Note: Please see Prologue for warning, copyright and disclaimer information.

Dinner

We had an uneventful drive to the restaurant, and Cormac was able to get us a table in a secluded corner of the room. The menu was in German, and I couldn't read the language any more than I could speak it, which of course was not at all. After a bit of discussion, I decided on steak, well done. When the waitress came back he gave her our order, and we sat in uncomfortable silence until she brought us a bottle of wine.

Cormac had always had an excellent taste in wine and he hadn't lost that with his embrace. I merely sipped at mine, knowing that I'd need my wits about me as long as I was with him. When the salad came, I couldn't really find my appetite, and of course he had to notice that I wasn't eating very much.

"Is there something wrong with your salad?" he asked softly.

I glanced up. "No, it's a salad."

"You need to eat more," he told me firmly. "You look like you haven't eaten in a week."

His comment was closer to the truth than he knew. I really hadn't eaten very much since the night Mother Abigail's had been attacked almost a week ago.

"What are you, my mother?" I asked him caustically.

He shot me a level look. "I've beheaded people for less than that," he said in a low tone, then added more pleasantly, "Actually, I promised Corrine that I would make sure you ate."

How could I argue with that? Reluctantly, I stopped playing with my food and started eating it. After a few minutes, I asked politely, "How did you find LA?"

"It was quite fine," he told me. "I stayed in the basement of a friend's place while I was there. Aurora, the woman Kate was telling you about."

I looked up at him with narrowed eyes. "I thought you weren't listening to that conversation."

"The acoustics on the plane are quite good," he reminded me. "I couldn't help but overhear some of what was said."

I shook my head, but I couldn't stop from asking curiously, "Who would name their child Aurora?"

"I believe it was quite popular when she was born," he told me. "She reminds me of someone I once knew, I just haven't figured out who yet." He paused and looked at me pointedly. "She is a friend of mine, nothing more. I know that Kate tried to insinuate that there was more between us and I feel the need to defend myself."

"There is no need," I told him. What he did in his spare time was no concern of mine. That was what I told myself, anyway, but my self hadn't been listening to me for some time.

"I feel there is," he replied. "As Kate told you, I do spend quite a bit of time with Nina Rodriguez as well. She also reminds me of someone I haven't remembered yet. Summer is the Verbena in Salem, and we are quite good friends, but that is all. And I have spent some time recently with Brenda and her sister Christina Strong, but it was also not what she implied."

I could see the truth in his eyes, but what he was saying didn't change anything between us. "That is really none of my business," I said firmly.

He took a sip of his wine and decided to change the subject. "How long did you spend in Bar Harbor?"

"Ten years."

"And the next decade?" he prompted.

I shrugged. "I was at other Society houses, mostly in Maine but in a few other New England states too."

"And did you have the same type of contract at each city you were stationed in?"

The reminder that he'd not only seen the contract but had a copy of it irritated me all over again. "Actually, the contract covered all of those places."

"With Ford as your guarantor in each one?" He was still watching me carefully, as if trying to catch me in a lie.

"Yeah, apparently Ford is some kind of big shot in the clan." Although why Cormac didn't know that was beyond me.

"Speaking of the contract," he murmured, "who was the witness? I didn't recognize the name."

"That's Kate," I reminded him. Was he pretending ignorance or trying to trip me up? "I told you her true name is on the contract."

"Ah, yes."

"You can't sign a blood contract with an alias." I said reproachfully. "You should know that, you're Tremere."

"I've never taken any part of a blood contract," he explained.

"Don't they have some handbook for you to study from or something?" I asked only half joking.

"Yes," he said tolerantly, "but nothing we have to sign."

I shook my head. "It just seems like you'd know this stuff."

"Why," he asked, a little irritated at my comment, "because I'm Tremere?"

"I guess it's the whole myth that all vampires are rich and beautiful, and know everything about their powers," I said apologetically.

"I'm neither rich nor beautiful," he told me, "nor know everything about anything."

I couldn't agree with him about his beauty, I'd always found him way too attractive. "Well, you know, stereotypes."

"Besides, not all vampires are controlling, manipulative people."

"Just all female vampires?" I asked with a smile.

"No, not all," he said smiling in return.

"Just Brenda and Kate."

"No, just your mother." He corrected himself quickly. "Kate."

I looked down at the floor by my feet where I'd put my purse. "It's probably not the best place for me to pull out a stake," I admitted in a low angry voice, "but call her my mother again and I will."

"So you've said," he replied softly. "I slipped, forgive me."

I remembered his words from earlier and repeated them, hiding a smile. "I've beheaded people for less than that."

"Yes, so I've heard."

Had he? "Where did you hear this?"

"Around."

I did smile then. "The other stereotype," I murmured. "All your kind just tell each other everything."

"No," he corrected me. "Only the higher ups know everything and those of us who are controlling and manipulative."

I was saved from replying by the waitress coming with our meals. She put our plates down in front of us and refilled our wineglasses. She asked Cormac something in German, and after a brief reply, she left us alone.

