CHAPTER TWELVE: MAKING PLANS

Michael & Selene

They had been hiding now for two full days. He knew they couldn't stay in their temporary sanctuary any longer. Everyday spent in any one place, was one day too many.

Selene had gone out and fed, then brought him back both blood and two steaks. One was raw while the other was cooked, well done to be exact. He figured she must have hit a restaurant somewhere in the neighborhood. At this point, everything he did or ate was going to be an experiment of sorts. But, they needed to ascertain what he could do or couldn't do; as well as figure out what he needed to survive on.

Steeling himself for an unpleasant experience, he tried the cooked steak first. After a couple of bites, he put it aside and took a bite out of the raw meat. That one did the trick. He didn't think it was going to be necessary to drink the blood. It appeared that he could keep down solid foods, but the raw, bloody steak had quenched his thirst and hunger more so than the cooked one. He wasn't sure if this was better than just drinking straight blood or not, but he would save that theory for another day. Right now, they needed to find another place to stay.

"Did you hear anything out on the streets", he asked Selene after he finished eating. She had watched him consume his meal in silence. She was naturally quiet, that was one thing he had discovered during their brief respite.

"No", she said with a sigh. "Whatever is going on, it's being kept quiet. I saw no signs of either vampires or lycans", she told him. "Well, maybe that's a good thing", he replied enthusiastically. "Maybe", she answered noncommittally.

Watching her pace through the room, he realized she didn't like sitting still either. She was constantly moving, unless she was asleep. "You know this area better than I do", he said. "Any idea where we could go?", he asked.

"No Michael, I don't. I've had only one home now for over two hundred years", she said on edge.

"Okay, I get that. Can I make a suggestion", he said, pausing for just a moment before he continued. "We could leave this country, hell, we could leave this continent. Let's go to the States." He watched her reaction to his statement.

"And, how do you propose we travel", she asked vehemently? I can't travel during the day, and we aren't sure how you'll do outside during daylight hours. Yes, it's apparent that the day sleep doesn't debilitate you as it does me, but will you be able to walk outside without burning?"

Okay, she was upset, a nervous ball of energy. He knew she had had a tremendous shock when she found out that Viktor had betrayed her. It also broke her heart to have to kill him, but what was done was done. They couldn't change the past, anymore than they could see the future. It was time for her to snap out of it and time for them to get out of town.

"Look, I have money put away in my apartment. I say we head over there and grab that as well as some clothes and a few other necessities. Then, we can steal a car and black out the windows. I'll drive during the day and you can handle the wheel at night", he said.

"How do propose we cross the Atlantic", she asked stubbornly?

"Selene, you act as if this is the 18th century", he said patiently. "We can book passage on a boat. As long as we stay inside our cabin during the day, we should be fine", he explained. "Once we reach the States, we can go to my family and get help from them." As far as he was concerned this was the best plan available.

"What if the vampires come after your family", she questioned?

He ran his hands through his hair in frustration and sighed. "I figure they're already a target, if for no other reason than because they're related to me. I can't control what happened to me; and, this mess has put them at risk. But I know they'll be anxious to hear from me. I haven't spoken to them in several days, which is highly unusual. If we make our way there, I can at least warn them and let them know I'm okay", he stated.

Selene knew she was being unreasonable, and realized she was pushing him away on purpose. Michael had been innocent in all that had gone on, and she was taking her anger and fears out on him. It wasn't fair.

She reached out to him, needing to feel his arms around her. This small amount of contact managed to calm her nerves and strengthen her resolve. Pulling back just enough to look up at him, she said, "Ignore me; I'm just being bitchy. Your idea is sound, and we need to get out of Budapest as soon as possible."

"Good, it's important you see things my way", he said trying to coax a smile out of her. "After all, I am the superior being here in this relationship." She punched him in the arm, hard enough to make him flinch.

"You may be some sort of super being, but I'm older and more experienced. And it's quite obvious that I am the most intelligent one here as well. Therefore, I should be in charge", she shot back jokingly.

Humor was foreign to her; it had too long since she last joked around with someone. Her life had been about vengeance and death, thanks to Viktor. Laughter was as alien to her system as solid food. Maybe Michael would change all that.

Shaking herself out of her brief reverie, she dropped her arms and grabbed his hand. "Let's get out of here. We need to gather up supplies, some cash and find a car", she said pulling him out of the room and into the night.