Bethany was completely taken by surprise. She was slapped so hard that she stumbled back. She slowly turned to face this small woman who had dared touch her. She started toward her, but someone jumped in between them and she was suddenly thrown back by an unseen force.
"Get away from her!" Coreen had come from nowhere, grabbed Vicki's hand, channeled her power and thrown the other woman back. Everyone in the room was in awe. No one moved, not even Bethany.
"WHO are you little girl?" Bethany said.
"She's my little sister," Coreen looked at her with surprise. "So if you piss her off too, you've got two of us to deal with."
Vicki's eyes were wild with anger and surprise both. She was surprised at Coreen, but pissed as hell at this Bethany woman who made the claim to be Henry's lover, which Vicki was still unsure of. She knew Henry had many lovers over his lifetime, she had only met Christina, and we all know how that ended...
"If you make ONE move toward her again, you'll be sorry," Coreen was seething. They had never seen her like this before. Her grip on Vicki's hand was almost painful, but Vicki didn't let go. She was so impressed and touched that Coreen would do this, she was going to do whatever it took to keep things going well for them.
"Bethany, come here," Julian commanded.
Henry and Pierre flanked Vicki and Coreen, just a defensive stance, not an attacking one. Julian and Marcus did the same with Bethany and Jessica.
"This the OK Corral here?" Vicki finally said, still holding Coreen's hand. Coreen had loosed her hold somewhat but was still on the defense.
"Vicki, stand down, I think you've made your point here," Henry said. Vicki nodded, but she still wanted a piece of Bethany, that was apparent.
"Bethany, you assume that we were lovers and yet we were not, you're still angry with me, are you not?" Henry asked. Vicki shot a look at him, wondering if he was sugar coating it for her benefit.
"What? You aren't serious Duke? Of course I'm not, you are the one who lost out..the Kindred took me." Bethany said, stroking Julian. A huge red hand print was showing up on the side of her face. She gingerly touched it, it actually hurt. Vicki had strength. Not vampiric strength, but more than human. She eyed Vicki, Vicki eyed her right back.
Henry turned to the group, "Bethany was a maidservant's daughter. She found out my true nature, she wanted me to turn her, I refused. I was presumed dead and she threatened to expose me, so I erased her memory. Apparently, she rediscovered it when she was turned. But we were NEVER," he emphasized to Vicki, "lovers, not once."
"Did you feed from her Henry?" Vicki asked, clenching her free hand at her side. Coreen was just barely holding her other hand, using her free hand to stroke Vicki's arm, trying to calm herself and Vicki at the same time.
"Once, that's all," Henry answered, knowing once would be enough for Vicki.
"That's all I need," she started toward Bethany again.
"No, Vicki, stop!" Coreen stopped her this time. "YOU are in no condition," she said, pointing to her bump.
Bethany's eyes grew wide.
"YOU impregnated a human? How is that possible?" The four Kindred were surprised, they did not know the truth of this vampire clan here in Toronto. They were just told that they used synthetic blood, not that they were capable of having children.
"Yeah, he's got super sperm.." Vicki was being ultra smart ass.
"Vicki!" Henry hissed at her,"Stop it! You are only feeding them, we are here to get to the bottom of things."
"Yes, we can have families with our mates," Pierre finally spoke up. He continued, "We are here to speak with Bastian, then we will leave."
"I'm afraid he is otherwise engaged, but if you will come back tonight, say at midnight, that's when the show starts, he will be available." Julian said, pointing to the stage.
So the stage was for a show, but what kind? Since being in the presence of these people seemed to only rile Vicki more, they decided to come back later.
"Fine, we will come later," Pierre finally agreed. He felt that the show had something to do with Bastian's situation, so they had no choice.
"Oh, and bring our boy with you, we need him." Julian added.
Pierre looked at him, his eyes bleeding to onyx, "What will you do with him? He has fed."
Julian hissed at Pierre, coming closer to him. Pierre vamped out, looking every bit the part of the old, strong vampire he was. Vicki didn't see him like that often but it made her proud.
"He belongs to the Kindred, you know that if you are Bastian's friend, We need him back, to help him through."
"Again, what will you do? He has had our blood and his mate's, so what will happen?" Pierre asked again, Julian was forced backward. He was openly afraid of Pierre-that was good.
"I do not know. We will have to speak to Bastian." Julian answered.
"Hmm..we'll see. For now, know this, you are in our territory," Pierre told Julian, "And although we are not territorial, Bastian has been here many years undetected. If you are planning something to change that, you will have a fight on your hands, do you understand?"
"Yes," Julian nodded, trying to hide his feelings.
They backed out of the club and as they opened the door flooding light inside, they turned, all except Vicki. She had finally let go of Coreen's hand. She looked at Bethany. She used her two fingers, pointed them at her eyes, then at Bethany telling her "I"m watching you.." Henry took Vicki's hand and pulled her out of the door.
"For God's sake Vicki, why must you do that?" Henry asked exasperated with her.
"She pissed me off," Vicki said truthfully.
"Yeah, we got that," Coreen said shaking her head. Vicki remembered what Coreen had done.
"By the way, thanks, that was great in there," Vicki said smiling at Coreen.
"You're welcome, but you've got to get a grip until you have this baby, geez..but it was kinda cool huh?" Coreen said giggling.
"I KNOW..did you feel the rush of pow.." Henry cut Vicki off.
"Girls!"
They both looked at him.
"Focus?" Henry said shaking his head. Vicki and Coreen looked at one another shrugging their shoulders.
"Come on, we've got planning to do before tonight." Vicki said.
"WE?" all three said in unison.
"Uh, YEAH!! I am NOT staying home..not after that."
"YES you are, for exactly that reason. If you can't control yourself, then that's exactly where you are staying." Henry demanded.
"Again, I don't think you remember who you are talking to." Vicki shot back at him.
"He's right Victoria, you are endangering yourself and my grandchild." Pierre said to her in a very fatherly voice.
Vicki looked at him, then at Henry. Dammit..these men were making her crazy..but no crazier than she was making them. And to hear Pierre talk to her that way, it made her heart twinge a little.
"Okay, how about this..I PROMISE.. pinky promise that I won't say anything, slap anyone or instigate anything..really." Vicki put her best "I'll be good" face on, crossing her heart the whole nine yards.
Henry stared at her not really convinced but he knew that at least if they took her, he would know she wasn't sneaking in. Henry leaned his head against the seat, closed his eyes and sighed.
"I don't know why you're arguing, you know she's going to go. See, now you know how I feel.." Coreen said glad that now Henry was having to deal with her.
"Okay, fine. But if at any time I feel like you are having issues, Coreen is taking you to the car, right Coreen?" Henry told her.
"Aye, aye captain," Vicki said, making a salute to Henry. Pierre chuckled at the two of them, Coreen giggled right along with them.
Vicki laid her head on Henry's shoulder and put her hand on his thigh, he instinctively tensed. Her touch was intoxicating, even with others present. What they had started earlier had to be finished. He glanced over at her, she mouthed "later" and he nodded.
Damn..she was good...