His Kiss

Disclaimer: I do not own Moonlight or anything linked to it.

Author: Egyptian Kiss

Pairings: Josef/OC, Mick/Beth

Rating: MA

Summary: Breanna Mabalot has had a shaky past and the only one she has made a point to be close with is her "sister" Ally. When Ally sees that Breanna is taking life too seriously, the girls venture out for a night on the town, and Brea ends up meeting someone who shakes up her world. As life goes on from her earth-shattering experience with Josef Kostan, she finds that more and more peculiarities start to jump out at her- and the well kept secret of her blood will be revealed.

Chapter Ten

Brea walked down the stairs the next day, realizing how comfortable she was beginning to feel in Josef's mansion. Her life's unexpected turns still had her head spinning, but she found herself slowly adjusting to her current situation. The finery around her was still awe-inspiring, but it was not so intimidating and unusual.

Making her way into the dinning room, Brea took a seat in one of the chairs around the table while Molly took off for the kitchen to tell the cook to prepare for their orders.

"Good morning, Brea," came Rita's voice from behind her, causing Brea to jump slightly in her seat.

Half-turning in her chair, Brea smiled, "Good morning. Just you today?"

Rita took the nearest seat to Brea and faced the other woman. She had been unaccompanied that morning- or early afternoon rather- and was surprised and pleased to run into Breanna again.

"No, they all slept in today. We stayed up late last night helping plan Josef's annual ball," Rita explained as Molly re-entered the room.

"What may I get for you ladies?" Molly asked, smiling her usual smile.

"I'll have a glass of orange juice, two pieces of wheat toast with jam, and a western omelet, please," Said Rita.

"Of course, and for you?" Molly asked, turning toward Brea.

"Um, a cup of coffee and maybe a waffle? If it's not too much trouble," Brea asked. This part of living with Josef was still awkward- Brea was so used to doing things for herself.

"Perfect. I'll have everything right out to you," Molly said with a nod as she left the room back toward the kitchen.

"What ball?" Brea asked, once Molly had exited. She was incredibly curious now.

"Every year Josef throws a ball to celebrate his birth into the vampire world. Each year the Freshies are asked to plan it," Rita explained as Molly hurried in with their drinks.

"Thank you, Molly," Brea said absently, her attention raptly focused on Rita. "And when is it?"

"This coming Saturday. Everyone who is anyone in the vampire world will be here. Josef is one of the oldest among them, almost like neo-royalty in today's world. It's always fun to plan," Rita responded.

"What do you wear to the ball?" Brea asked, her curiosity growing as Molly left the room again. Taking a few seconds to prepare her coffee, Brea waited for Rita to respond.

"Unfortunately, Freshies are not allowed to attend this event," Rita's reply stunned Brea, and she had to take a sip of coffee before responding.

"That seems unfair. You plan the entire event and are not allowed to go? Why?"

"Josef hires new Freshies for this particular event. It is actually for our benefit and protection. Any human at the party is considered a source of food and entertainment, Josef refuses to allow us to go and become either. We are his private collection," Said Rita with a wicked smile. She liked the idea of being special, Brea realized.

"Well, that makes sense," Brea said aloud, though it was more a musing then a response.

"I've still always sort of wanted to go though; just to see my plans put into action."

"How old will Josef be?" It was a question born from Brea's curiosity- she wanted to know more about Josef.

"From my understanding he'll be four-hundred-and-ninety-eight this year. Not many people know his age though- I think it's a manner of vanity," Rita replied, her face scrunching up with laugh lines as she winked jokingly at Brea.

Brea let out a unexpected laugh and smiled more brightly across the table at Rita. Rita was a lot more like her type of friend than Brea had originally thought. It was hard sometimes for Brea to trust people, harder to find anyone she would consider being friends with- which was attested to by Brea's lack of social life.

"You have a nice laugh," Rita complimented, taking a bite of her omelet and returning Brea's smile.

"Thank you. I think this is the first real conversation I've had with someone other than the day staff while staying here. I mean, Josef is amazing and he doesn't lack for words, but it's different with him. You actually remind me of my friend, the one that's missing. She knew just what to say to make me laugh," Brea confided.

"Well thank you. I know what you mean, about Josef and conversations. When I first came to work here- as his freshie- it was awkward. I didn't know how to act, what to say, what was expected. I grew up here- my mother was one of Josef's freshies when she was my age- so I know the place, and a majority of the people, but it was still hard to adjust to, in a way," said Rita.

The two women sat eating their breakfasts in quiet for a few minutes after Brea nodded her head in agreement. Brea glanced up at Rita and wondered if she was still awkward about the whole thing- but she seemed at ease in her environment, almost inconceivably content.

"Rita?"

"Yes?" Rita asked, looking up from her meal.

