Thanks to all of you who have read, reviewed or favorited this story—you are appreciated! Josef is introducing Sarah to her only relative, and Beth tries to get in trouble (again). Enjoy~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter 11
Josef paced in the sitting room at 301 Waverly Place. It was late afternoon and he was supposed to pick up Robert Whitley in a few hours to visit Sarah. With all that was going on in Los Angeles he was sorely tempted to call it off and fly home, but he didn't want to leave any loose ends that would cause trouble. Whitley seemed like a reasonable man, and Josef didn't feel any deception from him. Still, Josef was uncomfortable letting him see Sarah. The only people that had visited her since her failed turning were the medical people and Mick and Beth.
Now he had the mess of Ben Talbot's turning as well as vampire assassins in LA. He scrubbed his hand through his hair, ruining the expensive hairstyle. He wished Mick were here. He and Mick often argued, but managed to come to agreement about most issues and they watched each other's back. Right now Mick's unhealthy tendency to mix with humans would come in handy dealing with Robert Whitley.
Josef had spoken to Simone earlier and confirmed that Ben was transitioning well. Ewan and Megan thought he might need more time to adjust to his new life but Ben was worried he might have to drop his career altogether. Josef smirked to himself that they had underestimated Simone's cleverness. She acted immediately, getting the paperwork from a cooperative doctor that showed Ben had come down with a debilitating virus and needed three months medical leave. Megan felt that three months would allow Ben to become able to function in the human world. This eased Ben's mind considerably and Simone told Josef that as soon as they could get a double-wide freezer installed at Megan's condo, the couple would be moving back there.
Josef was proud of Simone taking charge while he was gone. Then he frowned, his thoughts taking a different turn. Who were the vamps that attacked Megan and what did they want? He'd waited to talk to Bella, hoping the cleaner would call him with information. It was getting later and he'd still not heard from her. He flipped open his phone and dialed the number.
"Name and location."
"This is Kostan. I need to speak to Bella."
"Just a moment." The line went silent, then a woman's voice responded. "Yes, Josef?"
"What's going on with the assassins? Do we know who hired the bastards?"
"We tried to find out but unfortunately, my guys got too enthusiastic and now both of the prisoners need more healing time before I can question them again."
"Shit." Josef spat out. "We need to find out what we're up against."
Bella sighed. "I know. As soon as I can I'll question them myself. When are you coming home?"
"I'll try to leave later tonight. Plan on meeting at your headquarters tomorrow night at 7 pm."
"Fine." Bella responded. "Maybe we'll have more info by that time. We've got all our staff on street patrols, notified the vamp hotels and blood suppliers to be on the lookout for any stranger or human hunters."
"All right. Thanks for taking care of things." Josef knew Bella took her responsibilities seriously and always respected his authority as Elder. "I'll see you tomorrow."
Josef rang off and checked the time. He should start for Whitley's office. The vampire security guard would be driving the limo. He'd had one on staff at the townhouse since John Whitley's assassin tried to kill him right in Sarah's bedroom.
During the ride over, Josef saw with satisfaction that the blackout blinds had been rigged inside the limo, preventing the occupants from seeing out. Josef had no intention of Whitley knowing where Sarah was. They could pull the car into an underground garage at the back of Waverly place and enter through the basement.
Right on time, Robert Whitley was outside his office building. He climbed into the limo, greeting Josef briefly.
"Where are we going?" He asked, noting the curtains in the car.
"To see Sarah, as you requested. It doesn't mean you need to know where she is." Josef said, daring Whitley to challenge him.
Whitley nodded his face hard. "I understand." They rode in silence until the car jolted to a stop. The security guard had been driving and opened the door for them to exit.
Josef led Whitley upstairs to a bright room. In the middle was a bed swathed in white. Josef turned to Whitley, his voice softer. "This is your cousin Sarah."
Whitley edged closer to the bed and gasped. "She's—she's young." He said in amazement.
"She looks the same as when I tried to turn her more than fifty years ago."
Whitley stared at the chestnut-haired woman for a minute more before turning to Josef. "And she's been this way ever since?"
Josef nodded somberly, his eyes on Sarah.
Whitley scowled. "If nothing can be done, why keep her like this?"
Josef returned the frown. "She might wake up, or there could be something medicine hasn't discovered yet."
"Do you really think that's going to happen after all these years? You don't even know what went wrong in the first place."
