A/N: This is Version 2.0 on Crimson and Blood. I've changed, added, deleted, and left some original, leaving it almost a total rewrite. I think earlier readers will find it a whole different story, made much better by the rewrite and my own growth as a writer. I rewrote the story basically from scratch and anyone who read the original should definitely start at Chapter 1. This is the story of Josef and my OC. Josef may be OOC at times, but I went with what works with the story. I tried to stretch the sexual tension, demonstrate both main characters' flaws and strengths, challenge the relationship, tighten my writing and add much more color and flair with description. Reviews and alerts will let me know how well I met my goals. WARNING: I take great liberties with the background of vampires, especially those in Moonlight, influenced by typical vampire lore, Charlene Harris' Southern Vampire series and HBO's'TruBlood', Laurel Hamilton's Anita Blake series or in long ago read fanfic. I love all those differing perspectives and some of those ideas may or may not come into play here. Please don't flame if it isn't entirely accurate to Moonlight. Now that it's been off the air for a while, I have forgotten quite a bit of the cannon. After a while all vampire stories tend to blur, so thanks to anyone where I might have gotten a glimmer to add to the story. Where I actually remember an idea and where it came from, I give appropriate recognition. I felt that the romance needed more tension and less rush to 'judgment' so to speak. Several chapters are added to accomplish this. The story earns its M rating in later chapters, including a 5-way. And since I consider Sarah a worthless, whiny character not worthy of Josef, she is mentioned but gone and he is long over her (well, maybe some of that characterization comes from fanfic and not cannon. Oh well, my statement stands). And we of course don't want to forget the standard disclaimers. Don't own the Moonlight characters, but the OC and plot are mine. Jason Dohring can be delivered to my door any day. J/OC/M/B
CRIMSON AND BLOOD
Chapter 1
I'm all dressed up with nowhere to go
Walkin' with a dead man over my shoulder
Don't run away it's only me.
Waiting for an invitation to arrive
Goin' to a party where no one's still alive
Waiting for an invitation to arrive
Goin' to a party where no one's still alive
Oingo Boingo, Dead Man's Party
Josef frowned at the blood red envelope on the entry room table. He knew what it was of course. The community had been buzzing about her return for weeks. The summons didn't make it any less annoying. While Josef was generally considered the tribe elder and leader in the area given his 400 plus years, his power and charisma, and of course his wealth, there was another vampire in the same area that had passed the torch to him personally regardless of any older vampires that might be in the area. This summons came from that vampire, Valentin. Valentin was older, very powerful, and extremely respected among their kind. The invitation could not be refused by Josef, or any vampire invited. Valentin was planning this party to formally introduce his daughter to society, sort of a vampire debutante ball. She is reputed to be both beautiful and extremely intelligent and spent most of her life in Europe. Every vamp with any credentials, power and money will be there. Winning over the daughter could bring power, money, and prestige to the champion. Given Josef's predilection for winning at all costs, it seemed some opposition research would be in order.
Josef pulled out his cell phone and hit speed dial 3. "Riley. I need you to find me every scrap of information, paper, pictures, everything on one Grace Valentin. She is about 25 and spent most of her life in Europe. Her father is Valentin. Yes, that Valentin, Riley. I want it by end of day tomorrow." Josef clicked off. He opened the invitation, marked the date, and left a note to arrange to have his tailor come by the next evening. It was past time to hit the freezer. As he undressed he idly wondered just how beautiful she really was.
"Come in Riley," Josef said as he heard the knock on his office door.
"Hey Boss. Got the 411 you were looking for. I'm sure there is more out there so I'll keep looking," Riley said as he was handing the fairly thick file to Josef. "Ms. Grace Valentin is a very popular person of interest."
"Run it down for me." Josef took a quick perusal of the folder, taking a special interest in the pictures. Her beauty was not overstated. If he had a heart that beat, it probably would have skipped a few looking at some of the photos.
