Thanks to everyone who is reading. I really am grateful for your interest. Thanks to those who review. Thanks for taking the time.
I know that this story labels as a Supernatural as well as Drama. I feel the Supernatural part of this story has already been well presented. However, the Drama is still coming up. There have been glimpses of it, but the story is pretty light at the moment. This is just the way I have decided to have the characters start to connect and develop.
Thanks again. Oh, and thanks Mom. You always know what to say, and you are always so supportive in whatever I do. I am glad we can share this. Love you.
"This is Beth Turner again from Buzzwire. I'm still traveling with Mick St. John, Josef, and Katherine, all vampires. We are currently heading towards a stronghold of Katherine's in Florida. I have been told that the location of her allies is just outside of Miami. Katherine, can you tell us what we might find ourselves involved in the next few days?"
"Well, Beth, we will be in considerable danger. We will be fighting a maniacal, dangerous, and ancient society. You know, Beth I think you have to worry more than anyone else here."
"Oh really Katherine? Can you tell me why?"
"Sure. Well you see these teeth here, Beth? These babies are what I use when I have a craving. Mick and Josef come here. Show her your fangs too."
"Craving? Craving what…….? Oh no!! Please no! I don't want to die. My neck, ahhhhhh!!!!"
"Beth!" She woke with a start to see Mick next to her shaking her awake.
"Hey are you okay?" Mick said with concern on his face. She took a moment to sit up and look around realizing where she was again. She rubbed her eyes.
"Oh, I'm sorry I was having a nightmare." Mick sat back.
"Yeah, you kept talking out loud as if you were being attacked." Beth's eyes went big with embarrassment.
"What did you hear?" She said almost accusing. It was not his fault that he had overheard her nightmare, but she was afraid that he might take it personally. After all they just had a conversation about what Mick thought about himself. Her nightmare would not improve his idea.
"Nothing, it was like NO! And then you would mumble." Beth was overwhelmed with relief and almost did not hear what Mick said next. "Are you sure that you are okay?"
"Huh? Oh yeah I'm fine….." She did not get to finish her sentence because they both suddenly heard a loud noise coming from the back of the plane.
"What was that?" She said looking towards the bathroom. Mick smiled and rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, our friends are getting acquainted with each other again." Beth's mouth gaped with shock. She then gave an embarrassed smile.
"You mean….You mean they are doing it." Beth felt like a twelve year old talking about sex, but she could not imagine what would have possessed them to start having sex on the plane in the bathroom.
"Yeah, I guess they really wanted to join the Mile High Club." Mick joked. Beth laughed out loud and then she heard a quiet moan. She suspected that sound had belonged to Katherine.
"Oh yeah, you think you hear that….imagine vampire hearing." Mick said making a disgusted face. Beth pressed her lips together and concealed a giggle.
"Wow, this just keeps getting weirder and weirder." Beth said finally sitting back. She looked over to Mick. He glanced over to her and smiled softly, but then they heard another moan and he had to look away. Beth had to cover her mouth to not lose herself in a laughing fit. She was not sure which nightmare had been worse; the one she was enduring now or the one she woke from. Mick seemed to be turning red, but then she was unsure if vampires could color with humiliation. She wasn't really sure about anything anymore, especially when it came to the vampire factor. In truth there was a great deal she still had to learn about this man, considering she had kissed him and offered herself to him twice; once to save his life and the other to become like him.
Beth felt herself sobering up. No matter what sex-capades were going on at the back of the plane, she still could not let go that they were entering a more than serious situation. She and Mick seemed to be the only one to recognize that though. Maybe Josef and Katherine had done this so many times that they thought of it like an adventure together. Obviously they needed to be up close and personal to conduct said adventure, but then they had nothing to worry about. They were immortal, Katherine doubly so. She didn't know many people who could claim to be a vampire and therefore immortal, and then on top of that she could only be killed by one vampire. Yeah, that seemed like a pretty sweet deal to her.
"Sir." A voice buzzed over the intercom in Josef's chair. Mick leaned over.
"Uh, he's a little busy right now. Can I help you?" Beth smiled at the sarcasm Mick's answer had been dripping with.
"I just wanted to inform him that we are dropping altitude in preparation of landing. It is advised that everyone take their seats. Thank you." The pilot answered.