"Has Josef always been like he is now? Personality wise?"

"Since I've known Josef- which is a longtime now- he has always been the same. But lately, he's been more serious- realistic. He used to be all fun and money and expensive stuff. I'm not sure why he's become more…down-to-Earth, but I like it. He always seemed very untouchable- and he still is in a way- but now he's more human to me. I think it's you. I think since he met you he's been more real," Rita commented. It took Brea by surprise, the way she stated her answer.

"I don't think it was me. He and I haven't even defined what kind of relationship is between us, but he's been who he is since the moment I met him. Maybe something else triggered the change you see. I was only asking because sometimes what you see isn't what you're getting," Brea said self-consciously.

"Can I tell you something?" Rita questioned, leaning over her plate more- as if to confide a huge secret.

"Yeah, sure," Brea was all ears.

"You seem like a really smart, nice, pretty girl. Guys probably drop to their knees when they meet you, and if they don't they should. I know I'm only ten years older than you, if that, but I have learned something in life while living with Josef. If you are enjoying something, or see something you want- let yourself have it because no one is going to hand it to you, and if they do take it and run. If what you have is exactly what you want and you're too afraid to enjoy it because it seems too good to be true then you'll never know. You deserve anything you want.

"I almost quit after my first three days working for Josef. I couldn't accept all the changes, or all that Josef was offering me. None of it seemed real. I was afraid, awkward, anti-social; I honestly didn't think I would survive the week. Even the part about Josef biting me was too much for me to handle at first.

"But when I went to turn in my resignation- which needs to be submitted in 12 point font, Courier to Josef himself- he refused to accept it. Not because he wanted my blood, but because he wanted to take care of me, like he did my mother. He told me what I told you and so I promised to wait out the week. And I did. And I'm still here.

"I didn't mean to lecture you, I just wanted to give you some friendly, good advice." Rita concluded her advice by downing her orange juice and standing up to leave. "I think I'm going to head back to my room- I'm a little tired."

"Rita," Brea called, halting the other woman's exit. "I have a hard time letting myself have anything I want, so thank you."

There was a long pause before Brea spoke again as Rita was about to leave, "I'd really like it if we could be friends."

Rita turned back to Brea and smiled even more brightly, "Me too." Then she exited with a wave and left Brea to her unfinished waffle.

With Rita's advice still spinning around in her head, Brea left the remains of her waffle, and headed back up to her room. She gathered her books and put them in her satchel bag before heading back down the stairs and to the door. One of the day staff greeted her as she stepped out the front door and into the sun. It was a beautiful afternoon and Brea only had one class that day.

"Miss, may I give you a ride," asked a man dressed in a driver's uniform.

Surprised Brea realized that he was parked at the bottom of the steps and ready to assist her. "I have to be at the UCLA campus in twenty minutes- is that possible?"

"Of course, please-" the driver, someone Brea had yet to meet, opened the back door of the limo, "it will only take fifteen minutes."

Approaching the limo- not her first choice in low-key transportation- she slipped inside. It was room and classy and Brea felt completely giddy. She had the distinct feeling that she had been in them a lot as a child- but that was pre-tragedy, so she had no idea if that were true or not; though she tended to think not- why would she be riding around in limos as a little girl?

The driver was easily seen through the partition and Brea wondered if he minded driving people around for a living. It didn't seem like a bad job- simple and well-paid, but thankless.

"What's your name?" Breanna asked, raising her voice unnecessarily- as if he couldn't hear her from the backseat- but the sheer size of the vehicle had Brea raising her voice.

"Cameron Zeller."

Short, abrupt, unwelcoming- Brea was surprised he was able to inflect all of that in two words. Smiling Brea introduced herself and when she received no response, she turned away from the front view and stared out one of the tinted, side windows for the remainder of their ride.

When they arrived at the campus, Brea directed him to college building and got out of the car as fast as possible. Cameron got out of the car as well to tell her he would be parked at the corner parking lot until her class was over. She thanked him and left quickly- she had five minutes until class started.

An hour and fifteen minutes later, Brea left her literature class feeling high off happiness and adrenaline. Professor Steiner had delivered one of her best lectures to date and had followed it up by a class-wide debate over Shakespeare and his true identity. Brea was assigned to the Marlovian team in class and by the end of the debate she had made four strong arguments and a closing statement that had her teammates clapping. Professor Steiner had even congratulated Brea on her solid argument before completely obliterating it from a Stratfordian view. Brea couldn't be more pleased.

Walking over to the corner parking lot, Brea realized that Cameron was not parked where he had been parked and that most of the cars had filed out of the parking lot- leaving it open and devoid. Stunned at being stranded, Brea walked around campus for a while. She spent little time on campus- mostly because she lived in an apartment off campus- but also because she didn't have any friends that made her feel inclined to do otherwise.