Josef reigned in his anger at the human who dared question him. He'd had to live with the guilt of a failed turning and taking care of Sarah for longer than Whitley had been alive. "She's my responsibility."
Whitley turned back to Sarah. "Do you think she'd want to lie here like this for so many years? If she hasn't gotten better after fifty years, she's probably not going to."
Josef growled and moved to the other side of Sarah's bed, glaring at Whitley. He knew it was a mistake to bring the human here. "You know nothing about it."
"I know you're a selfish bastard to keep her in limbo like this. If you took out all the tubes and things, she'd pass in peace. You're only keeping her here because you feel guilty."
"Enough!" Josef eyes silvered and his fangs were evident in his anger. "You have nothing to say on the matter. You asked to see Sarah, and you have. As I promised, you will never be bothered by vampires as long as you keep our secret."
Whitley nodded but wasn't intimidated, his eyes straying to Sarah again.
"I'll have you driven back to your office. Please don't try to find out where this house is located." Josef said in a hard tone.
"I understand." Whitley responded in kind. He turned and walked out. The nurse was waiting outside with the driver and Whitley returned downstairs to the waiting limo.
When they were alone, Josef sat on Sarah's bed, taking her cold hand in his. "Sarah, I'm so sorry." He felt the familiar shame; regret and despair wash over him. Was Whitley right? Was he only keeping Sarah partially alive out of a sense of hopeless guilt? Should he let her go? Josef shook his head and tried to refocus. He had too many problems in Los Angeles to be bogged down with these emotional thoughts just now. He needed to be sharp and objective or others could die.
He gave Sarah's unresponsive hand a final squeeze and stood up, straightening his suit. With a last look at Sarah, he walked out of the room, closing the door. He had a plane to catch.
xxxxxxxxxx
It was a roaring night at the Blue Moon club, which was exclusively populated by vampires. There was a 1940's swing band playing Glenn Miller and Bennie Goodman tunes as well as more recent music. Since most of the vampires there had been around then, the crowd loved it. In a secluded corner, Mick St. John sat with his fiancée Beth Turner, observing the room.
Beth turned to Mick. "I feel bad that we're here while Megan is dealing with Ben."
"He's fine, sweetheart. Ewan, Megan and Simone are there, and you know Hale loves supervising everything."
"I know. It's just there's so much to worry about….."
Mick squeezed Beth's hand. "We'll get it figured out. We can go over later. With the medical leave set up for Ben there shouldn't be too many questions."
"I hope not." Beth sighed.
"He'll be fine. Let's check out the club here and see if there are any new vamps in town."
Beth nodded and turned her attention on the dimly-lit room. Since it was private it eliminated tourists and random humans from entering. They nursed their blood and scotch drinks and pretended to be focused on each other while they scanned the club patrons.
"What about those guys?" Beth asked softly, indicating a group of well-built vampires on the far side of the room
"I don't know—could be." Mick replied.
"Hmm. There's only one way to find out." Beth stood in her slinky red dress and matching heels. She took off her engagement ring and put it carefully in her evening bag.
Mick scowled. "What are you doing?"
"I'm going to see what those guys are up to." Before Mick could object, Beth sashayed away, hips swaying. It looked like she was randomly wandering, but she was making her way to the group of vampires she spotted earlier. Mick continued to scowl and moved toward the bar pretending to watch the band while he watched Beth.
The vampires were having drinks but didn't look drunk on either the blood or alcohol. Beth noticed they appeared to be in their twenties and thirties and were well-muscled. Beth weaved into one of the men as she passed the table.
"Oh," she said, giggling. "I'm so sorry."
"No harm, mademoiselle." The blond had on a leather jacket which did nothing to hide his buff chest and abs. She smiled seductively at the vamp and fluttered her eyelashes a bit. The vamp's eyes brightened and he leaned toward her. I can't believe they're going for this, she thought.
Another vamp at the table said with a thick accent, "Please ma'amselle, sit and join us, yes?" She giggled again and sat on the offered chair. The three men appeared to be older than Mick but not as old as Josef, Beth scented.
The first vamp said, "You seem young to be out without your sire." He seemed to be the head of the group and spoke English with just a trace of a French accent.
"Oh, he's over there talking business." She waved her hand toward the other side of the room. "He's always too busy for me." She exclaimed with a pout.
