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'Why do I get the distinct impression that you're trying to make me dig my own grave?' In one swift moved he took hold of her wrists and roughly pinned them to the floor above her head.

Ana, to his irritation, was completely unfased by the show of dominance and allowed an infuriating laugh to escape her throat. 'I hardly think you needed any encouragement for that. You seem to be doing a fine job by yourself.' A look of panic must have flashed across Hal's face as she quickly lifted her head to plant a reassuring peck on his lips. 'Don't worry Hal, your dirty little secret is safe with me. We vampires all have our proclivities. Yours are just a little more perverse than some. I'm just trying to understand you. From where I'm standing you're a big bunch of contradictions. It's all rather confusing.'

'So what happened to apologising for your overzealous interest?'

'It turns out that being apologetic gets dull surprisingly quickly.' She reached up to kiss him again. 'Or perhaps you just bring out my inquisitive side.'

'I can assure you Ana, the strange company I've kept in the past is by far the least interesting thing about me.' He dipped his mouth down to graze her neck. 'I could show you things that would be far more…stimulating for you.' He finally released his grip on her wrists and trailed his hands down her body.

She laughed again, a little breathless this time. 'Christ Hal, you're like a dog in heat.'

They were interrupted by a groan from the other side of the room. Of course, the newly recruited vampire. In the bloody haze, his presence had completely slipped from Hal's mind. He smarted at the disturbance, arousal was beginning to course through him again and he was annoyed to be denied an outlet for it.

'Finally.' Commented Ana. 'I was beginning to think I might have to indulge you in another rough and tumble.'

Hal rolled off her and began the search for his breeches which had landed on a nearby table. 'You say that like it would have been a bad thing.'

Ana was propping herself up on her elbows and had made no attempt to cover herself. 'I've had better. You were a little too selfish if I'm honest, but that was hardly a surprise.'

Hal decided it wasn't worth justifying that with a response and proceeded to pull his breeches on, gritting his teeth as the fabric chaffed against the stab wound he'd received earlier. He'd make the new vampire pay for that one. He made his way across the room and stood over the man propped up against the wall whose eyes were blinking frenetically, switching between brown and black.

'Get up.'

'What did you to me?' The recruit was still a little dazed. It was to be expected really. One's own death and rebirth did have a tendency to be a little disorienting.

'I said, get up.' It was best to instil discipline in a new recruit right from the start, that was something he'd learnt from experience. He hadn't done it with Emilia, and well, look how that turned out. He bent down to pick up the sword from the floor and held its tip to the new vampire's throat and finally the vampire stood.

'Tell me your name.'

'Fergus. Who the fuck are you?' The new recruit's eyes lit up as they fell on Ana, who was now sitting up against one of the tables. '

'You can call me Lord Harry, you will do as I say. And that's Ana.' He said nodding in her direction. 'I suggest you show her some respect and direct your eyes elsewhere. She's not someone that you want to anger.' Fergus obeyed without complaint. Not completely stupid then.

Fergus's face fell into an expression of horror, the memories of what had happened must have returned to him. 'You're not human.'

'And neither are you. Not anymore anyway. You're far better than that now.'

'So what you said before…' Fergus's memories were obviously creeping back, 'that you're a vampire?'

'And now you're one too. Welcome to the family.'

Fergus's brows knitted into a frown 'Well bugger me.'

They were interrupted by Ana who was currently in the process of pulling her undergarments back on. 'It's time we move I think. It'll be morning soon. We don't want to have to deal with the locals.'

'Quite right.' He turned back to Fergus, 'There's two horses in the stable, prepare them for riding and take one from the paddock for yourself.'

'You promised me women, riches and eternal life. Not bloody servitude.' Fergus huffed.