She found a cute jazz café on campus and smile before going in and purchasing a large, caramel iced-coffee from a personable, teenager behind the counter. Brea sat at one of the tall café tables on a cushioned, red stool and wondered what she would do for a ride. She didn't know Josef's address, she didn't have a cell phone, she didn't have enough money for a cab, or the bus- she didn't even know who to call.

While she sat stewing in her problem, Brea finished off her beverage- which was super delicious, she'd have to get another sometime- and headed outdoors. When she reached a main road that she knew, she hopped on a local bus- it was free- and took it to a small strip of shops that was familiar to her. Walking along the sidewalk and peering in shop fronts, Brea let her mind wander before deciding to go in and ask to use a business phone.

Brea chose a bookstore at the end of the strip of stores to make her phone call in, and the manager was nice enough to take her into the back office for the call. Thinking hard, Brea vaguely remembered Mick's office number. She doubted he'd be up at that time of day, but called anyway. After four rings someone picked up.

"Hello?" Brea heard a woman speak through the phone.

"Hi, I'm Breanna Mabalot and I'm calling to speak with Mick St. John."

"Breanna? This is Beth. Mick is not available right now. Is there something I can help you with?" Beth sounded nice on the phone, and Brea decided she wasn't proud enough to reject the offer. She explained to Beth what happened and where she was and Beth insisted that she would be over in twenty minutes to pick her up.

"Thank you, Beth. I know it's an inconvenience," Brea said, finally caving.

"It's no problem. See you soon, bye." Beth hung up and Brea replaced the phone in the cradle and thanked the manager before meandering through the bookstore and finding a good book and a comfortable chair while she waited.

Beth showed up almost exactly twenty minutes later, and smiled her reporter-smile before coming over to her.

"Hi Breanna, how are you?"

"Better now, thanks. I really appreciate your help. I have no idea where Cameron could have gone. I caught a bus down here and thought that maybe Mick might give me directions," Brea replied, offering Beth her own smile. Even though her opinion of Beth had been less than gracious, she was willing to overlook that- especially with how nice Beth had been since.

"I'm not too sure how good directions would have been to you. You're almost thirty-five minutes driving time from Josef's mansion. I'm glad I could help. I was actually only in Mick's office leaving him some information he asked me to look into. How about I treat us to an early dinner?" Beth offered.

"I'd love that," Brea returned, walking out to the non-descript black, Honda Beth had parked at the curb.

They drove a good fifteen minutes before Beth stopped at Red Robin and led the way to what Beth insisted was "some of the best food in LA".

A hostess seated them almost immediately and a server came out to take their drink orders.

"This is really nice," Brea commented, taking in the diner. It really was nice, she wasn't just saying that to be polite. It had a fun-day-out kind of feel to it, very family friendly.

"It's one of my favorite places to eat. I don't get to do a lot, eat out with regular people. I'm usually out chasing a lead, reporting a story, or helping Mick with an investigation. This is really nice," Beth informed her, and at the last Brea knew she wasn't talking about the restaurant.

"So how is living with Josef?" Beth asked, picking a conversation starter.

"Really good. I mean, I miss my apartment, and Ally, but I can't really complain. The staff are nice, the freshies are- mostly- nice, and Josef is great." Brea accepted her iced-tea with a thank you.

"Huh," Beth said. She seemed puzzled.

"Is something wrong?"

"No, I just wasn't expecting that. Josef isn't exactly human friendly," said Beth.

Brea's eyebrows raised and she felt herself get a little protective and angry. "He's always sweet, charming, and funny whenever I've seen him. He's good to his staff, freshies, and just about anyone he meets. Okay he does have a tendency to want his own way and be demanding and sometimes he's amused when I see no reason to be- but he's a great guy."

Beth was drinking her coke when Brea said this, and her eyes rounded a bit with disbelief, but she chose not to reply back to that.

After an appetizing meal and a few more drinks, Brea and Beth set out again. In the car there was relative silence and Brea felt a badly for how defensive she must have come across to Beth, but tried to ignore that twinge of guilt. She rested her head back against the seat and began to doze off.

It was the dream again. Brea was aware of it once again and it played out much as it always did, but again when she landed on the ground- glass digging into her feet- Brea saw the necklace. She ran to it and grabbed it and it was like a sonic boom went off inside her chest as she was sucked into the same castle. Her steps were surer and she hurried to where Ally had been.

There were fewer torches lit and Brea could not see anyone in the chamber. She stood in the center of the room for a moment and then dropped to her knees against the cold, stone floor and began sobbing. Her body heaved with the flood of angst and tears and she couldn't help but let it out.

