I appreciate all of you who read and/or reviewed the beginning of this story. Here are a couple more twists, so I hope you enjoy!

Chapter 2

Ben wandered around his office in the condo, frowning over a contract for a vampire company's merger. He was helping Simone while she was adjusting to her new status. The agreement was fairly straightforward and although he hadn't done contract law in a while, it was coming back to him quickly.

He wasn't thinking about paperwork as much as his future. He'd been excited when Megan mentioned he could be in line for the State Senator position in less than two years. At first he thought it would be a good thing as he'd always planned to enter politics at some point. Now that he thought about it more fully, he wasn't sure he was ready.

He sighed and finished with the contract, which only allowed him to continue to worry. He hated to disappoint Megan, she had been so happy for him. He also knew Josef was counting on having vampire representation in the State Legislature. Ben had never been unsure of himself before, even when he was human and it troubled him. He was also uncomfortable with having to move to Sacramento for most of the year. He'd grown up in Los Angeles and even went to university in Santa Barbara. He hated the thought of leaving—that, and he just felt so young as a vampire. In the capital he'd have to socialize with legislators, lobbyists, press and political groups. It would be more than a year until the election, but he would have to start his campaign soon.

The more he thought about it, the more he was sure he wasn't prepared for the job. He'd have to tell them he couldn't do it, but felt bad at letting Josef and the community down.

Megan came in, and immediately saw something was wrong. She found Ben in his study sitting with his head in his hands.

"Ben, what's the matter?"

He sat back and looked at her. She was so wonderful and loving; he couldn't imagine his life without her. He knew she could feel his emotions and he had to tell her.

"Megan, I'm sorry, but I can't run for senator."

She was surprised, but let him talk.

Ben continued, "It's just too much for me now. I'm flattered you and Josef think I could do it, but I don't feel I'm . . . ready."

She could sense his uncertainty and remorse. She bit her lip, wondering if she had pushed him too hard. She hugged him in the chair. "It's fine. Don't do anything if you're not comfortable. There's plenty of time."

Ben took her hands and looked up at her. "That's what I thought, but I don't want to let everyone down."

"It will work out." Megan promptly sat in his lap, running her hands through his hair. Her scent comforted him and he relaxed under her touch. They stayed that way for a few minutes, each feeling the connection between them.

Megan drew back to look at him. "I'm sorry if I pushed you."

"You didn't," Ben shook his head. "When it first came up, it sounded like a great idea. Then I began to have second thoughts. Plus, I don't want to be away from LA so much."

"I understand." Megan felt his arms tightened around her and a wave of protectiveness came over her. He was her love and her responsibility. She would never let him be unhappy if she could help it. "Do you have any idea what you want to do?" she asked gently.

He smiled at her, "A few, but we can talk about them later. He began kissing her neck and then pulled her down for a kiss.

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"What the hell were you thinking?" Josef snarled coming nose-to-nose with Beth. They stood in his office and she'd just informed him of the threatening email. Responding to his anger her eyes turned and fangs descended. Being young, she didn't have the control of the older vampire, but she didn't care.

"Back off, Josef," she growled back. They both knew he wasn't going to physically hurt her no matter how much he yelled.

He moved away from her, taking out his phone and dialing. "Mick?" he said, holding up his hand to stop Beth's outburst, "Can you get over to my office right away?" He listened a moment then hung up.

Beth was still angry. "You had no right to call Mick—I was going to tell him."

"When?" Josef picked up the paper email and shook it at her. "You get a dangerous message and don't bother to tell anyone?"

"I did tell you," Beth said defensively.

"You got this last night and waited until now."

"I didn't think it was that important. It could be from anyone, there's no particular threat, nothing specific."

Josef pulled back his frustration. His experience told him to be worried, and his internal alarms went off seeing the email, but he had to be calm with Mick's offspring.

