Chapter Twenty-Six

The Stakeout – Part Two

For the first fifteen minutes of their walk the two remained silent, each lost in their own thoughts.

Morgan:

"ohmygod, ohmygod, ohmygod! Okay. This is really happening...," She glanced to her right, making sure Levi was really there. "Shit! This is really happening! Okay, okay, okay. Breathe, relax. I can do this...I know I think he betrayed us, but maybe Kris is right. I'm not saying I flat out believe her, I'm just saying that she might have a point... I mean, it's Levi. My father is kind of an ass and it would definitely be like him to threaten Levi's life if he didn't do as he was told... but still, Levi went to my father. Vlad had no reason to seek him out. If he's with Vlad, then he went to him on his own. Isn't that betrayal? I mean, he pretty much just turned his back on everything we've ever been through...I want to trust him, and I want to believe that he's still on our side, but I know that I don't feel that way based on his actions...

Levi:

"Okay Levi, you got this. You can do this. This is your one chance to prove to her that her father has changed..." He glanced to his left, looking at Morgan out of the corner of his eye, "Shit. I am so screwed! If Vladimir isn't on anything but his absolute best behavior, Morgan's never going to believe he's changed... I mean, it'll help that he's with Ashley tonight, she needs to see that he truly feels something for her... And maybe..." His train of thought was cut off by a voice.

"Hey Levi...?" Morgan whispered.

"Yes, Morgan?" he responded quietly.

She was quiet for a long moment. "How have you been the past month or so?"

He sighed internally, "I've been okay... I guess you could say that things have been kind of complicated."

"What do you mean?" she whispered.

"Honestly, mostly all I really do is hang out with Ashley, and then with Tiffany when she was still there. How is Tiff, by the way?"

"She's doing well, although I'm a little hurt that she doesn't have anything bad to say about anyone from while she was gone. She won't stop 'swearing on her life' that you're the reason she's home," her voice turning sarcastic towards the end.

Levi's lips turned up into a small smirk, "Is that so? Well I'm glad she's happy. I do miss having her around though..."

"Trust me," Morgan stated, "she still misses you a lot, too."

Levi chucked quietly, earning himself a small glare from Morgan. "It's been nice getting to know Ashley, as well," he spoke, glancing in Morgan's direction, "I can understand why you like both of them so much."

They both fell into a tense silence, both unsure of how to continue their conversation from there. Several long minutes passes when suddenly Levi stopped. Morgan was pulled from her thoughts to take in her surroundings. They were stopped next to a large, black iron-rod fence that stretched a couple blocks in either direction, with a small, hard to see gate right beside them.

"This is a back entrance to where we've been staying, no one will notice us if we enter here... and thankfully Mary's been gone for awhile, so we don't have to worry about her sneaking around."

Morgan hesitated, Kris's speculations reentering her thoughts, making her unsure of what she might be walking into.

Levi noticed her hesitation. "What's wrong, Morgan?" he spoke quietly.

"How do I know that I'm not walking into an ambush?" she whispered, her voice wavering slightly in fear.

Levi felt his heart breaking, 'She's afraid I'm leading her to her death... I've destroyed her trust in me...' He sighed softly, "Do you really think I'd let anything hurt you?"

"I used to think so, but...now I'm not so sure," she spoke, staring at the ground.

"Morgan..." She continued to stare at the ground. "Morgan, please look at me," he pleaded. She slowly raised her head, meeting his gaze. "I know that you've tried to convince yourself that I've changed, people do that when they grieve. And I know I've hurt you, and I'm so terribly sorry, but I swear on my life that, if you walk through this gate with me, nothing bad will happen to you. I kept this a secret like I promised I would." He paused for a moment, then quietly added, "Please, trust me like you used to..."

A small battle raged in her head for a few very long moments, but her curiosity won out in the end. It seemed Levi was willing to talk to her and she needed answers. She needed to understand what had happened, and if anything Tiffany had told her over the past couple weeks was even remotely true, she knew she needed to see her father. She nodded in Levi's direction, and he slowly and soundlessly opened the small gate and led her inside.

They worked their way up through the center of the cemetery, until they reached the back of the church. "We usually stay just inside the entrance of the cemetery which is more in front of the church, off to the side," Levi spoke very quietly. "I figured we could scale the church and watch from above first. And then later, if you wanted, we could try to get closer."

