Dhampir Hereafter Part 2

by gempire

This is part two of Dhampir Hereafter. You could jump straight in on this one if you want, but what went before is in part one.

1. Prologue

Disclaimer: Twilight is the property of Stephenie Meyer

This chapter is dedicated to Noble, Fadewind, M-Bianca94, Alphabloodwolf, Saimreen, Hm813, Cara Gracious, Jaboo101, Asherah Isa, TheStarCalledVega and BellaNessieCullen

This is just part two of Dhampir Hereafter, the same description applies. This prologue is in Ardal's point of view, you can read this, or skip straight to chapter one, which is why I posted them at the same time. This is long, which is why it's taken a while for me to complete both chapters. Since it's so long I've put breaks at regular intervals if you want to come back to it later. Otherwise, go take a toilet break, grab yourself some snacks and settle in for one epic length chapter that recalls the days of ATEOTT twin chapters…

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Ardal

It was the middle of the night, but you'd be surprised when people wanted their priest, especially if there was someone close to dying. Who knew when they needed the Last Rites read to them? So it didn't surprise me that there was a knock at the door, but the person on the other side of the door did surprise me.

"Alec? I thought you changed your mind." I said.

"No. It was too sunny for me to be exposed on the ferry today, therefore I waited until it was dark and I swam over." He said, as if it was nothing.

Now I noticed that he was soaking from head to foot, but it didn't seem to affect him despite the cold in the air.

"Have you made your decision?" Alec asked.

"Yes. I've decided that I do want to have time with me brother, and I accept your offer. But there's some provisos I want you to agree to if I go ahead." I explained.

"Whatever makes this easier for you." Alec said. "Shall I come in to talk?"

"Best not, me replacement is upstairs sleeping. I still don't sleep good that's why I'm up on night duty." I replied.

"I can make him sleep through our conversation." Alec said softly.

I didn't feel right about that.

"It won't hurt I assure you. He will merely have a good night sleep. As you did that night I made my offer." He said, looking up from underneath his sandy hair with those strange gold eyes. "I'm sorry if I over stepped a bound, but you are Mal's brother and I hate to you in pain."

"You meant well, you're forgiven." I said, automatically placing my hand on his head as if I were giving a blessing at Mass.

"If you knew the extent of my sins you would not bless me so freely Pater." He whispered. "Now, shall we step inside to talk? This night chill cannot be good for you."

"Yes come in." I said. "And as long as we keep our voices down we're not likely to disturb Father Malachi."

"He is a heavy sleeper." Alec said, putting his head on the side as if he could hear my successor. "He will not disturb us and if he awakens I can hide."

"Ok. Well if we go in here there's more places you can go." I said as I led him into the big room. "Shall we sit at the table?"

"Is there a towel I can put down so I don't get it wet?" He said, indicating one of the chairs by the table.

"I'll just go get you one from the bathroom." I said.

"Tell me where it is and I'll have it in a moment." Alec stated.

I gave him directions to the nearest bathroom and he was gone in a flash. A second later he was back with a towel in his hand. He didn't use it to dry himself though; he just draped it over one of the chairs before sitting down.

"Now Ardal, please tell me, what are your requests?" He said smoothly, as if we were ironing out a few minor clauses in a business contract.

I sat down opposite him.

"I don't want Mal to know." I stated.

"I cannot keep something like this from him!" Alec said aghast.

"Not forever, just until I'm through the change and whatever. I mean, what does it entail exactly? How long does it take?" I asked with a frown.

"The change itself takes three days, but there's an adjustment time after, what we refer to as the newborn stage. It lasts about a year and in that time you will be…unstable." Alec admitted. "In that time you will find yourself unable to control your urges as well as older vampires. It also takes time to train your palate toward animal blood and away from craving human blood."

"So there'll be a while where I'll be unstable, but everyone grown out of that right?" I asked hopefully.

"Not always." Alec said reluctantly.

"Then if that's the case I want to be destroyed." I said firmly. "I don't want to be a monster and I'm more convinced than ever that I should wait to tell Mal. I'd rather him think the cancer took me if I do become a monster than have me change then me taken from him in that way."

"Very well." Alec said. "That is reasonable. Is there anything else?"

"None that I can think of." I replied.

"Then it is settled." Alec said with a nod. "I have organised some men to call upon you tomorrow, they will be representing the St Frances House of Palliative Care located in Florida. I looked into it and there is a contact I can use that would be able to make it seem as if you are there as proof to the Church. Given that you don't want Mal to know of this development until you are certain of the outcome it has worked doubly well. It would be a shame for the Church to look up your next of kin and find Mal's name."

"That would be tragic." I agreed.

"Very well, the men will ring you at nine tomorrow morning to state that they are on their way to pick you up on the next ferry. That will give you the time needed for you to pack and be ready to return with the men on the next ferry. Then we will travel to Shannon Airport and catch a plane to America. I will explain the rest once we get there."

"Ok."

With that Alec left and I spent the rest of the night wondering what I should take with me. I only had a few personal items; practically everything in the Parochial House belonged to the Church. In the end I decided that I should take what I would pack if I was really going to a respite home.

I had me list ready by the time the phone rung in the morning. Father Malachi answered and handed the phone over to me. The conversation was brief, I knew what was happening, this was just for show after all. I felt the nerves tighten in me stomach as I hung up, now was the hard bit. Convincing Father Malachi and Mrs McLynn that I was heading out for the palliative care. They knew I was ill, that's why Father Malachi was here in the first place, but would they believe I was going already?

"Well, I guess I should go pack." I said.

"Why?" Father Malachi asked.

"Looks like the parish is all yours Father, I'm on me way to America." I replied.

"America? Why?" He demanded.

"They found me a place to while out the rest o' me days in a retirement house." I explained.

"But it's so far away from your home." Father Malachi stated.

"Aye, but it's the best home that specialises in palliative care the Church has to offer, I'm not gonna turn it down. He always has a reason for doing things and now I must trust in Him." I stated.

"Amen." Father Malachi said, although he looked uncertain.

"Come now Father, you've been waiting for this old bloke to leave so you can get on with running this island as you see fit have you not?" I said with a smile.

Father Malachi looked embarrassed.

"Ah don't fret Father, I was a young priest once meself you know, wanting to inspire the faith in the herd in me own way. Twas a grand day when I was given run of the island, and now the time has come for me to pass the mantle on."

"But shouldn't you let your congregation know? Give them chance to say goodbye?" Father Malachi asked in concern.

"I haven't got much time. I have to pack and be at the port to cross back over on the ferry with the officials." I replied.

Father Malachi looked sad.

"Fine." I said reluctantly, I'd hoped to go without much fuss. "Go call a meeting in the church while I pack me things. I'll say a few brief words before I leave."

Father Malachi nodded and he headed out of the door as I climbed the stairs to what had been me room for the past two decades. This would be the last time I would climb these stairs, my fingers automatically feeling for the little knot in the hand rail just as you got to the top, perfect for knowing when the stairs was about to turn into landing when it was dark. I walked along the upstairs corridor, the boards creaking in their familiar tune as I passed the religious iconography mixed with black and white photos of various scenes around the island some long ago priest had captured and would live on for eternity, his own personal mark upon the Parochial House.

As I entered me room, which would soon belong to Father Malachi as priest in residence, I felt a sad twinge that there was nothing I would leave behind. I'd never had such hobbies as photography to leave brilliant examples of the beauty of His world. I'd never even thought about such a thing until now.

I pushed the thoughts from my mind and took the leather suitcase from on top of the wardrobe and packed it with several pairs of pyjamas, which I wouldn't need soon, vampires didn't sleep. I reached up to the top shelf of me wardrobe and pulled down a shoebox, it contained what little I owned. The one photo I still had of me Alva, I'd lost the rest when I lost myself for years. I'd managed to hold onto her engagement ring and the wedding bands we never got to exchange. I'd worn them on a string about me neck during my time on the street determined not to lose them. There was a photo of me with the nuns who had nursed me back to health and brought me back to my senses. The various letters of acceptance to enter the priest school and then the letter that stated I had passed and was worthy to be ordained. The letter that informed me of my placement on Deireadh an Domhan and the ticket stub from me first ferry ride here. There was a copy of me first sermon along with a letter from Mother Superior of me old orphanage, who had been Sister Mary when I was there, congratulating me on my posting. There had been nothing to add for years, but now there were printouts, Mal's original message, our back and forths as we got to know each other, ending with his invitation for me to stay with him back in February. There were now pictures of me Ma, one I'd got of me Da off of his family, but I hadn't had time to get to know them any better. There was the photos of Mal and his little family and I smiled as I realised I would get to see them grow up now, to know what people they would become. I put the shoebox into me suitcase before adding a few items of clothing, but there wasn't much I owned since I dressed the same every day.

With my bag packed I stripped the bed and folded the quilt at put it on the bottom of the bed with the pillows on top. It was how we were supposed to leave the room. I didn't take the bedding down for the laundry straight away, I knew Mrs McLynn would cause a scene, and anyway, there was one last thing I had to do.

I went over to the corner of the room and knelt down by the skirting board where some long ago priest had carved a little cross. I very carefully pried it out and reached into the hole it revealed. There was an ancient tobacco tin that I now pulled out. I carried it carefully over to the writing desk and I opened it. Inside was a folded up sheet of paper. I pulled it out carefully and unfolded it; it was old and a little brittle now. On there was a long line of priests who had held the position of priest on Deireadh an Domhan before me. The last name on there was Father Dowling; he'd been the priest just before me. Now it was time to add me own name to the list.

Fr Ardal McGuire July 2072 - March 2091

Just like the others before me, dating back to the 1940s, I'd left my name and the dates I'd been priest here. I didn't know what the point was of this, especially since it was kept hidden, but when I took over Father Dowling had left me a note telling me about the list and it was bad luck to break the chain.

I put the list back in the tin and placed the tin back in its hidey-hole before writing a letter to Father Malachi and explaining about the tin. I put it up on the top shelf of the wardrobe where he would likely find it when he came to use his new room.

For my carry-on there wasn't much to take other than my personal copy of the Good Book, a paper back novel about detectives in prohibition era Chicago that would make some great light reading for the long journey, my passport and me pills. Mustn't forget those since I didn't know how long it would be until the whole process of making me a vampire actually began.

I pulled the strap of me carry-on bag over my body and gathered up the bedding before managing to take hold of me suitcase too. I carried them all downstairs, dropping me suitcase by the front door before carrying the bedding through to the little laundry room that was through the kitchen.

Mrs McLynn looked up from her preparations for dinner.

"So you're leaving us then Father." She said.

"That I am." I confirmed.

"Now why would you go and do a thing like that?" She demanded.

"Because there's no easier way to put it than I'm dying Mrs McLynn, and soon." I said solemnly. "You know I got the cancer, and it's killing me. Soon I won't be good for much and it would be wrong for me to put on you and Father Malachi like that, so I'm off to a home in America."

"Why didn't you say sooner?" She demanded.

"I didn't know until just now and I got to go today or else they'll think I don't want the place and they'll give it someone else. I'll end up in a home with the old priests instead of the one with the ill priests me own age." I explained.

"I understand, but I wish you weren't leaving me with that lanky string of piss, if you'll pardon me French." She growled.

"Now Mrs McLynn we all have to start somewhere and Father Malachi's heart is in the right place." I chastised. "I'm sure with your guidance he'll be the best priest this island has ever known."

"I sure hope you're right about that Father." She said before pressing a box into my hands. "I made you up a little bite to eat for if you get hungry on the way. God knows when you'll be on your flight."

"Thanks for your kind thoughts." I said as I slipped the sandwiches into my carry on bag. "Well I'll be going now Mrs McLynn. Make sure Father Malachi moves into the big room, it's where the resident priest is supposed to sleep."

"Will do Father." Mrs McLynn said with a firm nod.

"Well, goodbye Mrs McLynn." I said lowly, there wasn't much more to say.

"Goodbye Father." She said solemnly.

I gave her a weak smile before going to the front door. I had to take off my bag so I could pull on my coat. I pulled my bag back on and picked up my suitcase. I took one last look at the hallway before leaving. I didn't look back at the old house as I made the short journey to the church where the bell was ringing, calling people in. I would have preferred to go without a fuss, but I owed it to the congregation to say goodbye at least. I went around to the back door, entering through the rectory.

I left my suitcase, bag and coat on the bench before pulling on my vestments. Father Malachi was already standing in front of the alter leading the congregation in song. He was in full vestment, complete with stole, he was obviously intending to offer Sacrament afterwards, but I felt it would be sacrilegious to do so given the true reason I was leaving this community. I would have to lie in church, or at least be resourceful with the truth. I sought out the truth I could tell and assembled a speech in my head. I would make it brief.

I motioned to Father Malachi and he nodded to me, bringing the hymn to a close.

"Please be seated." He said and waited for the rustling to stop. "Thank you for coming on such short notice. It is good to see so many of you come to the bell's call for Father McGuire has something to share with you all."

I took a deep breath and stepped out to face the congregation. Father Malachi hadn't been lying, there was quite the turnout considering they weren't expecting Mass today. I took a deep breath and began.

"Thank you for coming out this morning, taking a moment from your busy lives. I have news to share with you. He has decided, in His great wisdom, that I must join Him, and now it is time for me to leave you. I am going to America to spend the rest of me short days in this human body. I would like to thank you all for making my nineteen years here some of the happiest in my life, and know you will always have a place in me heart. May peace go with you always."

I nodded my head to the congregation.

"Now Father Malachi will lead you in prayer." I stated.

