Well, all good things come to an end, but apparently so do my stories. This was really just supposed to be a re-write, but it still seemed to run away with me a bit. Already I have more stuff planned out. It's all Harris' fault, really. The poor guy just screams out to be abused and used. He's got far too much angst and style for me to leave alone for long. Also, a huge thanks to PK'chu, for actually pointing at one of my characters specifically and saying "Me like!". As a result of this (and to be honest I always intended to use the character more anyways) I'm afriad that Blue may just not be done with Harris yet either. In any case, read on, there's still a bit of time left in the night for...

The Thief Who Came In From The Cold: A Tale of Detroit

Chapter Seven: The Thief Who Came in From The Cold

Roulda watched the fluttering blue coat as Blue plummeted from the tower down to the ice caked pavement below. He growled and leaped off the edge of the building. He slammed to the ground and rushed over to his fragile mistress. She lay motionless, staring up into the night sky. She turned to look and him and smiled wistfully.

Roulda shook with anger, first Harris had taken the master from him, and now he had started in on Blue as well! Roulda vowed that Harris would not come between him and his one love. He looked up, his eyes flaring red, at the teetering form of Harris as he crouched upon the bridge cable. It appeared as though he was trying to prevent Eric from falling. Roulda growled and raised his gun.

For my mistress! he bellowed as he squeezed the trigger.

Aw no, aw hell.

The bullets slammed into his chest, his body shook at the impact, his muscles jerked. Flesh was torn apart as the metal slugs ripped through him. He let go of Eric as he too toppled back. The senschel plunged out of sight with a startled scream. The icy cable offered little to hold onto as Harris collapsed and slid off it. His fingers scrabbled uselessly at slick and smooth metal, then he plummeted to the bridge below. Luckily there was no traffic, the Sabbat had had officials close the bridge down. Unluckily it was still a hard concrete surface to impact. Harris groaned in agony as he began to pull his body back into working order.

I told you this was a damn fool plan, hissed Eric as he staggered to his feet.

Even as Eric rose bullets slammed into him, casting him to the ground. Harris looked back, dozens of Sabbat were charging down the bridge for them. He looked the other way, no Camarilla guards. The ones that were there probably didn't even realize how important they were. Well, amended Harris, how important Eric was. Doc tottered to his feet and began firing at the Sabbat. Belle propped herself up on one arm and fired at them as well.

The one word brought a halt to his attack. Roulda glanced over in surprise at the delicate figure who stood next to him. Her bright blue eyes watched the fire-fight upon the bridge. As he looked down at his small mistress Roulda felt a twinge of unease pass through him. Slender hands tugged at her blue gloves as she pulled them tighter around her fingers.

Harris isn't going to make it, she commented quietly. I had thought my fall would have allowed him to escape. But, he's too injured and the Sabbat are too many.

Of course, mistress. I shall claim his head for you myself. Even as he made to depart Roulda felt a small gloved hand rest against his bicep and urge him to halt. His heavy brow furrowed in confusion as he glanced back at her.

You may consider my employment with the Sabbat complete. I failed my mission and shall expect no pay or recompense for my activities. I shall see that Cooler's down payment is returned in full with interest. I shall now again be a free agent, and shall act appropriately. Do you understand?

don't leave me. Roulda looked at her, feeling his world slipping away around him. He had lost yet another, it wasn't right. Her blue eyes watched him, they seemed to grow frigid cold and burningly hot in the same instant.

You want to come with me, Roulda? What of Cooler and your sect? Are you being good?

I know not. Right, wrong. Just, unjust. I simply desire to be with you and serve you always, mistress. Blue looked up at him, her eyes deep and deadly. Her hand reached up to catch at some of her hair as she gently pushed it back behind her ear.

Then the hand came forward again and brushed lightly at his face.

You have some of the same blood that flows in him. It is not much, perhaps though, it is enough. Roulda nodded slowly. Not understanding, yet realizing he had what he wanted. He was hers, and she had accepted him. She was his mistress, always. she said with a small smile, her eyes glinting, I suppose we should see to acting appropriately.

And it all seemed to be going so well, sighed Harris as he tried to stagger forward on a broken leg. Bullets sparked around him as he twisted behind another of the support cables. He glanced around it at the Sabbat that were coming for them. They fired as they charged forward. Occasionally also ducking for cover behind some of the support cables and maintenance boxes of the bridge. He and the others were fighting a moving retreat towards Detroit across the abandoned bridge. Harris raised his .45 and fired off three more rounds, then scowled at the sharp click. That's it! I'm out!

