"I still can't believe they legalized that, hell, that's about the stupidest thing I've ever heard of," Detective Mike Celluci snorted. Since Toronto had legalized and recognized the existence of vampires two years ago, things had changed drastically. Thankfully, due to the territorialism, only one vampire could be in the city at a time and theirs just happened to be the current resident Henry Fitzory, Duke of Richmond, bastard son of Henry VIII..oh joy, Mike had thought upon the announcement that he would be staying.

"They put him on a pedestal, Vic, " Mike huffed out one day during a visit to her office.

"Mike, in his defense, he has helped us rid the city of many undesireables, demons, unexplained things in general really and, " she pointed at him, "not to mention just plain, evil criminals," Vicki reminded him with a slight shrug.

"Yeah, and he's so dreamy," Coreen piped in while bringing the Smith folder to Vicki as requested.

"Great, Coreen, just great," Mike sighed," and now this lottery thing, I don't get it! Why can't he get a bag here or there?" Mike was referring to the system Toronto had devised to feed Henry, so to speak. Since his vampire nature had been outed, the residents also knew of his feeding habits. Many were less than thrilled upon realizing they might have been unknowing meals while others, women mostly of course, were thrilled with aspect of waiting in line. To alleviate hassles, the city officials had devised a volunteer lottery system. Each day, the volunteers who had placed their names in the pool waited anxiously to see who's phone rang. There was no shortage of people, however, there were strict requirements. No one sick, pregnant or those that had blood disorders could be in the lottery. Rules and regulations were strictly enforced. Volunteers were tested beforehand to make sure they were safe and healthy. A massive filing system was kept on hand as well as rules put in place that each person come in for testing every three months or they were dropped out of the system. Mike hated the system and really hated the fact that Vicki wouldn't tell him if she had put her name in or not. Vicki didn't really need to, Henry would have fed off of her anytime she offered but she had rarely offered and he never pushed.

"Mike, come on. You have to admit, having Henry around is nice and makes people feel safer. Besides, what harm is it to you? Are you in the lottery too?" Vicki teased.

"Aw hell no! Are ya dreamin'? Pfffftttt...no way in hell, Vicki. If you'll recall, his last round with me wasn't so pleasant," Mike snorted.

Vicki shook her head and laughed at Mike. He was so manly and worried about appearances. Many men were in the lottery, yes, many were gay but many were not. They had taken the challenge and oftentimes told Henry not to make it pleasurable, it was a rite of passage.

"Don't you think it's much safer to do things this way than for people to worry there is a vampire out there, every night, hunting, looking for food...hungry?" Vicki asked Mike, her eyebrow raised.

"I guess, whatever. Well, I gotta go, I'll see you later. Is uh..HE coming in later?" Mike asked uncomfortably.

"HE has a name, Mike and yes, Henry is coming in later." Vicki told him. After he left, Coreen sat in front of Vicki's desk, her eyes wide.

"Yes Coreen? Something bothering you?" Vicki asked.

"Kinda, I was just wondering, are you, you know..?"

"Am I??..." Vicki motioned with her hands in the air as if to say 'am I what'?.

"In the lottery? For Henry?" Vicki closed her eyes and sighed.

"Coreen, I'm not answering that question. You can wonder, ask and cajole all day long but it's no one's business. Besides, I'm not such a sweet person. My blood probably wouldn't be his most tasty meal," Vicki said over her shoulder as she put away a file. She felt a breeze, papers rustled, her hair blew a little and they heard a familiar voice.

"Now I wouldn't say that," Henry smiled.

"How would you know?" Vicki hid her embarrassment well. Henry had fed off of her in an emergency or two but she'd never thought Henry thought of her as a sweet dinner, little did she know.

"I don't think someone's personality reflects their...taste as you put it. And I have tasted you before, Vicki" he offered. Coreen stared at him as he sauntered toward Vicki.

"Coreen.." Henry nodded in her direction. She giggled and went back to her desk.

"So you're saying my personality isn't so sweet huh," Vicki stated. Henry was directly in front of her in a flash.

"I didn't say that, but you are a hard one to penetrate Vicki," he whispered. His face was inches from hers. Her heart raced in her chest, pounding wildly with him in such close proximity. She wasn't fearful but her desire for him had never waned, it had increased over time. It seemed the more she resisted, the more she desired him.

"Penetration an issue for you?" Vicki countered with a devilish grin. Their bantering always seemed to head toward the sexual nature.

"Not really, I have many skills," Henry's whispered. His lips were nearly touching hers, his hot breath rolling out and onto her face in a warm blanket of passion. Vicki was backed into her filing cabinet and eye to eye with Henry. His hands were on the cabinet on either side of her head. Tilting his head as if going in for the kiss, Vicki darted under his arms.

"I have no doubt Henry and I need those special skills of yours tonight," Vicki changed the direction of conversation, so she thought.

"Really. I have lots of specialized skills, Vicki, to which ones are you referring?" Again with that sexy smile.

"Wow..let me think, um..." Vicki tapped her chin and feigned being confused, "I don't know, maybe those powers of persuasion or your mind-altering abilities would be nice." Henry growled. Her stubborness was an aphrodisiac to him and he wanted so badly for her to come to him willingly. He decided a different approach might be in order.

Bowing, Henry answered, "As you wish m'lady." Vicki's eyes grew wide at this display of courtesy.

"Well, now, that's more like it. Bowing at my feet, hmm..I can handle that."

Vicki explained that the Smith case was not just your run of the mill cheating spouse. The man, it seemed, was also looking for someone to murder his wife.

"It appears his mistress isn't willing to wait," Vicki finished.

"That doesn't seem so different from others," Henry noted.

Vicki smiled, crossed her arms and said, "It isn't, unless the victim happens to be the mayor's daughter and the mistress is her own sister."

Henry shook his head, "Women."

"Women? What about men? He's got a wife already, why have a mistress and her sister no less?" Vicki was enraged, "Just because your father was a man-whore doesn't make it okay Henry, no matter what the time frame is."

"You think that's what I meant Victoria?" Henry's jaw clenched, "You think I just callously throw women away, never thinking of their feelings, desires, dreams..their heart? You don't know me very well then. I'll help you to keep this girl from being murdered, but, realize, you don't know the whole story. Granted, murder is a little drastic but what is their marriage like? Maybe he feels trapped, unloved, unhappy or even abused," Henry offered.

"Oh you've got to be kidding me?! Henry..you know what," she threw up her hands, "Never mind, I'm not going to argue with you about this. We'll have to agree to disagree, ready?" Vicki grabbed her jacket and her bag of tricks, formerly known as the 'stake-out' bag but Henry seemed to dislike the term immensely so she'd agree to call it something else.

"This should be peachy.." Vicki mumbled.

Henry watched her stalk away, her ass swaying every so slightly and just right..smiling he said.."yes it should.."