As the congregation bowed their heads and Father Malachi led them, I left. I didn't want to stick around any longer, Father Malachi and Mrs McLynn could tell them what I was dying of, I didn't want to have to say it aloud. I didn't want to tempt fate and have Him take me before I had chance to continue on in this world. I quickly removed the vestments and pulled on my coat and bag, lifting my suitcase and leaving. I moved as quickly as possible, knowing that having dressed for Sacrament Father Malachi would now have to perform it and nobody would leave before they were dismissed. That gave me at least fifteen minuets before news would reach those who hadn't turned up. If I was lucky I'd be on the ferry before anyone would bug me.

I reached the port and tucked myself in under the shelter, if I kept me hood up and me head down it was possible I would go unrecognised. I was worried when Danny O'Doyle and his son Oisin turned up, but he'd neglected church the past four weeks and so he got as far away from me as possible in case I brought him to book. I checked my watch when I heard the church bell toll as the congregation left. Hopefully they would hang around to ask Father Malachi what was happening because there was ten minuets to go before the ferry was due.

I felt my heart race with every passing moment until I saw the little boat appear on the horizon and it gave three blasts of the foghorn as it drew up next to the dock. There were only a few people on board and that made it easy to spot the two I was looking for in their dark clothes. I stood, took up my suitcase and was at the bottom of the gangplank by the time Captain had lowered it.

The two let the other passengers get off and stood at the top of the gangplank.

"Father Ardal McGuire?" The tallest asked.

"That's me." I said as I went aboard.

"I'm Father Goodwin and this is Father Kier." The tallest stated. "You've saved us a journey."

"I respect the Church and all Father, but you know you have to pay." Captain said apologetically.

"Here is his ticket." Father Kier said as he held it up.

"So it is." Captain replied and ushered us away from the top of the gangplank.

"Shall we go into the cabin?" I suggested, it would be quarter of an hour before Captain set sail again and I didn't want to be on deck where people could shout to me.

"Of course Father." Father Goodwin replied and we went into the cabin and found a bench to sit on.

The two priests struck up a conversation that wouldn't seem out of place if anyone was listening in, and was better than us just sitting in silence. That would be just as suspicious. Danny and his son stayed out on deck, they didn't want to sit by us priests, but Ginny O'Keefe came in with her guide dog Brody, who led her to a seat near the door and sat obediently at her feet.

"Father McGuire? Is that you I hear?" She asked.

I couldn't deny it, Ginny had good hearing.

"Yes Ginny, it's me." I confirmed.

"Where you heading out today? I heard the church bells not half hour ago. Forgive me for not attending, but Brody's got her check up and I can't miss it. I can't have her falling ill on me." Ginny explained.

"I understand Ginny, and don't you go worrying, it was nothing important." I stated.

"Are you sure Father?" Ginny asked, frowning toward me as her blank green eyes looked elsewhere.

"Yes." I insisted.

"So where're you headed?" She asked again.

"I'm going on a little trip." I replied, keeping to the truth that I could tell.

"That sounds nice." Ginny observed and fell into silence.

I let out a sigh of relief as I heard Captain give the call to cast off.

"Where to?" She asked as the ferry shuddered as the engines kicked in.

"America." I supplied.

"Fancy." Ginny observed. "Will you see the Statue of Liberty for me? Tell me how it looks when you come back?"

"I'm not going to New York." I lied.

"Ah well, I'm sure where you go you'll have nice stories to tell. If you wanna practice your Braille, a post cards always welcome." She said with a grin.

"I'll see what I can do." I promised with a chuckle as the little Darren ferry took to the water.

Ginny chatted on for the rest of the journey about her recent experience of having to milk one of McAbbot's cows because he was convinced she could cure it with a maiden's touch. He was still convinced it was possessed and apparently my attempts at exorcism weren't doing any good. I was glad she didn't question me anymore on my trip by the time we docked.

Father Goodwin and Father Kier led me to a car and we got in. We didn't drive far, only to an underground car park where they pointed me toward a more upmarket car, the type you'd expect some foreign delegate to travel in. I moved toward it and the back door opened, Alec stepped out.

"Good morning Father, may I take your bags?" He offered.

"Under the circumstances I think you can call me Ardal." I observed as I handed over my bag and suitcase.

"We'll talk in the car." He said.

I nodded and got in. It was nice and spacious inside, complete with a mini fridge. Alec got into the car and closed the door. He knocked on the glass in front of us and the car began to move.

"For now I will continue to call you Father McGuire, and you may call me Father Fortelli." Alec stated.

"You look a little young to be ordained." I observed.

"Perhaps, but I can get away with claiming myself to be in my early twenties. People do observe me with some disbelief, but there are those who look as young as I." Alec said with a small shrug.

"I guess." I conceded.

"Our cover story is that I'm accompanying you to the home in Florida. In truth we are travelling to Wyoming. There we will begin the arrangements for your transformation. I understand if you wish not to discuss it on the flight, in fact there is not much more for us to discuss until we get to Wyoming. I will leave you in peace aboard the flight unless there are other things you wish to discuss."

"I got me book." I said.

"I have a book too. I find it helps considerably on long flights." Alec replied.

"It does." I agreed.

We spent the rest of the car ride in silence until we reached Shannon Airport. The driver pulled up right under the overhang in front of the main doors and I realised this was to give Alec cover from the sun, although it was cloudy today. I got my suitcase and bag from the boot and Alec pulled out his own suitcase and bag that was pretty much a good match for what us priests used. When I actually looked at what he was wearing I noticed that he'd got his hands on a dark suit and collar. I decided not to comment.

It was a few hours later when we were on our flight, in first class no less, and ready to take off.

"You know priests don't usually travel first class." I whispered.

"Yes, but this is a gift from a loving flock to their ailing priest." Alec replied as he flicked through the catalogue for the air shop that was tucked into the seat in front of him.

"I was a good priest to them." I conceded. "Ah well, here we go, the safety instructions."

Alec tucked the catalogue back into the mesh and looked down to the front where one of the air stewardesses was going through the usual motions. Alec frowned slightly before the corner of his mouth turned up and he turned to me.

"I have often wondered how they get their skin so orange. Do you suppose it is a form of jaundice?"

"You do know it's fake tan right?" I asked with a frown.

"Of course." Alec said with a snort. "I was merely jesting, I hate these tedious monologues. I have heard them so often."

"Well there are people who haven't flown before." I pointed out.

"That is true, but to block it out…" He said with a sigh.

"Ah look, it's over now." I said.

"Thankfully."

"And we'll be taking off in a mo."

"Yes. Then six hours of miraculous flight and we are in the New World." Alec said happily, and then he looked sad. "So many hundreds of miles away from Leda. I hope she does not miss me."

"She's bound to, but she's with her friends. Won't be that long and you'll be back." I assured him.

"Yes." Alec agreed.

At that point the flight levelled out and since the cabin crew were coming around we had to keep our talk to things that sounded priestly. After an hour we both got out our books only to notice we were reading the same thing. So we discussed some of the earlier chapters before deciding to talk about each chapter as we went along. It passed the flight quite well and it seemed no time at all when we were landing in New York.

It took ages to get through customs, having gone through JFK before I knew it would. Then we had to go to a car to take us to a private airfield, Alec explained his sister had insisted we use her private jet. I hadn't thought it would be so snazzy, but it was.

Once we were in the air Alec pulled off the white colour and loosened the top buttons of his shirt. He held up the collar for a while, regarding it thoughtfully.

"I wanted to join the priesthood, but the man who was my father wouldn't let me." He said. "I was his only son, I had to marry, take over the title, have children to carry on the line. Rather ironic that he put me to death on the word of the Church when you think about it." He put the collar aside. "But that is ancient history."

I nodded.

"Now we are free to talk if you have any questions." He stated.

"Not really, but I have a suggestion." I said carefully. "I've been thinking about it on the flight over. Maybe it would be better if you're not the one to bite me."

"You don't trust me?" He asked, looking offended.

"No. That's not it at all." I countered fervently. "I just think it might be better when we come to tell Mal, that it wasn't you."

"I suppose it is crime enough I suggested this to you in the first place." Alec muttered. "Very well, I will speak with Jane, find out who she recommends of her people. Do you have any preferences?"

"What do you mean?" I asked with a frown.

"To bite a human for them to change, you must get close, one might call it intimately close, have you any objections to it being a man?"

"Well if it is so intimate I wouldn't mind it being a nice lady, but I'm not so insecure of me sexuality that I would feel awkward with a man doing it. After all, it's just becoming a vampire right? It's not like it's anything else."

"Then I will bear that in mind." Alec stated before falling into a brooding silence.

I needed something to break the tension.

"So Leda, she really is your daughter?" I asked.

"Yes." He confirmed.

"How did that come about?" I was actually really curious about this.

"Mal told you that we vampires can father children with human and dhampir women?" Alec asked.

"Yeah. He said that's how he came to be." I stated. "And I can see it with a vampire who is only a century or two, but one who is fifteen hundred years old?"

"Liza's father is twice as old as I." Alec stated without any hint he was joking.

"He is?" I asked in disbelief.

"Yes." He said with a nod.

"Wow. Three thousand?" I gasped.

"Near enough." Alec said as he moved his hand in the approximately gesture.

"Then he was around at the time of Christ." I murmured.

"He was, but I doubt he took notice." Alec said as he turned to the window and leant his forehead against it. "That was when he was still much the child of the Volturi with no other interest than serving the Padroni and where the next blood donation was coming from."

"I see." I replied, I was going off this conversation now.

"It was due to us not knowing any better before Carlisle discovered we could survive on animal blood." Alec said quickly when he noticed my hesitation. "Knowing this fact has been a big help, especially in preparing those who wish to join us for what lies ahead so they take to animal blood much more willingly."

"That's good to know." I replied.

"I think perhaps I will tell you everything you need to know about vampires, what it means to be one, and what troubles you may face. Remember, you may change your mind right up to the point where you are bit. Once you are bitten there is no going back, but right up that point, if you wish to cease in this course then feel free to do so. We will arrange for you to enter the House of Palliative Care where you can live out your days as the world believes you do."

"Ok." I said.

"Very well. Now where to begin…."

---

By the time we landed in Wyoming I knew way too much about what it meant to be a vampire. A lot of it was off putting, but knowing that so many vampires now followed the vegetarian lifestyle was comforting. It was enough for me to be willing to take such a risk, and I had a way out if it all went wrong. I wouldn't be a monster for long.

The airstrip in Wyoming was just that, one runway and a little hanger. It was owned by the vampires of America, for their own personal use. It was near the headquarters of the sort of government they'd set up. I guess they would soon be my government too.

Since it was owned by the vampire council it meant that Alec didn't have to worry about the fact that it was sunny. The sunlight sparkled off him and I had to wonder what it would be like to look down at your own arm and see it glitter like marble.

I pushed that thought from my mind as I went to get me bags, but a sparkling hand stopped me. I looked to me side to find a stern woman in a dark suit and sunglasses looking at me.

"Rea will take your bags." Alec said.

"Are you sure?" I asked.

"No problamo Padre." Rea said as she got me suitcase and bag from the hatch "The boss has assigned me to make sure you're comfortable during your stay. Anything you need just feel free to ask."

"I can accommodate him." Alec said.

"Hey, I'm just doing what Jane asked, you got a problem take it up with her." Rea said with a grin that wasn't exactly friendly, before she carried my bags to the waiting car.

Alec sighed as he grabbed his own luggage and he motioned with his head for me to follow him. We went to the car, and he put his stuff in the boot while Rea indicated I should get in. I got in to a car that wasn't so fancy as the car we had in Ireland, but I guessed that was the point. It didn't draw attention as we glided along forest roads.

I didn't take in much more than that for a very long while as I felt a wave of fatigue and with it came a bout of pain. I grit my teeth as I gripped the handle on the door. I looked out the window but didn't really see the scenery, I was lost for a moment.

"Ardal, sleep." I heard a voice say calmly.

"Don't use that witchcraft on me!" I snapped, my pain making my temper short.

I felt Alec pull away from me and I immediately felt guilty. I managed to push against the pain.

"I'll be worse off sleeping in the car." I explained. "I make it to your place. Can rest properly."

"Of course." Alec replied.

I was very hazy with pain and didn't realise we'd arrived until the car had stopped and there were arms getting in place to lift me. I managed to focus in alarm to find that Rea was picking me up.

"Relax Padre, you're light." She said.

"I can…" I began to protest.

"No. Too much pain. Now don't go being brave there Padre, let this old sailor take care of you." She said.

"But…"

"I'm a vampire." She said as she lifted me without even seeming to strain. "Just let Lieutenant Rea take care of you."

"Rea, he is an ordained priest and over forty, it is rather patronising for you to carry him in such a manner." Alec said.

"You got no objections, right Padre?" She asked.

"Well…." I began.

"See, no objections." Rea replied and she started walking off with me.

I heard Alec groan before following behind, his gate closer to running to keep up with Rea's longer stride. I would have preferred to walk, but it was clear Rea was determined to deliver me to Jane her way. I was being whisked too fast to really take anything in. It was kind of undignified, but I guess it could have been worse. She could have thrown me over her shoulder.

Finally she put me down in a big office where a young girl was sat behind a big wooden desk. She looked so much like Alec that it was easy to know she was his sister.

"Jane, you are taking over sister?" Alec demanded.

"Not at all Alec dear." She said in pleasant tones. "I merely wished to allow you a little respite after such a long journey time."

"Is that so?" Alec asked sceptically.

"Oh brother, stop making this about you." Jane said as she moved so fast I hardly saw her move, but now she was in front of Alec, pinching his cheek. "You must not be selfish, after all, this is about Ardal."

"Of course." Alec said, glaring slightly.