'I'd advise you to watch your tongue.' He patted Fergus on the shoulder. 'You've got all the time in the world for women and riches now. Come, you must be hungry'

She had never expected her life to be easy. She had discarded her dreams of fairy tales and happy endings at around the time her mother died. So it wasn't as though she could claim disappointment at the way things had turned out. In fact, all things considered, things could be a lot worse. She had a solid roof over her head in a lovely house and a reasonable source of income. But a nice house and job didn't even begin to make up for Rebecca's death or her the fact that her former best friend had become what seemed like another man entirely.

She tried not to think about Hal. She had always known that there was a risk this might happen, but she had hoped that he wouldn't let it, that he would be stronger than that. It had turned out that her faith in him had been severely misplaced and now the ever present threat of his return felt like a sword hanging over her. The fact that Johnny now seemed intent on painting a target on their door just felt like another nail in the coffin. No amount of optimism could drown out the swelling anxiety that was currently threatening to overwhelm every part of her.

She could feel the wolf beginning to stir, getting ready to burst forth. It wasn't a bad feeling, quite the opposite actually. Its presence was comforting, it made her feel stronger. Right now she could feel it pacing inside her, angry that it hadn't had chance to run free at the last full moon. It didn't appreciate being caged. Sarah had been secretly hoping that she would be able to transform in one of London's parks this time, but it looked as though Johnny's nocturnal activities had put paid to that idea.

Her work at the shop provided her with a welcome escape. When she was here, she could pretend she lived in the normal world with it all its wonderful mundanities. She couldn't help feeling a little jealous of the customer standing before her whose worries seemed to be restricted to whether or not her dresses were of the current fashion and if she was getting enough attention from her suitor. Such a hard life you must lead, she thought, nodding sympathetically while the woman agonised over whether this particular shade of burgundy was appropriate for the time of year and if it brought out the colour of her eyes.

Both Emilia and Johnny were already out when Sarah had awoken. She had heard Johnny storming out of the house shortly after she had gone to bed and she suspected he hadn't returned. That worried her, but then, Johnny always worried her.

She glanced up at the customer who was now rambling on about some upcoming winter ball. Sarah wished she would just get on with it and buy the bloody dress. After what seemed like an age, the woman finally decided that that particular shade of burgundy silk was what she wanted and handed Sarah the money. Finally she was left in peace and went to the back room to put away a new line of fabrics which had just been delivered.

She was interrupted by the bell ringing as the shop door swung open. She steeled herself for another tedious customer, then she caught his scent. She had no idea why he'd be here. It was a Wednesday, surely he should be at work. She hurried back out onto the shop floor to find Johnny standing in the doorway looking more like a vagrant than the immaculately smart man she had become accustomed to. Judging by the thick layer of dirt coating his clothing, he'd spent the night on the street. His wig, which currently resembled a bird's nest rather than a hair piece, suggested the same. He sloppily collapsed into one of the chairs outside the fitting area. She'd have to clean that once he left. Hal's obsession with cleanliness had obviously rubbed off on her.

'I think I've done something really stupid'

She calmly walked to the door, turned the sign to 'closed' and then pulled up a chair opposite him. 'What did you do?'

'I don't know what came over me. I couldn't help myself.'

She took a deep breath, suddenly scared at what he might admit. 'Johnny, you need to tell me what you did.'

'I burnt it down. The vampire's main office.'

Shit. She hadn't been expecting that. Her stomach lurched and she thought she was going to throw up. This'll be the death of us… She took a deep breath to prevent herself from letting the stream of profanities whirring in her mind from bursting from her lips. Shouting wouldn't help anyone, no matter how tempting it was.

'Did you leave any traces that could lead them to you? She asked finally.

He shook his head. 'But if they're already looking for a werewolf….'

Her calm demeanour finally evaporated. 'What the hell were you thinking? Are you trying to get us all killed?'

'They were murderers. They deserved what they got.'

'So what does that make you then?'

'I'm not like them.'

'Not yet maybe, but you're well on your way. I lost Hal to all that, I don't want to lose you as well. We can still walk away from this alive. Go to a quiet provincial town, live in peace.'

'I thought you wanted to stay here.'