Belle dived and rolled to the side as a spray of bullets sparked against the railing she had been crouched in front of. She rolled up to her knees and squeezed off a few quick rounds at the Sabbat. She was looking worn out, low on blood and sporting half a dozen bullet wounds. Doc slowly backed up, he fired slowly and methodically at the packs. Carefully picking off the most dangerous, or the closet of them. But Harris knew it was all in vain, they couldn't make it.

The scream was sharp and sudden, yet cut through the hissing wail of the wind clearly. Harris looked up in surprise as a Sabbat stumbled out from his hiding place. His Uzi dropped with a clatter to the pavement as he clutched at his neck. Suddenly a bright wash of red erupted from his slashed throat as he sank to the ground with a moan. There was another sudden scream. Harris looked over at the collapsing shape of a large biker, a blade cutting clean through his back and out his chest, cleanly ripping through where his heart would be. The man dropped, revealing his attacker. Harris gasped.

Blue. Her eyes burning with bright intensity in the darkness. Nearby Sabbat howled in outrage as they charged her. Her blade slashed around in a flashing blur as she cut into them. Her supple body twisted about and moved away from their clumsy assault.

The Sabbat offensive faltered. Half of them turned to face this new threat, while the other half continued to focus on the weaker prey. Suddenly Harris heard a roar and looked up. Someone was driving a dented red pickup down the bridge straight at themand it came from the Detroit side of the river!

A gloved hand was shoved through the window and fired at the Sabbat with a massive Desert Eagle handgun. One of the attackers was suddenly missing most of his face. Harris grinned when he recognized the truck as his, that meant the driver was

Hey Harris, called Marv as he slammed on the brakes next to them. It took me a while to remember how I borrowed this heap from you. I came to return it, I told you I returned things that I owed to others Nobody was listening to him, instead they were all limping desperately up to the truck. Seeing here perhaps the best chance for a clean getaway, while the Sabbat were distracted.

Harris however paused as he opened the passenger door. An icy wind fluttered around him, tossing his hair and bloodstained coat around him. He glanced back to the dark swarm of twisted shapes that clustered about a glowing goddess with azure eyes.

His cry surprised even him. He saw her glance up, and for a moment their eyes locked once again. He feared for her safety, and she knew it. One of the blazing azure eyes blinked as she winked to him, her crimson stained lips smirking in amusement. She laughed, her fangs flashed. She was exactly where she had always been, doing exactly what she was meant to. She was the death, she was the passion, she was the fire.

Harris turned away.

Go go go! yelled Doc as he chucked Eric into the back of the truck. He and Belle leapt in as well as Harris hopped into the passenger seat. Marv grinned and slammed the truck into gear as he spun it around. Bullets ripped through it and into everyone inside. Harris heard the angry cries of the Sabbat packs as they charged, their guns blazing brightly in the snowy night. Marv slammed his foot down on the gas as they accelerated away from Windsor.

Wow, looks like I missed one helluva good time, chuckled Marv as the gunfire rattled around them. Belle stared in shock at him as she leaned through the shattered back window. Blood leaking from her dozens of wounds.

You can't be serious.

Believe me, he's serious, said Harris

Marv flipped on the radio and began to beat out a tune on the steering wheel as the Sabbat continued to fire at the retreating truck. I load sixteen tons, whatta I get, Marv crooned poorly. Harris shook his head as he lay bleeding and torn apart in the passenger seat. Another day older, and deeper in debt! A shotgun blast blew out one of the back lights.

Marv, get us somewhere safe, groaned Harris as he started to heal up his broken leg.

No sweat, I got a couple o friends that'll help patch ya up real nice.

Not the angel is it?

Michael Cooler roared up to the bridge, followed by The Marauders. He skidded his bike to a stop and leapt off it before it had even truly stopped. He stormed towards the bridge, his eyes angry. The packs that lurked there looked up warily. Their clothes were rent, and splashes of blood littered them. Cooler noted with even deeper anger the few bodies on the ground, who would presumably never get up again.

They're gone, and so is she. Cooler spun around at the soft voice. Anne Arbor stood quietly behind him, flanked on either side by Black Hand agents. We lost Eric, and some good men. We gained nothing.