Jane scrunched her nose at him like a teasing little sister before she turned to me.

"It is an honour to meet you at last Father McGuire. I hope your flight went well." She said in more formal tones.

"It was very sumptuous. Thank you for paying for first class." I stated, I thought it was called for.

"Oh that wasn't me, it was Alec." Jane said as she peered closer at me. "You do not look much like Mal, but there is definitely a lot of your mother about you."

"You knew my mother?" I asked in shock.

"I saw her once." Jane said with a shrug and I felt a chill run down my back, Alec had said he used to be Volturi.

"When you killed her." I blurted out.

"I had no hand in that, I was never an executioner." Jane said without shame. "I did bear witness to her death, Alec was otherwise disposed."

"You weren't there?" I asked him.

"No. I was keeping Tobias subdued so he wouldn't intervene." Alec said looking at the floor with shame.

"You must not be angry with us for those past sins, we had no true autonomy in Volterra. What Master Aro said went, not that I ever had cause to argue with my lord and master." Jane said bitterly. "There were many an evil we did in the name of Aro and the Brothers, little by little we are trying to atone. Surely helping the dying son of one we killed should count for something?"

"You're helping me cause I'm Zoë's son?" I asked wit a frown.

"I am helping you because my brother has asked me to. He has grown fond of you, or perhaps he is doing it for the sake of his friends, either way, Alec would not make such a request of me for just anybody. If he is willing to go to this trouble it is for a special reason, and how could I deny my twin brother?" She said as she put her arm around Alec and kissed his cheek.

Alec rolled his eyes, clearly exasperated by his sister.

"You look tired." Jane observed. "I suggest you have some rest and we'll speak later. Rea will show you to your room and if there's anything you need just ask her."

"And me bags?" I asked.

"They're already in your room." Jane assured me.

"Thank you." I replied.

"C'mon Padre, let's get you settled in." Rea said, clapping her hand on my back, it felt like being hit with an iron bar and it winded me a moment.

"I'd rather walk." I said firmly before she got any ideas about picking me up again.

"All you had to do was say." She said lightly before leading me from the room.

I followed her down a big sweeping staircase into an open space with a glass dome full of sunlight and sofas. Then it was to the left into a corridor of doors.

"These are the human and dhampir rooms." She was explaining as we went along. "You got all the stuff you seem to think is necessary these days. Back in my day a pot under the bed was considered ok, only the nobs messed about with that plumbing malarkey. I do like showers though, could have done with them on ship, it could get a little ripe when you were on a long mission. This is your room, and you get a key, not that a lock is much of a deterrent against a determined vamp, but it's a good way to show you don't want to be disturbed. Let me show you how all this stuff works."

"I think I can work it out." I said as I stepped into a plainly decorated room.

"I got to show you. Jane's orders." Rea said as she strode to the door that led to the bathroom.

"You know, 'I was just following orders' is the lamest excuse a person can use." I observed.

"Only if they're not willing to own up to their actions, but I'm doing nothing wrong. Just showing you about." She moved suddenly and she was in front of me, almost on my eye level and I'm a tall man, she must have been something being such a tall lady in her day. Perhaps that's how she got away with being a man. "You're not afraid of me are you?"

"No. Not at all. I just want to be alone." I said.

She watched me for a moment, her eyes gold like Alec's, then her eyes widened. "You're in pain. Sit. I'll get you water and you can take all those little pills humans have these days."

"I can…" I began.

"I am your servant while you're still human." She cut me off. "I have to make sure you're completely comfortable."

"And you're ok with that?" I asked sceptically.

"I ran away to the navy when I was eleven, signed on as a cabin boy, and a damn good one I was too. Serving people is not something you forget and I wouldn't normally do it, but you're a priest, I respect the clergy. Good friends with the Padre was I."

"If you want to help me then thank you." I stated.

"I'll get your water and then put out your nightclothes. But I draw the line at dressing you." She said with a firm nod.

"I think I can manage that on me own." I replied. "I'll get me pills."

Rea nodded and disappeared into the bathroom. I opened the front pocket on my carry-on bag and got out the reminder box with me pills set out for the week. I got out the ones for today and took them when Rea came back with the glass of water.

"You need to shave Padre? I was always a mean hand with the old straight blade." She said with a grin.

"No thank you." I said, worrying what would happen if she accidentally cut me.

"You can trust me Padre, and even if I did cut you, your blood would not be nice. I'd sooner suck on a skunk." She sniffed.

"Good." I replied before finishing off the glass of water and reaching for my other bags.

"Look Padre, I'm your batsman. Your cabin boy. Your second. You got to let me look after you or I'm not doing my job to the best of my ability. And when I'm not doing my job to the best of my ability I tend to get a little cranky." She growled.

"Fine. If it makes you feel better do whatever it is you feel you need to do. I'll go shower while you're sorting it."

"Now that's more like it." Rea said with a grin. "Here's your jim-jams, there's towels on the rail."

"I'll need me toiletries too." I stated.

"Yeah, officers and their toiletries." Rea mused as she pulled the little black case from my suitcase and gave it to me. "They usually smelled nicer than me." She added with a wink.

"You must have many stories." I observed.

"You're my Rupert not my friend." Rea said with a blank face.

"Then I won't pry until we are friends." I said carefully as I stepped into the bathroom and flicked the little lock on the door.

Now that I was on me own, sort of, I let the tension in me body go, gritting my teeth as a particularly bad wave of pain rolled over me. It was getting worse and all this travelling didn't help. I hoped it wouldn't be too long before I got turned. The sooner I left this pain behind the better.

It took a full two minuets before I felt up to moving to the shower and turning it on. It wasn't too difficult to work out the settings. I didn't take too long, just washed away the travel dust before going to bed. When I stepped out of the bathroom Rea was stood to attention by the side of the bed, me bag and suitcase neatly stowed on top of the wardrobe and looking empty.

"All unpacked Padre. I'll just take your dirty clothes to the laundry. They'll be all clean and pressed by the time you wake up." She assured me.

"That's very kind of you." I replied.

"Yeah. I won't be long. I'll be outside the door if you need me." She stated.

"Guarding me?" I asked.

"In a sense."

"Wouldn't it draw attention if you're just standing out in the hall?"

Rea paused on her way to the bathroom and shrugged.

"Look, there's a chair and a desk lamp. I can sleep with a little light, I did grow up in an orphanage so light when I'm sleeping doesn't bother me none. Read or whatever it is you do in your spare time if you have to guard me, in a sense. At least that way nobody will be bugging you about why you're standing out in the hall."

Rea considered for a moment.

"You do have a point." She said. "I'll go take the laundry while you get settled into bed, then I'll be back."

I nodded and waited until she'd left the room before I said me prayers then climbed into bed. Rea had already turned down the covers and I had to wonder if she would have tucked me in if I hadn't pulled the covers up around me before she got back.

I closed me eyes and tried to drift off to sleep, but it was no use. I opened my eyes when I heard the door open and Rea slipped inside.

"Sorry Padre, didn't mean to disturb you." She whispered as she sat down in the chair by the door and turned on the little lamp, she had a book with her. "Are you comfortable? Is there anything I can do?"

"No. It's something I'll have to deal with for the rest of me human life. I haven't slept well for a very long time. Mostly I just close my eyes and drift, hoping I'll get some refreshment." I explained.

"I could read to you." Rea offered. "Or…or sing. I haven't for a very long time, but I was assigned to attend this nob's son on a crossing to America. He was two years older than me, but I'd already been to sea five years by then. This wet behind the ears fop was supposed to be going to tend his father's plantations, but he had no sea legs, sick for most of the journey. I had to sing him lullabies cause his precious nanny-kins was no longer available. Had to pretend I was one o' them castrato lads to explain my high range. Guess it helped I was a gangly girl."

"Was you ever found out?" I asked curiously despite my promise earlier, but then she was the one who'd said about it.

"Only those I wanted to know." Rea said. "So you want me to read or sing Padre?"

"I don't mind whatever. You don't have to do either if you don't want to." I replied.

"Good, cause I sound like a weasel being tortured in a tin bath at the bottom of a well and this book is mucho too juicy to read to a priest." She stated.

"Why? You think it will embarrass me?" I asked. "I may be a priest, but I'm still a man. Doubt there's much in your book that would shock me."

"Really?" Rea said with a grin before she began flicking through the pages. "Now where's that really intense part. Here it is… 'Lady Anna could hold back no longer, she had admired the stoic wolf for a long time, he was a great leader and always gave good council, but now as the water glided over his muscular torso she felt a heat rise within her. The type of heat a lady should not feel for anyone other than the man she would marry, let alone the elder son of her father's enemy. Yet he was not a wolf to her, at least not as the other vampires saw it. He was a wolf yes, but it didn't define him, Brody was many things beside. He was stoic for the most part, but it merely hid the true passion always bubbling beneath his quiet surface, showing itself when he did not feel threatened.

" 'Now she looked upon his body and knew deep within that she liked what she saw. The ever-pervading vampire hunger now craved only one thing; to know every inch of that werewolf and to know him well. Without another thought she threw down her thick cloak and pulled the headdress from her head, shaking out her long golden hair as she began walking toward the water. "So you're coming for a swim now?" Brody asked with a grin, but Lady Anna ignored him, instead reaching her hand up to touch his cheek. She had done it many times before but…'"

"This is Darktide." I cut in.

"And?" Rea said with a leer.

"Well this is hardly the most juiciest scene. It only ends in a kiss! Come on there's much better stuff in the later books, and none of it between Brody and Anna mark you. Their scenes are always a little sweet if you ask me, like the author is holding back on those characters for some reason, but she goes all out for Lady Carella and Lord Tanton."

"That's because she based Lady Anna and Brody on herself and her childhood sweetheart." Rea said with a chuckle.

"Really? I always found that a bit suspect, like some fan somewhere thought it was a cute notion and started the rumour." I observed.

"You haven't met any of Liza's family have you?" Rea said with amusement.

"What makes you say that?" I asked.

"Oh, you'll see." She said, still grinning. "Ok, ok, you want the real good sex scene?"

"I think perhaps I should just try and rest a little now." I said as I felt a wave of fatigue roll over me. "Although I am enjoying our conversation so, I want to be one hundred percent alert when I talk through the whole changing process with Jane."

"Well, you just settle down Padre, we'll have forever to catch up." Rea said with a shrug, then she turned to the side, propping her legs up over the arm of the chair and became engrossed in the book.

I couldn't help a little chuckle before I closed my eyes and tried to sleep.

I lay there for four hours, but I didn't sleep, just lay with me eyes closed. I guess it wasn't as bad as all that really, at least my body got a little rest. I couldn't help but feel it would be better if the vampires just went ahead and bit me now. I wasn't getting any healthier and I wasn't going to be getting any sleep now, wouldn't it be better if I didn't need it at all?

When I sat up Rea was still reading her book, but she immediately sat to attention.

"Anything I can get for you Padre?" She asked.

"No. I'm going to shower and dress then I'd like to talk to Jane if I can." I replied.

"I'll lay out your clothes then let her know you're ready to talk." Rea said as she got to her feet.

"Thank you." I replied as I managed to haul meself out of bed.

She saluted before going over to the wardrobe in the corner. She pulled out my spare suit and laid it out on the bed.

"I'll just take it in the bathroom there with me." I said, picking the clothes up in case she decided that she should dress me now.

I showered just to refresh myself before I got dressed into the usual black suit and black shirt. But I paused when it came to putting on me collar. I looked at that bar of white in me hand, then looked up at myself in the mirror, my blue eyes looking old and wary. I was world worn, about to take drastic actions that I was almost certain He would not approve of. I placed the collar gently down on the little shelf, it would be wrong for me to wear it now.

I left the bathroom to find Rea had returned to my room.

"Jane's ready to see you." She informed me.

We left me room behind and I followed Rea back up to Jane's office. She was sat behind her desk once more, Alec standing by her side looking annoyed. She motioned for me to sit when I entered the room.

I sat in the chair my side of the desk and it was really comfortable. I felt myself sink into it a little as I looked across at the twin vampires. It really was amazing how much alike they were, I couldn't help wonder if it would have stayed the same had they grown up past their teen years, or would Alec have always had that slightly feminine edge to his features.

"Perhaps we should begin by discussing what's going to happen." Jane began.

"Alec give me all the ins-and-outs on the plane from New York. I know all the risks and dangers, I know what's at stake." I stated. "But I've decided to do this, there's no turning back for me now. I'm going ahead, I won't change my mind, but I'm also not getting any healthier. The longer we wait the more chance there is that I could die in the mean time."

"Therefore, the sooner the better?" Jane asked.

I nodded.

"Then wonderful, we can begin right away. Come, we will go to the changing room immediately." Jane said, rising to her feet.

She motioned to me and I followed her along with Alec and Rea out through a side door and into a long corridor that was plain compared to the one that housed the dhampir and the humans.

"This is the employee corridor." Rea explained. "You won't use this unless you qualify for the guard."

"If you want to be a member of the guard." Alec added.

"Oh Alec, you are still so opposed?" Jane asked.

"We are finally free of Volterra and yet you still keep the same role." He replied.

"It is different." Jane said, and didn't elaborate further.

The rest of our walk was in awkward silence, I couldn't think of anything to fill it or I would have tried. I was grateful when we finally came to a room that was down another corridor. It was a cold, clinical room, reminding me a lot of the ones I'd spent some time in recently, being poked and prodded as they tried to determine what was wrong with me.

"I know it's bare, but it is the best design for changing. We can play music and such if you desire, but the less fabrics to contain scents the better." Jane explained.

"I don't mind, seems fitting that it reminds me of a mortuary." I replied.

"Are you ready to proceed immediately?" Jane asked.

