I am sorry that I have not updated as quickly as before. I have just started an activist group for in my community and have been hard at work for our first event. If you would like to find out more you can go to Save Darfur . org and my group's name is Stop Making Excuses!! Save Darfur!!

Thank you everyone again. I wanted to provide a song list that I listen to when I write this story. If you want to listen to the songs it might give you more insight in the feeling of this story. I add constantly to my play list and currently it has 45 songs, which is about 2 ½ hours of music. Here are some songs (I hope this format came out right):

Song Artist

1. Werewolf (Cat power)

2. Free Fallin' (Tom Petty)

3. Medication (Garbage)

4. My Invitations (Sarah Slean)

5. My Heart Can't Tell You No (Rod Stewart)

6. Company (Third Eyed Blind)

7. Slow Like Honey (Fiona Apple)

8. Silence (Delerium & Sarah Mclaughlin)

9. Nothing Compares to You (Sinead O' Connor)

10. Troubled Waters (Cat Power)

Thanks again

Katherine moved towards the chain link fence that surrounded the lot. She casually lifted part of the fence, and motioned Beth to come through. When Beth entered she saw lazy desolation. Always aware that vampires often have some card up their sleeve filled with surprise, she still could not understand how this was a safe place to meet hunted followers, especially with their leader now out in the open. As Beth mused over this thought the rest of the group were led through.

Beth did not have to wait long for the answer to her thoughts. Katherine went to the middle of the lot. She looked around her for a solid minute, and then looked to Beth like she smelled the air around her. Katherine turned to Mick.

"When were you turned? The fifties?" She surprised Mick. Mick shifted on his feet.

"Yeah, so?" He said with a close to defensive tone. Katherine smirked and shook her head.

"Oh, nothing. You just smell like them. I bet you still use the same cologne." Beth felt like it was a barb towards Mick, but said nothing. Mick stayed silent as well. Beth saw him trying not to be obvious as he tried to smell himself.

Perhaps you can hurt a vampire by telling him he smells bad, Beth thought. She kept the joke to herself. But then she never thought he smelled bad. In fact it was quiet the opposite.

Finally, Katherine appeared to feel secure to enter the lair. She found a handle somewhere hidden in the sand. She lifted an opening and climbed inside. Josef followed immediately. Apparently, he felt very comfortable following Katherine, but then again he had known her for over 200 years. Mick allowed Beth to climb in next. When he finally was at the end of the ladder that led down to another door he wondered how they were able to be so deep in the ground. They were at least 6 feet under. It was common knowledge that Miami was barely 3 feet above sea level. You don't go to Florida looking for basements.

"We had to pour concrete to secure it." Katherine answered the questions in Mick's thoughts. He looked at her with wide eyes.

"Sorry. I could feel your concern." She tried to apologize. He did not realize that he would be so concerned that she had felt him. Beth looked back to Mick and then Katherine. She was unsure what had just transpired, but she understood how Mick would feel uncomfortable. She saw Katherine look at her as well. She wondered if she could feel her emotions too.

"Well, I'll tell you what. You don't feel them, and then we won't have a problem." Mick said in an annoyed tone. It must have been very unnerving to be so open to person with giving them that permission, and on top of that only knowing them for a matter of hours. Katherine sighed roughly and turned to the door once more.

"It's not my fault you're so damned emotional." She commented under breath, though she knew that at least the vampires with her could hear it. She placed her hand on what looked like a scanner. A green light filled the space, which was small. Beth guessed that it only could be 6 feet by 6 feet. She did not notice the door that led them down to the room which was now closing itself. She did not realize it until the door thumped loudly, at which time she cowered against Mick at the sound. Mick did not complain, and even took the opportunity to put his arm around her. The room had turned dark with the door closed. All the light that was emitted was the green scanner. Beth could not see in the now dark room the small smile Mick had on his face.

When Katherine was fully scanned by the computer, the door opened. Behind the door, Beth could see a man holding a gun to his side. Katherine smiled and patted him on the back.

"Hello Julius!"

"Hello, Katherine." He said quietly. She stood beside him and she pointed to the rest of the group.

"I have brought some friends. Make sure to search them all." She paused a moment as a wicked thought entered her mind. "Especially, that one." She pointed directly to Josef. It was almost like she was at a pet store trying to pick out the best dog. Josef made a face to her that assured her that she would be receiving the compliment back. Beth felt betrayed. Why did they now have to be searched? Did they not just fly across the country with this woman?

