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Chapter 14

The mood in the other elevator was tense. Philippe had not released his hold on Cynthia's arm. She tried to break free once and when she was unable, she gave up. For a long moment neither of them spoke.

"Why are you really here Philippe?" Cynthia finally asked.

"There are moments when I wonder," Philippe answered. He looked at her in frustration. "Cynthia, why did you get yourself involved with Coraline's mess? You had to know that stealing the compound would not only bring Lance down on you, but Darius as well. Why did you do it?"

"Why do you care?"

Philippe groaned and shook his head. Why did she have to be so stubborn? What was endearing in his sister was frustrating in the woman he had always had strong feelings for.

"I have always cared. Why do you think I chose to turn you before Coraline could? I wanted that bond with you. But you don't make it easy," he told her giving her a shake.

Cynthia was surprised.

"I thought you were done with me. You looked elsewhere. Coraline is like a sister. She was desperate to hang on to Mick and I couldn't refuse her. What did Darius do to her?"

"She's fortunate she is his favorite. She was punished, he dissolved her marriage to St. John and he has commanded that she remain with him for now. Lance sent me after you."

"And will you take me back?" Cynthia asked looking up at him.

"I have no wish to see you punished. We must find a way to either appease Lance and Darius or we must find a place to hide."

"You'd do that? Philippe you amaze me. When did this change occur?"

"I will not let my power hungry older brother to destroy my creation," Philippe said angrily.

"Your creation? Is that what I am to you? Is that how you see me?" she asked indignantly. Anger rose up in her and her eyes frosted.

Philippe hit the stop button on the elevator. He kept his grip on her arm and put his face close to hers.

"Good, you are ready to fight. I don't want you running again. We will find a way out of this. I want you thinking clearly. Together we can find a solution. Lance is a bully."

"You have changed Philippe," Cynthia said in shock.

"Lance has never threatened someone I cared about before. You're not alone Cyn," he said seriously. He started the elevator moving again. "Let us see what ideas Josef may have. I had forgotten how devious he is. I think I have missed him."

The elevator stopped. Philippe released his grip on Cynthia's arm and held out his hand, palm up. As the door slid open, Cynthia placed her hand in his. With a slight smile she stepped out of the elevator at his side.

Josef answered the knock on the door and let them into his comfortable suite. Mick and Beth were seated on a sofa and Demont was again at his post beside the door. He looked relieved to see Philippe safely under his protective gaze again.

"Welcome," Josef said with a smile. "I'm pleased you seem to have settled your differences. I think we have some planning to do. Take a seat, would anyone like a drink?"

"Josef we don't have time……" Philippe protested as he stood next to the chair Cynthia had sat in.

"We need to make decisions. No reason we cannot feed while we talk," Josef said firmly. "We may have to move fast and we may not have time later. And Cynthia did promise us dinner."

Cynthia laughed in spite of herself. She rose and went to the bar with a sleek styled refrigerator. She looked inside at the wide variety of blood types. She looked back at the others.

"Any requests?"

Beth laughed at the reaction of the men. She joined Cynthia at the bar.

"I believe Mick likes A-positive. Josef of course prefers AB-negative. Thankfully I have no idea what Philippe and Demont like," she said boldly.

Cynthia let out a short laugh.

"You surprise me Beth Turner." She looked over at Mick. "Coraline has no idea what she's up against. She refuses to see why Beth appeals to you. It's more than her humanity," Cynthia said to him.

"No, it never has been just that," Mick agreed. "Coraline isn't capable of understanding that."

"We will not discuss my sister this way," Philippe said with some anger. He crossed to Mick, fangs appearing. Mick stood, eyes glazing in response to the threat.

"Here we go again," Josef sighed.

Cynthia took two glasses and inserted herself between the two angry vamps. She pressed a glass into Philippe's hand.