"Yes." I said with determination.

"Then we will leave you to strip off. Remove all of your clothing then lie on that bed there." She said, pointing to the metal one covered only with a role of paper like you got in the doctors. "You can use that towel if you wish to protect your modesty, but it will be easier for us if you're undressed."

"Ok." I said.

"If you fold up your clothes and leave them on the shelf there we will take them to be laundered, along with all of your clothing to remove your human scent. They can be returned to you when you are changed that way." She continued with her instructions.

"Thank you."

"Now, we will leave you. Call my name when you are ready." Jane said with a smile. "I will change you since you have requested that it should not be Alec."

"Thanks." I hazarded.

"Oh, you will not be thanking me in half an hour." She said with a grin before she left the room, Rea and Alec moving in her wake.

The door was closed behind them and I felt a cold shiver run down me spine. This was the point of no return, I was in the room now, I wouldn't change me mind. I began undressing, folding each piece of clothing and putting them on the shelf as Jane instructed. I felt weird pulling off me pants, but I could see how it might be awkward later, I'd helped lay out enough bodies to know that. I picked up the towel and moved over to the metal bed. It was the height of a hospital bed and it was a little awkward climbing up in me birthday suit, but I got up and sat with me legs out in front of me, putting the towel in place before I lay back. There was no pillow and I felt the tightness in me sinuses that happened when my head lay too far back.

"Jane, I'm ready." I called, my voice echoing in the tiled room.

Jane entered straight away, looking almost ethereal as she passed through a shaft of sunlight. Her vampire skin sparkled, her light hair almost glowing. She was an angel in that moment and I couldn't think of a better image for the person who would usher me from me human life and into the next. Then she was in shadow once more, and although she had that otherness that marked vampires apart from human if you knew what to look for, she was no longer an ethereal being of Heaven.

"Are you certain you want to go through with this Ardal?" She asked as she climbed up onto the bed, kneeling beside me.

"Look, I made up me mind and have come all the way from Ireland for this, be a bit stupid for me to give up now. So just change me already before the cancer takes me."

I replied.

Jane placed her hands on my cheeks and looked down into my eyes.

"If you insist baby boy. Brace yourself for the most unimaginable pain ever." She whispered, and kissed my cheek.

I felt uncomfortable with that, she looked so much like a kid, but then I couldn't think about that because I felt a sharp pain at my throat. I realised she was biting me, and before I could protest she was biting again this time on my shoulder. Then on me arm and moving down toward me wrist. It was as she moved to me other side that I felt like something hot was trickling through my veins, suddenly growing with heat, taking over me body so I was only a little aware that Jane was biting me all over, putting as much venom into me to speed up the process as Alec had explained. That thought brought little comfort as I felt I was being burnt alive.

I could hear screaming, some animal in severe pain. It was only the ache in me throat that made me realise it was me. I felt something like an ice cube on me forehead but that little bit of cool soon melted away.

"Hush now Father McGuire, you need to stop thrashing so we can clean you." A female voice I didn't recognise said through the heat.

Thrashing? I was thrashing? Yes I was. It took some concentration but I managed to still my body and clamp my mouth shut on the screams even though the fire raged on.

"There now." The voice continued soothingly. "Soon have you cleaned and you're through the worst of it."

"Don't lie to him Workhouse. You got two days left Padre, but once this is over you'll never be sick again. That's good right?" Rea asked.

I managed to nod.

"See, the Padre's a tough old boot, he agrees with me." Rea said.

"Rea please, this is no time to score points." The other woman hissed.

"Just cause I'm right, Workhouse." Rea said.

"Oh be quiet Army Whore." The other one snapped and I felt something dab against me head.

I forced my eyes open, I wanted to see who Rea was talking to, but all I got was a blinding light and an impression of a lot of red.

"Don't try and see, your eyes are between forms." The one Rea called Workhouse whispered into my ear. "It will only cause you dizziness amongst the inferno."

"And you know that how?" Rea demanded.

"I was too curious for my own good." Workhouse replied. "He is clean now, we should move him to the other bed."

"Which end do you want to get?" Rea asked.

"I'll get his shoulders, you take his legs?"

"Aye Sir." Rea replied a little sarcastic sounding before I was certain I was being moved.

I was burning again, me ears giving out on me for a long while, but when they came back I could hear so much more. So much around the entire place. I could hear things that had to be miles away, but sounded as if it was close by. Close by however I could hear the steady breathing of two people. A threading sound that I couldn't quite place, and a swishing sound of a knife over wood. I was curious to know what they were, but I was still burning, still a little while to go.

"Only another day, possibly merely a few hours." I heard Workhouse say.

"Yeah Padre, you're looking good."

I managed a smile despite the fire.

"Now that shows a cheery soul, smiling through the pain." Workhouse stated.

"Aw Workhouse, you getting soppy in your old age." Rea teased.

"Shut it, Army Whore." Workhouse snapped.

They were quiet again, but I could hear conversations around the rest of the place. I was aware of a ticking clock, keeping the time as the steady breathing in the room continued. I was counting the ticks, sort of keeping track of time, although not in the sense that I knew what time it was. Just that time was ticking and the heat was getting a little more intense, no it was receding. My fingers and toes were suddenly lovely cool, the cold flowing up me legs and arms. I could feel the heat getting worse as it receded inwards toward me torso, no toward me heart.

Good god it was starting to race, to gallop like gee-gee at a derby. Racing the heat as it travelled toward it. I was dying now I knew that, me heart stuttering out its last, as my body became stone. I let out a yell as the fire reached my heart, feeling like the worst heartburn ever, combined with someone squeezing it. Me heart felt like it was bursting from me chest…

And then it was still, and I was still.

---

I was lying in the silence of the room with all the noise of life beyond. I heard footsteps approach me and a hand took mine.

"Father McGuire? Are you ready to rise?" Workhouse asked.

"Wakey, wakey Padre, you're cooked." Rea said and she tapped my cheek.

I hissed and leapt up from the bed, landing in a crouch as I glared at her and the woman with the wild red hair standing beside her. They looked mildly amused, not threatened in the least, and I felt ready to kill them.

"Newborns, so melodramatic." Rea said lightly.

"Calm down Father McGuire, you don't want to hurt us do you?" the redhead, the one Rea had called Workhouse, asked in calming tones.

Hurt them? Well I felt like killing them, but really no, I didn't want to hurt them. I felt myself calm down and I blinked a moment, the first time since I'd opened me eyes over a minuet ago.

"Forgive me ladies, I…I don't know…" I stammered to stop at the strong sound of me own voice.

"Ah, no foul Padre, it's all instinct." Rea said, slapping me on the back, and this time it felt like nothing. "Let's get you dressed and we'll take you for some grub."

"Dressed? Right..." I said, realising I was naked and I should have blushed, but there wasn't that rush of warmth to me cheeks, I guess I didn't have the blood in me now. "I got clothes?"

"We thought a nice tracksuit would be less restrictive during your first hunt, then you can dress in whatever you wish." Workhouse said as she picked up a pile of folded clothes from the shelf.

"Thank you…err I'm sorry…I only know you as 'Workhouse'." I explained as I got down off the bed.

"Oh how rude of me not to introduce myself." She said. "I am Holly Stevens, Workhouse is a nickname Army Whore here thinks is absolutely hilarious."

"Hey, no need to be ashamed of your roots." Rea said with a shrug.

Holly rolled her cat-like eyes before she passed the clothes to me. I took them and pulled on the tracksuit bottoms and sweatshirt. They fit ok and it was strange, I could feel the texture of the material but it didn't affect me either way.

"I'll go let the boss know you're up and about then me and Workhouse here will take you out for grub." Rea stated.

I nodded and Rea left.

Holly stood beside me, smiling whenever I looked at her, but I saw out of the corner of me eye that she was blank when I looked away.

"Would you care to consult a mirror?" She asked after a minuet when we were waiting for Rea to return.

"I…" I had to think about that. Did I want to see myself?

"It's better to get it over and done with." Holly said, placing her hand on my arm.

I jumped several feet away from her like I thought she was a threat.

"Be calm please." She said, holding up her hands in calming motions. "You will find most of your reactions are exponential to how you mean them to be and you may find other vampires a potential threat. You must train yourself out of such thoughts for that way leads the solitary carnivorous nomad, and believe you me, that is no existence. It is much too lonely an existence wandering with nobody to share with you the world."

"You've done that?" I asked.

"Several times during my long lifetime." She stated.

"How old are you?" I asked, too curious to care if it was rude question.

"I am close to being a quarter of a millennium." She replied.

"Ah…so you're young compared to Alec and Jane." I said with a smile.

Holly frowned slightly before she began laughing.

"Yes, to them I am young. Now come Father McGuire…" She began.

"Please, call me Ardal." I insisted.

"Then come Ardal, I am here to support you, but are you not curious to see yourself now you are changed?" She asked.

"Ok. I'm ready." I said and held my breath for a moment as she placed her hand on my arm again. I was ok with it this time since I was expecting it.

Holly led me over to the blinds that I thought covered a window, but when she opened them she revealed a mirror.

I blinked and stared in a mixture of awe and horror at the sight that greeted me.

I'd been so used to seeing that withered, sick old man when looking in the mirror I was almost shocked to see the gauntness that had become so stark over the last few months gone. I'd filled out to a nice healthy looking size, me cheekbones high and chiselled rather than sticking out like coat hangers from which the thin skin of me cheeks hung. I actually looked younger than me age, maybe around thirty five, rather than close to sixty as I'd thought when I'd looked in the mirror this past year. I was pale, but no paler than Holly who was watching my reflection with intent gold eyes. Me eyes they were alive again, but gone was the shocking sky blue I'd seen all me life to be replaced by an unnatural red.

"Why are me eyes red?" I asked.

"I thought Alec explained all to you." Holly replied.

"Aye, but some things are missing from me memory." I stated.

"Oh, that happens." Holly stated. "Very well, a vampire has red eyes when they imbibe human blood. Since you are a newborn and therefore your own human blood is still at work within your newly formed vampire tissues you have red eyes. You will continue to have red eyes for a couple of months provided you stick to the animal diet, and then your eyes will cool to gold."

"You ready to feed Padre?" Rea asked as she came back to the room.

"On animals?" I asked, turning to her in horror as I imagined some poor person being led before me.

"Course Padre, we're veggies here and we're ready to teach you how to be a veggie yourself." She assured me.

"But that requires us to travel into the forest." Holly added.

"But at least you get to see how it is to run like us." Rea finished with a grin.

"Come. We'll use the newborn pathway." Holly said, beckoning me to follow them.

"There's one specific for newborns?" I asked as the women led me from the room.

"It's kept clear so there's no scents to worry a newborn and the dhampir and humans know to avoid it so there's no accidents." Holly explained as we went down a long set of steps.

"Are we underground?" I asked when I was certain of the pressure around me.

"Got some good senses on you there Padre." Rea announced.

"This is a tunnel that comes out in a cave somewhere up in the mountains. It will deposit us in the middle of thick forest where we may hunt without fear of running across some humans." Holly explained.

"I see." I said. "So how long is this tunnel?"

"Couple of miles." Rea said with a shrug. "It'll be quicker if we run. You up for it Padre?"

"I…don't know."

Rea and Holly looked at each other, then nodded to each other, they started running. I took a moment to process the amount of distance they'd already put between us before I tested myself, starting to jog. It felt good despite the fact that it had been years since I'd been jogging. I sped up and I felt no flag, no pull on resources, just a rush of adrenaline, at least what felt like adrenaline, and it pushed me to go faster. I was speeding along the tunnel until I'd caught up with the women.

"Nice of you to join us Padre." Rea said with a grin.

"Is this not wonderful?" Holly asked, and both were talking as easily as if we were standing still.

"It's so freeing." I said, and realised that it was nothing to talk, even travelling at these speeds.

"And a lot quicker." Rea said as the ground began to incline upwards. "We're nearly there."

A moment later we'd left the tunnel and were in a small cave, the entrance was small, not so enticing to an exploring human. It was also a hundred foot up a sheer cliff when we stepped out into open air.

"How the hell do we get down from here?" I gasped.

"Why, take a leap of faith of course." Rea said with a wink before stepping off the edge, I watched in horror as she fell, only for her to land lightly a hundred foot below. "Ardal McGuire, come on down." She yelled up.

"Rea does like to take the dramatic route so." Holly said with a sigh. "Come Ardal, this is but stepping off a curb to us vampires."

Without warning she took my hand and pulled me over the edge. I yelled for all of two seconds before I landed on the ground below, my body automatically moving into a position that let me land lightly. I looked at meself, noting I was still in one piece, then up at the ledge we'd jumped from.

"Holy mother of god!" I gasped. "We survived that?"

"You haven't seen much of what vampires are capable of have you?" Holly observed.

"No. Mal and Liza were careful to be human." I replied.

"Well they're dhampir, it's easier for them." Rea said with a shrug.

"And I never saw Alec do anything that would suggest he could leap off a cliff." I added.

"Not just off, but on to." Rea replied. "How do you think we'll get back?"

"Huh?"

"That is not important right now." Holly stated. "We have to find a herd to hunt."

"You got anything on your radar?" Rea asked.

Holly closed her eyes and sniffed at the air for a moment.

"One came through here yesterday heading north." She stated.

"Then let's head that way." Rea said.

Holly nodded before they both motioned for me to follow them. We were running again, and I realised this was to pass a few miles by. I guess animals roamed far in one day. Finally we stopped and Rea smelt the air along with Holly.

"This should do." Rea said. "I can scent them now too."

Holly nodded and they both turned to me.

