A/N: Sorry to wait so long between updates. Work, a cold, and my new obsession—The Mentalist fanfics-have occupied most of my time lately. ( If you're a fan of that great show, check them out. There are a lot of great stories there.) But now, on with mine. This chapter is a pivotal one, so I caution you that there are some angsty times ahead. Thanks to all you great reviewers, even the anonymous ones. Keep 'em coming, no matter how you post! I love you all.
Chapter 4
MICK
Josef stopped the black Hummer in front of a gorgeous house overlooking South Lake Tahoe. It was early evening, and the sun was setting over the lake, the red sky tinting the snow pale pink where it lay heavily on the trees and the roof of the house. The wooden deck extended out from a hill, and the face of the house was all glass and redwood, the apex of it's a-frame rising dramatically into the darkening sky.
"Wow," Beth breathed, sitting beside me in the back seat of the luxurious though rugged SUV.
"Oh my God, Josef. Is this where you made arrangements for the wedding? It's beautiful!"
My friend grinned mysteriously, making no comments as he climbed out of the vehicle, his heavy boots crunching on the packed snow of the driveway. He went round to help Simone out, and I copied his actions with my own lady, holding her hand tightly lest she slip on the icy ground. Josef led the way up the newly shoveled stairs and let us in after punching numbers into the security system.
It was just as amazing inside, with its high ceilings and awe-inspiring views of the lake. A giant stone fireplace took up the one wall that wasn't all glass, and the only furniture was a few folding chairs facing the windows, a white wroght-iron, rose-covered canopy where the happy couple would say their vows. The great room was already decorated with roses, candles, and deep red ribbons for the wedding tomorrow evening.
"It smells heavenly in here," Beth said, smelling a blood-red rose from one of the gigantic arrangements at the front of the room.
"Nice cabin," I said to Josef, grinning because I was in on the surprise. In usual Josef style, his idea of a cabin was quite an understatement. This was truly a showplace.
Josef walked over to Simone, smiling at her as she stood at the window, staring out at the natural beauty in wonder.
"I don't know what to say. You never fail to amaze me." She pulled him into her arms for a kiss and hug of gratitude.
"I'm glad you like it because it's yours. Happy wedding, darling."
"What? No way! You bought this place?"
"Yep. Our home away from home."
As Simone squealed with glee, I watched Beth's reaction. She was grinning from ear-to-ear, obviously thrilled for her friend, impressed by Josef's romantic gesture. She reached for my hand and looked up at me. I felt the jolt I usually did when her eyes went all soft and misty with love. I had a feeling I'd have Josef to thank later for the romantic mood he'd put Beth in. I brought her hand to my lips and smiled back.
"Well, this is a perfect place for a wedding, Josef. I never would have pegged you for a romantic," Beth teased.
"It's a sound business investment," he said with a serious tone, but winked at his fiancé. "Why don't you girls go check out the rest of the house? I think you'll be impressed."
With a smacking kiss to Josef's cheek, Simone hurried over to Beth and pulled her away from me, excited to explore her new home. I joined Josef by the window and we stood admiring the view.
"You're really gonna do this huh? Make it permanent? You once told me forever is a long time. Any sign of cold feet?"
"I'm a vampire, Mick. My feet are always cold."
"Uh-huh," I said skeptically.
He turned to me then, all trace of joking gone from his eyes. "This is it, Mick. The real deal. I'm more than ready after four-hundred years to finally settle down, believe me."
"Except for those three lost years you refuse to talk about," I couldn't resist reminding him.
"Yep. And trust me, that doesn't even count at all. Less than a blip on the Josef Kostan timeline. Simone makes me happy. I make her happy—usually. What more could a vamp ask for?"
We both smiled at the joyful chatter of the ladies as they exclaimed over each new find.
"The girls sound like they like the house, "I told him, impressed. "You chose wisely."
"Thanks. I'm sure we'll be very happy here when we come for vacations. Oh, and you and your better half are always welcome. Except this trip, of course. I've got you put up at the Snowbound Lodge just down the road. Honeymoon haven and all, you understand. Take the Hummer and you and Buzzwire go do whatever it is you do for fun, and my bride-to-be and I will christen the place."
"I'm being dismissed then?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Summarily."
The girls came back into the great room, arms linked conspiratorially, mischievous smiles lighting their pretty faces. They were definitely up to something.
"Okay. Boys—out." Simone had that stubborn, my way is the only way expression that Beth often gets. This did not bode well for Josef and me.
"Come again?" Josef said.
"Simone has decided that we will maintain at least some traditions with this wedding. In this case, the one about not seeing the bride before the wedding. In a few hours, it'll be midnight, so off you go."
Josef and I looked at each other incredulously.