While the food looked and smelled good, I really didn't feel like eating. I kept my hands clasped together in my lap while Cormac began to cut his meat. I don't know why I thought he wouldn't notice.

"Now Eliza," he told me, "you know I promised Corrine that you would eat while in my care."

Since when was I in his care? "I ate." I had eaten at least half of the salad, and a whole piece of bread.

"Eat some meat," he prompted. "It's good for you."

Reluctantly, I picked up my silverware and cut my meat into small pieces then began to eat slowly. He seemed satisfied at that, and we ate for several minutes in a comfortable silence. I refused to look at him and concentrated on my plate.

"Jurgen," Cormac said, surprising me into looking up.

Jurgen was standing next to the table with a ghoul, probably his ghoul, a woman. "Cormac, Eliza, it is good to see you. I wasn't aware that you were going to be eating here this evening."

"We were taking in a little of the local color," my companion replied.

"Doing the whole tourist bit," Jurgen said with a smile.

"Yes."

"And how is your dinner?" He glanced at me when he said that, but Cormac answered.

"Ah, fair as food can be nowadays."

"Yes," Jurgen replied, "I know exactly what you mean, although Lorelei likes the food here."

Cormac nodded to the girl, then glanced toward the entrance.

"What are your plans for the rest of the evening?" the tall Tremere asked.

"I though we might just drive about town," Cormac told him, "taking in the sights, relax a little bit."

"Ah, well there's a little club toward the center of town, the 488."

"488?" Cormac seemed interested in the club. "We may stop down there. I would like to stretch my legs after the long plane trip and car rides."

"It's a bit Goth, but still quite amusing," Jurgen added.

"Interesting choice of words, amusing." Cormac looked toward the entrance again, then said to Jurgen, "I believe we may have some company."

I glanced over my shoulder, but I couldn't see through the screen of plants behind me.

"Ah, the Gangrel," Jurgen murmured.

"Is there bad blood between our clans?"

"Not necessarily," he replied, "but they think they run the city."

"Oh?"

"Yes, unfortunately."

At that point, the tall shaggy haired Kindred I remembered from the conclave room approached our table. The girl who'd been standing behind him was at his side, looking quite different in a casual evening gown. He said something to Jurgen then nodded at Cormac. His eyes moved past me around the table, then returned to me.

Thankfully, Lorelei began to translate the conversation into English for my benefit.

"Good, Wolfgang, how are you?" Jurgen asked politely.

"I am fine," the shaggy Gangrel replied. "I see that you are enjoying the nightlife this evening."

"Yes, we were taking in a bit of the city life." Jurgen didn't seem to like the Gangrel, but at least he was being pleasant.

"Ah, good," Wolfgang replied. He kept shooting glances at me, almost as if he was thinking about how I would taste. "Yes, Heidi and I are out ourselves to see what is going on."

I shifted a little in my chair, uncomfortable with his gaze that lingered on me almost to the point of rudeness.

"Wolfgang," Cormac said politely, "this is my travelling companion, Eliza."

The Gangrel smiled hugely at me, and I forced myself to nod in return. I couldn't quite bring myself to smile.

He turned back to Cormac, but only for a moment. "Young Cormac, I haven't seen you in our city before, is this your first trip to Berlin?"

Once more his eyes came back to rest on me and I glanced down at where my purse lay at my feet. I decided that Cormac and Jurgen would probably take offense if I staked the bastard right then and there, and resigned myself to being stared at.

"I have visited your city on a few occasions," Cormac replied, "but I plan this to be my first lengthy stay, albeit two or three days."

"And where are you from?" Wolfgang asked. "Is it America?"

"Yes."

"And I take it that is where your companion is from as well?" Once again his gaze settled hotly on me.

I gave him a level look that told him I would not be intimidated while mentally I calculated how long it would take me to get the stake from the purse and strike. Unfortunately, I knew it would take too long, he'd have time to react and I probably wouldn't have been able to stake him.

"Yes," Cormac replied.

"I must say, your German is impeccable," Wolfgang complemented him. Again, his eyes fell on me. I was getting really tired of his hungry looks, but I tried not to react openly to his rudeness.

"Thank you."

"I assume you have passed on this knowledge to her?"

"Actually, no," Cormac admitted. "I haven't begun teaching her any foreign languages yet." He made it sound like I was a dog that he hadn't taught any tricks to yet.

Wolfgang grinned. "Oh, I see."

Jurgen glanced at Lorelei and abruptly she stopped translating the conversation. I looked questioningly at Cormac, but he was looking a bit uncomfortable at whatever the Gangrel was saying. Cormac replied in a firm tone, and Wolfgang looked back at me with hunger strong in his gaze. He even licked his lips and chuckled. For real now, it wasn't a sound I liked to hear.

"What are you saying?" I asked Cormac with a forced smile.

"In a moment," he replied soothingly.

Wolfgang said something else to Cormac, sounding a bit disappointed. My companion asked a question of the other two vamps to which Jurgen replied matter-of-factly.