"Now we're downwind from a herd of deer." Holly stated. "They won't smell us, but we can smell them. We can hear them too. All you have to do is concentrate and let your body do the hunting."

"It'll know what to do instinctively." Rea added.

"So I just concentrate?" I asked.

"Yes. At the moment it will help to close your eyes and rely on your other senses instead." Holly stated.

"Yeah. Use your eyes once you got a direction."

I nodded and closed my eyes. I took a deep breath in through my nose and I got a lot, vegetation, mud, something that could have been rock. I could even smell the weather, at least that's what it seemed like. It was hard to be sure and then I didn't care as I picked out a warm animal smell. There was a sound too, a rhythmic beating that pumped something liquid. Blood! Just what my body craved…

Without thinking I was running, trees rushing past me as I came upon a herd of deer. I leapt and landed on the back of one, my teeth sinking easily into its neck. Such delicious warmth flowing over me tongue and down me parched throat. A burning I hadn't thought too much about now seemed to cool slightly as I drank the deer dry. It seemed to empty too quickly to me.

"You want more Padre?" Rea asked as I stood up.

"I…" I shook my head to clear it. "What do we do with the body?"

"Just leave it, the scavengers will take care of it." Rea said. "It's more suspicious if we try to conceal it."

I nodded.

"Do you want more?" Holly asked.

"I think a little more wouldn't hurt." I conceded.

"Then hunt." Holly stated.

I concentrated until I located the herd again. They'd settled now, having regrouped a little to the west of our position. I moved with speed once more until I was gulping down more blood. It was wonderful, better than anything I'd ever tasted. How could this be wrong?

I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand as I stood up and looked down at the red smudge across the marble white. That alabaster thing that looked like it belonged to a statue was me own hand. There was no denying that. And it wasn't the paleness that was so surprising, but it looked so obviously strong, and I was stronger now, faster and so much better than I had been. I'd been ill and weak for so long I'd almost forgotten what it was like to move without pain, to not feel tired just by walking down to the harbour. I felt I could do anything.

"We should get back now." Rea said. "Get you washed up before we go see Jane."

"Washed up?" I asked.

"Feeding can be somewhat messy." Holly replied.

"But don't be too sad Padre, we were all the same when we started out." Rea said before running her finger down my cheek and placing it in her mouth.

"Will you behave yourself?" Holly snapped.

"I didn't lick him this time." Rea said with a shrug.

"This time?" I asked.

"Oh, fear not dear Ardal, she did not lick you, it was the last newborn in our charge. She has a thing for them." Holly explained.

"Well it's the energy and the hunger to experience things in a new body, makes them very frisky." Rea said with a wink. "But don't worry Padre, you're safe. Don't much care for virgins, they don't have enough experience."

I went to correct her, but thought better of it, Rea was much too, well Rea for my liking. As intriguing as it would be to try every experience with me new body I thought sex could wait until I was a little more used to me new life. I felt Holly's eyes on me and when I looked at her she winked, like she knew I'd lived a different life before becoming a priest.

I wondered about how she could know that as we ran back, first through the forest to the cave and then through the tunnel back to the vampire HQ. They didn't lead me back to the changing room but instead down a different corridor and into a room similar to the first one I'd been put in. My suitcase was on top of the wardrobe in the corner and through another door there was a little bathroom. It contained a shower and a bath, there was no toilet and no sink. Well I guess I wouldn't need a toilet anymore and if I needed to wash the shower or bath would do.

Rea handed me one of my suits and I shut the bathroom door, there was no lock on it now. I was certain Rea and Holly wouldn't try to come in though. I put the clothes down on a little chair before I had a shower. The water washed away the blood from my face, but it didn't feel the same as before. It was just washing off me, not actually soaking in to my skin in anyway.

Once I was certain I was clean I got out and wiped, it was like wiping water off a window or something plastic, then dressed into me black suit and black shirt. I caught my reflection in the mirror, with me now pale complexion I looked like a pint of Guinness. Good job me hair was a light shade of brown or it would have looked even more so.

I stepped out of the bathroom to find that Holly was sat in a chair embroidering while Rea was sat in another, a bin between her feet as she whittled something out of wood.

"Looking good Padre, definitely more like yourself." Rea said as she stood up and put her knife and carving into an inside pocket of her jacket. "You ready to go see Jane?"

I nodded.

"Then we should go." Holly stated, standing up and putting her embroidery down onto the chair.

I took note of all the corridors and stairs this time as Rea and Holly led me up to Jane's office. We entered the big room and Jane was standing over by the window talking to a tall boy with an athletic build. They seemed to be in an intimate conversation, but it couldn't have been that intimate because of the woman standing behind Jane.

Jane smiled when she saw us enter and made her way back to the desk. The boy remained by the window but the woman followed Jane, standing just behind her chair and placing a hand on the old vampire's shoulder. I locked eyes with her for a moment, they were a very light blue and she frowned slightly before turning her attention back to Jane.

"Ardal, it's good to see you up on your feet." Jane said with a smile. "I trust you are well fed?"

"Yes. Rea and Holly have been looking after me."

"Good." Jane said with a smile. "Rea you may return to your normal duties."

"Aye Sir." Rea said with a salute before she left the office.

"Holly is to be your mentor. Rea will escort you when you have to hunt. Feel free to use any of our facilities when you feel able to. Holly should be a good judge of what you are capable of, although I advise you stay away from the dhampir and humans for at least a week or two."

I nodded.

"Then I leave you in the capable hands of Holly."

It was clear that we were dismissed so me and Holly left.

"What does you being me mentor mean?" I asked.

"I guide and advise you through this first year that you are a vampire. I will be with you constantly at first, but in time I will give you a break from me." She said with a chuckle. "What would you like to do?"

"I have no idea. What is there to do?" I asked.

"We could go back out to the forest and merely run, or there is the library if you wish to read up on some vampire history. There is the swimming pool, but we'd be better attending that at night when it is less likely dhampir or humans will be using it. Or we could return your room and I will answer any questions you may have."

"I think taking things slowly might be best, so let's do the question thing." I conceded.

Holly smiled before leading me back down to me room and I found that the way was already burned into me memory as if I'd walked that way for years. I asked Holly about it.

"Oh yes, you will find that your memory is superb now, you will forget nothing that happens from now on, no matter how much you would prefer you could." She said sadly.

"You got a lot you want to forget?" I asked in shock.

"You live as long as I then you too will have memories you could forget. I'm certain there are ones you would choose to forget in your forty years a human?"

"Well, I guess there is some, but the way I see it, our memories make us, and if we forget our mistakes we're more likely to repeat them."

"That is true, but what of heartache?" She asked.

"We remember the good times and grow from the bad." I stated.

"I suppose." Holly said.

"You don't believe me?" I asked.

Holly gave me a level-eyed look and it was clear that she didn't.

"You think I'm too young to know heartache? You can know it at any age." I stated and I went to the wardrobe, searching for me shoebox.

"What are you looking for?" Holly asked.

"My shoebox."

"Oh, your little box of mementoes? I placed it in the drawer of your desk. I thought it would be the best place for it." She stated.

"Of course. I just used to keep it in me wardrobe back at the Parochial House." I explained as I opened the desk drawer and found that me box was in there. "Did you bring everything to me new room?"

"I wished for everything to be ready for you when you awoke, I therefore offered my services to do so when Jane told me to be ready for attending to you during your transition."

"Thank you." I said as I carried me box over to the chairs and placed it on the little table.

"What is it that you wish to show me?" Holly asked.

I found the picture of me Alva and pulled it out, kissing it lightly before giving it over to Holly. She took it in gentle hands and looked at the picture.

"She is pretty." She said. "Your childhood sweetheart?"

"She was going to be me wife." I stated. "But she died so close to when we were supposed to marry. I may have been young, but I knew me heart and it very near killed me to lose her in that way. If I hadn't been afraid of going straight to hell for such a sin I would have ended it all just after her funeral."

"Yes, sometimes slipping into oblivion seems wonderful." She said solemnly.

"Oblivion? You don't think there's anything beyond this world?"

"I gave up on god long ago." Holly said. "There's a reason Rea refers to me as Workhouse, I was raised in one until I was ten. I was a child doing more labour than one would expect of an adult in these days and for meagre rations. They told us God is good, God is love, God provides such a wonderful bounty for us. We should be thankful to Him for giving us a home when all others had forsaken us. It was enough to make atheists of all us orphans. Even when I was saved I felt no thanks to him, but Victoria and Cyril were hardly the most religious of people. Had they been born half a century later they most certainly would have been part of the Bohemian Movement."

"I lost my faith for a long time too." I admitted. "But it was nuns who found me and nursed me back to health. Who helped me rid myself of my addictions. I found Him again and then dedicated me life to spreading His word and keeping His flock."

"You rediscovered God, I was taken by vampires." Holly said with a wry smile. "In my eighteenth year they took Victoria and I, but five minuets after I found out my adoptive mother was my true mother. It was most annoying."

"That must have been a shock."

"Indeed it was." Holly replied. "I would rather not answer personal questions, merely ones pertaining to vampires in general."

"What do you do instead of sleep?" I asked, since that one had been bugging me a while now, the thought of being awake twenty-four seven seemed boring now, especially with how fast my mind seemed to be firing.

"Bored already?" Holly asked.

"Just not sure what to expect later tonight."

"Well it is fairly simple, you get a hobby." She said and held up her embroidery. "You can learn new skills and new languages. Become well versed in all manner of studies, anything to take your mind away from the tedium which sets in when one does not have a mate."

"And if you have a mate?" I asked.

"How would you spend your time with the person you so desire and had no need to stop to eat or drink and never tired?" Holly asked with a slight leer.

"Sounds, good." I replied.

"And as much as Rea likes to think otherwise I know you are not a virgin. She still thinks in old fashioned terms at times yet accuses me of being the old fashioned one. Even if you had not shown me a picture of Alva I would have known, and I'm not so naïve as to think you would not engage in pre-marital relations. I'm sure you knew your Alva well."

I nodded.

"However Rea would think that odd of a Catholic, despite historical evidence to suggest that even popes in times past were less than pious."

"Was she really a sailor?" I asked.

"As far as I know. She is older than I by almost two centuries. Her stories seem to add up and I see no reason why she should lie. It happened more than you would think in the seventeenth century, some poor girl entering the military or the navy in order to support her family."

"But wasn't it risky?"

"Not really. The Church was no longer the all-pervading force that declared those women who dressed in men's clothing to be heretics and as long as they acted like the men and caused no tension where was the problem in allowing them aboard ship? After all, Charles the Second had recently allowed women to take to the stage. Can you imagine the horror? Women playing women?" Holly gasped in mock scandal.

"Mary mother of god! You can't be serious! What an unholy travesty!" I replied back and Holly chuckled.

"Have you thought of anything you would like to do?" She asked.

"I have no idea. As a priest most of me spare time was taken up with preparing for the next ceremony or writing me sermon."

"Then do that." Holly said.

"Do what?"

"Write a sermon."

"What would be the point? I can hardly go in a church now." I sighed.

"We are not unholy abominations of the devil if that's what you fear." Holly stated.

"I meant because I might bite people." I explained.

"Not if your congregation is mostly vampires. You'd be surprised how many of our kind return to their lifetime religion after a while."

"I…I don't think I could at the moment." I admitted.

"Then we'll have to find something else for you to do." Holly said. "What about before you were a priest?"

"Keeping fit and spending all me time with Alva."

"I see." Holly said. "I suppose we will have to find something else for you to do, but in the meantime I will recite vampire history from start to finish as I know it."

"If you insist." I said uneasily.

"Lay back on the bed and close your eyes. As you listen to my voice wash over you it will feel like sleep even if you're not actually sleeping." Holly stated.

"I'll try it." I said.

I lay on the bed and shut my eyes, listening to Holly as she went through vampire history.

---

It was surprising how the weeks seemed to pass, even without sleep. I got an interest in learning French, which took up all of five days, I moved on to German. Holly was a good mentor, helping me through the times I felt I was about to snap. Rea was good at always inserting her earthy humour when things looked set to get too surreal. It was not too bad, but it was so hard lying to Mal. In me letters home faking that I was at death's door, reading his obvious worry in the emails he sent me. I should just tell him, but it felt wrong doing it by email and I still wasn't out of the danger zone. Me still red eyes were evidence of that.

I didn't see much of Jane until the summer when Alec visited. She called me to her office and I was surprised to find that woman again, hovering behind the twins as they greeted me. They were both ignoring her so I guessed she was some sort of bodyguard, I did my best to ignore her myself as I answered Alec's questions. I thought Holly could shed some light on the matter.

"Who's the woman who's always in Jane's office?" I asked later when I was copying her embroidery.

"What woman?" Holly asked. "There's the invisible man, her mate Fred, but there's no woman as far as I know."

"But she's always there. Just a little taller than Alec with blue eyes and sandy hair. She's always dressed like she's in the middle ages or something."

"You must be seeing things Ardal." Holly said dismissively.

"But she's there." I said, shooting to me feet. "We should go look right now."

"Are you certain?" She asked with worry.

"You think I'm seeing things?" I demanded.

Holly bit her lip for a moment.

"Maybe not, but perhaps you are mistaken?" She suggested.

"I know I saw a woman in that room. She was there today and she was there when you took me to Jane's office just after I turned." I said firmly.

Holly looked thoughtful for a moment.

"Very well, we will go to Jane's office. I will think of an excuse and bear her wrath."

"If she's handing out wrath I'll bear the brunt. This is for me after all." I replied.

"Very well. We will go." Holly said as she got to her feet and we made our way up to Jane's office.

Jane was there, so was the woman.

"Is there something I can help you with?" Jane asked, looking up from her paper work.