"Beth," he began, moderating his tone, "anything that could be a threat has to be taken with the utmost seriousness. It might be hunters, or other vampires, or even humans that Mick's put in jail. We don't know. Someone could be after him and he could be in danger."

Josef's words hit her like a shower of ice. Josef felt her demeanor change and fear envelop her.

"I—I didn't think it was that serious." Now she felt guilty for putting her love in danger. She was overcome with shame and swayed a little on her feet. Josef was there in a second, sitting her down on a nearby chair. He quickly got her some blood from the refrigerator and pressed the glass into her hand. "Here," he said.

Josef's anger had abated, and he realized that she was just a kid by vampire standards. She had never seen the darker history of their race, the purges, the killings and inquisitions that plagued them over the centuries.

"It's all right," he said, almost kindly.

"What do we do? It came from the library and Rider couldn't trace it."

Josef walked back to his desk, "So we can't find them. It could be anyone …."

Just then, Mick burst into the office. He felt Beth was upset. She went to him and buried herself in his arms. He looked at Josef, flashing fang. "What did you do?" he demanded.

Josef ignored him and went to pour himself a drink. Mick watched him closely as Beth pulled back, "It wasn't Josef, it was me." She wiped her eyes, and moved toward the desk. "I got this on my email last night. I was going to tell you, but when you came home you were so tired, I wanted you to get some sleep."

Mick took the paper, and read the email, frowning. "Do you know where this came from?" he asked.

"No," Josef interjected, "Rider tracked it, and someone sent it from the city library."

Mick continued to study the paper as if it would give him an answer. Beth watched him with anxiety. "I'm sorry, I should have told you sooner …."

He knew she was concerned for him and blaming herself. "It's all right, sweetheart. it's probably nothing, or just somebody who wants to make trouble."

"Don't count on it, Mick," Josef warned as he sat back down at his desk. "When you've been around a while your past can catch up to you.

"Yeah," Mick said, remembering Lee Jay. "I'll be careful." He looked at Beth. "I want you to work from home for a while and don't go out without me."

"Really Mick," she responded, "I don't think I'm in any danger, the email was about you."

Yes, but it was sent to your Kostan Industries address," Josef said.

Mick jumped on this. "Just for a little while until we figure out if there's a real threat, okay?" He took Beth in his arms and she felt her objections melt. "Fine," she smiled slyly, "I like that you'll be escorting me when I need to go to meetings and things." This wouldn't be so bad, she thought, as she would get to spend more time with Mick.

"Josef can probably get one of the security guys to go with you if I can't," Mick commented.

Beth stood back with her hands on her hips. "What about you, don't you need security?"

"I can take care of myself. You're the baby vamp here," Mick smirked.

Beth threw up her hands. "I'm so glad Simone was turned. I'm really sick of being the youngest."

Josef and Mick chuckled and the atmosphere lightened.

"Go ahead and cut back your outside meetings, Beth," Josef said. "I don't think we have any big PR projects for a while."

Beth nodded. "I think I can do most of my work from home, with a few side trips."

"I'll have my office security take a few passes by your building during their shifts." That was workable because the Kostan building was only a dozen blocks from Mick's loft.

"Thanks, Josef." Mick said, grateful his friend had his back. He wasn't too worried, but wasn't going to risk Beth's safety.

"Okay you two, clear out—I've got business to finish and a fledgling at home waiting." Josef waved them off, and they said goodnight.

Josef quickly got on his computer, checking the markets, satisfied his latest acquisitions were making money. He was glad that Simone was progressing so well in her fledgling state that he was able to spend a few hours a night at work again. Everyone around him noted he was less irritable and attributed his attitude to Simone. For the first time in almost a century, he felt all was right with his world. He still had some grief and guilt about Sarah, but he was finally coming to terms with that.

His successful turning of Simone restored the confidence that he'd lost when Sarah's went wrong. He had sired before Sarah, and had childer in Europe. Maybe it was time for a family reunion—but not yet. He wanted Simone to himself for a while. He closed down the office and headed home.

