Quick Update: Eric has heard that Beth is trying to contact him, but he is remembering the time he left her to return to Ocella.

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I walked around my home, checking doors and windows were all locked tight, then took a hot shower, before I relaxed back in my bed and remembered those years spent back with my maker.

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When I joined him, Ocella was spending time in Southern France with Sophie-Anne, whom he had just met. I was introduced to Sophie-Anne's huge nest and quickly realised that many pivotal members of the nest were her children.

Maybe her children and the conflicting bonds had reminded Ocella of me, or maybe he wanted to prove to her that he could be a maker too. I found him easier to deal with than previously, I was as obedient as ever in public but when it was just the two of us we were more companions than Maker and Child.

Ocella rarely mentioned Beth. I believed that he knew I kept my mind open to keep track of her, thankfully, he didn't dissuade me from that.

Beth was numb, that was the only way I could describe the feeling in the bond. She seemed to receive no great pleasure from feeding, and it was at least two decades before she had sex again. I assumed he was human, she was dissatisfied and it was a few months before she tried again.

The first most noteworthy emotion I felt from her was when she arrived in Paris, almost fifty years after I left her. She felt it was an accomplishment to finally arrive in her father's home and was interested in her surroundings.

Years later, the next huge sensation I felt from her gave me much more of a shock. Ocella and I were in the company of other Vampires when I felt the strangest feeling in my bond with Beth. Ocella was at the other side of the room, but he caught my eye and nodded to the door. We met outside, but in the time it took me to reach Ocella, hundreds of horrifying thoughts, of what might be happening to Beth, filled my mind.

"Be calm, Eric, she is well." Ocella told me. I did begin to settle down, but mainly because my maker was flooding calm through our bond. He continued, "She is turning a child. That is what you are feeling. I remember this feeling from the night you made her."

"She is not old enough…" I began without thinking, then stopped. She had been a Vampire for fifty years when I left her, and that was just over fifty years ago. She was old enough.

I was stunned. Ocella took my arm and led me away from the nest.

"I must go to her!" I announced, without pausing to be polite or request permission.

Surprisingly, Ocella just replied. "Of course. Although, not tonight Eric, it's almost dawn and I will not have you putting yourself in danger."

"Thank you, I shall leave as soon as darkness falls."

"She will be so pleased to see you. I remember that I was so worried about you when you made her, if I had been closer I would have flown to your side, rather than let you go through that night alone." He paused for a moment, then I saw a little smile play on his lips. "I will leave you with your thoughts."

I stood alone on the quiet street. I tried to imagine how I would have felt had Ocella arrived while I turned Beth. I knew that private, intimate moment would have been ruined. I may not have even turned her, had Ocella been there.

Would it be the same for Beth? Would she be horrified if I arrived now? I would be spoiling this massive moment for her. I did not want to do that. I was still desperate to be with her, but I knew I could not. I had left her and whatever choices she made now, I should not intrude.

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I paid careful attention to Beth's thoughts over the coming months, wanting to rush to her side if I felt she needed help, but she seemed quite calm. She had moved further North but I believed she was still in France. Ocella and I were still drifting around Europe, so I was close enough to reach her if necessary.

However, after a couple of decades, Ocella decided he wanted to travel to the Roman ruins in the country that is now Libya. I admit I was worried, Africa seemed so far away. There was no knowing when he might want to come back and he might even want to travel further, once he had explored the ruins.

Typically my maker felt my tension and questioned me. He was amused at my concerns, but said, "Of course, you may go visit your little girl, while you are gone I will look into transport. Be sure to return in five nights. I am sure that will be enough time for you. Other Vampire's children are never quite as enchanting as your own."

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It was remarkably easy to find her. I spent one day just North of Paris, then once I woke, concentrated on our bond and could see she was in a small house by the sea. Once I flew further North and got closer, I knew exactly where she was staying and saw the small, stone house. It was empty. I assumed, as she was taking care of a young Vampire, that they would be out hunting. I took a seat in the first of the two small rooms and waited. I refrained from looking around too much, the scent of her was overwhelming, and not tainted by her child, who I supposed would have a similar scent to her.