"Yeah. Who is that?" I asked, pointing at the woman.

Jane looked over her shoulder and Holly looked to where I was pointing too. Jane turned back to me with a frown.

"There's nobody there." She said.

"There's a woman standing right there!" I exclaimed, and the woman looked at me in shock. "I shouldn't be able to see you, should I?" I realised as the woman frowned at me.

"Holly, please get your newborn under control." Jane said.

"Come on Ardal, we'll go for a run." Holly said, putting her hand on my arm.

"I can see you. If you want to talk come find me." I said. "Sorry for the interruption Miss Jane, I guess I was mistaken." I added with a bow of me head and left the room.

"Are you feeling well?" Holly asked carefully as we headed back to my room.

"I really did see another woman there." I said firmly. "You believe me right?"

"I…I didn't see anyone but Jane." Holly said.

"But you believe me?" I prompted.

"I don't think you would lie about this." She said carefully.

"But you think I'm crazy?" I asked.

"I think there are things in this world that defy explanation. Where to begin…" She trailed off as we stepped into my room. "We should write down everything you have observed."

"I don't see how that will help." I said unenthusiastically.

"Then what do you want to do?"

"I think I'll just forget about it." I said. "It's not like she's hurting me or anything."

"If you are certain." Holly said. "Perhaps we should go out for a run. Clear your head?"

I nodded.

"Then we should go." Holly declared and we left the room again to go along the tunnel out to the woods.

The running did nothing for me, it was becoming boring after months of running around the same area. I hadn't been anywhere else for months, maybe I was getting cabin fever. That would explain hallucinations.

"You are not happy." Holly said.

"I just…maybe I'm getting fed up of being restricted to this area." I reasoned.

"Hmmm…." Holly looked thoughtful. "I think this weekend we will see how you hold up interacting with the dhampir and humans here. If you feel comfortable I will suggest to Jane that you come with me on the trip I have planned next month."

"We can go somewhere else?" I asked, perking up.

"Yes. We would need to gain permission first and ensure that you are safe to be around humans. However you seem calm by newborn standards. It is much better these days with preparation."

"So where will we be heading?" I asked.

"To Boston." Holly said. "I have business there."

"That should be interesting." I conceded.

Jane agreed that I could go if I could handle exposure to dhampir and humans. It was hard at first, the scratchy heat at the back of me throat growing worse when I was close to humans. That was the hunger and when I realised that, it was a case of training meself to ignore it. I was happy with me progress, and what's more it gave me something to focus on. Something to work towards with a reward at the end.

Holly congratulated me on every improvement and was certain I would be fine out in the real world. Jane agreed although she assigned Rea to accompany us just in case. I didn't mind so much as long as I was getting a chance to leave the compound.

We ran to Boston, that surprised me a little, but then vampires don't need to carry much unless they want to. We caught our food, we didn't tire so we didn't need sleep and the elements were nothing more than something that made our clothes look a little shabby.

Rea and Holly enjoyed running, and now that I was going places other than round in circles I was starting to see the appeal of just letting the ground fly away beneath me feet. We kept as much to wildernesses as we could, running north east and never needing to stop other than when we were near Boston. We hunted then, getting our fill of blood before we went anywhere near an unsuspecting human populace.

"So what we doing Workhouse?" Rea asked as we entered the city limits at dusk.

"There's something I wish to do here." She said. "You may remain on the edge of town if you wish."

"No. I got to keep an eye on Padre here, where he goes I go." Rea said firmly.

"Very well, then you will not complain." Holly replied.

"Not even allowed to complain a little bit?" Rea asked with a pout.

"Please Rea, I implore you to not antagonise me when we are here." Holly said in serious tones.

"Oh. It's a special place." Rea said with a knowing nod. "I will be respectful to your pilgrimage."

"Thank you." Holly said. "Come, we have some shopping to do."

Holly led us to a street of shops that were closing for the night. She managed to catch a florist who was about to pull down his shutters. She bought a bunch of flowers before leading us to the other side of the city. This part was full of old houses, all big Victorian mansions. But we passed all these until we came to a gated park. The tall gates were nothing to us now as we leapt over them and made our way in darkness along the paths. We came to a plaque that read Shady Hill Memorial Park

Rea put her hand out to stop me a hundred yards away while Holly approached the stone alone. I looked away to give her some privacy while she laid the flowers down. That's when I noticed him standing beneath a nearby tree. He looked about thirty maybe, with neatly trimmed light brown hair that was combed into a centre parting. He was wearing an old fashioned doctors' coat over an old fashioned brown suit. For some reason he gave me the shivers.

I watched him carefully, and got worried as he began to approach Holly.

"What do you want?" I demanded, rushing up to him.

He turned and looked at me in surprise.

"You can see me?" He asked.

"Of course I can see you. You're standing right there." I said.

"Is…Fred there?" Rea asked, zooming to my side and reaching out in front of her almost touching the man.

"It doesn't hurt to look there." Holly murmured from where she was still kneeling.

The man looked toward her and smiled fondly before turning back to me.

"You can see me and hear me?" He asked.

"Should I not?" I demanded.

"Who are you talking to Padre?" Rea asked.

"You really can't see this guy? He's standing right there as bold as brass." I declared before turning back to him. "Are you some kind of doctor?"

"Doctor?" Holly whispered as the man said. "Some know me as Dr Ramsey."

"Ramsey you say?" I asked.

"Oh no! No! Don't you do this?!" Holly yelled as launched herself at me and I was suddenly having to defend myself.

"What did I do?" I asked, pushing her away and finding that I could do it easily, I was clearly stronger than her.

"You told him to do this didn't you?" She directed her anger toward Rea. "Jane told you of my past."

"I have no idea what's going on here Workhouse. I have no clue who Ramsey is." Rea stated.

"He is dead!" Holly exclaimed. "He was close to being my true mate and you would… I thought you were a man of god Ardal, how could you be so cruel."

"He…He's dead?" I asked incredulously as I looked at the man in front of me, and he nodded his head as if it was no big deal.

"You must know that." Holly sobbed, lowering her face into her hands.

Ramsey moved toward her and wrapped his arms around her but looked sad when she couldn't feel him.

"I'm sorry my love, I never meant for you to be alone." He whispered.

"What is going on?" I demanded.

"I think you are a medium young one." Ramsey said, not taking his attention away from Holly. "I knew a psychic who could really see the future but I never met a medium who really could communicate with the dead. I found it hard to accept ghosts since I had never seen one in my five hundred years as a vampire. Not until I became one."

"But… That's impossible." I whispered.

"Padre? You ok?" Rea asked, looking into my eyes.

"Are ghosts possible?" I asked her.

Rea shrugged.

"Why not." She said.

"Because it is a foolish notion." Holly said harshly. "And if Ramsey is a ghost, why would he appear to you and not to me?"

"I have no idea." I said. "I'd rather not be seeing him, but there he is, hugging you."

"Then why do I not feel him?" Holly demanded.

"I don't know." I replied. "I just…I don't even believe in ghosts. You either go to Heaven or you go to Hell, you don't hang around afterwards jumping out at people from behind trees."

"For the record, I did not jump out." Ramsey stated.

"Prove it." Holly said firmly.

"How?" I asked.

"I don't know…describe how he looks." She suggested.

"He's about six foot. Long thin face. Light brown hair verging on ginger. Looks about thirty. He's dressed like a doctor."

"You must have seen a photograph of him." Holly said flatly.

"Point out that I died in the nineteen twenties, how would you know the colours." Ramsey stated.

"Any photo of him would have been monochrome." I stated.

"But… It can't be." She said sadly.

"I don't believe it either, but he's right there and he's still hugging you." I stated.

"If he is there, ask him why he left me." Holly said darkly.

"I didn't leave through choice. That monster James tortured me to death with the help of that viper Victoria." Ramsey said with a grimace.

"He said James and Victoria tortured him to death." I said.

"Oh god!" Holly cried out and this time she collapsed to the floor.

"You ok there Holly?" Rea asked in concern as she knelt beside her and hugged her.

"I had hoped it was swift, James in a moment of anger ripped off his head, but this, torture?"

If vampires could cry Holly's face would be soaked by now.

"And it was all my fault. I convinced him to go up against James. We should have let him have the girl and we could have ran away to Volterra together."

"Would you really have wanted to sacrifice that poor girl in such a way?" Ramsey asked then looked at me expectantly.

"He asked if that's what you really would have done. Sacrificed the girl."

"No. Not really." Holly conceded. "It was my idea to save her."

"And I admired that about you." Ramsey said softly as he stroked Holly's hair. "You risked your life as much as I did. I knew the risk, you warned me. I could have let James have the girl, but you had warned me of the torture she would face. You warned me of his tracking skills, but I didn't go far enough. The first bolt hole I found I began to change her and it was not as safe as I thought. Maybe if he'd been alone I would have stood a chance, but not with Victoria too."

"Um…he liked that you wanted to help the girl. You were at risk as much as him. He could have just handed her over, but he didn't. He changed her too soon where he wasn't safe. Err…and he was outnumbered."

"That is not what I said." Ramsey complained.

"It was the gist of it." I replied. "I'm not a Dictaphone you know."

"Maybe not." Ramsey said, walking over to me and looking me in the eye. "But perhaps you'd make a good telephone."

"Excuse me?" I asked, feeling afraid.

"I was a pioneer in the field of psychiatry, I always liked to experiment." He said as he gave me a thoughtful look.

"What does that mean?" I demanded.

But he didn't answer. He walked behind me, and then I felt a chill take over me body and suddenly I was opening and closing me hands without willing them to.

"I have control." My mouth said, and me accent sounded Scottish to my ears.

"Padre? You ok?" Rea asked, shooting to her feet and looking in my eyes.

I tried to speak but I didn't have control of me vocal chords at the moment.

"Holly I don't know how much time I have." I said and guessed it must have been Ramsey riding me body somehow.

"Excuse me?" Holly said, looking up.

"Miss Stevens, please forgive me for dropping by unannounced, but I don't know if I will have this chance again." Ramsey said, and I could feel his longing to reach out and touch her, but he was keeping me body perfectly still.

"Ramsey?" Holly whispered as she rose to her feet.

"Don't be stupid Workhouse, you think your old bit's taken over the Padre?" Rea said with a snort.

"I have." Ramsey said.

"Get out of there or I'll fit you up good." Rea said angrily, pushing up her sleeves and balling her fists.

"I am in a newborn body with all of his strength but I still retain my knowledge of fighting as a five hundred year old vampire? Do you really wish to risk it?" Ramsey asked.

"You hurt the Padre and I'll find some way to hurt you." Rea warned.

"The longer you stall me the more possible that may be." Ramsey replied. "Now let me talk to Holly."

"You want to talk to him Hol?" Rea asked, ready to pounce if Holly said no.

"I…Ramsey?" Holly asked in a quivering voice.

"Yes my love, it is me." Ramsey said, holding out my hand.

"Ramsey." Holly said with a smile, taking my hand before stepping in close to me and looking up into my eyes. "Is it really you?"

"Yes my love." Ramsey whispered as he placed my hands on either side of her face, and then leaned down to kiss her.

It was strange, knowing that it was me kissing her, but not feeling anything from it. I was a step removed from what my body was doing. I just hoped Ramsey would be satisfied with a kiss, it was going to be awkward enough as it was to be around Holly the next couple of days. Ramsey pulled away and Holly had her eyes closed with a smile curving her lips as she placed her hands over mine.

"How can you be here?" She whispered.

"I need to tell you this Holly. You are not to blame for what happened to me." He said, ignoring her question. "I've had a hundred and fifty years to think about where I went wrong. I should have smuggled Mary onto a ship when she was still human, got to Volterra and had her changed there. It would have made more sense, but I was thinking of what if James caught us in the mean time. The sooner she was vampire the sooner she was safe. I really didn't think he'd kill me out of spite. Even though you warned me he was a nasty piece of work, I didn't think he could be that bad. Then to leave that poor girl alone with newborn thirst." Ramsey sighed and shook my head sadly. "I'm sorry I failed you. Please forgive me."

"We should never have split up." Holly said, reaching out to stroke my cheek. "We should have stood together, as true mate are supposed to."

"True mates?" Rea gasped. "I never knew that."

"I told no one but the Cullens." Holly said softly. "And of course Aro knew with his little gift so there were those he chose to share this knowledge with."

"Oh Holly, I am so sorry I left you alone." Ramsey gasped as he pulled her into a hug.

"It's not your fault. The one to blame is James." Holly whispered. "If he wasn't already dead I would kill him for you."

"Worry not my sweet, I got our revenge on him." Ramsey said with a vengeful smile as he stroked Holly's hair.

"How?" Holly asked.

"When he met his end I felt it. He recognised me and looked to destroy me, but I had been a ghost longer. I knew exactly how to deal with him. He will hurt nobody, living or dead ever again. I think that is what I need you to know my Holly. You were not responsible for my death, it was all James and his obsession. Please remember that and remove me from the guilt you feel for deeds you have done in your vampire life."

"I will do so my love." Holly replied as she reached her hand up to me cheek once more and kissed me lips.

Once again I felt nothing until I shot backwards, no control over meself, and Ramsey had no control either. He was being forced out of me for some reason. When I slumped to the floor feeling drained and the burn in me throat was worse than ever I realised why.

"You ok Padre?" Rea asked, helping me up off the floor.

"I need blood." I gasped.

Both Holly and Rea gasped.

"You have to hold your breath until we get you to the wilderness. Got that Padre?" Rea ordered.

I held my breath and nodded my head. I let the women lead me, feeling weird running without breathing. I was disorientated without me sense of smell, but it was better than the alternative. Finally we were at some waste ground and Rea disappeared for a moment returning with something struggling between her hands.

