A/N: Thank you all so much for the reviews – they really help keep me going. I've tried to be as accurate as I can with the French in this chapter, but it's been a year since I spoke it last so I'm a bit rusty!
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Only when they were safely inside the condo did either of them speak.
"Vicki, this is serious. I could have a turf war on my hands…Not to mention the fact that it's likely Coreen was targeted specifically, which means that you're in danger too. I need to find out who this is…You need to stay here. It's vitally important." He made to move to the door.
"Henry, there's no need to protect me from this – I can handle myself. Besides, I want to be the one to bring whoever it is down."
"I will not allow you to be in danger. I just won't."
"And I'm saying I won't be in danger – I can take care of myself."
"I know you can…I just couldn't stand to see you hurt, too…" His tone had relaxed, and Vicki took his hand in hers, comforting him.
"So, how do we deal with this?"
"All we can really do is track him or her down, and be prepared for when we find them."
"Hey, you couldn't lend me those vamp powers again? They were pretty helpful…"
Henry smiled sadly, wishing that he could, indeed, share his strengths with her. He kissed her lightly on the cheek.
"Yeah, didn't think so. Oh well…" She smiled at him.
"If I could…"
"I know" Vicki checked the time, then gasped as she realised she had been away from Coreen for nearly five hours. "I should get back, check on Coreen…"
Henry hesitated, wondering exactly how he could say what he wanted to say without upsetting or annoying Vicki; she just looked so tired, so fragile…she desperately needed to sleep, and have a good meal.
"I think you should have a rest before you go back. You'll be no good to Coreen half asleep. And if you encounter the other vampire…"
Vicki nodded slowly.
"Well I'll call before I rest. Just to be sure."
A small smile played at Henry's lips as she rummaged through her bag for her cell phone. "And Vicki thought she had no maternal qualities…"
She stayed at the condo that night, Henry watching over her as she slept until he fell into his own kind of sleep at dawn.
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He had watched them; Henry, and the blonde, who he had learned was Vicki Nelson, and the younger woman, with a penchant for black, Coreen Fennel. He had watched them for weeks. He had…persuaded a few select people to give him information about the women; Henry, he knew all about. Or all he needed to know, anyway. Basing his plan on their weaknesses, he had figured it all out perfectly. And, from what he could see, it was working. Rather well. And Henry deserved everything that he was going to get. He scowled, remembering in painful detail the circumstances of his first meeting with the undead prince.
"Pardonnez-moi, monsieur!" The well dressed young gentleman called out down the deserted street at him. He scowled, knowing he had found the one he was looking for. He had lived in Paris for nearly twenty years, and he was out hunting for this young upstart of a vampire who had dared to move in on his territory; he had felt the younger vampire's presence for some time. He turned, fixing a polite smile on his features; he would show this boy what happens when you encroach on an older vampire's territory. Pity he wouldn't live to remember the lesson.
"Ah, c'est vous! J'ai vous cherché il y a deux nuits. Bienvenu á Paris. Mais, je dois vous dire: vous ne pouvez pas rester la."
Henry smiled cordially back, understanding him perfectly. But he would not be leaving. He knew exactly what happened when one vampire entered into the territory of another, and he was ready for it. In fact, he was almost certain that he would come out on top. Such was the confidence of royal youth.
"Au contraire, mon ami. Je sais que vous étés le plus âges ici, mais c'est vrai aussi que les années on rendre plus en plus lents et…lourds." He grinned mockingly at the other vampire, waiting for him to make his move. He saw the shadow of anger cross his face, and readied himself for a fight. But he didn't get one. The other vampire drew himself up regally, almost putting to shame Henry's own condescending expression, and laughed at him.
"Ah, mon dieux! Les folies du jeunesse!" His expression became deadly serious, and he allowed his eyes to bleed to black and bared his fangs at the younger vampire before continuing in heavily accented but perfect English, "Leave Paris tonight. If I find you in my territory again, I will kill you. Now go, young one, before I change my mind and decide to get it over with now." With that, he left, feeling rather smug; he had saved himself a fight and also shown the younger vampire his place in the world. He hummed as he walked away.
That was not the last he saw of Henry. Henry had, eventually, taken his territory from him and nearly killed him in the process. He had regretted not killing him on the spot ever since, and the only soothing thought he had was that, at last, he had tracked him down and would get his revenge.
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Henry awoke at sunset to find himself alone his condo. He had not expected Vicki to stick around if she woke early, but he had hoped she might sleep long enough that she might still be getting ready to leave. No such luck. All that was left was the lingering remnants of her scent in the room. He closed his eyes, breathing in her aroma for a moment, before shaking his head and getting up; he had things to do that night, and he needed to start immediately.
Once he was dressed, he contemplated taking his father's sword on the hunt with him, but quickly thought the better of that – he would need no weapon against one of his own kind. He set off into the night, aware that he was betraying Vicki a little by going by himself. But he couldn't allow himself to feel guilty for it; he would not have her drawn into a fight that was his – his territory, his responsibility. Her short time as a vampire would have given her some understanding of his reasoning, but her need to revenge Coreen's injuries would cloud her judgement, and she wouldn't listen. Besides, she had gone to Coreen's bedside when she could have stayed and gone on the hunt with him. He forced his mind onto other things; his senses, his intuition, trying to find the other vampire. It would not be easy, and he couldn't allow himself to be distracted.
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"Good evening, Victoria. I see you have come out without your companion." The unfamiliar voice stopped her in her tracks. She thought she could detect a slight accent to it, probably French.
"Yeah, well, we're not attached at the hip…" She searched the shadows for the source of the voice, but couldn't find it. "Do I know you?"
"Ah, of course. My apologies, my manners have deserted me…"
Suddenly, a tall, slim man appeared in front of her. Under other circumstances she might have thought him somewhat attractive; his dark complexion and hair were complemented by keen green eyes, and he was dressed in a style not unlike Henry's, yet set apart from it, too.
She didn't even flinch at his sudden appearance, which delighted him. She was so brave; she would be a pleasure to take apart...
"My name is Francois."
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A/N: I'm so sorry this took so long to get up here, but I think I should be rather quick with the next chapter! ;) I hope you enjoyed, and as always I'd REALLY love to know what you guys thought.