"A very foolish vampire." The blonde said, kissing the back of her hand. He poured her some champagne, offering her the glass. She thought quickly, not wanting to leave her fingerprints on the glass, so she covered the vamp's hand with her own and taking a sip. The erotic gesture wasn't lost on the other men at the table and they gazed at her hungrily.
"Thank you." She said as he put the glass down, tossing back her hair and leaning forward so her cleavage showed to the best effect. She felt Mick's growing temper from where he stood at the bar. "Are you boys new in town? I don't think I've seen you here before."
The blonde replied, "We are here on some business, but always have time for a beautiful lady." He smiled and let his fangs drop a little.
Beth smiled coyly, taking in the other vampires so she could recognize them again. "I hope you'll be in town a while. I get lonely with my sire always so busy." She could hear appreciative growls from the other two vamps, and the blonde said, "We would be happy to keep you company. May I ask your name?"
"Maryanne." She responded. She had used the alias Maryanne Sommers for a story for Buzzwire a few years back and still had the fake ID with the name.
"Ah, such a charmant name. Would you care to accompany us to a more private place?"
Beth couldn't believe these arrogant assholes. They thought she'd just walk out with some strange vampires. Then she smoothed down her temper—after all, she'd been coming on to them and let them think she was little better than a whore.
"Oh, I can't." Beth said with regret in her eyes. "I can't be be seen in a hotel, it would get back to my sire."
"Oh, ma'amselle, one of the other vamps said in his thick accent. We have a maison, um, a house." The blonde vamp frowned at him, making a signal for him to be silent.
Beth took this in, but pretended not to notice the byplay. She smiled seductively at the blonde. "I'd love to see your place, but I don't even know your names." She giggled again.
"Forgive my poor manners. I am Jacques, this is Rene and Luc." The blonde said and they all gave her roguish smiles, fangs showing.
"I'm happy to meet you all. I'm afraid I can't visit you tonight; my sire will be looking for me." She leaned forward again, her cleavage displayed. "Why don't I call you when I can get away?"
Jacques was enjoying the view but was suddenly wary. "Why would your sire let you move so freely?" He asked, suddenly guarded.
Beth sighed and pouted again. "He's always so busy with business. He just wants me to show me off to the other vampires. I was his donor and I thought if he turned me, he would pay more attention to me, but he's just an old fuddy-duddy."
The vampires looked puzzled. "What eez fudeee dudeee?" Luc asked.
Beth threw back her head and laughed throatily. The men were enchanted. "It means old-fashioned. You boys are so much fun. Why don't I call you?"
Jacques was disarmed and definitely wanted to see more of this beautiful American. He couldn't give her his cell number; it was the one he used for business with le Comte. He turned to Rene. "Give Maryanne your cell number, oui?"
The vamp nodded, and wrote down the number on a napkin, passing it onto Beth. "Voila, chéri."
Beth smiled suggestively and tucked the napkin in her purse. "I look forward to seeing you all again. I must be getting back before my sire misses me." She stood and swished away from the table, giving them a brilliant smile and a wink over her shoulder.
Mick had been watching Beth from the bar and surreptitiously taking pictures of the men with his phone. He looked up sharply when she laughed at something that was said, he almost broke the glass of scotch he was holding in his hand. Mick could hardly keep from rushing over and dragging Beth away from the leering glances of the three vampires at the table.
As she came toward him, she tilted her head, indicating he should follow her to get out of sight of the vampires she just left. Once they were around a corner, Mick took her arm and hustled her out the back door into a dim alley.
"What the hell were you doing, Beth?" He practically snarled at her.
"Recon, and I got names and a phone number." She said triumphantly.
Mick whirled her around into a dark doorway, pressing her into the wall. "Don't do that again." he said growling possessively. He moved against her and his kiss was frenzied. She moaned in his mouth, sliding her arms around his neck. She didn't do it on purpose, but she loved it when Mick got jealous. It brought out his alpha-vampire and always ensured a long and passionate night.
Since they didn't have to breathe, it was some time before they paused. Beth was weak from desire and Mick started nipping her neck. "We need to get home." he stopped suddenly. Beth looked at him with desire in her half-lidded eyes. "Hmmm?"
"I want to get those vamps' scent off you." He dragged her toward the Benz. Beth had no complaints, she always enjoyed a refreshing shower ….
TBC
Just can't help getting Mick and Beth in the shower (sigh). Next, what will they find out about the bad guys?