Disclaimer: The show Victorious, its characters and other associated copyrights are property of someone else and not me.

Someone to Watch over me

Chapter 10 – End of the Line?

No One's POV

Over the next several days Tori when she had time read a lot online about vampires. Of course she had the rather huge task of separating fact from fiction.

"Why Me? I don't even like the twilight movies. What's with Kristin Stewart anyways, doesn't have any other facial expressions other than that scowl. She always looks pissed off. Give it a year and Edward will be pulling out his old black book." Tori muttered upon seeing a picture of the actress in one of her searches for about a hundredth time.

What Tori did find was that throughout various cultures of the world there were many types of vampire like legends. It wasn't solely limited to Europe. There were stories of creatures from all over the world. While many of the creatures described were different, they were all undead creatures who preyed on the living.

Tori read of the Vetala, from India, who were evil spirits who took possession of corpses. There was the Asanbosam, who were supposedly vampire like beings from Western Africa. Even the far east had such legends as evidenced by the Aswang from Philippine folklore. The Aswang were a combination of werewolves and dogs. Tori ended up reading of these creatures from all corners of the globe and from all periods of history.

The various legends themselves, were of little help in her quest to find Jade. They did however, further convince her, that these creatures have been living among humans for a very long time. that only deepened, her infatuation with Jade. It was a mystery and Tori loves mysteries.

"Why did she not kill me? Does she truly love me?" Were two of the main questions that kept flitting through her mind.

Eventually Tori found several message boards where people traded various theories on real vampires. Tori found them of only limited use as most of the talk was only speculation. But Tori kept seeing posts by one person named Seeker145.

He or she would only post occasionally and professed to have known a real vampire at one point in time. He mostly would warn people not go looking for them, though that person would occasionally answer a question.

One day Tori sent a message via email.

"I knew a vampire once, I dated her for over a month. The funny thing is that she never once even tried to harm me. When I asked her to leave she left me alone. I know she was one as I saw her skin start to boil when the sun hit it. I'm looking for her again."

Tori after sending it, figured she'd get no response. But a few days later she got one.

"If true a most unusual story. Did this vampire have a name?"

Tori emailed back.

"It was Jade."

Again she expected little help, but instead.

"Meet me in the that huge open space in the south end of Central park at 12 noon tomorrow. Bring a cross and holy water. I'll be wearing Detroit tigers jersey and matching baseball cap. I have heard of the one you speak of. To prove I do, she has green eyes. If you wish to bring a friend to make sure you're safe, do so but only bring one."

Tori had her first lead, but she had to meet a stranger. But that stranger wanted to meet in the middle of an open space in a park.

The next afternoon she was in the park a little before noon. At noon a man who appeared to be in his 50's, who was wearing a coat, but under it was a Detroit tigers jersey and he was wearing a hat. Tori could tell he looked a bit nervous. It was a cold day and the area was mostly deserted so they were alone. As he approached Tori carefully slipped her tiny can of mace in her pocket.

"Are you Tori?" He said as she approached.

Tori nodded. "Yes, Do you know something about Jade?"

He stopped. "First pull out your cross and put it in your hand. Then pour some holy water on your hand. I know it's a bit strange, but I need to be careful."

Tori did so and nothing happened. "I'm not a vampire."

He nodded and extended his hand to shake Tori's "Hello, you can call me John. In my normal life I'm just a working stiff. In my other life, I research vampires. I will eventually publish a book about them. But it won't be put out until after I'm dead."

"Why?"

"They don't like people to know about them. If I publish it while alive, I won't remain alive for long. I can't let them know I'm writing this book. I'll give you a bit of information, but not much. I need to be careful what I tell people. But first I need to warn you. The road you're on, is a very dangerous one."

"I understand John. You knew a vampire?"

"Yes, It's a long story and I won't bore you with it. But you're interested in Jade. The one I knew spoke of her once. About your height, green eyes, black hair."

"Yes, that's her."

"I don't know where she is, if that's what you're going to ask. I find it amazing that you are still breathing after encountering her? "

Tori shrugged. "I dated her. She treated me like a queen. She had ample times to either kill me or turn me into a vampire. But she never did."

"She is one of the most ancient and powerful vampires there is. Amongst her kind she has a nick name. It's called "The hermit". She's also known to be one that should not be messed around with. She can be quite vicious."

"Why the nickname?"

"Well, I was told she was high in the ruling structure of the vampire hierarchy, but some time ago, she quit and isolated herself from her fellow vampires. I don't know why. It sounds like she really liked you. Consider yourself lucky."

Tori thought for a moment. "Do you have any idea where I could start to look for her?"

John shifted his feet uncomfortably. "I can give you one place to look. I have no idea if she'll be there. But other vampires will be. I will say straight out, I strongly advise against it."

Deep inside, Tori had this feeling that she had to keep going, that this was the path she was meant to be on. She couldn't explain it. "Where?"