"You're kicking us out?" Josef asked in disbelief.
"How does it feel?" I asked softly. He ignored my smirk.
He sidled over to his fiancé, trying no doubt to charm her back into his bed. It was almost too embarrassing to watch. Beth came over to me, her small arms encircling my waist, her lips touching mine in faint apology. A few short minutes ago, when Josef had banished me, at least I knew I'd have a warm body to snuggle up to. Women were always changing the rules on us.
"Was this your idea?" I asked suspiciously.
"Not at all. It was a mutual decision. Simone and I want a relaxing evening of beauty and girl talk, mentally preparing ourselves for tomorrow, without any masculine interference."
"Interference?" This from Josef, mid-nibble on Simone's neck. By the dispassionate look on Simone's face, his powers of persuasion had obviously failed.
"Sorry, guys, but our minds our made up." The two women withdrew from us and linked arms again in satisfaction.
Josef sighed in frustration, throwing his hands in the air. "Fine. As long as I live, I'll never understand women. I mean, it's not like we hadn't anticipated the wedding long ago. As recently as this morning, I might add—"
"Too much information, Josef—"
"Regardless, this is my house and—"
"Excuse me," Simone interrupted, "whose house? Isn't this my wedding present? Are you taking it back now?"
I chuckled at his dumbfounded expression. It was one of the few times I'd seen him at a loss for words. I distinctly remembered what it was like to be married to a strong-willed woman, not to mention being currently in love with another, and I completely empathized.
"Alright, alright, woman! We're going!"
"Could you bring in our luggage first?" Simone asked sweetly.
He gave a frustrated roar, but obediently stomped out of the house. At Beth's pretty smile, I smiled back goofily, following Josef out to do my own mistress's bidding. Her sweet lips mouthed I love you, ony my way out the door.
A few minutes later, and Josef was at the wheel of the SUV, sulking in silence while I rode shotgun.
"What's one night," I ventured, trying to comfort my friend, "when you have the rest of forever?"
He shot me a dirty look. "What are you so cheerful about? You won't be gettin' any tonight, either."
He had a point. A thought occurred to me. "Are there two freezers in the suite you reserved for me and Beth? I have a feeling that there won't be any other rooms available at Christmas."
"Yes. I got you the vampire honeymoon special. One bed, two freezers. Vincent is a friend of mine—we go way back. His lodge caters to both human and vamp clientele. We basically booked all the vamp suites, since the other three couples arrive tomorrow afternoon in time for the wedding that night. I guess we're roomies, if you don't mind."
"Not at all. You're not exactly the roommate I was hoping for, however…"
"Likewise. But you know what? We don't have to sit around crying in our blood. How 'bout a nighttime excursion? Skiing? No! I got it"—he snapped his fingers—"snowmobiles!"
"Really?" I couldn't hide my excitement. "Cool! Let's do it, man!"
And there we were, two vamps with time, snow, money, and a plan. It didn't get much better than that.
SIMONE
After Beth and I had given ourselves facials and done our nails, we ventured out to the side deck where the hot tub could be put to good use by my human friend. I sat in my bikini on the snow-covered bench nearby, sipping cold wine and enjoying my own kind of relaxation. I watched the steam rising from the water, inhaling the freshness of the air as the snow began falling gently around us. The night was surreal in its beauty.
"Do you miss things like hot baths?" Beth asked, sinking deeper into rolling bubbles.
"I miss the idea of them, but I have a new aversion to anything hot. It's weird, really, but being out here, nearly naked in the snow is like heaven to me now. It's tempting actually to go jump into the lake."
She laughed. "Maybe those polar bear club people you see every year jumping naked into icy lakes are really vampires."
"It wouldn't surprise me. I bet Josef would know."
"Speaking of the guys," Beth said, sharing a little in my guilt at their banishment. "You think they're alright without us?"
"Sure. There's plenty to do in Tahoe. I know Josef talked about night skiing, not to mention all the casinos just waiting for them. They're fine. Besides, you owe me after that disaster of a bachelorette party."
"Oh, come on. Carrie and I had a blast."
"Laughing at me, you mean."
"Well, you gotta admit, it—"
"Shhh!" I said, suddenly hearing the soft crunch of boots on snow.
"What is it?" Beth whispered. I held up a hand for her to stay quiet as I rose, sniffing the air. I smelled…humans. Maybe two of them, nearby.
"Hello?" I called out. "Anyone here?"
The footsteps stopped, and now I could distinctly hear the quick pounding of their hearts, very close now. My senses still weren't what they would one day be, but I knew the fact that they didn't answer with a friendly hello was not a good sign. I wasn't afraid for myself; I could handle a couple of humans, I was sure.
"Beth. Go in the house. I'll investigate. Whoever they are, they're humans."