"Know it's not appetising Padre, but it'll take the edge off." She said, holding out a rat.

I closed my eyes as I took it from her, not thinking too much as I bit into the furry body, relishing the blood that flowed so freely but then ran out so quickly.

"It's not enough." I growled.

"Just hold your breath once more. We will have to run for a while, but once we reach the nearest forest we will find you something bigger." Holly assured me.

"Unless you got no objections to a big old tomcat." Rea said.

"That's not helping." Holly hissed.

"Look, its just sitting there looking at us. If the Padre got no objections I reckon it's a pretty handy blood bag." Rea argued.

"It's stray?" I asked.

"A cat that tatty is nobody's pet." Rea said with a nod.

"All I need to know." I said and before I could think about it I was leaping through the air and the cat noticed a moment too late and got ready to run as I grabbed hold of it and bit.

The cat blood was a little better than the rat blood and lasted a little longer. I also felt a lot less woozy.

"I think I can make it somewhere else now." I whispered.

"Then what are we waiting for?" Rea asked. "Let's get out of here before some carnie decides to make a scene."

"You really think they might?" Holly asked.

"You never know with carnies, and this is the free lands."

"Free lands?" I asked.

"How about we get to some nice woods where you can hunt something bigger before we explain." Rea said, slapping me on the back.

I nodded and I let the women lead me again because I really had no idea where I was going. I guess this was something I would have to learn later. All I knew was that it seemed to take forever, even after we had reached some trees before they decided it was safe to hunt. They fed too, to help fuel them through our journey back to HQ.

On the way they explained about how there were still some vampires who drank human blood. How America was split up and that the northeast was the hunting ground of the wandering carnies. I remembered I'd heard all this from Alec, but it had got lost somewhere in the transformation.

I was surprised by how glad I was to get back to HQ despite having gone stir crazy only a week ago. I guess it was home now and although it was nice for a little holiday, getting home was nice too. It was nice to see me room and lie on me bed, even if I couldn't sleep, lying down and thinking of nothing. It was the closest I could get to sleep since I became a vampire. Listening to music helped too, and I guess that's why I didn't hear Holly at first.

"Ardal?" She called.

"Whut?" I asked, pulling out the ear buds of me iPod.

"I asked if Ramsey was still here." She explained.

"If he is I can't see him." I said irritably as I closed my eyes.

"Why would that be?" She asked.

"I don't know. Maybe because I'm tired." I growled.

"You're a vampire now, we don't get tired." Holly observed.

"Maybe I'm wary because the last time I saw your boyfriend he took over me body and I had no control. Do you know what it's like to know your body is doing stuff but you're not the one in control?" I demanded. "It's drained me completely Holly, even after feeding. I feel like I need to sleep for a thousand years."

"If you can't see him than maybe he's still in you." Holly said excitedly and suddenly she was hovering over me on the bed. "Is he in there."

"Holly, he got booted out of me when I got completely drained." I said, pushing her away gently as I sat up. "I can't tell you what happened after that cause I was too busy freaking out."

"Perhaps if I were to kiss you he'd make himself known." Holly whispered as she leaned in close.

"How about I kiss you and find out if me Alva is in you?" I asked.

"Don't be silly, why would she be?" Holly demanded. "And that makes me feel…"

"Uncomfortable?" I asked. "Yeah I know. How do you think I feel? Your Ramsey rode my body as if I was nothing but one o' them mecha thingies from the sci-fi films. He was in complete control and if he was still here I would know."

"I am sorry. I am very sorry." Holly said, covering her face and turning away from me. "I should have thought about that aspect, I was caught up in the possibility."

"Holly, I lost the love of me life too. I know how hard it is and I don't know what I would do if I did see me Alva again. I can't begin to imagine how it was for you to have Ramsey talk to you again. If I'd known who he was, or even that I could do that, I would have maybe not said anything."

"Oh no. No. No. Thank you for letting me know. It was a help to have a chance to talk to him once more, it is greedy of me to seek out more." Holly said sadly.

"If I see him I'll let you know." I promised.

"Thank you." Holly said lowly as she got off the bed.

"Maybe you'd like some time alone from baby sitting me?" I suggested.

"Maybe I could go for a short run." She conceded. "Will you be fine on your own?"

"Do you think I'm likely to go on a blood thirsty rampage now?" I asked.

"No."

"Then I'll be fine here on me own. Just want to rest the old noggin anyway so I won't be much for conversation." I replied.

"Very well. I will step out for an hour. Please do not leave your room."

"Don't want to." I said.

I waited for Holly to leave before I put me iPod back on and lay back on the bed. I closed me eyes, trying to think of dreams even if I couldn't really have them anymore. I managed to picture everything in the moment Ramsey left me body. Did he disappear? Was it just that I got so drained I couldn't see him anymore? It was hard to be sure, he had winked out of existence but it was like turning off a TV, the screen suddenly going blank. It was more to do with me power having faded off. So where was he now? Was he still at the park, he could be tied there, but no, he said he'd been killed elsewhere and just cause he'd worked there when it was a mental hospital the building was long gone. He'd also managed to destroy James so he had to be able to move from that place. He could follow us, but we'd been in such a rush thanks to me needing blood maybe he couldn't keep up. Whatever he wasn't here right now. Maybe he'd turn up sooner or later. I'd have to keep an eye out for him.

I'm not sure how much time had passed as I let my mind wander, but suddenly I was aware that there was someone in me room. I assumed it was Holly and sat up to greet her since it was polite, but instead I found Rea standing over me.

"Hi Rea, what can I do for you?" I asked, moving off the bed and sitting in the chair so I didn't feel so vulnerable.

"Well Padre, if you want some fun, I have the next week off. You can come call on me at my room." She said in a sultry voice.

"I thought you weren't into virgins." I said blankly.

"Well no, but the way you kissed Holly, you've definitely known a woman or two in your time." Rea said with a grin.

"That wasn't me. It was Ramsey." I said flatly.

"Maybe, but it was still your body." Rea said with a shrug. "I can tell a lot from a body in how they kiss someone. So, the invitation is open. Just come along to my room, but if you're too chicken I'll understand."

I had no idea how to respond.

"See you soon, Padre." She said with a salute before leaving.

That was weird and I didn't know how to process it. Really, what was Rea thinking? It would be awkward, I wouldn't go.

"Rea was here." Holly said, and I looked up to find her standing in front of me. "She propositioned you." It wasn't a question, it was a statement of fact.

"Yes." I replied. "How did you know?"

"You can speak to ghosts, I can know the past from scent alone. I can always tell when Rea is on heat and for some reason she's picked you this time." Holly said with an amused smile.

"You sound surprised." I said.

"Yes. Normally she prefers women when indulging in a marathon, although she has been known to invite a man or two at times." Holly mused.

"What will happen if I don't accept?" I asked, feeling worried, Rea scared me a little.

"She won't kill you if that's what you're worried about. Although she may start treating you with indifference." Holly replied.

"Then it is something I'll have to live with." I said. "If she wants to be childish then that's her prerogative. I've got more pressing things to worry about."

"Such as?"

"How do I explain me power? Should I reveal it at all?" I worried.

"Rea will tell Jane, although she will probably need convincing. Talking to the dead is something I have never come across before and I never found any mention of those whose ability was proven in any of the Volturi records. There were many who claimed such a power, but none who could prove it."

"Then maybe I should keep schtum unless Jane asks me about it directly?"

"I think that would be for the best." Holly stated. "And perhaps you should refrain from acknowledging the woman you saw in her office until Jane is searching for truth."

"Why?" I asked.

"Nobody else could see her but you. We now have a plausible explanation that said woman is a ghost. However, we have no way of knowing who she is. Jane killed many a person, both human and vampire, during her time among the Volturi, it could be someone who wishes her ill."

"I don't know, she looked protective of her. But I guess it would be better to know who she is before I go putting me foot in it."

Holly nodded.

"So for now I stay quiet?" I asked.

"Yes." She confirmed.

---

I took Holly's advice and didn't say anything about me power, well how would I explain it anyway? Really there was no way to prove it and whenever I was in Jane's office that woman would suddenly disappear, I had no idea why she was so frightened of me. Perhaps she was worried I would give her away somehow. Anyway, she wanted to be ignored so I ignored her and since Jane didn't bring up me power I said nothing about it. To be honest I'd rather forget I had it anyway, it wasn't like it was something useful like Holly's tracking or Mal's telekinesis, in fact it was more likely to upset people.

I didn't call on Rea, but I sent her a card to decline her offer to try and keep the peace. She came to see me two weeks later.

"Hey Padre, got your card." She said, holding it up. "Really, apologising? What you got to be sorry about? I asked you if you wanted some fun, you didn't. I'm not gonna hold that against you. Your loss anyway."

"So you're not mad with me?" I asked.

"Nah. You actually did me a favour. Got to spend time with one of the half vamps, pretty interesting week." Rea said with a slight leer. "It's past. I was in a moment of silly, but when I thought about it I didn't want it. It would make things weird. I guess it's good one of us could be a grown up. So no bad feelings?"

"No." I assured her.

"Good. Well I got to get back on duty. Catch you later Padre." She said with a salute before walking off.

And she really was the same with me as she was before our little trip, I had to wonder why Holly had said she'd act indifferent. Maybe she'd done it to other people in the past. I wasn't to know, not really.

I'd been keeping up a correspondence with Mal. I would send the letter to some contact of Jane's in Florida and they would then post the letter on to Mal so that it would have the right postmarks. It was a little fun at first, an exercise to relieve me boredom, but as time ran on it was becoming harder to make up things to say. There were a few times I started a letter of confession, just to get it over with, but it had gone on too long and I owed it to Mal to tell him face to face. Mostly so I also had a chance to explain me decision to keep him in the dark for so long.

I was starting to feel guilty about not coming clean and that was beginning to gnaw at me. If I thought I could handle a plane ride I would have gone out to Wales in October, but I couldn't be certain on a plane. The guilt and the fact that I didn't want to make meself sound so bad that Mal would worry that I would drop down dead any second made it really hard to write. I must have sent five notes at the most in those last few months.

I was counting down the days until Christmas. Alec had emailed me to let me know that they were coming over later than usual this year because Addie was in school and Liza was in her last year of teacher training where she was doing the more hands on stuff. It meant that I wouldn't get to see them until Christmas Eve by the time Alec came to collect me and we then drove up to Washington State where Liza's family lived.

"You're very jumpy today." Holly said, making calming motions when I leapt around to hiss at her when she startled me.

"Sorry." I replied. "I'm just very nervous. Alec should be here soon and hopefully we can head out straight away. Although it would be wrong to keep him from his sister and his kids. Can you believe he's has that many kids? I couldn't wrap me mind around it, but you never know. There are big families around."

"Ardal! Breathe!" Holly commanded, placing her hands on my shoulders. "I spoke with Jane and she said that she will have three hours with Alec and the children at a special family gathering and then you can set out for Tregarran. You will be on the road by midnight at the very latest and you should arrive at your destination some time tomorrow evening. You will be able to see your brother then."

"Thank the Lord." I prayed.

"I think that in the mean time we should find some activity to take your mind off the waiting." She said as she took my hand. "We will go swimming."

"I haven't been for ages." I agreed.

"Then let's go."

I thought she was going to lead me to the swimming pool, but instead she led me out to the mountains up in the open air, I no longer had to take the newborn tunnels. It was a lot a better, experiencing the rushing wind past me ears all the sooner. I wasn't certain where she was taking me, only that I hadn't been this way before. I heard the laughter and splashing a while before we rounded a crop of rocks and came across a lake nestled in a bowl in the side of the nearest mountain. Despite the fact that there were a few flurries of snow on the ground and there was bits of ice visibly floating in the water, there was a handful of people larking around as it was the middle of summer.

"Workhouse! Padre! You made it." Rea greeted us cheerfully, she was dressed in an old fashioned men's bathing suit, the black and white stripes and her dark hair making her seem like she might be on an old film.

"What is it?" I asked.

"The guards annual Christmas lake party." Rea declared. "Come in, don't be shy. We got plenty of rats to go around." She added as she put an arm around each of us and led us over to where a few deck chairs and blankets had been set up.

"You haven't plied them with alcohol as you did last year?" Holly asked warily.

"Come on Hols, what's Christmas with out a little tipple?" Rea said with a wink.

"Puritanical." Holly replied.

Rea poked out her tongue.

"Me old gran was born in them times, right lot of old sour pusses said she. Much better when new Charlie got called back is what she said. A body could party and not worry about the god botherers coming and knocking down the door. No offence Padre."

"None taken." I replied.

"So lets just drink and be merry. Padre can even hold mass if he likes."

"I believe you refer to the Sacrament." Holly stated.

"Don't really know. Ollie's lot got rid of all the fancy stuff and I never really attended church much since I was always looking after all of the whippets for Mum. Then of course dad went and got himself dead and with seven girls in tow and no boys what hope did Mum have of finding some blighter to take her on? So I ran away to sea, took a post as cabin boy and had all me wages sent home for Mum and the sisters. They all had right proper matches in the end, especially with a 'brother' who was a lieutenant in the King's navy."

"You have already sunk a few rats I should wager." Holly said disapprovingly.

"What? Didn't take you for the gambling type Workhouse." Rea replied with a grin.

"I don't think He would approve if I gave Sacrament with real blood." I stated. "After all it says in the Bible, 'Only be sure not to eat the blood, for the blood is the life, and you shall not eat the life with the flesh.' That's Deuteronomy Twelve, verse twenty-three, to quote just one reference to this. I don't think He would be happy if I performed Sacrament with real blood, even if I were to bless it first."