'I just don't want to be alone. I don't want to have to lie to everyone around me. If you were there, we could help each other through it.'

He simply shook his head. 'I can't do it Sarah. I know I should, but I just can't. Not while men like Yorke still are still roaming the streets.'

'There will always be men like him Johnny.' She said tiredly. They had reached a stalemate. They always did in these kinds of conversation. It was like talking to a stone wall 'What in god's name possessed you to do it?'

He hunched his shoulders forward and then let them drop. 'I just felt so helpless and I hated it. I hate that we have to live in hiding because of them whilst they sit in their mansions treating our kin worse than animals. I just couldn't stand it anymore. I walked just past that building and saw an opportunity.'

She wasn't sure that she trusted he was telling the truth but she didn't see that interrogating him about the details would do anyone any good.

'The death of half their men might weaken them, give us chance to find somewhere safe.' Johnny sounded like he was trying to convince himself as much as her. 'If they've got no leadership they won't be organised.'

She felt the strength drain from her body and slumped forwards in her chair like a rag doll. 'They're going to come after you with everything they've got, you know that don't you.'

'Then we'll have to make sure we're ready for them.'

The smoke was still curling up in pale wisps in the frigid morning air when Emilia arrived at what had, until the previous evening, been the vampires' London stronghold. All that remained of it now was a burnt out shell. As she walked closer to the building, her nose wrinkled in disgust at the acrid fumes. She heard footsteps behind her and turned around to see a red eyed Alistair Drake, the vampire that had alerted her to Johnny's activities.

He rested a hand on her shoulder and gave it a gently squeeze. 'Bloody awful isn't it. Ellie was in there when it happened. I couldn't get in to her until it was too late…' he trailed off.

'Alistair, I'm so sorry.' She truly was. She had found Ellie Drake to have been very enjoyable company, a hopeless gossip and hilarious with it. 'What happened?'

Alistair made a futile attempt to wipe away the tears that were now rolling freely down his cheeks. 'They think it was intentional. Someone broke in and set the fire whilst there was a party was going on upstairs. Everyone inside was killed.'

Emilia's stomach lurched. This had Johnny's paw prints all over it. She thought she was supposed be on the side of good these days. She had spent the last few weeks feeding as little possible, and only on people she thought deserving. But while she had been trying to be better, to control her appetites, the very man who was putting the most pressure on her to resist what she was, was going around committing mass murder. At least Hal doesn't pretend that his barbarities are for the greater good, said a little voice in her head that she was finding it increasingly difficult to ignore.

'So what's going to happen now?'

'We get our revenge.' Alistair's voice had hardened. 'We'd be rounding up all the bloody dogs in England if I had my way.'

'You think it was your werewolf assassin then?'

'Seems likely don't you think. It's a huge escalation though, something must have rattled him. Anyway, Parker sailed this morning, he's heading to Snow's residence. So the whole thing's in the Old One's hands now. Hopefully Hal will return to deal with it, that fucking dog will wish he'd never been born when he gets his hands on him.' He finally tore his eyes away from the smouldering wreck of the building and looked directly at Emilia. 'Ellie and I were surprised when you didn't go away with him.'

Emilia swallowed. She'd been trying not to think about her relationship with Hal too much recently. It was easier to try and see him purely as her enemy, but the truth was that she missed him. That bridge was well and truly burnt now she supposed, there was certainly no way he'd ever take her back if he knew where she'd spent the last month. 'We agreed it would be best for Harry to focus solely on business whilst he's out there,' she lied. 'I didn't want to be a distraction.'

Her answer seemed to satisfy Alistair, 'I need a drink.' He smiled weakly at Emilia, 'would you like to join?'

She shouldn't, she knew that she shouldn't. But the fact remained that if Johnny had done this, he'd crossed a line, and if it was okay for him to lash out and kill indiscrimately then why the hell was she trying so hard not to?