"No, Simone. You come too. We have a security system—"
"Go, Beth, please. I'll be fine." Reluctantly, she got out of the water, grabbing a towel and her robe from hooks on a nearby post. I tried to hone in on the heartbeats, but it seemed like they had split up. I glanced over at Beth, almost to the door. Without warning, I heard her muffled scream, but before I could move, I'd been encircled by strong human arms encased in a white snow jacket. Beth was struggling with her captor, one of his gloved hands covering her mouth as he held her from behind, and all I could think of was getting to my friend. Anger and frustration overwhelmed me as I morphed into vamp face, a surge of adrenaline causing me to throw off my attacker. I heard him fly off the deck, landing heavily against a tree before sliding down the trunk into the snow. His heartbeat abruptly stopped.
I advanced on Beth and the white ski-masked creep who held her, dragging her toward the front steps. The snow was whirling now, shining in the exterior safety light.
"Come with me quietly, and I'll let her go," he growled, his accelerated pulse accompanying the smell of his fear at what had happened to his companion, and what had happened to my teeth and eyes.
"No deal, asshole. Let her go, and I might not kick your ass."
"We weren't supposed to hurt you," he said, still trying to sound tough, despite his terror. "I just need you to come with me."
"Who are you? What do you want with me? Does this have something to do with Josef?"
By this time, he'd reached the top of the steps that led down to the driveway, and I knew he was purposefully trying to get me to follow him. I desperately tried to think of what I could do. I could break his neck with one sharp twist, but with him so tightly holding Beth, I didn't see a way to get to him without her getting hurt in the process. She seemed to realize this, and began struggling anew, her eyes pleading above his gloved hand. I shook my head, willing her to be still. But Beth was Beth, and she decided to take matters into her own hands. The railing near the steps was right behind them and Beth slammed his back against it. He grunted in shock and his hold must have loosened enough that she could pull out of his grasp. Then, everything began to happen as if in slow motion.
Beth's feet were still wet from the hot tub, and she couldn't get traction on the icy deck. Watching her, I knew beyond a doubt she was going to slip and fall. I jumped forward to catch her, but by then she was already falling down the steps with a sickening series of thumps.
"Beth!" I screamed, as her attacker's hands came out to hold my upper arms. My hands went instinctively to his neck, breaking it with a satisfying snap of bone. I let him fall where he was, then jumped to the bottom of the stairs to where Beth lay face up, eyes closed, body ominously still. Blood was flowing freely from the back of her head, seeping with shocking contrast into the white snow beneath her. I was overwhelmed by the scent of it, suddenly afraid of what I might do to her as the monster in me struggled for dominance. I turned my head away, taking deep breaths of the winter air, trying to calm myself.
"Snap out of it, Simone," I commanded myself aloud. "This is Beth." Somehow, I found the strength to resist my inner nature, my humanity taking over as I pulled her arms gently from the sleeves of her terry cloth robe. I bunched it up and held it to her bleeding scalp. I could still hear her heart beating, so I knew she was alive, but she wouldn't answer when I said her name.
I picked her up in my arms, walking carefully back up the stairs so I wouldn't slip with my own bare feet and injure her further. I took her in the house and into the den, pausing along the way to pick up my cell phone. I lay Beth gently on a couch, holding the robe tightly to her head. She still hadn't revived, but her heart still beat, weaker than before.
"Don't die on me," I said, while waiting for Josef to pick up. When he finally did, his voice was accompanied by the sound of a revved up motor.
"Hey, baby! Missing me already?"
"Josef—you have to get back here. It's Beth. There were two of them. They attacked us—"
The engine in the background shut off abruptly.
"What the hell? Attacked? By who?"
"No time to talk about this. Meet me at the hospital. She's in danger of bleeding out."
"Are you alright?"
"I'm fine. I'll be much better when you get here. Hurry!"
I hung up, then ran to slip on my jeans, shirt and snow boots. I found a blanket in a linen closet, then wrapped Beth in it for the journey. I grabbed another towel for her head. There were no other cars here, and I didn't think an ambulance or taxi could get there fast enough. I held her to my shoulder like a baby, holding her legs gently, glad she wasn't a tall woman. I went outside, my footing better in the boots, my confidence restored now with the thought that I was her fastest way to the hospital, that her life depended on me alone. At the foot of the stairs, I took off at a run, following the road back into town. I suddenly didn't find the snow to be so pretty, after all.
A/N: Yep, another cliffie—sorry to those who hate them, lol. I love to write them, and read them myself. More as soon as I can. Thanks in advance for all those wonderful reviews you're about to give me, especially you lurkers who have never reviewed before. I can predict that I'll love them, so don't be shy—leave a comment!
