Priest's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "What kind of gift?" he asked. "And who the fuck is it from?" Chupa finished, not sure whether or not to believe Emma and Rayn. Emma smiled at both of them.
"The Mother has graciously offered to bestow a great gift on both of you should you prove to be worthy of it," she told them, her pale eyes glowing. "We caught the great gift part already. What's the gift and who in the hell is the Mother?" Chupa growled, rapidly losing patience. He watched as Rayn leaned down and whispered in Emma's ear. After a moment, Emma nodded. She looked back at Chupa and answered, "This is not the place to discuss this and there is not enough time remaining in this night to explain." From inside her cloak, she pulled out a card and slid it across the table. "Come to this address at nightfall and we will explain then," she said, rising from the table and turning away from them.
As she and Rayn walked away, Priest called out, "How do we know this isn't a load of cobbler's?" Rayn turned back long enough to wink at him and say, "There's only one way to find out, isn't there, Priest?" Without another word, both women walked away and out of the House of Pain.
Once they were gone, Priest took his seat again and looked at Chupa, who was turning the card over in his fingers. "What do you think?" he asked, lowering his sunglasses. Chupa shrugged. "It might be a trick or it might not be. Either way, I'm going to pay the ladies a visit," he replied, tucking the card in his pocket. Priest snorted. "Then I'm going as well. You're not walking into that mess alone," he told his friend.
A ghost of a smile crept over Chupa's face. "They're pretty, aren't they?" Priest stared at him. "Which head are you thinking with? They're dangerous," he exclaimed, shaking his head slightly. "I know that. I'm just saying that they're pretty." The redhead suddenly smiled. "Yeah, they are. Especially that Rayn. She's more than a bit of all right," he laughed, thinking that it would be nice to see what was under her cloak. Oddly enough, Chupa was wondering what lay under Emma's. "Let's get out of here. Dawn's in less than an hour," he finally said, rising to his feet. "Good idea. Besides, I'm suddenly very tired," Priest agreed, following Chupa across the still-crowded dance floor and out of the club.
On the street
Rayn visibly relaxed once they were outside. "I hate that place," she murmured, delicately shuddering. Emma laughed softly. "You did very well, Rayn. Good control of the air, too. You're better at it than 'Rissa." Rayn grinned broadly. "I'll take that as a compliment. Hey, do you really think it's a good idea to have them come to our sanctuary? The Mother's going to be pissed if she finds out," she reminded, not wanting to think about the Mother right then. "She won't say anything. As a matter of fact, it was her idea to have them come there," Emma told her, lifting her hood back up over her head. "Huh? Why would she do that?" "We'll be in a place of power. Neither Chupa nor Priest can cause us harm there. Anywhere else and we'd be easy prey," she explained, quickening the pace. "Ahhh, this is strategy, right?" Emma's musical laugh tinkled in the air. "Exactly. Now let's go. It's almost dawn." Rayn nodded and pulled up her own hood. As they made their way down the street to their sanctuary, they didn't know that they were being watched.
Chupa's haven
He closed the door behind him and stripped off his shirt. By nature, he was both suspicious of and curious about the two women. They were beautiful and powerful, if Rayn's display was any indication. But they both looked so fragile as if a strong wind would blow them away.
After undressing, he slid between burgundy silk sheets and closed his eyes. The last thing he saw in his mind was pale violet eyes and a beautiful smile. The last thought he had before sleep claimed him was whether or not Emma was as soft as she spoke.
Nightfall in Emma's chamber
Emma smiled into her pillow as she felt Chupa's presence. Her smile faded when she realized what else she felt. A ripple of heat began to spread through her as his scent filled her chamber. "Dear Mother," she thought wildly, "don't let me be attracted to him. I can't be." She smiled again as Rayn telepathically giggled, "They're heeeere." In the same manner, she answered, "I know. Bring Priest with you. And no monkey business, Rayn." A soft giggle was all the reply she got. "Good eve to you, Chupa," she said politely as she turned over and sat up, the blankets falling away from her.
Chupa stared. "You were awake?" She shook her head. "Not until you walked into the room. You have a very strong presence," she explained, throwing back the blankets and swinging her legs over the side of the bed. He was leaning against one of the bedposts, large arms crossed over a muscular chest. Heat fired through her again and she fought the shiver that ran through her. They stared at each other wordlessly until the door opened and Rayn walked in, followed by a grinning Priest.
"Well, we're here. So how about explaining why you're here?" Chupa demanded, barely looking at Rayn. "Ah yes, our task. I did say that we would explain," Emma said, slipping off of the bed and putting on a long silk robe. "Yes, you did. Now explain. Please," Priest said after taking a chair by the fire. Rayn curled up on one end of the sofa and looked at Emma. "You'll get your explanation. Please, Chupa, sit and be comfortable. This is not a short story," Emma suggested, taking a seat in one of the chairs opposite Priest. With a dark look, he sat down directly across from her.
Taking a deep breath, Emma began. "Many years ago, a blood drinker came to the Mother and asked a boon of Her, a cure for her ungodly thirst. Sadly, the Mother could not grant it. There is no cure for the thirst, at least for a pureblood. However, there was a method to lessen the thirst, to make it an almost negligible part of life. This method does not end vampirism. It simply changes it, makes it bearable. This is the gift that the Mother would bestow if you are worthy of it." She glanced at Rayn and nodded. "Simply put, you would be more like us than a vampire," Rayn explained, smiling.
"What does this have to do with us?" Chupa asked, genuinely curious now. Emma's lips parted as she smiled and both vampires gasped as pearly fangs were revealed. "The blood drinker was my mother. The Mother gave her the gift and by blood, it passed to me. I do not have the thirst, but I have all of your strengths and few of your weaknesses."
Priest stared at Emma and then looked at Rayn. She held up her hands. "Don't look at me. I'm just a normal elemental regenerative," she laughed softly, watching Chupa stare at Emma. "Damn," Priest muttered, looking at Chupa.
Emma leaned forward and laid one slender hand on Chupa's hard-muscled thigh. "Tell me, Chupa. Have you ever stood in the sun? I have and it is glorious."
