Chapter 3
(Mick's P.O.V.)
Mick went down the elevator. "Well he wasn't any help. I at least got a name to the face and a little bit about her," he said looking at the picture as the elevator went down and the doors opened to the parking garage. He got into his car, started it and went out. As he drove, he recalled what Josef had told him.
(Flashback to the penthouse)
"Now you have to be careful if you're going to go after her. She is highly intelligent. Ralalith is also very cautious when she is walking around. I know because I seen her several years ago and she saw me and went the other way fast. She is also very good at getting her way. Please don't ask how, but she has her ways."
(Flashback ended)
Mick drove and pondered the places where she could possibly be. "She likes to walk. Cars aren't her thing, so you'll find her out walking around most likely watching people," he remembered Josef saying. Mick looked at the sidewalks while he was at a stop light hope he might catch a glimpse of her, another vampire he could possibly ask, or better yet one of her children.
(Niko and Beth's P.O.V.)
Niko and Beth were very hard at work. Beth was looking up pregnancy and motherhood sites while Niko was going through some of her contacts and researching on her computer to see if she could find anything about the woman in the picture.
"Yeah, yeah, I got it," Niko said as she wrote down some information. "Thanks." She hung up.
Beth looked over at Niko. "How's it going?" Beth asked.
"Okay, I guess," Niko said. "It would be just easier if Mick would just let us help him. He has two whizzes with research on his hands."
"He did tell me once that he was eight seven years old," Beth said.
Niko looked at her curiously. "Is he blocking us out of chivalry?" Niko asked amazed.
"I wouldn't be surprised," Beth replied.
Niko sighed. "I can't really find information anyway," Niko said. "It'd probably be safer if I did that at home."
"Well, you do what you can here," Beth said. "But in any case, I still need to that story from last night."
Niko nodded. "Yeah," Niko said. "I'm surprised the brass haven't gotten to you before even with Josh being the PA."
Beth's eyes widened. "That's probably because I've had more than plenty of stories and all reporters need a break sometime."
Niko nodded and walked over to Beth. "You still love him, don't you?" Niko asked. "You still love Josh."
(Mick's P.O.V.)
Mick decided to park and walk hoping to have a better chance of finding more out. As he walked, he spoke with many vampires.
"Yeah I know Ralalith she stays at this really nice place with all her children. Here." One male vampire took out a piece of paper and started writing. "Here is the address. You should be really careful. They guard the place really well," he said.
"Thanks," Mick said and went back to his car and looked at the paper. He started the car and drove to the residence. His eye brow ached as he parked looking at the outside gate. "Um some so big for just a few people," he said.
"Yeah well I have a few children to take care of and keep warm," a female voice said.
Mick looked over and saw Ralalith sitting on the fence and watched as she jumped off.
"Leave me alone. I have done nothing to you," she said as her boot heels clicked on the ground as she walked away to her home.
Mick got out of his car and ran after her. "Hey, Rogue," he said calling after her as she just rolled her eyes and walked on. "Why were you at the parking garage the other night?" he asked.
Ralalith turned kicking his feet from under him and picked him up by the collar slamming against his car. "Leave me alone. I have no problem killing you," she said through clinched teeth. She let him go and walked to the gate she stopped and talked to the guys at the gate.
They looked over at Mick as he stood and watched as two more guys came out.
Mick got in his car see that it might be prudent for the just tonight. "I may need Josef for this one," he said as he drove off. He wondered what Beth and Niko was up to and drove to their office to see if he could catch them before they left for the night.
(Beth and Niko's P.O.V.)
"We've been at this for hours," Beth said. "We haven't found anything."
"Obviously she or whoever's working for her has great computer skills," Niko said as turned to look at Beth. "And I considered myself the best. You know I was a hacker in my high school days?"
Beth arched an eye at her. "Really?" Beth asked. "And yet you're a journalist."
"I like writing," Niko said shrugging. "I like gathering the facts and write a great story."
"Likely story," Beth said. "Very likely story."
Niko flicked her gaze on to Beth. "Gee thanks for that vote of confidence," Niko said sarcastically.
Beth grinned. "You're welcome," Beth replied.
Niko turned and looked at her computer. "I think I'm getting something," Niko said and started typing.
Beth walked over to Niko. "What'd you find?" Beth asked.
Niko tuned Beth out as she told the computer to print.
(Mick's P.O.V.)
Mick pulled up and parked outside the parking garage and walked in and went up to Beth's and Niko's work floor. And saw the two taking to each other "Well good evening and how is the job going or you two trying to track down that rouge vampire?"
"My hard work ethnic, research skills, and computer skills are working off," Niko told him.
"Mick, according to this woman of a few words, she can't find information anyway," Beth said.
