eh Josh? You know you're going to have to get used to being called Josh now. Scud is dead."

"It's just strange, when Damaskinos first bought me, I wanted Josh to be dead. All the shit I had went through. And here I am back to being Josh again." Scud said as he lit a cigarette.

"It's a different Josh though. You're not some naïve kid anymore. You know what they can and will do, because they did it to you. This is your chance to keep it from happening to some other kid." Paulo told him. "But lets get you back to the compound and settled in."

The two rode in silence for a while. Scud stubbed out another butt and said. "You know this piece of shit needs engine work. Right? It's running kind of rough."

"Yeah needs an oil change and some other minor maintenance too. I just haven't had time to take care of it." Paulo said.

"I took care of the car for B. I can get it running right. Well at least if that rod I hear knocking hasn't done too much damage." Scud said wincing at the noise.

"Hey get settled in, meet the rest of the group first. This junker can wait awhile."

Lorelei watched the SUV coming down the dirt road from the highway. "Hey guys, Dad's back." She yelled bringing the rest of their small group out onto the porch.

She ran down to meet Paulo. "Dad, everything okay? What did he want? Blade wouldn't tell me anything on the phone."

"In a minute for now let's get inside out of the cold" Paulo said putting an arm around his daughter's waist. "Come on Josh, I'll introduce you to everyone."

"Who's this?" Sarge asked coming up to stare at Scud like he was something less than human.

"Guys this is Josh, the newest member of our group, compliments of Blade. He's been with Blade for over a year now as a mechanic/weapons technician. He's working with us now." Paulo explained.

Lorelei stepped forward and held out her hand. "I'm Lorelei, just call me Lori. this overgrown R Lee Ermey wannabe is Sarge, and that scruffy looking creature sitting on the porch swing is Ricky."

"Hey, nice to meet you guys." Scud said nervously.

"Come on in. I know how much of an appetite Dad gets traveling. We can all have lunch and get acquainted." Lorelei said tugging him forward.