"Okay, thanks." Mick sat back. Beth looked to the bathroom and then to Mick who sat calmly looking ahead.
"Uh, aren't you going to warn them?" Beth asked pointing to the back of the plane.
"What and ruin their fun?" He said once more in sarcasm. "Anyway, they will know soon enough." Mick smiled as Beth looked to him confused. Within a few minutes, Beth began to feel the plane drop to one altitude to another. It was like a small roller coaster. Mick chuckled.
"What?" Beth asked smiling.
"You'll see." He said smiling back to her. It was then that Beth heard what Mick had obviously been waiting for.
"DAMNMIT!!" They heard a yell from back of the plane. It sounded like Josef. Mick laughed out loud as he folded his legs over another and crossed his arms quite satisfied.
"You see with a small plane like this, you really feel when the altitude drops especially if you aren't in the middle. It's all about balance, which I guess he just lost." He turned to Beth explaining. Beth laughed and shook her head.
"Is that why you didn't say anything to warn them?"
"Pretty much. He deserved it anyway." Beth looked at this person, this vampire smiling ahead. In that moment she wished he was exactly what he wanted to be, whatever that was. She had an idea he wanted to be human. She did not see why someone would want that since he had what most human's desire, immortality. He would avoid the cold grip of death as each human learn dread with age. You cannot move forward without knowing you are moving towards the end of your life in the end. She knew how that felt. The idea that she had wasted so much time and fear of her own death, seemed like such an empty potential she could have used for a better cause.
They heard Josef and Katherine exit out of the bathroom. She said nothing and sat in her seat. When Beth looked back she could see that she looked as bit disheveled if not flustered. Josef looked calm and collected. He sat in his seat once more and smiled over to Mick, who wore a disapproving look on his face.
"So what's going on?" He asked cheerfully. Beth rolled her eyes, and could not help having the thought that every male was the same. Sex really could put them in a good mood at anytime and apparently at any place.
"We're about to land pretty soon." Mick said in a level tone.
"Oh good! I think I have had enough of flying. These things are always so unstable. How I miss the days of trains!" Josef said looking back to Katherine. She shook her head.
"No, they still sucked too." She commented and looked out the window to see the plane descending. Josef smiled.
"I thought they were incredibly private." His smiled grew with lustful wickedness.
"Oh really? You enjoy privacy that much? I have always thought of you as little bit of exhibitionist." Mick shot back.
"Well, we all have our faults, don't we?" Josef replied once more interested more into his magazines.
When they landed they were whisked into a limo that Josef had arranged. There were little words exchanged as the car started to move towards its destination. Katherine was quiet, and looked into the night with a pensive glare. Beth found herself becoming very curious of her thoughts. She would be the director of this show, and she wondered what the next step was. Fortunately, Mick had more courage and simmering impatience to ask the question that was on everyone's mind.
"So what are we doing here? Who are we supposed to meet?" Mick asked looking out the window. He could see the lights of the city on the horizon. The limo seemed to know exactly where it was going. He wanted the same courtesy. Katherine looked over to him. She sat by Josef and Mick sat by Beth. She looked over to Beth then. It was as if she could read that Beth was thinking the same thing.
"I have some friends here that can help." Katherine replied simply. Mick sighed with frustration.
"Yeah, I got that. What would they be helping with? I mean what are we helping with? I understand what the main goal is here, but I have not really heard a plan." Mick said with passionate irritation. Josef smiled at his friend, and gave a small chuckle.
"Well, Mick there isn't a plan." Mick stared at them both like he had met the village idiots.
"Well, not yet anyway." Josef corrected himself. He just enjoyed bringing his friend's reaction out.
"What he means to say is that we are unsure of how many will be able to help….so it is stupid to lay out a complete plan yet." Katherine corrected Josef. He turned back to Mick annoyed.
"What do you need a plan for? We're going to kill all of them!" Josef exclaimed.
"Not all of them!" Katherine said. Mick and Beth looked confused at each other and then back to Josef and Katherine.
"Well, can we get a straight answer or are we on a need to know basis? Because I don't mean to be rude, but if we are going to help we are going to need a plan of some sort." Beth said. She thought she had questioned them rather bravely. It did not hurt that Mick was on her side, not only in the car but also in idea.