The sound of clanking chains barely registered in Brea's dream, but when she heard it more loudly, followed by a cough, her whole body ceased up- she stopped crying, shaking, and breathing for a moment and heard another cough and a hacking sound. Someone was in the chamber.

Brea got to her feet, more leery this time, and grabbed a torch from one of the brackets- shedding light as she moved to the end of the dungeon area. As Brea got closer she realized that a person was hanging from the wall- chained up by their wrists- and coughing. Lots of blood pooled on the floor below the hanging figure, and it made the ground slick and unbalanced, but Brea got closer.

The person was so covered in grim and blood that Brea almost didn't make out that it was Ally, until she lifted her head and then cringed- closing her eyes against the light of the torch. Brea almost dropped the torch in shock, but held onto it firmly before grabbing Ally into her arms and letting out a torrent of tears and sobs.

"Oh my God, Ally. I can't believe it. I missed you. Where are we? What is happening?"

Ally was slow to respond, her voice scratchy and hoarse. "Brea, you can't find me. Don't- you'll get hurt. They are not after me. They want you. Please-" Ally paused to cough and hack up blood, "Please, don't come for me. I'll survive. I'll find away to get back to you. Just run and hide- don't go to our apartment."

"Ally, I'm not leaving you here. You have lost to much blood, your eyes are sunken in and your bruised and cut everywhere. Please, I have people helping me. Just give me a clue. I'm staying somewhere safe," Brea told her, begging her to help her find her.

"They know you will come for me. They know you were here with me a few nights ago. They couldn't see you- I'm the only one who can see you, but they knew. When you could the blade, you left behind some of your blood. Please do not risk finding me. I don't want to go through this Brea. Please just go." Ally was crying then too and Brea threw down the torch in favor of hugging Ally for all she was worth.

"I won't leave you to be tortured and killed. I'm going to find you no matter what. Just help me. I swear to God, Ally, if you don't help me find you- I'll never forgive you."

"I'd rather you never forgive me than you join me here," Ally told her. "I love you, you're my sister."

Brea sobbed harder and then felt like she was losing control of the dream again.

"Hurry up and tell me."

"No. I can't. I won't."

"Now is not the time to be stubborn, Ally. Just please."

"Brea, you are so special and you don't even know it. They want you because of who you are. They know you better than you know you. They are not like us though, they are not...human. I cannot stop them from finding you, but I can stop you from finding me," Ally stated, looking back at Brea with a familiar fire in her eyes.

"Ally!" Brea shouted at her, pulling back to see the terror, sadness, and love on Ally's face.

"Breanna?" Brea came awake to Beth shaking her frantically. They were stopped in front of Josef's mansion. "Breanna, what's wrong? You're crying."

Brea reached up to touch her face and realized that she was crying. The sun was setting outside the windshield and Breanna wondered how long Beth had been trying to wake her up.

"I'm fine. I have to get inside. I have to find Josef. Can you call Mick? Please." Brea seemed so upset that Beth instantly agreed and they both entered Josef's house. Molly looked delighted to see Brea when she noticed that she had tears running down her face that she was quickly swiping away.

"Brea, I was getting so worried. Are you alright? What happened?" Molly questioned, rushing to join both Beth and Brea in the parlor.

Beth was on the phone with Mick when Brea responded, "Cameron was supposed to be waiting for me after my class, but he wasn't there when I got out. Beth and I went to lunch after I called to get directions from Mick and then she drove me home. I'm fine. Is Josef up yet?"

"I'm here. What's wrong?" Josef asked, appearing beside Brea dressed in his usual upper-class businessman attire.

"I had another dream. Ally was there. She wouldn't tell me where she was, but Josef she was in a castle and she was badly beaten and tortured. She was hanging on the wall of some sort of dungeon, and blood was all over the floor. She said that they're after me and that they knew I had been there before- but she was the only one who could see me. Josef, I'm so scared. I don't know what to do," Brea said, she was in tears again and clutching his shirt front as he soothed his hands up and down her back.

"Calm down. We'll go through this bit by bit when Mick gets here. Molly can you get her a strong drink," Josef said, completely in control. "Nice to see you, Beth."

Twenty minutes later, Brea was more sedate and sipping a gin and tonic while Beth tried to keep her preoccupied with chit chat. Mick entered and Molly followed right behind.

"We have no more need of you this evening, Molly. You can go."

"Mr. Kostan, a man named Christopher called about your lab results. You may pick them up at any time. Please let me know if you need anything." Molly said, but her sad, compassionate smile was in full blast directed right at Brea before she walked about.

"What's going on?" Questioned Mick once Molly was gone.

Josef was already moving to help Brea to her feet and heading for the door as he threw over his shoulder, "I'll explain on the way. We have some lab results to pick up."

With that they all piled into the back of yet another limo, and Brea clung to Josef's side while they drove towards Josef's lab.