"She is 25 years old in mortal years, born to a very old vampire and a mortal. We both know this has never been known to occur before. At around 6 years old she was sent to a Swiss boarding school, then finishing school, and currently has three PhDs in Economics, Finance, and Literature, as well as Master's in Religion and Languages, all from Oxford. Interestingly, she has aged at the same rate as a mortal. However, rumor has it that once she loses her well-guarded virginity, she will complete her turn into vampire. Currently she drinks blood, prefers AB+, as well as eats and drinks normal human fare."
"She is a virgin… a vamp/mortal VIRGIN? " Josef's brain started going into overdrive. A virgin- he wanted this woman. "Tell me more. She's twenty-five and still a virgin? That just itself is a surprise, add the vamp/mortal combination and she must be quite the catch. "
Riley continued, adding his opinion where he thought it might be appreciated. "She has been pursued across the European continent and Great Britain by many, and many have disappeared, even old vampires. No one knows what happened to them, and she has been accused of nothing. My sense reading between the lines is that she suffers fools poorly, and will not hesitate to act when necessary. Like her father, it appears she can be ruthless if need be. That alone would make me doubt her worldly innocence, even if I don't doubt her virginity. Ms. Valentin's sense of self preservation seems high. "
"Thank you Riley. Good work. Is there anything else you think I should know as I read the file?" Josef was distracted by the photographs and the information he just got, sending his mind reeling.
"She seems unimpressed by wealth and has in the past been impossible to seduce, by both mortals and vamps. Now, just a guess, she'll be looking for someone with whom there is a strong mutual physical attraction, sexually experienced, brilliant, powerful, and can offer her the protection she will need. Because she appears to be a one-of-a-kind, the rumormongers have attached all kinds of special powers to her and guessed at what will occur once she loses her virginity. Because of those rumors, she requires special protection and is almost always surrounded by a discrete but dedicated team of bodyguards. And did you note how her degrees mesh really well with your holdings? She could be a valuable asset in more than one way. Oh, one last thing. The last page has the invite list. You can check out the competition."
"Thank you, Riley. This is your highest priority until I tell you otherwise. I want every piece of data you can find." Josef was already reading the file as Riley turned to leave.
Josef pulled up to the front circular driveway, handing his keys of his beloved Ferrari to the valet. It looked like every possible light was turned on, and the party was in full swing. A short greeting procession was lined up along the entrance, welcoming each guest as they entered. There looked to be plenty of security present as well. As soon as the valet drove off with his car, he turned his attention to the vamps that stood on the stairs, identifying most of them. There was a short but steady line of guests waiting to be met by the greeters. He spotted Valentin immediately. He was tall and the most elegant vamp he had ever come across. Next to him was the prize he coveted. The photographs did not do her justice. She was stunning. Her long black hair was piled in curls on top of her head. The dress she wore was perfect… blood red velvet with a burned –in pattern offering a not-quite-see-through dress that clung to her lush curves. The dress was off the shoulders and deeply cut to show her décolletage leaving little to the imagination. As she turned to pass the guest to the next greeter, Josef was left breathless with the entirely backless dress he got a peek of. Wearing a brand new tuxedo with an open collar as is the rage these days, he readjusted himself and walked up the stairs thinking that she could not have designed that dress to target her perspective suitors better. He was already enamored and she hadn't uttered a word.
As he was progressing up the line, making nice with vamps he hardly knew from Europe and beyond, Josef listened closely to Grace's voice. It was deep and sounded like a woman's voice after great sex. She had a definite European accent. More French then anything, although it did sound like a blend of several European countries. If he kept getting hard like this he was certainly going to embarrass himself. He liked to think that he had better self-control, after all he told himself, she was just a beautiful woman among many beautiful women he had over the years.
He heard Grace exclaim sarcastically a most hated name, "Lance! Oh and the brother circus monkeys! And even better, our favorite courtesan Coraline. Father, you remember Lance and his family? Surprisingly, I don't remember any of you being on the invite list. But, even so, we were hoping you would attend." Valentin made a slight movement and the impressive security force stepped up to protect both himself and his daughter.