"Don't worry I do have a plan, but it is not some "storm the place; we're done in a night" kind of plan. I need to know who is still with me and the talents from them that I can use. For instance, Josef told me that you are TV reporter." Katherine pointed to Beth. The human could not help the quickening of her heart when she began to realize that she was really going to be used in this coup.
"Yes." Beth said meekly. She felt as if all her courage had been stripped off of her and then sold cheaply.
"We will need information," Katherine continued, "And I know you know how to find facts quickly. These people are not stuck in the dark ages. They have evolved just like the rest of the world. They have technology that is the best of the best. They have money dripping out of their ears. They will have resources that I cannot even match. I will need to meet with my people, and see what the new updates are. We will need to formulate a plan to infiltrate them and know their strength. On top of that we need to make sure we have enough people and power to attack them if need be. Like I said, I can't pour out a plan to you just yet." Katherine finished. Beth scooted forward in her seat.
"You said that you need to get the new updates. Why don't you know that already?" Beth asked. She felt more of that journalist spirit come back with some of her bravery.
"I haven't been able to be in contact with my group for about 2 months. I have been on the run from that tracker. Like I said, they have resources you cannot even imagine, and I was on the run for a long time. I had to basically go into hiding. I have had no contact with anyone for long time. I don't risk calling them or trying to contact them other than by face to face." Katherine seemed to grow weary talking about their situation. She seemed to be over burdened with stress. No wonder she had to have a quickie, thought Beth.
"I don't understand…why would not be able to call them? I mean it is not like the Bourne Identity, and the government is after you. Surely they cannot track everything that you do." Beth commented, but as she finished her last words she could see Josef and Katherine roll their eyes as if they had been trying to explain something to a slow child.
"Apparently, you were not listening when I was holding Bloodline 101. They are the government. They have infiltrated and seized some about of power in every level of government and social structure. So yeah, you could call me Jason Bourne if you want to." Katherine proved that her sarcasm talent was better than Beth had imagined. Beth could not form words to combat her, and she found herself staring dumbly.
The danger seemed to be mounting by the hour, and they hadn't really done anything. Beth rubbed her hands together and found that they were sweating. If only she was like them. She could have coolly answered back. She could have the confidence and fearlessness that Katherine blasted into every word and look. A part of Beth wished that she had brought some of the Black Crystal. Maybe then she would feel more up to the task, and perhaps the equal of the ones that surrounded her. It was amazing how small and vulnerable she felt with them. They would have to protect her. She felt a mixture of humiliation, anger, frustration, and fear boiling in her stomach. She hated feeling weak, but she would never admit it or purposely show it any of them. Beth swallowed her emotional cocktail and stored it deep inside of her. She would have to worry about those emotions later. Mick looked at her as if he had seen what had been brewing inside of her. Maybe he understood. He was the second youngest in the limo.
The vehicle stopped. Mick looked out side to what looked like an empty lot across the street from Biscayne Bay. He could see the city of Miami lit against the sky to the north and east.
"We're here." Katherine said as she opened to door to get out.
"What do you mean? It's an empty lot. Where's here?" Mick said exasperated. It was a run down industrious street, and the lot had a chain link fence around it and wild grass sprouting two to three feet everywhere. Katherine exited without answering and Josef soon followed. Mick looked at Beth.
"Why do I have a feeling we just stuck a foot into something really strange." Beth scoffed at what he said.
"You're getting that feeling just now?" She asked leaving the car as well with Mick following her. They could hear Josef from outside the car.
"Come on kids! We haven't got all day." When he saw them emerge from the car he laughed and smiled at Mick. "Wow, man! When was it last that you spent some time with a woman in the back seat of a car?" Josef smiled wider when he saw Beth's cheeks flush and Mick's teeth grit at his friend's obnoxiousness. "You know, not the classiest, but hey you've been celibate long enough." Beth jumped to defend Mick.
"Well at least he doesn't lack so much class to join the Mile High club mid-flight to only have it ruined by his lack of balance." Beth put herself in between Mick and Josef and spoke lower. "It doesn't speak well of your stamina, you know." Katherine laughed out loud and turned to walk towards the lot. Mick smiled wide when Beth looked back to him. She gave a small smirk to Josef and then trailed Katherine. Mick hit his friend in the shoulder for the second time that night, and then joined the girls. Josef was left alone with his only comment back.
"Touché." He said bitterly.