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Chapter 11

Once she arrived home, Rayna hurried inside calling for Josef.

"I'm right here Beauty," he said strolling out of his office with a glass of scotch in his hand.

"So how many are headed for the tar pits?" she enquired as she went to him and kissed him quickly.

"None, I was just blowing off steam," he chuckled. "Actually everything was running like a well oiled machine."

"You have good employees," she told him seriously.

"Of course I do, I hired them," Josef smirked.

"That's what I love about you," she told him with a fond smile as she hugged him. "You are a better man than you let others see."

"Do not give away my secret love," Josef admonished with an answering smile.

"Just be aware Josef, Rayna doesn't keep secrets from her best friend," Beth teased from the front entry.

"You two don't count," Josef quipped. "I've given up keeping secrets from Mick."

A sharp laugh erupted from Mick who was behind Beth.

"Like I believe that," he scoffed.

"You wound me Mick," Josef sighed. "Come on, let's relax in the parlor and compare notes."

He led the way and went straight to the bar, pouring a second glass of scotch and two glasses of red wine for the ladies. Rayna claimed a glass for herself along with Beth's while Josef delivered the highball to Mick.

"Now what did you learn tonight?" he asked as he sat in a wing backed chair.

The other three quickly filled him on their discoveries and the plans made to catch the harvesters and question Blake Winters. The older vamp listened, a smile playing on his lips when Beth described what Moriah wanted her to do. The young vampire was very eager to contribute to the cause. Again he had to marvel at the fact that Beth was such an asset to the tribe at a very young age.

"Well children, you had a busy night," he commented after Mick finished filling them in on the club.

"I'm sure that those bloodsuckers will return to the club," Mick swore. "One way or the other we will put these bastards out of business," he finished heatedly. The hatred for those that preyed on innocents burned in his eyes. Beth laid a calming hand on his arm as she sat beside him on the loveseat.

"Yes we will," she murmured.

"We will catch them one way or the other," Josef agreed echoing his words. "Your lead is solid and I'm sure that a greedy crew like this will not be able to resist my money offer. If we come at them from both ends we should be able to trap them in the middle."

Rayna had been listening to the conversation from her place in a chair next to Josef. She set her wine glass on the table between the chairs with a thoughtful expression on her face.

"There isn't much hope for the remaining girls, is there?" she asked quietly. "I mean, if one body has turned up all ready the others will be killed shortly and they'll go hunting for more. It can't be profitable to keep them alive for very long."

"I hate to agree but I think you are right," Mick nodded.

"Dear God, they have to be so frightened," Beth said with a stricken look. "Do you think the harvesters really will return to the club or will they pick a new place?"

"They easily recruited five women from the club so it would be logical for them to return there," Mick said considering her question. "The place was crowded with young women looking for men; it's a vamp's dream."

"We have always been predators but this harvesting business just gives us a bad name," Josef said in disgust. "And with this group being so careless with our secret it is even more dangerous. There is no way humans could ever accept us if they only see us as monsters."

"Maybe Lance isn't so wrong with his paranoia," Rayna observed sadly. "I want to believe that some day we would be accepted and could live together peacefully."

"It works on a small scale Beauty but humanity in general is not prepared to accept beings that have advantages over them. We are too great a threat to accept us without reservations."

"Not to mention the blood sucking part," Mick added dryly.

"But we could explain that we don't have to kill….."Beth began but then paused and shook her head. "No, I guess not. I want to believe like Rayna does but there are so many obstacles to telling the truth. Think of how many humans would want us to save their dying loved ones or extend their own lives? The living forever business can be corrupting. Not everyone would view us like Charity and Anthony do."

"And there is the crux of the problem. The minuses outweigh the pluses when it comes to revealing our secret. It is better and safer to remain in the shadows," Josef said firmly. "Humans are not ever going to be ready to know about us."