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A few nights later, Mick was in his office doing paperwork. Beth had been picked up by one of the security guards for a staff meeting at the office. Mick's caseload had lightened so it meant he and Beth could spend some quality time together rather than rushing off to their respective business. He was finishing the filing when he scented someone at the office door. It was locked and he heard a knock. As he approached he glowered as he recognized the visitor. He unlocked the door and pulled it open so violently it almost came off the hinges.

"Coraline," he growled.

She stood there, in a dark red suit that complemented her coloring and her raven hair was a little shorter than he remembered. Her eyes regarded him with amusement.

"Aren't you going to ask me in?" She moved past him with a lithe stride, insinuating herself into one of his office chairs and crossing her silken ankles. "Not a very pleasant welcome."

Mick shut the door and stood in front of her. "What do you want?"

"Really Mick," her laugh tinkled like falling glass, "you act like I'm here to harm you. I just came to say hello."

He went around to his desk and sat down warily. He knew he had a pistol in his desk drawer loaded with silver if he needed it. "Why are you here?" he asked tightly.

"I'm working in town for a while and wanted to let you know. I thought it would be friendly to do so." Now she frowned a little. "I suppose I'll have to present myself to Josef, too."

"Not if you want to get out with your head intact. He's pretty pissed at you for the last time you were here." He looked at his ex-wife and ex-sire suspiciously. She was still beautiful with the sensual fascination that attracted him when he was a human.

She smiled slowly. "I don't see why he should be annoyed, I was the one who was staked and dragged back to France." She made a moue of disappointment. "You didn't even try to find me afterward."

"Huh," Mick snorted. "I figured you could talk your way out of any problems. Then last year Lance tried to have us killed in New York."

"Ah, I heard about that. I didn't know at the time, I was in London. Lance was an idiot and he talked my brothers into that foolish scheme." Coraline shifted in the chair. "After they were banned from America, there was a huge contretemps in the family, and I decided to come here for a while."

Mick was getting over the shock of seeing Coraline but was still on alert. It seemed bizarre to be having a civilized conversation with the woman who had caused him so much grief. He wanted to find out more and asked, "So what are you doing?"

"Oh, I'm a portrait photographer, mostly to actors. After their stylists pretty them up, I take candids and publicity photos. Several of the British actors are here for some film festivals and they wanted me to come along to make sure there are better pictures for the media than the paparazzi. It's quite fun, and they love me, of course."

"Sounds like you're in your element," Mick said sarcastically.

"Naturellement." She looked at Mick and felt he was at peace with himself. The old self-loathing was gone and he seemed settled and content. Even his scent was different—there was only a trace of her, he now carried the bloodline of Josef Kostan. So what her brothers told her was true. After Mick had taken the cure and was human, Josef had turned him back to vampire for some reason. There was nothing left of her in him, his separation from her was complete. Suddenly, she wanted to go. She had satisfied her curiosity and it was painful.

Mick watched Coraline warily, knowing she was hiding something from him. Now he wondered if there was any connection with her sudden appearance and the threatening email to Beth.

Coraline abruptly rose to leave and Mick stood up as well. With a last look at him she said goodbye and started to leave.

"Why did you send Beth that email?" Mick said, trying to catch her off guard.

Coraline turned, looking puzzled. "What email? I sent nothing." She couldn't bring herself to say Beth's name.

"Beth got an odd email and I thought it might have been from you."

"It wasn't," she said sharply, "I must go now."

She left and Mick wondered if she was telling the truth. He'd long ago given up trying to read Coraline; she was adept at hiding her feelings.

He went into the loft and rummaged through the cupboards until he found the bottle of scotch he won from Josef. A shot of the good stuff was what he needed. He had to tell Josef that Coraline was in town and worse yet, tell Beth.

TBC

Oh no, she's back. Is Coraline up to something bad or not? Thanks for your comments, they feed the muse.