John sighed and from his pocket took a piece of paper and scribbled on it. "This is an address for bar in the Bowery. It's called The Red room. Vampires will be there. If you go, realize that you'll be in danger, Try to not stand out. Look I've said too much. Good Luck." John suddenly started to look a bit nervous and looked around. He then handed the note to Tori and quickly started to move off.

Tori looked at the address and sighed, as she decided to go that very night. "I must be nuts."

Meanwhile, Jade who remained holed up in her penthouse only grew more depressed. With Tori the only light in her life gone, Jade's already empty existence lost what little meaning it had. She had been alive for almost 3000 years and as she got up for another night, found herself not able go on anymore.

She had known of other vampires who for various reasons had killed themselves. It was rare, but it happened occasionally. Jade has speculated that they were like her, vampires who retained parts of their souls. Eventually they couldn't stand to exist anymore and ended their lives, or so Jade thought.

Jade walked up to the window and looked out the lights of the city. She was alone and knew she always would be alone. She simply couldn't stand it anymore. It was then Jade decided to kill herself today.

It would be simple, Jade would go out to the roof of her building the next morning and watch the sunrise. Within a moments of the sun coming up, it would be all over. Walking away from the window, Jade decided to spend her remaining time listening to some of her favorite music. It had been music that made her last few centuries bearable. From Mozart to Green day, music had helped Jade cope with her lonely existence.

So Jade poured herself a tall glass of blood and put on one of her all-time Favorites. It was the 1959 Jazz Album "Kind of Blue" By Miles Davis. Considered one of the very best by critics, Jade thought it a masterpiece.

Sitting alone in a huge overstuffed leather chair, Jade sipped the blood and closed her eyes as the music flowed from the speakers.

"It will all be over soon." Jade said with a sense of relief.

Tori was ready. She had gotten some nondescript Goth Type clothes and did her makeup to make her look very pale. Now she stood in front of a metal door in a back alley, at the address on the sheet. Her hands were trembling at the thought of what she was about to do, But she just had to see Jade again. The thought of not seeing Jade again was becoming more unbearable by the moment. Tori made a final check of her purse for her small cross and Holy water She had them just in case.

"I'll just go in there, blend in and look around. If Jade's there great. If not, I'll ask someone. The bartender is probably a good choice. No sign of Jade, then I'll leave." Tori said out loud as pulled open the door and went inside.

Jade had been listening to music for hours. She had already made it through Miles Davis and had moved on to a recording of the Opera, Madame Butterfly by Puccini, when her phone rang.

Jade's eyes snapped open at the intruding noise of the phone. All Jade wanted was to spend the last few hours of her life alone listening to music.

For a moment Jade decided to Ignore it, but curiosity got the best of her and she reached to grab the phone. The caller Id, said Jose Acosta. Jade knew that name as one of the other clan leaders. While he was at the party, Jade never got a chance to speak with him. That was fine with Jade because, as clan leaders, they had been bitter rivals for centuries.

"What the fuck?" Jade muttered bitterly as she tried to figure why he was calling.

Jade considered it for a moment then pressed answer. "What do you want Jose?" Jade said in weary voice.

"You know I had to call in a favor to get your number so quickly, but I have a piece of information you may want." He said in accented English.

"The only thing I want, right now is to be left alone."

"Well here's the thing Jade. 8 centuries ago, you saved my life by warning me that my 2nd in command was going to assassinate me. You did it not because you liked me or wanted to help me, in fact you hated me. You just wanted me to be obligated to you. You wanted me to be humiliated by the fact that everyone would know that I owe my biggest rival a favor. I have lived with this shame for some time and wish to be rid of it."

Jade cracked a small smile at the thought. "You are quite correct and there is nothing you can do or say that will repay the debt so you're just going to have to live with the fact that you owe me. So suck it."

Jose laughed. "Well then I'll just leave this human who's been asking for you at the Red Room, to whatever fate has in store for them."

Jade knew the Red Room was a vampire bar in Manhattan. Not associating with her kind Jade had never been there, but was aware of its location. But the thought of some human looking for her at that bar sent a chill down her spine. She quickly sensed something was wrong.

"What human?" Jade cautiously.

"I'll tell you and we're even?"

Jade hated having to even the score, but something told her that she needed to know this. "Fine, Fine..Ok…We're even. Just spill it."

"I didn't catch her name. Human woman, about 22 years of age, 5'9', 119 pounds, long brown hair, Hispanic features, brown eyes, very pretty. She's dressed for the part and blends in rather well, but her asking for you has gotten her noticed. "

Jade was suddenly filled with a sense of horror, as she realized who Jose just described.

"Where is she now? Is she still there?" Jade said, her voice beginning to shake.

Jose laughed. "Oh. She's fine for the moment and still here. In fact she's met a new friend who's being rather helpful in her quest to find you. Even bought her a few drinks for the human. You remember Angela don't you?"

The sense of horror that Jade was feeling suddenly jumped off the charts. She knew exactly who Angela was and what that blonde psycho vampire would do to Tori, given the chance.

"Oh Fuck!"