Morgan thought for a moment, then nodded. "From afar sounds nice, for now," and then they began to climb.

XxX

They quietly worked their way across the roof towards the entrance of the cemetery, trying to locate Vladimir.

As they neared the edge of the roof, voices could be heard. They hid behind one of the steeples, glancing down to see Vladimir and Ashley together among the headstones.

It was obvious that Ashley's 'lessons' had already begun, and based off of context clues, Vladimir was teaching Ashley how to protect her weak spots- aka her chest and neck, since those were the only two ways to kill a vampire with a physical attack.

As they listened, Levi glanced over at Morgan, and could see that she was uncomfortable with what she was hearing. She obviously still wasn't super comfortable with her friends' choices to remain a vampire, and to remain with Vladimir.

A few more minutes passed with them sitting quietly and listening. Morgan still looked very uncomfortable, causing Levi to reach out and place his hand on her shoulder in the hopes to try to relax her, however she recoiled from his touch.

He stretched across the gap and placed his hand on her shoulder anyway, "Morgan, relax." He paused a moment, pulling his hand away. "What's wrong? Did I do something...?" He asked without thinking.

Morgan turned to face him, incredulously. "Did you do something?!" She asked in a harsh whisper. "Let me see, oh yeah, you left in a rage and joined up with my father who pretty much wants me dead. Oh no. I don't think you did anything wrong at all," she finished sarcastically.

He immediately regretted his question, and sighed softly, "I'm so. . ."

"Why?" she murmured.

"Morgan . . ." she cut him off again.

"Why?!" she pleaded.

He paused for a moment, not sure how to continue. "I was jealous and hurt . . . and I was finally tired of hiding my feelings for you. And once I had told you, I wanted you to make Alexander," he sneered his name, "leave. When you wouldn't, the jealously got worse and I could no longer control it. I was hurt and I wanted you to hurt as much as I was- I wasn't thinking clearly . . ."

"That's an understatement," Morgan mumbled.

He turned to face her, looking her straight in the eyes, "I love you," he murmured, "I have since the day I first met you . . ."

She broke the eye contact after a long moment, staring down at her hands, "That doesn't change what you did Levi."

He grabbed her hand, pulling her gaze back up to his. "I know," he whispered passionately, "I also know that no matter how many times I say 'I'm sorry' it will never change what I did." He paused for a moment, thinking over his words carefully. "I don't want to be forced to pick sides, because even though I consider Vlad a friend, no friend will ever be as important as the woman I love," he stated with the utmost sincerity.

Morgan tried to resist the urge to melt into a puddle at his words, but was failing miserably. In hopes to distract herself, she clung to the words he had spoken a moment before, "You consider Vladimir a 'friend'?"

"I really do," he murmured. "Ever since the day I brought Tiffany to you we've been getting closer. He has been trusting and confiding in me and I have gotten to know a side of your father that I didn't even know existed. He smiles, he laughs, he cracks jokes . . . He's even started being sarcastic! It's very weird, but I enjoy the company of this new Vlad."

As he continued to speak, Morgan's eyes grew wider and wider. When he finished her mouth was agape. She suddenly realized what she probably looked like, snapping her mouth shut. She was silent for a moment longer, "He sounds like the father I remember . . . before my mother died . . ." Her voice trailed off as her thoughts about her father and Levi's reported changes in his behavior clicked together. She gasped quietly and shifted so she could better see Ashley and her father.

XxX

An hour passed in silence. The couple had been observing Ashley and Vald's interactions. Vlad had continued teaching Ashley about her vulnerabilities and how to defend them when fighting.

Levi realized that this was actually a very good night to be observing, since training a 'wife' how to protect herself was not something that Vlad had done in the past. And during the process of the 'defense class,' Vlad was very gentle and loving with Ashley. He never said anything condescending or negative, always complementing her efforts so far and even encouraging her to do better. Levi could tell that Morgan was becoming more and more surprised by the minute over her father's behavior.

He then realized that he had never released Morgan's hand, and so, in the hopes to comfort her, he gently squeezed her hand. Her eyes were drawn to the pressure and he saw a soft smile flit across her flawless lips. He chuckled softly at her reaction and stood, pulling her to her feet with him. "Come on. Let's get closer."