He had received his summons from Snow the day after he had returned from his excursion with Ana. He was to go to the Old One's private quarters. That was new. All their meetings up to now had been in the main hall where Snow held court. Today however, it would be a private audience with none of Snow's advisors and hangers on scurrying about them. Hal couldn't make up his mind whether that was good or bad. He took a breath before knocking at the old oak door and heard a voice from beyond it calling him in.

Snow didn't seem to be interested in making guests feel comfortable in his territory. Although the chateau was luxurious, its décor was undoubtedly designed to intimidate those within its walls, all imposing furniture and cold hard surfaces. This room felt a little more welcoming. The Old One was seated in a grand chair in front of a roaring fire. If it weren't for Snow's presence, the room would be almost cosy. Well, cosy compared to the rest of the place anyway. He could feel Snow's eyes on him as he walked across the room to him. When he was in front of the Old One he bowed. Snow nodded in approval. 'Please sit.' Hal did as he was told.

'You've shown great potential in the few weeks you've been with us. Though I must tell you that many of my colleagues disagree with my opinion. It seems they don't believe that you show your elders the respect that is due. They think you can't be trusted.'

That snippet of information came as no surprise to Hal. Word of his plot against Angus Fraser seemed to have spread quickly around Snow's court. Probably courtesy of Edgar Wyndham, Hal suspected. Wyndham hadn't paid Hal much attention since his arrival, only choosing to converse with him when business absolutely required it. He had made no secret of the fact that although he respected Hal's worth as an asset to the Old Ones, he didn't like him.

'Luckily for you,' Snow continued. 'I follow my own instincts. Besides, some of them have become a little too comfortable around here , I think a bit of a shake-up is in order. But I digress. It seems there's been some bother in London. Someone has attacked your old offices. Burnt them to the ground.'

Hal's eyes widened in surprise.

'Many of our officials were killed, including the man who was holding your position for you.'

'Do we have any idea who might have done this?'

'There are suspects. One of the survivors arrived here this morning. Apparently there's been a werewolf going around assassinating vampires. It would all sound rather comical if the dog wasn't quite so successful at it.'

Cogs were turning in Hal's head, pieces clicking into place. A picture was forming, and not one that he liked. 'And you suspect the assassin and the arsonist are the same dog?'

'It would seem likely. I would like you to go back to London for me Hal. Deal with the mess. It's not a demotion you understand, I merely think you'd be the best man for the job. You'll return here when you're done.'

'I would be honoured to go back as your representative sir.'

'It's not just that.'

Hal's blood froze. 'I don't understand.'

'I believe you have some personal business over there that you need to deal with.' Snow's grin widened as Hal's smile was wiped away. It was like the air had been sucked from his lungs. 'A pretty little bitch if I've heard correctly. Mercy is a dangerous thing Hal. It's a weakness. These strings that bind you to your humanity, they'll strangle you in the end. You need to cut yourself free from them. You understand what I'm saying don't you?'

There wasn't any point denying it. Not to Snow. 'How did you know?'

'Oh Hal. I was always going to find out. You knew that from the start.'

'How?' his mouth had gone dry and seemed capable of forming only the most basic of words.

Snow didn't respond.

'Ana.' Hal answered the question for himself. That fucking whore. At this moment he wanted nothing more than to get his hands on that bitch and show her why Hal Yorke was not a man to be trifled with.

Snow's grin widened further revealing even more rotten teeth. 'I hear you've taken quite the shine to her.'

'She was spying on me this whole time then?'

'It was Edgar's idea. She's his progeny you see. It's nothing personal Hal. But if I'm going to take you under my wing I have to be satisfied that you won't be a liability to me.'

Hal tried to keep his voice placid, but inside he was seething. 'And now you know everything?'

'And now I know everything.'

Snow stood, implying that Hal should do the same. 'You'll set off at dawn tomorrow, I'll have someone who knows the area to accompany you. When you reach the coast there will be a ship waiting to take you back to London.' He guided Hal to the door. 'It wouldn't be wise to try to pull the wool over my eyes again Hal. As I've told before, I don't take kindly to those who disappoint me.'