What? Eric got away, after all this!?! He spun and waved his hand in frustration at the battle scene. He'd have to call in some major favors to help conceal the worst of this mess from the mortal media. And what do you mean, she's gone?

stated Anne calmly. She turned against the packs in the final assault and helped the Camarilla agents to escape. It was a mistake to trust her.

Anne spoke the words simply and clearly. But Cooler could well feel the sneer in her tone. Anne had predicted that Blue couldn't be trusted. But how was he to know? He had paid her well, she should have been loyal. That was the way with the Assamites. They never let anything get in the way of their contracts. What could possibly have possessed her to act so strangely? Cooler snarled, this would be costly indeed. He'd have to guard against the other bishops, hope they didn't sense his failure as a weakness and attempt to destroy him. This was all Blue's fault.

Where is that bitch?

I don't know, sir. She disappeared into the river during the fight. She was hit by a shotgun blast and fell in, no one saw her come back up.

Where's Roulda, he was supposed to watch her!

He seems to be missing as well.

Cooler's eyes narrowed as he cursed. Do we know if she's alive, or dead?

I don't know, sir, said Anne with a small shrug. However I do know that something made her turn against us, and whatever it was had to be a strong reason for her to betray her employers. Personally I'd be just as happy if we never see her again. She smiled tightly. I know I wouldn't want her still out there and hunting me.

Anne turned and walked away. Leaving a wide-eyed Cooler to stare in fear down at the black waters of the river. And wonder if somewhere in Detroit a figure with flashing blue eyes was pulling itself to safety. Cooler shivered, but is wasn't due to the cold.

Epilogue: And The Thief Who Stayed Behind

Harris sat in Gurdy's listening to a young country singer and his harmonica, guitar combo. The kid had some talentsome. Next to him sat Marv, who was trying to tell Harris he had seen a strip show here. Which of course was impossible, Marv had probably just been in another club and forgotten. Harris frowned to himself. It had all become one big screw job. Almost as soon as they pulled off the bridge Octavian and a pile of enforcers had popped out of nowhere. Eric had leapt from the truck and had quickly ordered the anarchs captured. Some gratitude.

The four anarchs had wildly fled into the night, Octavian and his men hounding their every step. It had been a near thing, but they had somehow managed to elude their pursuers. Belle and Doc had thanked him for his efforts and let him and Marv know they'd always have a friend in the anarchs. Whoop-de-doo. It even looked like Belle might be able to deal with his newly revealed clan. She at least hadn't mentioned it to anyone else. He sighed, of course, how could he blame her for having trouble accepting who he was, when he himself couldn't really face it. Harris shook his head and stood up. Marv glanced over at him.

Ya cuttin' out pal?

Yeah, I just need some fresh air.

Don't do nuthin' I wouldn't do.

Harris grinned at the lack of structure in that comment as he walked outside. The snow was still falling, but now only in a thin gentle cloud. The wind had grown still, and now the flakes settled peacefully and serenely to the ground.

Harris put his hands in his coat and started walking. The city for once seemed clean and pure, the uncorrupted white snow covered the graffiti and grime that usually coated Detroit. Harris breathed in the crisp cold air as he walked briskly down a small sidewalk. Yes, the city seemed clean. But it was an illusion. Soon the snow would melt or be swept away to reveal the grime.

Was he any different then the city? Trying to hide his monster beneath a layer of comforting humanity. Was it an illusion? He was worried with how easily he had become the beast when Blue had kissed him, how quickly the past had returned. How quickly the snow had melted beneath her fire.

Nohe was different now. She was just a shadow of temptation, one that he had faced and overcome. When the fatal moment had come, he had pushed her away. He had turned from monster to man. He knew that he would do the same if offered the choice again. No, he was changing. This was his future, she was his past.

Goodbye Blue, it had been fun.

Being good yet?

The voice brought a flash of danger searing across his senses. Harris spun at the soft voice that echoed through his head. His hands leaping from his pockets and reaching for his guns.

The street behind him contained nothing but fluffy snow and whistling wind.

If the city just remained cold, and the sky kept dropping snow. Then why couldn't the darkness be masked forever? Why couldn't the illusion become a reality? Harris glanced up at the stars over his head.

Being good yet, he echoed. I'm tryingevery night I'm trying

The End