"God, that can't sit well needing blood to live." Rea stated.

"I think I crossed the line of forgiveness when I changed His plans for me by becoming a vampire instead of dying, I don't think anymore sin is going to make that much of a differences. You can't break something that's already smashed beyond repair. So I'll do what I need to survive, but I won't deliberately antagonise Him by going so far as to desecrate the sanctity of the Holy Sacrament by performing it with animal blood. Seems a little, pagan to me."

"You have something against pagans?" A man who was just coming out of the lake demanded.

"No. Your beliefs are your beliefs as my beliefs are mine." I stated. "And really pagan is an umbrella term that covers many different old world religions, I should not have used the term. I'm sorry if I offended you. I should have chosen more carefully, like a certain sect who did drink blood in worship of their deity."

"So you're the priest." The man said, looking me up and down. "Thought you wore dog collars."

"Well." I felt up to my neck where the white bar I'd worn for the last few decades was missing. "I'm not on duty. I thought this was a party. Where's these booze filled rats I heard about?"

"Thought your lot didn't drink alcohol." The man said with a frown.

"Oh not us Catholics, we don't believe in temperance." I said.

"And he's Irish." Rea added.

"That's kind of a little racist." I observed as Rea dragged me over to a tent filled with cages.

"Maybe, but it was only Irish Dan who could drink Young Reggie Potts under the table." Rea said with a grin.

"Reggie Potts?" Holly asked.

"That's Lieutenant Reggie Potts to you missy." Rea scolded before sniggering. "Yeah, Reggie seamed best given Mum called me Regina on accounts of she thought it would give me airs and all. Had right fancy plans for me if dad could get high up enough in Navy, but he died. So I became Reggie and me sisters had honours instead."

"It was nice of you to see your sisters right." Holly stated.

"Yeah. But I think I got the best deal, considering I got to see the world while they were up to their eyeballs in babies and keeping house. I got to see things that most English men in my time never got to see on account of travel being pretty treacherous. Yep, t'was a good life till old Captain Bill took a shining to me ship. Took most for slaves and food stock, ain't quite sure what he saw in me cause he definitely didn't want me for me woman bits. Spent the best part of two centuries sailing about off the coast of Bermuda. Ever wonder about why things get strange in that little triangle of sea? That be old Captain Bill and his marauders, still active to this day under cover of the mystery." Rea said as she waved a rat about as if it were a bottle of rum. "Here's to you ya old sea dog, may you rot in a watery grave." She toasted before biting into the rat.

"Oh dear, she gets like this every year." A vampire woman I didn't know said as put her arm around Rea. "Come on Boss, let's go over to the nice cool water. You'll like that right? A nice refreshing swim?"

"Stop codling me woman!" Rea exclaimed as she pulled away from her subordinate. "Am I not allowed one day a year where I wallow in the melancholy of my life?"

"Wouldn't you like to do it somewhere a little more private?" The woman said seductively.

"You attempting to romance a senior officer Daisy?" Rea demanded.

"Learned it from the best Ma'am." Daisy stated.

"That's my girl." Rea said, getting her in a friendly headlock and ruffling her hair. "Somewhere private sounds good."

Rea and Daisy left.

"How strong are those rats?" I asked.

"Considering the fact that they appear to be staggering about and bumping into the sides of their cages I'd say pretty damn strong." Holly stated.

"I…Can we just go wait back in me room?" I asked, the thought of staying out here was unappealing.

"It is entirely up to you." Holly replied.

"I don't want to swim anymore." I said.

Holly nodded and we headed back to HQ. Yes it was nerve racking waiting in me room, but I guess I was at least ready for when Alec was ready. I made sure my bag was packed, checked the contents several times to be sure. I wanted to make sure I had everything.

"Are you not packing?" I asked Holly.

"I won't be going with you. I had to turn up uninvited to Tregarran last Christmas chasing Alec, I should hate to do so again. I would rather not antagonise Renesmee further. I have history with Liza's family and you may not feel so keen to have me present when you find out why."

"What did you do?" I asked.

"Ask them, see what they say, then it is entirely up to you should you wish to hear me out. Not that I have any excuses, I was completely in the wrong. However I believe I have served enough penance, but still you should here it from them."

"Why can't you tell me yourself?"

There was a knock at the door.

"It is Alec." Holly said before getting to her feet and opening the door.

Alec came in without waiting.

"It's good to see you again Ardal. I'm pleased to say we will set off soon, but there's a few things we must cover first." He said nervously.

"Such as?" I asked.

"You have asked me to keep my peace and I have done so, however this has put me in a bit of a sticky predicament. You see it will upset a few people, also likely my new girlfriend Kitty. She accompanied me here along with Leda and if she finds out who you are before I let Mal know it is likely she will be upset with me. I would rather not have an atmosphere in the car on the journey. I am hoping Leda will not recognise you, she saw you for only a week and you were a sick human at the time. As a vampire you are different enough that she may not make the connection."

"Well if you need a cover call me Eamonn. It's a good a name as any." I said with a shrug.

"Thank you." Alec said with a relieved sigh. "Are you ready to go?"

"Yes. Hold on a moment. I just want to say goodbye to Holly." I stated.

"Of course. We will be in the atrium when you are ready." Alec said with a nod.

"Ok." I replied.

Alec left and I turned to Holly.

"I'll still be your friend." I said. "We all do bad stuff at times and as long as we seek forgiveness and try to make amends then we cannot be punished for our past sins. So I'll see you when I get back after Christmas."

"Very well." Holly replied.

"Then I'll see you when I get back." I said awkwardly.

"Goodbye Ardal. And have a Merry Christmas."

"You too." I replied.

She smiled and I smiled, I was a little confused about what to do really. I'd spent the best part of nine months in her company with only a bit of interaction with other people. This called for at least a hug, she was sort of family now. Yeah, it would be ok. I hugged her quickly before picking up me suitcase and leaving.

I made my way to the atrium, which was the big open space at the bottom of the sweeping staircase that led up to Jane's office. Alec was there with a woman and a child. It took a while for me brain to accept that the little girl was indeed Leda. She looked a lot older than she had back last February. The woman looked friendly enough, her dyed red hair thrown up into a haphazard ponytail. She was a dhampir just like little Leda, but she was fully-grown, although I had no idea what age that would put her at.

I didn't even get chance to open me mouth to carry out Alec's plan before Leda spotted me and greeted me with a smile.

"Father McGuire, you are a vampire now." She said. "I'm glad you didn't die, Addie and the twins will be happy to know that. They have missed their uncle."

"Uncle?" The woman asked, looking me up and down. "I take it you're Ardal then."

Alec put his hand over his face in defeat.

"I am."

"Well Liza said you were dying, but nothing about you becoming a vampire darling." She said. "Alec, they don't know do they."

I could see the conflict flash across his face, should he lie?

"No. They do not." He admitted.

"You did this in secret?" She demanded.

"I asked him not to tell in case it…went wrong." I stated.

"Still, it seems underhand." She said with a scowl.

"May we discuss this in the car please Kitty?" Alec asked. "For the sooner we get to Tregarran the sooner Mal and Liza will know."

"You plan to just turn up unannounced?" Kitty demanded, folding her arms and glaring at me.

"Well you see I would phone them first but I thought this should be something more done face to face." I explained.

"I suppose after all this time it will be for the best." Kitty conceded. "But I disapprove of this Alec. I hope you realise that."

"I knew you would." Alec said sadly.

"Why is this bad?" Leda asked. "Father McGuire was dying and now he's not."

"It's not as simple as that Leda, but for now I'll borrow your logic." Kitty said with a smile, before shooting a dark look at Alec. "It seems as if there's no time like the present to hit the road."

"Then we should depart immediately." Alec stated.

We made our way out to the car park and a mini-van that Alec had hired. I got in the back with Leda while Kitty insisted on driving. Kitty didn't lay into Alec on the journey, in fact she was quite pleasant, agreeing to let him drive at night so she could sleep. In fact it was almost as if she had forgotten all about her upset until we reached our destination.

It wasn't Tregarran, where Liza's family lived, this was a nearby house known as The Stables. One of Alec's daughters lived here with her partner Bob. They were welcoming, and Kitty didn't put our hosts on the spot, but when Alec was taking their luggage out the car she made it clear that he was to stay in the barn with me so us vampires could stay up without disturbing those who needed to sleep. It was too reasonable to outright argue so me and Alec took our stuff to the barn around the back.

Then we talked about how we were going to reveal me. We decided that it would be better to tell Mal and Liza first before anyone else found out. Just to give them room to react and such. So once it was dusk we made our way into the trees and Alec led me for a few miles until we came to a very big house, like one of them grand houses the lords and such used to live in. It had started snowing on our way over and now the whole scene looked like a disturbed snow globe.

We stopped under the trees and I found a trunk to hide behind, Alec would clear the way for me first, but he had to get Mal and Liza out here. He took his phone from his pocket and dialled.

"Liza? Is Mal with you?" He said.

I couldn't hear Liza's reply, I could have if I concentrated, but I was too nervous.

"Are you both alone?" Alec asked and it was clear that Liza snapped at him.

"Oh, you are alone." He said, and it didn't take a genius to know what he was referring to, maybe it was better to leave it. "Sorry to have disturbed you at this time but I wish for you to meet me out at the edge of the forest as soon as it is convenient."

I'm not sure what Liza said, but it upset Alec a little when he said, "Have I not proven myself to be of no threat to your welfare these past several years?"

"Yes." Liza replied, that one was clear.

"Then please, there is no ill intent, believe me when I say there is no ill intent, but it's better this business take place outside and away from others for the time being. It is a matter most private that involves only Mal and yourself." Alec said quickly and after a pause he added. "I am merely a messenger, a middle man if you will."

Liza was saying something that caused Alec to roll his eyes.

"Do you seriously think anyone could hold me to ransom?" Alec snapped haughtily. "It would be nothing to render them senseless and I could escape." He then sighed and his tones became softer as her said, "This is nothing sinister I promise, but it is a delicate matter that requires the presence of only you and Mal."

There was a longer pause, I guess Mal and Liza was talking because Alec looked as if he was trying hard to hear but obviously the receiver was being muffled.

Then Alec became alert and nodded.

"Thank you." He said.

Alec removed the phone from his ear and placed it back in his pocket.

"They're on their way." He informed me. "This will soon be over and I will no longer have to lie to them."

"I'm sorry I put you in this position." I said.

"I put myself in this position by propositioning you in the first place. This is what I must do to live up to the offers I make." He said with a sad smile before looking toward the house. "They're coming."

"Oh God." I gasped, sending up a quick prayer that He would see me good through this.

"They cannot locate us in all this snow." Alec said and he took a torch from his pocket and shone it at the two figures now making their way through the blizzard in front of us.

I made sure I was completely behind the tree so I wouldn't be seen until I wanted to. Alec had to smooth the way for us first.

"Hey butty, what's wrong?" Mal asked, and it was such a long time since I'd heard my brother's voice that I almost jumped out in that moment, but I didn't want to startle him.

"Malachite you know that I am your friend?" Alec began and I heard nerves in his voice, something I never had before.

"Yeah." Mal replied carefully. "Of course you are."

"I never would have thought it of the mewling brat first brought to Volterra that he would someday be my best friend." Alec continued and I thought he was going a weird way about reassuring Mal that he was his best friend.

"Best friend?" Mal sounded shocked, like Alec wasn't so close to him.

"Of course, and it is not merely because you're about the only people I can suffer as friends." Alec replied, and I realised it was more that they didn't think Alec would consider anyone a best friend rather than them not thinking so great of him. "If I had several hundred friends I would regard the both of you as my best friends. You have done so much to rehabilitate me and help me adjust to this world and to having a life with meaning of my own."

"Ok." Mal said, sounding a little confused, I guess it was Alec's confession that did that. "So what's this all about? You didn't call us out here just to tell us how warm and fuzzy you feel about us. You could have done that in the house."

"No. I am merely trying to assure you that what I'm about to reveal came from a place of friendship and not one of malice. It was not my intention to hurt you, merely to save you the agony of taking such course yourself. I could handle one more sin upon my soul while this was something you should not have had to endure should it have failed." Alec babbled, he really didn't want them to think badly of him.

"Alec, you are rambling." Liza snapped, and I guess he did need to get a move on.

"Oh. I…I just need you to know that I did this out of my love for the both of you, out of friendship and not out of malice." He added, almost as if he was begging them not to think badly of him.

"Ok, ok but. Ok, you was doing it as a friend." Mal said soothingly. "Now stop all this pleading, because it's making me nervous. The more you stress that this was out of friendship the worse this is starting to sound. So whatever it is just spit it out so if I do get pissed I can get past it quicker and we can get to sorting out whatever this is all about."

"Very well." Alec said, taking a deep breath. "Malachite, there is something you should know."

"What?" Mal asked in guarded tones.

"I took the liberty of helping you not have to make a decision a year ago. One that would have haunted you forever had it not gone right. It has gone right and well, and now you can know. And I…and I…I'm sorry." Alec mumbled, I realised he wasn't going to say it, I had to man up now, it was time to face the music.

"You can't blame him." I said as I stepped out of me hiding place "I could have easily have said no."

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So yeah, that's the prologue taking us right up to the same point as DH1 finished. Just a quick word before you move on to chapter 1. Because this was taking so long to write I did put up a little excerpt on my Wordpress blog. I think I might do this again in future if the chapter looks set to be longer than expected. I'll put the link for me on Wordpress for anyone who's interested in sneak peeks and such. If you do head over there let me know, the more interest the more likely I am to post stuff.

Thank you for reading

Please review

Gemma x