"And whoever she is has or has had a great computer jock," Niko said. "She's either had the computer jock to either bury the files or wiped them clean."
"Well, ladies, if you did find anything. Don't go after her. She is dangerous, very dangerous," Mick said patting them both on the back and walked out.
(Ralalith's P.O.V.)
"Kids we are moving tonight. We have been found out it seems. And the way I planned it too." Ralalith said looking over at the vampire that gave Mick the address and smiling. "Next the girls he seems fond of."
(Beth and Niko's P.O.V.)
Beth and Niko watch Mick walk out. "And what were you saying about not giving him any information?" Beth asked Niko when she turned to her friend.
"Does Josh know what he is?" Niko asked.
Beth shook her head. "No, why?" Beth asked.
"I have a feeling if we aren't careful like Mick told us to be, he might have Josh watch us while he digs down to the surface," Niko replied.
(Mick's P.O.V.)
Mick went home to come up with a plan. Obviously Ralalith meant business and would stop at nothing to get what she wanted. He picked up the phone and dialed Beth's boyfriend.
"What can I do for you, Mick?" Josh said into the phone.
"Yeah I would like to keep an eye on Beth and Niko. I'm working on something and they are trying to stick there noses into it. It's dangerous and I don't want them to get hurt."
Josh froze. "Why?" he asked. "What have you dragged Beth into this time? And you dragged Niko too?"
"Hey! Hey! They put their nose into it. I told them not to, but I wanted to make sure they stay out of it," he said standing near the window.
Josh pressed his hand to the bridge of his nose. "Are you going to tell me what happened or am I going to have to guess?" he asked.
"It is just a case I'm working on. They got a little to interested. That's all. I need you to just watch them and keep them out of the way."
"Does they have something to do with Niko being attacked the other night?" Josh asked. "Yes, I've heard about it."
"No this something different," he said as walked to the kitchen.
Josh sighed knowing he wasn't going whatever it was out of Mick that would go after the girls. "But I already have Beth being watched after I heard about the close encounter the other night," Josh said. "I already know about that white haired girl you're looking for too. I'm sure Beth told you that the police artist was a friend of mine."
"Well just keep an eye them. That's all I need while I work. And, Josh, leave the girl to me," Mick said and then hung up. "Whatever you are up to Ralalith I find out and stop you. He went to his desk and looked at his notes. He rubbed his eyes "I just hope them two keep their noses out of this."
(Beth and Niko's P.O.V.)
"We'll worry about what Mick will do later," Niko said. "Besides I didn't tell him that I've popped the information out of the printer, did I?"
Beth shook her head not to disagree but because of the situation. "What've you got?" Beth asked.
Niko held up her hand. "Hold on," Niko said. "Let me put my magic on the computer."
Beth smiled at that and waved her off. "Work your magic," Beth encouraged.
Niko shook her head and turned to computer and erased all the data and evidence of the search. "Okay," Niko said. "What were saying?"
"What've you got?" Beth asked.
"An organization of rogue vampires," Niko said quietly. "It's bigger than Mick thinks. I really hate to say it, but I think Mick's right."
A small group of about five male and female vampire walk into the office where Beth and Niko worked.
"Remember don't harm them. Or Ralalith will be pissed," the female leader said before entering the office from different sides.
"Ladies if you will kindly come with us," a male said approaching them with a grin.
All five pairs of eyes were on them.
Niko and Beth looked at each other and nodded.
"We're not coming with you," Niko said as she grabbed the can of pepper spray off her desk and sprayed the vampire closets to near her and the nearest exit.
They ran to the exit with both having a can of pepper spray in hand. It was there plan to flee, but if caught, spray, and get away as quick as possible.
He held his eyes and knelt. "Mother will not be happy if she has to catch you herself," he yelled as the others ran after except one who helped him.
"Get back here, Mother Ralalith gets what she wants," one said running after Beth and Niko.
"Looks like we have to be a little rough on them to catch them," another said.
"Yeah but be careful and don't hurt them too much," the one said. He grabbed Niko's arm that had the spray in it and pulled it down grabbing her other. He pulled her close to him.
"Can't go anywhere pretty," he said as the others went for Beth.
Beth struggled against the one male vampire. "Just watch me," Beth said as she tried to spray the vampire's eyes out, but failed.
Niko, on the other hand, was spraying left and right, and she was able to get away.
The vampires grabbed their eyes.
"Forget her we have one of them," the male that had Beth yelled picking up Beth. "Let's go see Mother Sweetie".
The other stumbled out the door fanning out indifferent directions as so to confuse anyone who might be watching.
The male took Beth to the new residence Ralalith was residing. "Mother, we had only gotten one of the girls you wanted. I'm sorry," the male said putting Beth down and holding her there.