Ghosts of the Past XXXVI

Disclaimer: I do not own Moonlight. My love of the show keeps me writing.

So, now we are nearing the finish of the story. And we need to find out what they will do with James and Douglas. I hope that you like what the muse cooked up.

Chapter 36

The four vampires studied their two captives silently for a moment, trying to decide how to dispose of the Carringtons.

"I think we should call in the team that Claudia assigned to this situation," Travis suggested. "We can dispose of these two and no one will ever find them."

"That is an excellent offer Travis but these gentlemen must have a very public death and the police must label it an accident," Josef told him.

Travis looked confused and James and Douglas exchanged worried looks.

"Why?" Travis asked.

"Because there is an outside interest who is watching our actions," Josef stated simply.

Douglas looked shocked and James gave Josef a suspicious stare. This mess they were in now seemed to have become a bigger threat to the people that their family called friends. Douglas thought quickly of Kelvin and Charles, their secret may have been discovered.

"Oh don't be so cryptic with them my darling," Kira purred, tired of playing games with these humans. Normally she didn't like playing with humans who crossed her but the Carringtons pushed all the wrong buttons. She wanted Douglas to pay for looking like Tyler but being so cruel in comparison to her beloved husband. "They will not be talking to anyone; we can share what we know. Let's explain just how epically they've failed."

Mick smiled and nodded to Josef in agreement. He felt Kira needed and deserved to twist the knife…..so to speak. Kostan inclined his head with a smug smile, agreeing with Mick that his lady should let their captives know just how badly they had failed. At this point he didn't care if the Sentinels had questions about the deaths of these two or not, he just needed to know that Douglas couldn't talk to anyone.

"Explain it to them Kira," Mick said and was rewarded with a toothy smile from the redhead.

"Douglas, your bodies will be found by the police as part of a tragic accident. The other members in the Sentinel organization will have no reason to think vampires were involved unless you informed them you were coming after us. We are aware that they didn't approve of your plans for revenge," she said to the younger man.

"What the hell are you talking about?" James sputtered before his son could say anything.

"Shall I be more blunt?" Kira said curiously. "We know Douglas is a member of the Sentinels, along with Charles Patterson in LA and Kelvin MacIntosh from Sacramento. We are aware you just recruited ADA Ben Talbot which is a shame, I rather enjoyed his visits to my club." She noted Douglas' surprised expression. "Oh really Douglas, did you think we'd never figure it out? We really are smarter than you think."

"I found it very enlightening to sit outside Dr. Patterson's window and listen to you sell your organization to Talbot," Mick said pleasantly. "You spelled out the entire history of your group."

"How?" Douglas gasped.

"It's your fault Dougie boy. You came after Kira and dragged Patterson and MacIntosh into the mix. We decided to investigate because of the way you behaved at Dusk to Dawn. Be aware Douglas that it is your fault we dug deep enough to discover the Sentinels. The tribe now knows all about your "secret" organization," Josef said flashing a fanged grin. He exaggerated how much they knew about the group but it would not matter since these two were not going to live much longer. "Your secret is blown boys."

"You can't know about us," Douglas denied.

"Oh but we can," Mick confirmed. "We know that your group was born during the French Revolution and that you believe sitting back and observing vampires makes you a superior group of humans. You really don't know us; you just buy into the horror movie myths and hate what you don't understand. For you the party is over and the Sentinels will no longer work in secret against us, the community is now on the lookout for your members."

It gave Mick a great deal of pleasure to see the sick expression as his words sank in. The fact that vampires knew about the Sentinels only confirmed the fact that Douglas and James would not survive the night.

"The organization will not tolerate our deaths at vampire hands," James said firmly.

"Interesting…you believe that they approved of you going to war against us?" Josef enquired. "Are they prepared to step out of the shadows and fight us openly?"

"Yes," Douglas declared boldly.

"Oh Dougie…..you forget that we can tell when you are lying," Kira clucked. "Your people like to sit back and watch, they don't get their hands dirty confronting us. They've lived in the shadows for centuries, why would they step out now?"

Douglas knew his argument was weak and they could offer no other reason to save their lives. He looked at his father, desperate to see some hope in James' eyes. The elder Carrington gave him a hesitant smile.

"No matter how opposed the Sentinels may be towards our family's revenge plans, they will not be pleased with our deaths," James said calmly. "If you have truly investigated then you know they don't always hide in the background."