"What are you saying?" I repeated in a low voice.

"Nothing dear," he told me firmly.

The Gangrel watched our exchange and a smile played around his lips. His date looked at me for a moment with a smile of her own, then leaned down and spoke softly in my ear.

"He says that you are a tasty morsel and that he is interested in trying you," she told me, her voice spitefully amused. "Despite your dress, you look like you would fight well, and he believes the best meal is one that bites back. Your master refused. It is a shame, I would have liked to have been 'kissed' by him." When she'd dropped her bombshell, she straightened and smiled sweetly at her own master.

Why in hell did all these damn vampires want to bite me? I smiled politely and thanked the girl for her translation as pleasantly as I could, avoiding looking at either of the vamps standing by our table.

I looked down at my hands clenched in my lap to hide the hate in my eyes and noticed that Cormac's foot had moved under the table to drag my purse out of my reach. Did he think I'd actually stake the vamp in the middle of the restaurant? I shot him a hard look that told him I knew exactly what he was doing.

Wolfgang started speaking again, and his puppy made sure to translate the rest of what was said for me.

"What a pity," the Gangrel murmured. "I enjoy a tussle with a less than enthusiastic partner."

"I do apologize," Cormac replied. "You will have to find your prey at another table."

"Well, the night is young," Wolfgang told him. "I'm sure I'll find something."

"Good hunting," my companion replied.

"If you will excuse us?"

Cormac nodded. "Of course."

As Wolfgang turned to Jurgen to say his good-byes, I leaned closer to Cormac and grabbed his coat sleeve to pull him toward me. I tried to make it look like I was whispering sweet nothings in his ear.

"What is it with vamps in this city wanting to bite me?" I hissed at him through smiling lips. "Do I have 'bite me' tattooed on my forehead?"

"They can smell your blood," he replied softly.

"And the point is?" I demanded.

"You are not like normal mortals, Eliza," he reminded me.

"That doesn't matter, Cormac," I said flatly. "I have never been a willing donor and I don't intend to start now."

"And I don't intend to let you become one," he assured me calmly, "willing or unwilling."

I relaxed a little. "At least we agree on something."

"If I may have my jacket back?"

Abruptly I realized that my hand was clenched into a fist in the fabric of his suit coat. Whoops. "Yeah, sorry about that," I murmured as I released him and smoothed the fabric down. I sat back and glanced at the Tremere standing next to our table. Jurgen was studying at me with a calculating look in his eyes. Wolfgang and his girl were gone.

"Well," Jurgen told Cormac, "we have other places to go, we will be at the 488 a little later, will we see you there?"

"Perhaps we'll visit, thank you," he replied.

"It was good to see you, Eliza," Jurgen said politely to me. That calculating look was still in his eyes when he looked at me.

I smiled and nodded, worried about what he'd heard me say.

After they had said their good-byes, I looked back at Cormac. "You know, that purse doesn't really go with your outfit," I told him.

"No," he agreed, "but I was afraid the spike would go all to well with Wolfgang's."

I smiled grimly and pointed to a spot in the center of my chest. "I think it would look really well right about here."

"You're off," he told me dryly.

"Okay," I corrected, moving my hand an inch to the left, "here. I'm off on me, I've never staked myself. Vamps I can do with my eyes closed. Probably in my sleep," I added under my breath.

"Lets not find out, shall we?" he suggested wryly as he slid the purse back toward me under the table. I moved it back out of his reach.

"Are we done here? I seem to have lost my appetite." I think it had something to do with Wolfgang practically drooling on me.

"I believe I have as well," he replied. "You don't care for any desert? Pudding perhaps?"

"Not unless it comes with Wolfgang's heart sitting on top," I said murmured darkly.

"Ah, blood pudding," he replied glibly. "I do believe I saw that on the menu."

I frowned at the reminder of his vampiric nature. For some reason I kept forgetting what he was and I didn't like it. Hell, I could feel him at the base of my spine, why did I keep forgetting he was a vamp? "I think you'd like that a bit more than I," I told him.

Cormac called for the waitress, then while she was going for our bill he turned to me. "You handled yourself quite well during Wolfgang's inquires."

I smiled ironically. "He probably would have liked it too much if I'd have stood up and punched him."

"Yes," Cormac agreed. "I believe so."

"And Jurgen probably wouldn't have liked it at all," I added.

"No, neither would I." He met my gaze meaningfully. "Let me handle the Kindred problems."

"Well, if you don't handle them, I will," I warned him, then conceded with a sigh, "But I'll give you the chance first."

That almost earned me a smile. "Thank you."

The waitress came back with our check and Mac laid a hundred dollar bill on the table. He got up and took his coat from the back of his chair. "Shall we?"

"Yeah." I allowed him to pull my chair out for me and waited while he put his coat on. He offered me his arm and I took it without thinking.

As we walked toward the exit, I noticed Wolfgang on the other side of the restaurant annoying another couple. I smiled, glad that we'd gotten out of that one with no bloodshed, especially mine.