They scaled down the back of the church and silently made their way around the side towards the entrance of the cemetery. They approached one of the many courtyards of the cemetery, hiding behind a large tomb, and glanced into said courtyard. Ashley and Vlad were now taking a small break.

"You're doing a wonderful job," Vlad spoke with a smile.

Ashley, who was sitting on the ground catching her breath, looked up at him with a wide smile on her face, "Thank you. You're a wonderful teacher."

"I have had many, many years to hone my gifts," he said with a chuckle, "But you will get there quickly enough. You are a very fast learner."

Ashley blushed at his words, and in response Vlad knelt down next to her placing his hand under her chin, running his thumb along her jaw line. "You are absolutely beautiful," he spoke passionately. His words caused Ashley to blush more. He chuckled at her reaction and gently kissed her on her forehead before standing again, "Are you ready to continue you're training?"

"Yes. Let's," Ashley stated as Vlad helped her to her feet.

At the sight of Vlad's tenderness Morgan turned from the couple, bracing herself against the tomb that was hiding them, and slid down to the ground in shock.

Levi knelt down next to her, "Hey. Are you okay?"

"What is going on?" she whispered.

"I told you he's changed..." he murmured, "He's been like this for over a month now."

"This behavior was all I knew while my mother was still alive... but the moment she was gone," a tear slid down her cheek, "the father I knew and loved was gone..."

"Shhh," Levi whispered, wiping the tear from her cheek," It's okay, Morgan. Don't cry..."

Suddenly, unable to control herself, Morgan threw her arms around Levi's neck, pulling him close to her and burying her face into the crook of his neck. Her actions surprised him at first, but he quickly relaxed, wrapping his arms around her and hugging her back. She was crying very softly and his grip tightened around her.

"Shhh," he murmured into her hair.

Her grip tightened around his neck, and he heard her whisper, "God, I missed you so much."

Levi smiled softly then pulled away, looking down at Morgan, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," she said, wiping the tears from her cheeks.

"Good," he spoke with a small chuckle, "Now we need to get focused back on why we're here." She nodded and they both stood, peaking around from behind the tomb.

Vladimir was now talking to Ashley about the process of transforming for the first time, "It's going to be the hardest the first time. You just need to focus on the shape of the animal you want to become and then will your body to shift into that shape." He paused for a moment before continuing, "The easiest form for a vampire to assume is a wolf, however, as your skill increases you will eventually be able to transform into any animal. We will begin with the wolf form. Observe." Suddenly Vladimir's original form began to melt away until all that was left in front of her was a large pitch black wolf with blood red eyes. He bared his teeth in a wolfy smile and then walked up to the vampire in front of him, nosing under her hand. She smiled and gently scratched the wolf behind his ears earning her a happy and contented growl and a lick on the arm. The wolf then backed away from her, melting back into Vladimir.

"That was amazing!" Ashley spoke excitedly.

"Each person's forms look slightly different. For example, when Morgan transforms she has two small black spots on her left cheek in coordination with her moles on her cheek. Also, most of her forms are a fawn color."

"That's so cool," Ashley exclaimed. "Do you have any defining characteristics?"

"Yes. My forms are almost all completely black, and every form retains my blood red eyes."

Ashley's eyed widened minutely at his words, "Is it my turn to try?"

"Yes. Just remember what I said, do nothing but focus on the shape you want to assume and then will your body to change shape."

Ashley's eyes closed, obviously completely focused on her task. Her form began to melt, but then stopped. She opened her eyes and frowned. She repeated the process a few more times before huffing loudly and stomping her foot in irritation, "What am I doing wrong?!"

"Try focusing on the shape for a longer period of time. Your brain must be able to perfectly picture the entire shape from every angle to properly change. Also, if you have any doubt about the process at all, no matter how small, you will never be able to succeed."

Ashley's eyes closed again, her body remaining unmoving for several minutes. Suddenly her body began to melt and then before Vladimir stood a beautiful pure white wolf, her coat glowing in the moon light. He looked into her eyes and shivered slightly as his gaze was pierced by the lightest ice blue eyes he had ever seen.

He spoke up, "To change back, let yourself relax and ease back into your original form."

Moments later Ashley was standing before him, a large smile plastered across her beautiful face. Vladimir returned the smile and she ran towards him, throwing herself into his arms, "I did it!"

