Chapter Two
"Beth!" Josef exclaimed as she walked into his newly refurbished office that evening, "what a pleasant surprise!" he added, dropping the level of sarcasm and almost sounding like he meant it. "You're looking well." Well didn't really cover it, he thought. She was positively glowing with love and she reeked of Mick. They had obviously been sealing the deal. A lot. Her palpable happiness was almost enough to make him rethink his cynicism about human/vamp relationships. Almost. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"
"It's Mick," Beth started, getting to the point. "He's about to get himself killed."
Josef sighed. "Again …? He really needs another hobby," he quipped.
"Tell me about it," Beth agreed.
"What pointless yet noble crusade is he on this time?" The sarcasm was back in spades.
"He wants to rescue Coraline. Says he can't live with himself knowing what she may be going through and even though he doesn't love her anymore he still needs to do this," Beth explained all in one breath.
"Ah," Josef said, understanding immediately. "That IS pointless yet noble. And I guess you're here to get me to talk him out of it?"
"Yes," Beth replied firmly.
"No beating about the bush or pleasant chit chat?" he commented, impressed. This was his kind of woman, no blithering, no dilly-dallying – straight to business. "But I fear your faith in me is misplaced. Never in the 55 years that I have known him have I been able to talk Mick out of anything. Ever," Josef concluded.
"I'm sure, but …"
"No. You're not understanding … EVER. In 55 years - not once," Josef added for good measure.
Beth looked at Josef, the pain and fear on her face would have been heartbreaking – if he had a heart, he thought.
"You once said that Lance was one of the most dangerous vampires around," Beth said, determined not to cry. "Is that true?"
"Yes."
"Then knowing this, I'm sure you'll think of something," she shot.
#
Josef was more worried than he let on to Beth. Lance wasn't one of the most dangerous vampires he'd ever met – he was THE most dangerous. He was freaking vampire ROYALTY for fuck's sake! Rich, powerful, strong and mean – old school. Josef had consciously stayed out of the family's way for the last 300 years, but he'd heard the stories. Lance and his brothers thought it nothing to crush whomever was in their way to get what they wanted. They were vindictive about it and enjoyed the kill – human or vampire. They made Josef look positively warm and fuzzy and the tar pits look like a tea party.
Josef looked around his newly finished pad, running his cold hand along equally cold stone. He had finally decided on a sleek yet chic design – all marble and stainless steel. He liked to think of it as Ancient Greece meets operating theater.
He would never admit it – hell he hardly admitted it to himself – but they day he re-turned Mick was one of the scariest in his undead life. For a moment after he had drained his best friend of blood, thoughts of Sarah had come unbidden into his mind and he worried Mick might not reawaken at all. So for Mick now to be running into almost certain death for an ex-wife he couldn't stand was ridiculous. Josef wondered how much of this was about Coraline and how much was about the Cure.
As if summoned by Josef's thoughts, Mick suddenly came striding into the room. "Hey," he said, looking around at the new digs, "nice job. Very … you."
"Just the man I wanted to see," Josef replied, moving over and clapping Mick on the back. "Drink?"
"Sure," Mick nodded.
Josef poured the pair some scotch and they settled onto a cream leather sofa, facing each other. He noted Mick was also glowing with love – which was a pretty hard thing to do as a vamp. It's almost sickening, he thought.
"So, I know why I'm here, but why did you want to see me?" Mick asked his friend.
"I have a job for you," Josef improvised. "Could take a while but it's right up your alley …"
"What's the problem?"
"Uh, I think someone's embezzling from me," Josef explained – he would have to work out the details of this fictitious embezzlement later – "And after the charity scam I can't afford any more screw-ups."
Mick took a swig of scotch and shook his head. "Sorry, I'm kinda working on something personal right now which is what I wanted to talk to you about. Why don't you hire a forensic accountant?"
Good question, Josef thought. He wished Mick hadn't turned up quite so soon to allow him to concoct a better lie. "Because I want you to do it my friend. You're the only one I trust ," he replied smoothly.
"Sorry," Mick said again.
"You can name your price," Josef added. "Any amount at all … come on, girlfriends are expensive, they like shiny things …"
Mick smiled as thoughts of Beth entered his mind. "Can't, sorry."
Josef knew this attempted distraction was going to get him nowhere. "How's Beth?" he asked, changing tactics.
"You tell me buddy, it smells like she was just here," Mick retorted.
Crap, Josef mused.
"I take it she filled you in on my plan?" Mick continued.
"She did mention your plan to walk into a painful, permanent death for no good reason, yes. For some reason, she seemed upset by this. Can't imagine why."
"And I guess you are going to try and talk me out of it?"
"To the best of my abilities, yes." Josef paused before continuing. "You know I like Coraline as much as the next guy, she certainly has her … charms. But she knew what she was getting into stealing the cure Mick. You owe her nothing."
"Is that it?" Mick asked.
Josef exhaled in annoyance. "No! That's not it! You have no freaking idea what you are getting yourself into! Lance and his brothers make dangerous look like a newborn puppy! They will kill you and pause only long enough to step over your dead body on their way to lunch. These are the men who had their own sister branded a whore! And from what I hear they used to loan out her abilities to their royal friends … Just imagine what they will do to you if you irritate them, my friend." He stopped to let this sink in before continuing. "Look, they have spent centuries keeping this cure hidden from vampire society and then Coraline not only steals it, but brings it to LA and proceeds to show it around! Her brothers would not be pleased to say the least. I'd bet all my money she's dead already. Let it go."
Mick was touched by his friend's rare show of emotion. "She might be dead, but until I know for sure, I have to try."
"Are you will to risk your shiny new relationship to save Coraline?" Josef asked flat out. "Because let me tell you, the woman who came here today – she is displeased."
Mick nodded. "I know. But I think she at least understands why I have to do this. I wouldn't ever do anything to jeopardize what I have with Beth, I love her, but how am I supposed to live the rest of my life with the woman I love knowing that I abandoned the woman I used to love because it was inconvenient to save her? Forever is a long time to have regrets."
Josef sighed his assent – he knew a little something about regret himself. "Ok, well, if I can't talk you out of it, I'm going to have to do the next best thing …"
"The tar pits? .." Mick asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Tempting, but no. I'm going to have to help you, obviously."