I had assumed her child was male, in the room there was a thick coat that Beth would not have worn, so it seemed I was correct. I was interested in her choice of child, who had she chosen to turn? While pondering possibilities, I tried to ignore the obvious fact that they would almost certainly be lovers if they were still together. How would she react to seeing me?

Our bond felt quite strange as they got closer, the clearest emotion was anxiety. I stayed seated, thinking that would be the least threatening for the two of them. I could tell her child was most definitely a young man, his voice wasn't particularly deep and he was objecting that Beth wanted to enter their house alone. She spoke in French to her boy, her voice full of strain. "You must stay here. I will introduce you shortly. Remember your lessons. You must be respectful and calm. Make me proud."

As Beth entered the house alone, I stood to greet her, although I did not step closer to her. Beth kept her face down, while she bowed and whispered. "Welcome. Your visit is a surprise."

"Will you not look at me, Beth?" I asked and finally, she looked up, her face flushed from feeding. "My beauty." I smiled and let a multitude of feelings take over me. We stood quiet for a moment, I was happy to just look at her after so long, but she was not quite as comfortable as I.

"I have a child. You know that I suppose?"

"Of course."

"May I introduce him?"

I nodded and Beth slipped out of the door, then returned with her child. As I expected he was a young man, possibly around eighteen years. He was handsome, of course, with dark curly hair and black, anxious eyes. I made the immediate assumption that he was proud, he did not enjoy bowing to me as Beth introduced me.

"And this is Peter." Beth said, sounding clearly nervous.

"Peter!" I repeated. Peter was the name of her human husband, I was stunned. Had she named her child after her husband, or chosen her child because of his name, or was it just a huge co-incidence?

I began to realise, through the bond that there was more to this.

The boy spoke for the first time. "We changed my name when I was turned. I did not want my Father's name to last for eternity." He said quite pompously. I did not understand what the issue with his human father was, but there certainly was one.

As the eldest Vampire it was my right to ask after his training, could he feed without killing yet? Was he able to glamour? I asked because I wanted to know how Beth was as a Maker, rather than wanting to know about Peter. Ocella's comment about finding other peoples children less enchanting came back to me.

I had enough of this strained conversation quite quickly. We had been speaking in French, but I changed to Russian. "Beth, I would like to talk to you privately."

She hesitated, but nodded as I left the little house. Still inside she spoke to Peter, I didn't bother to listen. I knew the boy was agitated, but I was well within my rights to talk to my child. He would need to learn his place.

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It was a warm summer evening, I slowly walked towards a wooded area, away from the house and Beth was soon by my side, walking with me.

Although we both knew that Peter was pacing like a human in the house behind us, both Beth and I calmed down as we walked away. I was too inquisitive not to ask about Peter's father, the subject that caused him great irritation.

Beth began speaking carefully. "He has never been officially acknowledged, but his Mother has always claimed he is the son of Louis VII, she even named him Louis."

"And this is the father who's name he doesn't want to carry on?" I asked incredulously. "He does realise the humans will never forget a King, particularly one who was so involved with Joan-of-Arc's story?"

"Peter has always believed he has been snubbed by the King. He didn't want to carry on forever with a name that had never accepted him." Beth defended her child, and to avoid upsetting her, I changed the subject a little.

"Royalty? Their blood is supposed to be amazing. How did he taste?" I asked.

Beth bristled a little, then realised I was smiling. "Eric! You are so rude, asking such a question about my child!" She laughed, but added more soberly. "I did meet his mother. I checked, of course, glamoured her, just a little. His father could be one of three gentlemen, including her husband. She may have the title of Lady, but she did not particularly act like one in her youth." Beth gave a wry smile, I was pleased we were sharing secrets together. I could not resist slipping my arm around her waist, as I guided her between the trees.

As the darkness surrounded us, I pulled her towards me, thrilled to be holding her again. I took a couple of paces and pressed her back against a tree, crushing my body against hers. I buried my nose into her neck, taking in her scent, relieved that it had not changed. I was no longer thinking with my head, the part of me that was thinking was pressing into her. My cock wanted my child as much as I did.

"I have missed you," I murmured as I kissed her elegant throat.

I didn't even notice that Beth had become quite tense. "Peter and I are lovers." She whispered.