The circus monkeys cried out in outrage, but made no move towards Grace Valentin. Josef prepared to protect her from these monsters out of instinct. Of course he didn't consider Coraline a monster, but hey, if she is a threat to Grace, she was toast.
Lance responded by moving closer to Grace. Josef growled and drew the attention of Lance and Coraline. "Now Grace Darling, you know you are mine. Kostan is nothing, growling or not." Lance's eyes left Grace's briefly and threw daggers with his eyes at Josef.
Drawing attention away from Josef, Grace spoke again, self-assurance and power bleeding through her voice. "I am not yours, and you will NEVER touch me. Take your 'family' and your whore and leave. There will be no more requests." Again, Lance moved, leaning towards her throat. Josef instinctively sped forward to put himself between Lance and Grace. He was in full vamp mode, surprising himself that he was willing to fight or even die to protect a woman he hadn't even talked to. At the same time, Valentin's security force surrounded Lance and his 'family.'
"Joshua, please escort Lance, his brothers, and the whore to the barn. Take care of them as we have discussed. If there are any issues, please let me know." Valentin's voice sounded severe and even sent chills down Josef's back. As an elder vampire, Josef had an idea of what would happen later although the specifics were still vague. He was curious and suspected given Grace and Valentin's tone Lance and Coraline would not fare well.
Turning, Josef found himself directly in front of Grace Valentin, in awe of her beauty up close and speechless to acknowledge her. Her skin was flawless with a very fair complexion and what looked like naturally blushing cheeks. Her hair was midnight black with a streak of pure snow white to the left of where her middle part would be. Her eyes were the color of midnight blue, almost black. She painted her eyes dramatically dark and her lips were blood red, matching her dress perfectly. She smelled of flowers, a mix of gardenia, jasmine, and star gazer lilies, an unusual combination that she must have made personally by a private perfumery.
"I believe you may be considered my hero, Josef Kostan. You were prepared to protect me and take on someone much older than you. It was very brave and very impressive for a man known to be a playboy and a self-absorbed money machine." She gave Josef a smirk that turned into a brilliant smile that went all the way to her eyes, already filled with mischief.
"Don't believe everything you hear." Josef said with a slight tease in his voice, responding to the mischievous glint in her eyes. While she did not appear to fear anyone or anything given the rumors and her interaction with Lance, and she obviously was quite charming, he imagined she could even be impish given the right circumstances.
"Oh believe me Mr. Kostan I too have done my research." She continued smiling, her smile playful now, and offered Josef her hand. "Would you give me the honor of a dance after I am finished here?"
Josef recovered and smiled back, taking her offered hand kissing her knuckles and then turning her hand to kiss the center of her palm. "It would be my pleasure, milady." His body positively hummed at her warm touch. He wondered, even found himself hoping that he had the same effect on her.
Intrigued, Grace looked at him. "Why don't I meet you at the bar in half an hour? I should be finished here by then."
"I am at your disposal Ms. Valentin. See you then." Josef moved through the last of the line and slowly made his way through the crowd to catch up with Mick and Beth near the bar. The bar was set in a corner with glass shelves displaying the available liquors and wines, while blood was stored beneath the bar. It smelled like there was an assortment of blood types available. While he was making his way to Mick and Beth he noted the European flair the mansion had. There was well oiled mahogany everywhere with a huge entry area spreading into a large open living room. To one side was a curving staircase with blood red carpeting and mahogany banister and intricately carved spindles. The lighting was all crystal and there was none of the gold covered trim that could be so tacky sometimes. It looked like the dance floor was large and over to the side in yet another room that had been designed as a ballroom. The whole house, what he could see of it, reeked of Old European class.
Once Josef reached Mick and Beth, Beth teased him as he positioned himself so he could watch Grace through the crowd. "She is very beautiful, isn't she Josef? Beautiful, intelligent, positively reeks of class, not quite your usual run-of- the-mill woman, and certainly different than your freshies."