He spun her around a couple times celebrating with her and as he set her on her feet, his lips met hers in a very deep and passionate kiss, his arms pulling her close to him.

In response and without thinking, Morgan gasped loudly.

The moment was over and Vladimir's head snapped up in the direction of the sound, pushing Ashley behind him, "Who's there?"

Levi turned to Morgan, "Stay put, "he mouthed. She responded with a quick nod. He then stepped out from behind the tomb and walked into the courtyard, making himself visible.

Vladimir instantly relaxed, "Levi, you scared me. What are you doing hiding over there?"

"I apologize, Vlad. I was just enjoying Ashley's lessons from afar. I didn't want to distract her," he spoke with a jokingly condescending tone.

Ashley rolled her eyes at him. "Very good job, by the way," Levi spoke, "I've never seen anyone, other than Morgan, transform that quickly for their first time."

She smiled as Vladimir pulled her close to his side, "Isn't she amazing?"

"She is," Levi chuckled. "You also have one of the most beautiful wolf forms I have ever seen. It's the exact opposite of Vlad's."

"Really?" she asked, twisting to look up at Vladimir.

"Yes. You have the purest white coat I have ever seen...," he murmured, "And I have also never seen a gaze more piercing than yours. Your eyes were ice blue..."

"Awesome," Ashley smiled. She then turned to Levi, "Can I see your wolf form?"

"Of course." Moments later a chestnut colored wolf stood before the couple. His eyes were a deep chocolate color and his black nose was speckled with pink. He stood there quietly for a moment, before suddenly throwing his head back and howling loudly into the night. Then his form shifted again, turning into a small brown tabby cat, his nose still speckled in pink and black. He approached Ashley, rubbing against her legs and purring loudly.

Vladimir chuckled, looking down at the cat. "Levi, you are being a showoff," he said, reaching down to run his fingertips along the cat's spine. He then turned to Ashley, "Not everyone has the skill to change between forms without first reassuming their original form. And if you're really talented, you can assume multiple of the same form at once, like a flock of birds."

Levi hissed in Vladimir's direction, "I'll take that as Levi saying he is isn't capable of that," he laughed.

Levi reassumed his original form, "I've tried, but I'm not sure how to properly focus my mind when having to split my conscious like that."

"Like I told Ashley, if any part of you doubts yourself the transformation will never happen. And it's not really a splitting of your conscious. It's more like you are the flock, and you move as one." Suddenly Vlad's form burst into a flock of bats, flying high into the sky then coming back and landing on the ground back in his original form.

Levi closed his eyes, focusing on Vlad's words and the images he had just witnessed. He was still for a long time and Morgan watched him from the shadows. Suddenly, just like with Vladimir, Levi's form burst into a brightly colored flock of Lorikeets, their beaks covering with a black speckling. The birds flew towards the couple, landing on them anywhere they could and the rest settling on the ground at their feet. The birds chirped in a happy chorus before taking off, Levi landing with a thud on the ground in front of them.

"The landing is the hardest part," Vlad laughed loudly, Ashley joining along.

Levi stood with a large smile, "That was so liberating! I have never felt so free." They continued to laugh for a few more moments, before Levi spoke up again, "It's also very exhausting. I'm going to go feed before the night is over. Have fun with what's left of your training tonight."

"Have a good dinner, my friend," Vlad spoke, "I will see you before dawn."

Levi smiled back and nodded. He then turned on his heels and headed back in the direction he had come, grabbing Morgan's hand and materializing on the spot.

Morgan looked around and realized that they were at the same back gate they had used to enter the cemetery. She looked up at Levi, not sure what was going to happen next.

"I really am exhausted, but I won't hunt tonight."

"I should probably be getting home," she changed the subject, "they'll be wondering where I am."

"Okay," he spoke softly.

"I have a lot I need to think about. Tonight was a very eye opening experience."

He looked deep into her eyes, "Will I get to see you again soon...?"

"Like I said," she spoke, "I have a lot of thinking to do, but I will try to call for you soon..." she turned to leave, and his eyes drifted closed, sad to see her go.

Suddenly, her felt her lips brush against his ever so gently, and she murmured, "Thank you, Levi." But once he opened his eyes, all that was left of her was her readily disappearing cloud of smoke.