"No more. Philippe, we love Coraline but we both know that she makes poor decisions. I told her not to marry him but that made no difference to her. Now is not the time to defend Coraline's honor." She said persuasively.

Beth took a glass to Josef and another to Demont. Returning to the bar she poured herself a glass of scotch and took a glass of blood to Mick. She noted the icy looks flowing between the two men. The French vampire was glaring at Mick over Cynthia's shoulder. She nudged Mick with her elbow and handed him the glass.

"She's no saint Philippe," Mick said angrily. "You know that. Tearing me apart won't change what she did." He took the glass from Beth. She looked at him sadly.

"Mick. Fighting abut Coraline does not solve the current problem," Beth pointed out. Both Mick and Philippe calmed down. Josef chuckled.

"Ladies, I'm impressed." He took a drink from his glass. "Can we now get down to a serious discussion?"

Mick allowed Beth to draw him over to the bar. Philippe and Cynthia sat on the sofa.

"Beth there is some food in the fridge. Eat please," Josef urged. He looked at the two on the sofa. "Reality check time. You have few options. You can run and try to hide. I have someone who's great at creating new ID's. Or you can find a way to placate Lance and return to Europe or whereever. For that I think you'll need something to negotiate with."

"What will make Lance happy?" Beth asked. "I don't know him. What does he want out of all this?"

"It's the compound," Philippe said. "Neither Lance or Darius want further work done on the compound. Lance is afraid that there will be another reign of terror."

"Cynthia, do you have the reports and research on the compound with you?" Josef asked.

"Yes," she replied.

Mick came to alert. Cynthia had the information. There was still a chance to find a permanent cure.

Both Beth and Josef recognized the light in Mick's eyes. Beth reached out to touch his hand.

Josef looked at Mick sadly.

"It seems you have your negotiating lever. Offer all you research and it may appease him," Josef advised.

"NO!" Mick protested.

"Mick," Josef cautioned. "Their research failed. There still is no cure. Let it go. This may be the only way to solve Cynthia's problem."

"Josef, if there is any chance……" Mick pleaded.

Beth wrapped her arms around Mick's waist from behind. She pressed her cheek against his back. It hurt so bad to see how Mick hated what he was.

"Cynthia, could you make two copies of the research?" Josef asked, hating giving the impression that he approved of carrying on the research. He was just trying to keep things calm.

"I could copy it," she agreed. "It will be of no help Mick."

"It appears that's our best chance. I think we should return to LA. Let Lance come to us on our turf," Josef said.

"Yes," Cynthia approved. She looked to Philippe. He nodded.

Josef looked at Mick and Beth. Mick nodded also.

"Then I suggest that we pack and head home. Do you need to return to the apartment and pack?" Josef asked the blonde vampire.

"No, I have very little there. I can always buy new clothes. My research is at the lab, we will need to return there," she said.

"Then I suggest that we pack up and leave. Demont, we will send you to the plane with the luggage. The rest of us will stop by the lab and collect the data," Josef instructed.

The others agreed and left the suite. Beth took some of the cheese and crackers with her.

Cynthia followed Philippe to his suite.

"I am impressed Philippe," she said softly. "You do care."

"Cyn, haven't you been listening? I've always cared. I just have trouble proving it. I've kept that charm ever since you gave it to me. I thought you'd be pleased that I've kept it with me," he said in exasperation.

"Philippe, I couldn't let myself believe you still cared."

Philippe grabbed her and pulled her into a kiss. Cynthia wrapped herself closer to him. It had been so long since the two had been open about their feelings. They clung to each other and relit the fire that hadn't quite died.

A rap on the door broke them apart.

"Master Philippe," Demont's voice came through the door.

"Yes Demont," Philippe called back. He looked deeply into Cynthia's eyes. "We will examine this further. Now help me pack."

"Oh yes we will. You will not abandon me again," she vowed. She placed the charm back in his hand.

"Never, "Philippe promised with a quick kiss.

End chapter.

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