Through Kate's eyes….

My mind swirled as Richard drove back through the desert. I wasn't even paying attention. What did this mean? How would I spend the next one hundred years? What about the Geckos? Would I stay with them or go out on my own? It was no secret that I would most likely have to leave my friends behind in Mexico. If any other higher up vamps found out about my existence and my powers it could put Richard and Seth in danger. I glanced over at Richard as he intently moved the car through the darkness. The thought of him being harmed seemed to send tears to my eyes. I couldn't stand by and watch the people I cared about become victims to my existence.

That's when I realized we weren't following the RV. I turned in the seat to glance behind us, I couldn't see any headlights following.

"Richard, where are we going?" I asked. He sped up slightly and I made a few quick turns. I had the distinct feel of the car climbing up hill.

"Richard!" I said more forcefully as the car seemed to level out and come to a stop.

"Were here," he said abruptly and shut off the ignition. My eyes scanned the darkness outside. I could see the stars in the sky but, nothing else.

As my vision adjusted to the darkness I realized that we had gone up a Cliffside of some kind, for below us was a small town or village. It was too far away for me to completely see it, all I could make out was the faint noise of music and the twinkling of lights.

"What are we doing here?" I asked in a whisper. I was sitting in the middle of nowhere, in the dark with Richard. Even with powers to protect me this was nerve wracking.

"Get out," he snapped opening the driver's side door and stepping out.

"What?" I said as his door slammed and mine opened. I had expected him to reach in and grab me but, he just held out his hand and I took it. He shut my car door and still holding my hand walked around to the front of the car and sat on the hood. He gestured for me to sit next to him and I complied. Now we both faced this tiny town below us.

"Richard, why'd you bring me here?" I asked after several minutes of silence. He didn't look at me and I was finding his demeanor unnerving.

"I saw the look on your face when Tanner said it would be another century. I thought you might be happy but, I could see the fear and disappointment," he said. I let my eyes drop to my hands, embarrassed that I had been so obvious.

"It was just unexpected," I mumbled twirling a strand of hair around my thumb.

"No. You wanted it to be soon. Why?" Richard snapped. His tone went from sweet and understanding to the same old controlling Richard. I bit my tongue knowing that if I said anything I would regret it.

"Richard, take me back to the restaurant," I said standing up.

"No, I want the truth. Why do you want the sacrifice to begin now?" he grabbed my wrist roughly as I walked away. I shrugged him off and could feel the power waking up inside of me. I had gotten used to its pull but, every so often it took more and more concentration to keep it at bay.

Richard ignored my indignation and stood toe to toe with me. My palms felt warm and I knew my eyes would be turning a blood red.

We glared at one another, our faced inches from one another. I calmed my nerves at first but then all the thoughts of the last few days came rushing back. I shoved Richard, harder than I expected and he fell back.

"It wasn't supposed to be this way! I was supposed to grow up, finish college, get married, have babies and grow old! I was supposed to live a normal life with a husband and children!" I was shouting as the fire in my palms ignited. I could see the fear in Richards face but, I ignored it. The tears that shed from my eyes stung my skin as my hair flew up around me and my feet left the ground.

"I wasn't supposed to be the vessel for Sante Sangre and now I am stuck this way for one hundred years!?" Richard got to his feet slowly. Small molten fire balls dripped from my fingertips but, I didn't notice them.

"One hundred years of a lonely existence!" I threw my head back releasing a guttural scream.

"What if we exist together!" came Richards's voice through my peal of anguish. For a split second I snapped out of it. My hair fell down my back and the fire in my palms seemed to fade. I now realized that I was levitating about two feet off the ground.

"Kate, it doesn't have to be a lonely existence. Stay…with me and Seth," he said. I felt my feet touch the ground and the fire in my palms was gone. The night was still again. I stared at Richard in wonderment and confusion. Isn't that what I had wanted? But I couldn't ask Seth and Richard to protect me forever. Who knew what the other factions of vampires would do once it got out about me? No, I wouldn't do that to my friends.

"Richard, you know I can't stay," I said. I turned away from him, taking deep breaths.

"Why?" he asked.

"I can't ask you and Seth to put yourselves in danger for me," I whispered. I could hear his footsteps behind me and feel his proximity on my back. If I turned around right now I was sure that he would be less than six inches from me but, I kept my back turned. I couldn't let him see the anguish in my face.

"What if I told you that I wanted to put myself in danger for you? If it meant keeping you?" Richard barely whispered it and yet it knocked the wind from me. I turned to him. His face, was the most vulnerable I had ever seen it. Like he had finally given up the visage of the big shot Culebra Lord. He was just Richard now. Slowly, his hand came up wiping away a tear from my face.

"I don't want to lose you again," he whispered as he drew my face closer to his, touching his lips to mine. At first his mouth was hesitant, as if he himself was unsure, and then he became more insistent, pressing my face to him, his tongue darting in and out of my mouth. It was like he would have inhaled me if that was possible. I wrapped both arms around his neck pulling him to me and he encircled his hands about my waist. We could both feel the tension leaving us as the kiss went on.

I don't know how long we stood there but, at one point, Richard pulled away from me for a moment. He smiled at me and I giggled when I realized his glasses were askew. Gently I straightened them. For the first time since I had come back, my heart felt light.

"I dreamed of this," he said. I smiled.

"So did I," I replied. He shook his head.

"I dreamt about this when we met," he replied sheepishly. I could feel my cheeks turn red from embarrassment and found I couldn't look him in the face. I lowered my eyes, I wasn't used to him speaking this way. He lifted my chin up and kissed me lightly on the lips.

"We better head back," he said and nodded. I didn't want this night to end, I didn't want this moment broken. He released my waist and opened the car door for me. I slid into the passenger seat while he walked around the front and got in next to me.

The whole drive he had my hand in his and ran his thumb over my knuckles in comforting rhythmic circles.

"So, will you stay?" he asked me as the bar came into sight out of the darkness. I smiled at our intertwined hands.

"I supposed I don't have much of a choice now do I?" I asked joking as Richard parked in his usual spot.

"Kate, I don't want you to stick around because you feel bad or think you have to," Richard said. He stared at the steering wheel. Oh my god! He thought I was staying out of guilt? I giggled and his head snapped up to look at me in wonderment. I kissed him.

"Since when have I ever done anything because I felt I needed to? I want to be with you. I don't have any clue as to how it happened or why but, it's true. I'll stay as long as it's safe for everyone," I said kissing him again.

We stepped out of the car and walked towards the bar. I clasped my hands in front of me. What should I do? I didn't know if Richard would want his employees or even other Culebra's to see us holding hands so I held them in front of me. Yet to my surprise Richard took my left hand in his. He gave it a gentle squeeze before walking into the bar together like we were finally going home.