"And that is why your deaths will be clear to the world that it was an accident that killed you," Mick replied. "We know Douglas drove his Porsche up to Lake Arrowhead since I've put a tracer on it when he was in LA earlier. You know…there are some sharp hairpin turns on the roads around here and a fiery crash is not difficult to imagine. I searched your background Douglas; you have a habit of collecting speeding tickets. Don't let the fire aspect frighten you; you'll be dead before the car burns."

"That is an excellent plan Mick," Kira laughed. "I doubt anyone will question Dougie losing control on a winding road." She moved closer and gripped Douglas' head in her hands. "Douglas, I do regret that you must die but you are a danger to the tribe. I hate you have made it necessary to kill, I abhor killing," she stated just as she quickly twisted his head sideways, breaking his neck.

"No…" James cried out as he dove towards his son. Josef grabbed him from behind and swiftly snapped his neck. He stepped away from the elder Carrington's body and looked at the others coolly.

"There, it's done. I hate to say this but there was very little satisfaction in this," Josef sighed. "So now we have an accident to set up. We need to retrieve Douglas' car and find a proper spot in the road. Unless you have that planned out as well Mick? You did some very productive thinking up in that tree."

"I have a spot in mind," Mick admitted, just as Travis' phone buzzed. He looked up at the others with a smile.

"That was Raquel, the team leader that Claudia assigned to help out. I texted her that it was finished up here. She is sending someone to get Douglas' car at the marina, most likely parked somewhere away from the crowd. We can arrange the accident if you would like Mick, just give us the location you think will work," Travis told them, then looked at his phone once again as it buzzed. He grinned up at Mick. "Raquel has a question for you. She is by the entrance to the resort, keeping any humans from stumbling in on what was happening. She has stopped a car with a very determined blonde human and wants to know what she should do with her."

"Beth?" Mick questioned in surprise.

"Yes sir, she is with one of Josef's men," Travis confirmed, still grinning. "Shall I tell her to hold them at the gate?"

"No," Mick sighed. "Send them to the main lodge, I'll meet them there," he added with an irritated set to his jaw. He took off running for the main lodge as the others watched him go.

Josef and Kira exchanged looks and then Kira let out a sob that was part laughter and part tears. Josef quickly wrapped his arms around her.

"We should have known that Beth wouldn't stay away," she choked out. "How did she manage to talk your bodyguard to drive her here?"

"I'm not sure but you can bet that Jacob will have some explaining to do when I see him," Josef replied and hugged her tightly. "It doesn't matter, all's well that ends well."

Kira buried her head against Josef's chest, sobs wracking her body. She had buried her feelings as long as possible and now the relief of it being over needed to be released. Josef rubbed one hand up and down her back, trying to give her some comfort. Keeping her in his arms, he backed away from the bodies and didn't stop until the screening of brush was between them and the dead. Once free of that view, Josef loosened his hold on her and held her at arm's length, his eyes locked on hers.

"Are you okay my pet?" he asked gently. "Please don't let this destroy your spirit. They set their fate in motion, they chose this result."

"I know that Josef. I realize I'm rusty…..I haven't killed in a long time," she confessed.

"It did not help that Douglas was Tyler's spitting image. Even though you were aware he wasn't your husband, it still messed with your emotions. Mick would tell you to cling to that compassion," Josef told her as he stroked her cheek with one hand.

"What would you tell me?" she asked with a small smile.

"Not to become complacent, my girl. Some paranoia is vital to surviving. We must always remember that there are groups like the Sentinels that exist. They may be hiding in the shadows at present but they are plotting to destroy us," he said seriously.

"You are right, I have allowed myself to relax too much," Kira agreed as she leaned in to meet his lips for a kiss.

*ML*

Mick raced through the woods to arrive at the main lodge just as a dark sedan parked in front of the building. The passenger door swung open and Beth emerged, looking around anxiously. Her face flooded with relief when she spotted Mick approaching.

"Beth…what were you thinking, coming up here? Can't you ever follow instructions?" Mick demanded as he stopped in front of her. His worry about what she could have walked into prevented him from being careful with his words. Beth's face fell as she heard the anger in his voice. She stepped back towards the car, guilt flooding her expression.

End chapter.

Oops…..seems the muse may have started a fight. I'm sure they will make up. Thank you for reading.