All four of them sat silently, sipping their drinks and reflecting on Josef's words. Beth couldn't help centering her thoughts on the turmoil that would ensue if people believed that vampires could save the ill and dying. There was no doubt that resentment would build against the community if they refused, just as she had briefly blamed Mick for not turning Josh as he lay dying. Practicality said you shouldn't save them all and how could you decide who to save and who to let die?

Mick could not help thinking on how repulsed the majority of humans would be at the vampire's need for blood. Knowing that they were the food that would keep a stronger being alive would not be easily accepted. Even with his changed attitude on fresh feedings, Mick had not lost all his discomfort and always did everything he could to be careful with the freshies he fed from. But even that would not make the majority of humans embrace the vampire's lifestyle.

Rayna had lived much longer than Mick and Beth and she had abandoned all desire to be human long ago but she enjoyed living among them. Her carefree spirit had always been at odds with the need to hide what she was and keep secrets. She was saddened at the realization that Josef made sense and they would continue to live in secret.

Watching the faces of his friends, Josef knew the thoughts going through their heads. Over his long life he had felt those same emotions at different times. Reality had convinced him that keeping the knowledge of vampires from humans was vital and he doubted that the future would bring any changes. He was content with fact and would do all he could to maintain the secret. Now he needed to cheer his lady up.

"Beauty, let's not waste a lovely night like this. Come walk in the gardens with me," he suggested quietly, wanting to wipe the sad look from her eyes. He got up and stood before her, his hand outstretched.

"Sounds lovely," Rayna agreed, her face brightening. She took his hand.

"Have fun you two, we'll see you at sunset," Josef told Mick and Beth before leading Rayna from the room.

Mick slipped his arm around Beth's shoulders and drew her in closer to his side. She rested her head against his shoulder and a small sigh escaped her.

"He's right, isn't he? There really isn't a way to be open about what we are," she stated.

"I'm afraid that is true and for all the reasons we listed and probably many more," Mick agreed. "I seem to remember bringing some of these up before turning you."

He felt her stiffen beside him and looked down into her angry eyes.

"Do not start regretting that again," she said in a low, tight voice.

"I do not regret it. You are what makes this existence bearable for me. Sharing my world with you brings me peace. My only regret is that we have to live a lie to others. The fear of discovery and what that would mean is always a shadow over us."

Beth relaxed and nodded as her expression softened with understanding. She knew that Mick hated the lies as much as she did and it was not just because of her that he held those feelings. And the truth was that Beth had feely chosen this world but no matter how long Mick lived, the reality was that he had not chosen to be a vampire. That reason alone was why Beth could never fully forgive Coraline. Not even when she considered that the woman's actions had made it possible for Beth to meet and fall in love with Mick. The fact that Mick had had no choice was the only blight on Beth's happiness.

"It is a shadow we can deal with together," she told him softly. "I hold no regrets about my choice."

Mick bent his head to kiss her gently and sweetly. A grateful smile graced his face as he lifted his head to look at her. Beth felt a pleasant glow spread through her as she looked into his hazel eyes, seeing the depths of his love for her.

"Together is a word I can live with," he replied. "I love you Beth."

"Not as much as I love you," Beth responded with a small grin. Once again she rested her head against his shoulder. "We are so lucky we found each other."

"We are," Mick murmured as he held her close and rested his cheek against the top of her head. Letting all his regrets and doubts slide away, Mick allowed himself to concentrate on the satisfaction of a future with the woman he loved.

An hour later when Rayna and Josef returned to the house, the older vampire took a moment to check the parlor and discovered the younger couple sitting together quietly discussing plans to find a home in the Big Easy. Not the least bit insulted that they planned to leave his home and find their own place, Josef turned away and headed upstairs to join Rayna. It tickled the old vampire's sense of humor to see the couple making plans for the future. It was everything he wanted for his best friend.

End chapter.

I just had to spend some time with our core couples. It would be nice if the truth could be out in the open but I see all kinds of complications if that happened. Thanks for reading.