"What do you mean search?" Beth said out loud, not hiding her surprise. Katherine smiled at her. Beth guessed it was some ploy to try and calm her, but since this person (vampire….what ever the hell she was) was so unknown to her on a multitude of levels, the smile came across as if she were to enjoy the humiliation that was soon to follow. Sure Beth had been searched before at airports and such, but she wasn't trying to help those people defeat a maniacal secret society either.

"Don't worry guys. It is just procedure. We have to do it with everyone. Better safe than sorry." Beth felt like she was being talked to like she was a child with a reassuring mother. It did not help her impression though.

"Well, let's get it over with than." Mick said stepping forward. Beth followed. Another man came from behind Katherine and Julius. He came to Mick.

"Do you have any electronic equipment with you? Cell phone? Anything like that?" He sounded very gruff to Beth and she could not help the unsettled feeling that was creeping up from her stomach. If they were taking all there cell phones how would she be able to call for help? She watched as Mick handed over his phone. He looked back to Beth. He could read her thoughts and fears on her face. He tried to smile to show her that he was here. She seemed to relax a little bit. He was then patted down and told to move off. Beth could see that Josef was being patted down as well. She saw the man come toward her and she could not help but flinch and back away. The man stood still.

"Its alright….I am only go to check you." He tried to sound safer than he looked. She nodded her head no and looked over to Mick. He stepped forward and stood beside her.

"I'm here okay. He won't do anything if he wanted to. I'm right here." She looked up to him and pressed her lips together trying to find that brave vein she was tapping into earlier. She nodded her head up and down. She knew that Mick would protect her, and she did trust him. He took a hold of her hand.

"Go ahead." Mick nodded to the man. Mick knew that this man was a vampire. In fact the two gentlemen that were now in the chamber bathed with green light were both vampires. He thought it wise to keep that from Beth. She was already uneasy. Mick could not help his feeling of nervousness either, but he trusted Josef and he knew he would dig out of a bad situation with his bare hands if he had to, especially with Beth around.

Finally, the search was over and the whole party moved though the tunnel. Beth stayed very close to Mick. The tunnel was only lit with two lines of faint lights from up above. She had heard of tunnels like these. Drug runners used them in Florida for years. She felt her self relax thinking of the story she had read on the internet a few years ago. It helped her stop thinking about the story that was unfolding before her. A story she could never tell, and no one would believe if she tried.

The two vampires that had searched the group were now at the head of the party traveling down the dark tunnel. Katherine was behind them, with Josef behind her. Mick and Beth brought up the back with Beth clinging on to him. Mick now felt guilty feeling happy that she was so close. He knew how afraid she must be. This was exactly what he wanted to spare her. The vampires at the head of the line opened a door and a bright white light blasted into the tunnel. Katherine entered in as they held the door and started climbing the stairs the room held.

"Where are we going Mick?" Beth whispered. He paused and looked at her before they went up the stairs.

"I don't know." He honestly stated. He gripped her hand that was clenching his arm and held it. "I'm right here though."

They went up about three flights of stairs. Katherine then stood before a steel door and once more put her hand on a panel and allowed her eye to be scanned. The door opened with a loud thump as if it was magnetized. The room was nicely decorated and even looked as if it was an office. Beth felt confused as she entered. How had they gone from stairs, to tunnel, to nice office building in minutes? Katherine turned to them.

"You see, there is not entrance into this part of the building. Technically, we are in the middle of the building. You will notice that there are no windows, partly for protection, and partly because my staff really can't look out of them for 12 hours a day. We are protected by hurricane, bomb, fire, and bullet. You are the safest you have ever been in this building." Katherine assured them. Beth could not help but find a quip in her head though.

Sure, safe until one of you gets hungry, she thought as she held one hand onto her neck.

"Welcome to my sometimes home." She smiled as she spread her arms open as if presenting it.

"Yeah, but why Florida? It's not like we can get a tan." Mick said looking around. He could smell the place reeking in decay of vampires. There were so many scents of them that he could hardly single them out.

"Well, you can't but I can." She said and turned down the main hallway. "Come with me and we can start some work." Mick and Josef looked at each other.

"I know. She's a bitch of a showoff." Josef said before he followed her.