So here I am in my bloody-mindedness, updating away. I'm getting a tattoo soon and I'm terrified. I was terrified for my nose piercing too and being jabbed with tiny needles hundreds of times can't be any worse than having a piece of metal stabbed through the cartilage of my nostril, can it? Ahahahaa… (whimpers) So, here's a new chapter for Bastet1023 who is awesome for reviewing.

Chapter 7

Kemiri tilted his head to the side. His eye caught movement. While he was not much of a hunter by personal choice, he had all the instincts, bred into him for thousands of years. He was in swiftly in motion, leaping over the edge of a building, landing on the roof of another below him, flattening against a shed enclosing access stairs. A group of perhaps ten oomans, running hard, following another slightly farther ahead. No. Hunting another. He had never seen oomans move in such a coordinated fashion, following a leader. Bizarre. They usually moved as an unorganized rabble. Just when he thought he had seen it all, they'd go out and surprise him. He was about to turn away when another peculiarity caught his eye. They were all running a little hotter than usual, he supposed it could have been because of strenuous exercise were it not for one who was not… DEBORAH! His mind screamed in recognition. He zoomed in. It was HER! What was she doing with them?! THERE WAS THE MALE! The one she had allowed into her apartment! Kemiri's hands clenched into fists, the tendons standing out like steel cables on his wrists. The wind gusted around him, stirring his dreadlocks. He was off again, running and leaping and dodging. The warrior wanted to leap out and snatch her away from the odd group. He was very close now. The buildings were low here. He could have jumped down, attacked the male and jumped back up again before they could do anything. One slowed, stopped, head raised. They were sniffing the air. It was very obvious from their movements. His musk. Most oomans could smell it and found it distasteful. Deborah had not liked it, so when he was still seeing her, he had bathed every time he saw her. He had let that slide now. It did not mean he was not clean. His body was just producing its natural pheromones, unhampered by scented soaps. They shouldn't be able to smell him though. Ooman noses were weak. Oomans were mainly visual creatures. Kemiri didn't move, trusting on his cloaking device to hide him. They started pacing back and forth, coming closer with every loop. Their movement was odd, almost bestial. Should he attack? They ran with the male, so they were affiliated with him, so he immediately did not like them. The wind shifted again. The ooman stayed a moment longer, scanning the shadows, nostrils flared, shrugged and then started running hard in the direction the group had gone. He contemplated following and after another moment's hesitation, did.

…..

They ran all over the place for over an hour, chasing another ooman, speaking to others. Eventually, they disbanded, going their separate ways. For a moment, the Yautja was afraid the male would go with her again, but he did not. Kemiri followed on the roofs for another block and then climbed down.

"Deb'rah! What are you doing?!" he cried.

"Kemiri?! What the hell are you doing here? I thought I told you I didn't want to see you again!"

"Why were you with those oomans?"

"Stop spying on me, you fucking stalker!" she spat.

He stared at her. Her hair was pulled into a severe braid, though wisps were curling free now. She was wearing tight clothes, comfortable shoes. There were leather gloves on her hands and kneepads on her legs. A knife was on her belt. He could smell exertion, excitement, anger and blood on her.

"What are you doing with them?"

"I'm having a life, you asshole! One that doesn't include you! I don't need you!"

"I do not think those oomans are what they say. They are strange, hiding something. Stay away before it is too late. Please, Deb'rah. I want you to be safe. I can protect you from them if you need me to."

"I'm sick of everyone thinking I need to be protected! I can take care of myself. Go home, Kemiri." With that, she turned and walked away.

…..

Despite what she said, Kemiri followed her again, once again sitting on the opposite roof, watching. He felt bad spying on her, but he couldn't help it. He had to see her.

"Kemiri?" Elizabeth asked, leaping nimbly up onto the roof. "Are you all right?"

He uncloaked and shook his head. "How can you always find me?"

"Same way you find her. I know your patterns. If you aren't at home, then you are usually here."

"Mm. We had another fight."

"I can tell. Her mind is spinning with angry and hurt thoughts."

"You are reading minds again."

"I can't help it. I always hear the thoughts of others."

"Why is she so angry with me? I have done nothing to her."

"Some people just can't deal with anything out of the ordinary. I would just let her go; she's into something else. She's lost to you."

"It is hard. I wanted her to be my life mate." Kemiri moaned miserably. The vampire laid her hand on his arm comfortingly. He did not throw it off, just settled lower, hunching with a deep sigh.

"It's always hard. Trust me. Just forget about her. You'll be happier for it in the end." she said softly.

Elizabeth stood up and moved in front of Kemiri, kneeling. She was ridiculously small compared to him, like a child, but possessed with an iron strength. Her hands found the fasteners on his mask, undid them. He blinked as she pulled it away and set it on the roof beside them.

"She does not understand what is different." Elizabeth whispered. She laid a gentle kiss on his forehead.

Many things happened in the next few moments. Kemiri found himself on his back, the blood drinker lying on top of him. Her hands ran across his chest, through his dreadlocks, over his thighs. Her hands were cool, but not cold. His own hands roamed, under her shirt, cupping a small, tight breast, squeezing gently, touching her buttocks through her skirt. She was kissing him everywhere, her small, pink tongue leaving cool trails across his skin. His mandibles tickled on her neck, her shoulder, her face. She kissed him deeply, tongue probing. Kemiri had never been kissed quite like that before, even when he was in Edan's body. Heat seared across his skin. He wondered with some odd part of his mind if it was weird or uncomfortable for her. His mouth was a rather significantly different shape. He shivered in delight. Her hand slipped lower, undid his belt, touched him. With that touch, he woke up out of the daze of lust. He pushed Elizabeth away.

"No…"

"Please…" she pleaded.

"No. Can't. Is wrong."

She tried to push him back down. Part of him just wanted to give up and succumb. It had been so long.

"No!" Kemiri threw her off. He got up, hand clutching at his loincloth, doing it back up. "I cannot do this! No, just… No." He snatched up his mask, declining to put it on and backed away. The vampire's delicate face contorted into a mask of rage, fangs looking very large and sharp.

"How dare you turn away from me! Fine. I see why she left you. Be gone before I decide to destroy you, alien beast."

Kemiri fled.

Only after he was gone, did Elizabeth allow her fierce expression to drop. Tears welled up in her eyes. She curled up into a ball, weeping blood tears alone on the chill rooftop.