"You and I were lovers," I replied as I nibbled at her ear lobe, my fangs were down, wanting a taste of her.

"Yes, but you left me." She said, quietly.

"You are still mine!" I growled, my cock was still doing my thinking.

I was facing her now, so close I hardly need to move to kiss her lips.

"I know you will not force me Eric, you are not that kind of maker." Beth's voice was strained, but she held my gaze.

I could not stop the image in my head. She saw it too. The first time Ocella raped me, held me down, my face pressed into the dirt. I had hidden that image from her and hated that I had shown it now.

My maker was certainly 'that kind of maker'.

Shocked at the memory, I stepped back from her as she whispered, "I'm sorry."

Was she offering me sympathy or apologising for turning me down? I did not care for either option.

I realised the anxiety from her boy was reaching a peak. She must have ordered him not to leave the house, as he did not approach, but his tension filled all three of us making it impossible for me to collect myself.

I snarled at Beth, as if it were her fault. "Calm your boy down, before I settle him for good." I showed her an image of me staking her child and immediately regretted it.

Beth was amazingly calm. "You wouldn't." She whispered, and dismissed my attempt to threaten her. She closed her eyes for a moment and I could feel the calm as she influenced her child and myself. The three of us, in our strange mixed up bond, began to relax.

"You are very good at that." I muttered.

"Thank you."

"And you are right, I wouldn't hurt him." I admitted. "Because I would never do anything that would hurt you."

"But you did hurt me, you left me!" Her anger grew just as we were beginning to get comfortable.

I did not know how to respond. It wasn't right to just blame Ocella and accept none of the responsibility for our separation.

Angry, blood tears filled Beth's eyes, but I knew she felt guilty for attacking me. "I know it was not your fault. I don't blame you, Eric, but I had to carry on. I waited and waited!"

I was relieved that now she let me hold her, she let me try to comfort her, although there was not a great deal I could say to improve matters. This time as I held her I was not thinking as a lover, I was trying to be a maker and even a friend.

"I will leave you in peace." I said into her hair. "I wanted to see you because we are travelling. It may be years before we return and I am close to you again."

Beth actually sucked in a breath and looked up at me, nodding.

"I will not be able to get to you easily, if I feel you are in danger." I continued. "Are you sure you are safe here?"

"I planned to go to England, but Peter does not want to." She shrugged and said, "He's French," as if that were an explanation. "I don't wish to force him."

"If he was well known in Paris, he still might be seen, even after so long. Please do not risk staying here. You know what they did to Joan-of-Arc, and she was human. I do not wish to think of what they might do to my little witch."

Generally Vampires took little notice of human affairs, but burning a girl at the stake in such a public manner, and after such a trial, was something we took note of.

Beth nodded as I spoke. She was quiet a moment, then made her decision. "I would like to go home. I shall take him home, travel slowly and spend time in Moscow too."

"Be careful with him around others of our kind. He has a lot of pride. Some may not like it."

All she said was "Yes" in a very small voice. She knew her child well enough.

"Maybe visit smaller cities before you try Moscow." I advised.

I had to leave her. I didn't want to, but it had to happen. I was not good at apologies, but she deserved one. I confess, I struggled with my words. "Beth, I did not mean to hurt you. I am sorry I left you. I apologise for trying to possess you tonight."

She buried her head in my chest and I felt forgiveness. I stroked her pretty hair and prepared to leave her again.

"Wait! Eric, please, before you leave." My child tried to compose herself and took a moment before she spoke. "I loved you before you were my maker. I love you still."

"There is time for us Beth, things may change." I took a step away from her and lifted her hand so I could kiss her fingers. "Take care."

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In my big bed, alone in Shreveport, the sun overwhelmed me and finally I slept.

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It's a short chapter, I hope you enjoyed it and I hope you'll understand why it's so short when you read the next chapter, which would be a devil to split.

Although I know what's happening, I'm not sure how many chapters it will take for me to get there, but this story is getting close to the end.

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Thanks so much for all the reviews. Apologies, but I did not reply to all of them this time around, I just wanted to plough on and get the story told.

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FanOTheFang on Twitter ~ 6th August 2012