Josef lightly growled at Beth, not taking his eyes off Grace. Mick spoke up then, "You are quite taken with our virginal princess, Josef. I can smell it on you. This should be interesting. I hear she is quite immune to those skills you employ so well in your usual seductions. You will have to capture her heart using some other strategy. Or is it just her body you are interested in?"
Josef's eyes developed a predatory gleam as he watched Grace walking towards him through the crowd. She stopped several times to visit with guests as she made her way to the bar. He ordered an AB+ glass for her. He turned to Mick as he accepted the glass from the bartender, "I want the whole package wrapped in a bow."
As Grace finally reached Josef he handed her the glass of blood and she accepted gratefully. "Thank you Mr. Kostan. My throat is quite parched after so much meeting and greeting. Something I despise but it comes with the territory I suppose."
She turned to Mick and Beth. "You are Mick St. John and Beth Turner, correct? Welcome to our little soiree." Her voice dripped with sarcasm as she said 'little soiree' and then returned to her normally charming voice. "I have seen you on Buzzwire Ms. Turner. You are very good and obviously strive for journalistic integrity in your pieces. I wish I could say the same about Buzzwire as a whole. The online magazine seems to lean towards a tabloid style of reporting. I haven't been back in the country long but I did hear through the grapevine that you managed to cover some stories that might have uncovered our secret, and in doing so often placed your life in danger to protect our existence. Thank you for that."
Beth's eye brows lifted in surprise at both the thank you and at how much Grace knew about Buzzwire and her role there. "Thank you Ms. Valentin. I have a lot of help," she motioned to both Josef and Mick. "Are you glad to be back in the country?"
"As you probably know already, I've rarely been back to the US and have spent most of my life criss-crossing the European continent, and spending a lot of time in Great Britain as well. I am far more comfortable there than I am here." There was a hint of regret in her voice. "Everything is so classic there, steeped in history, some places are even caught in time. Here, especially LA, things are fast, glass, and crass for the most part. I feel very out of sync coming back to what is supposed to be my home." Grace stopped herself there, fearing she may have revealed to much to people she did not know.
Josef could hear the ache in her voice as she briefly compared what had been her home and where she belonged now. "Perhaps as you make friends and get to know the area better you will feel more comfortable here. I think everyone in the community, especially the three of us, would be happy to introduce you to the area. I think you might find the US and LA offer many positive things."
Grace smiled slightly at the threesome facing her, "That would be very welcome. Thank you, Josef. May I call you Josef? Mr. Kostan feels so formal. And I would like you all to call me Grace. I don't stand on formality with those I choose to be friends with. Europe is much more formal than the US seems to be."
All three nodded in agreement, encouraging the use of first names.
With their agreement, she then turned directly to Josef, setting her glass on the bar only to be immediately swept away by the bartender. "Perhaps you would give me that dance you promised?"
"As you wish, Grace." Josef took her offered hand and led her onto the dance floor, only taking his eyes off of Grace long enough to wink at Mick and Beth. Let the seduction begin. Grace caught the wink and smiled secretly to herself as she knew exactly what Josef was thinking and what that wink suggested. The song just starting was 'Spring', a waltz by Vivaldi, one of Grace's favorites. Josef was an excellent dancer and she was delighted to be held in his arms as he guided her around the room.
She smiled at him with pleasure. "You are an excellent dancer Josef. Knowing who all our guests are, I would wager that you might be the best dancer here. I suspect that my feet will be crushed many times during the night or I will be pawed often, so I should take my pleasure where I can."
"I hope this won't be our only dance tonight, Grace. Perhaps several more are in our near future, even a Tango? I have not danced a Tango in a long time."
"I would welcome the opportunity. But I warn you, even if the Tango is a dance of seduction and lust, I do not succumb easily." Her midnight blue eyes once again sparkled with mischief, definitely an imp, thought Josef.
Josef laughed, the predatory gleam back in his eyes, "I wouldn't have it any other way, milady."
