Chapter 12

By MG

Don't own sm…

Seratio Devertari had been obsessed with Serenity long before he had become a member of her clan, the coterie that consisted of all vampires. In his previous life, he had been a demon hunter; killing off those whom made attempts to mess with the world order.

Yes, he was aware of demons walking the night often but there were too many and more than likely they outnumbered the people on the Earth. The only way to keep them at bay was to thwart their plans.

And then he saw her...or actually, read of her. She was hundreds of years old, her exact age unknown. From what he had read, if you even cast a look into her eyes, you would be forever lost. Usagi, Nathalie, Selena, Belle, Bonalie, and Desiré...just some of the names she had been known as in her past. In her true form she was a silver goddess with silver eyes; she had outsmarted the world by masking herself always as her own child. They assumed that Usagi was the daughter among a long line of rich women, but he knew the truth; she was all of those women.

She was one of the few true and old alkali left, unlike the rest of the vampires she was not a demon, being a vampire was her birthright. Unlike the many that only walked the nights, she was a day walker; what's more, she was the 'angel' of 'light'. Some believed that she had been given that name because she walked the day and looked the part of angel. Then there were the few unfortunate who believed that she was called this for her good nature. But on the contrary, Serenity was a powerful, sadistic, and vengeful vampire.

The final and most contrasting difference between her and the young ones, was that Serenity had a soul and bled like any normal being, or at least she would have if she had not those regenerative properties. It was a trait that came with being a true alkali. It was for this reason though, that she had been mistaken for a human being for so long, and still had everyone fooled. Having a soul meant that she would always feel the bearing of her ways, or so one would think.  That was what intrigued him so much about her, she had the ability to be kind and yet was not; someone in her past must have royally pissed her off and now everyone was made to suffer the wrath of foregoing mistakes. Which also puzzled him, when had this chain of events occurred that led her to such stalwart rage and exactly what had she been planning?

On the side of his job as a demon hunter, he attempted to find out everything he could about her, but Serenity was a smart one, she had known of him and had been on to every step he made; when his discoveries had come to close to comfort she paid him a visit. He had been quite surprised to say the least when he was sitting at his desk one day reading one of the ancient books and she popped up right next to him, leaning casually against the desk as if she belonged there; he hadn't even heard her come in.

He knew that she had powers, but for some reason the books never described them clearly. He thought that the mere avoiding of her eyes would have made him guarded from her; he was very poorly misinformed. She had scoffed at him and his work before doing something he had never expected and had seduced him right to his bed; in short, the beautiful lustrous, and angelic and supple woman basically screwed his brains out before sucking his blood away. She was a smart one all right, what better way to get rid of the enemy than to turn him to her side? Make use of him.

Needless to say, he had never gotten that intimate with her again, she pretended as if it never even happened...or maybe it hadn't; he also heard of her power of persuasion with the ability to make you think things occurred when they really had not.

When he had awoken to the new way of life, she called upon him to make use of him as her examiner, had him looking for all kinds of odds and ends for some plan called Omega. He used every chance he got to get closer to her, his obsession now full-fledged lustful desire. He knew that she was aware of his craving for her, but she pointedly ignored it; apparently he was one of many fish in the sea that wanted her for their own.

Then there was the fact that he never got a word in edge wise with her; when he became a member of her clan, his name literally became 'newcomer'. That was all she ever addressed him as; he was one of many. The odd thing was, that some people revered her so much that they never even looked up at her when in her presence; ironically, he doubted that they really even knew what she looked like. The only people she spoke to on a name basis were those associated with the higher rule; so he knew that the only way to get to her was to climb in ranks. It would be a hard feat considering that those in the higher ranks were most often true alkali.

He found it amusing that even though he no longer had a soul and constantly killed many at nights on a whim, he still remembered everything from his previous life and was able to look at it from an unemotional view. He had always assumed that those who were turned over forgot their previous doings and only had the knowledge they acquired from it; a man with the skills of a painter would be a painter in the next life of demon alkali, and so on. But yet, he still remembered what he had been working on before he had been turned over, and realized with something akin to humor that now he was on the inside. He liked to think because of this that he was still human, but his inability to stand in sunlight made him know better.

All the members of the alkali, old and young, were aware of the Omega plan; but he was sure that none knew the exact ramifications of it. But they were all such faithful servants to her that none dare question; she always claimed that it was important for the sake of the plan that the exact ramifications in which she would achieve their ultimate goal be kept secret. Their ultimate goal; she had talked of how the vampires would rule and bring the world to darkness. He assumed that meant that she would have the human race eliminated, but he was unsure. As a lower demon Alkali, a young one, he was not allowed to know of anything but plan Alpha; it angered him to no end.

With careful precision he finally discovered a way to make him known in her eyes; and maybe he could even take the place of that new human wimp Mamoru, the one he had heard was chosen to give her a child. It was sad really, all of her consorts whom were chosen were killed if she did not produce, and she had clearly stated that even if she did, she would still kill them. And then here is something that greatly puzzled him more than anything else; what would a ruthless dominating and powerful vampire want with a child?

~*~

"I would have never guessed that she was serious about that threat." Usagi began. "I mean, I get threatened all the time and I just pay the people no mind...but I guess...you never know when it's real or not...or what to expect."

"Ms. Tsukino." Ami began as Zoycite looked at a small clipboard that he had in his hand, using it to take notes of the conversation. She arched her brow at that considering that they had a tape recorder to record the conversation. "I'm afraid to tell you that the people who threatened your life are still on the loose." She paused. "When we got to the scene of the crime, we found both cars but only the dead bodies of the people who had occupied your limousine." She continued. "The car that was at the scene of the crime was reported stolen, and we are assuming that perhaps there was a third party involved that picked up the assailants and left with them."

"I see." She replied.

"We have Beryl in custody as we speak...but who ever she hired to do this is still out there...so we suggest that you increase your security." Zoycite added.

"Thank you...but I had already done that as soon as I had learned of the attack on my life." Usagi looked at Zoycite, crossed her legs, and slowly licked her lips. Zoycite cleared his throat before looking back down at his clipboard and pulling on his collar.

"W-what made you change limo-limousines?" Zoycite asked.

"Well, Brittany was a dear friend of mine, and she liked my limo for its size." She paused. "She told me that she was holding some kind of affair or another, and she needed a limo that had its caliber." She continued as she uncrossed her legs and recrossed them. "She had tried to find one like mine, but she couldn't...see, my limo's are custom made from overseas for my taste...so I lent it to her for a week...who would have known that in the same night an attempt on my life would have been made."

"Ms. Tsukino, we would like to add some police detail to your own security." Zoycite added.

"Would you be watching me yourself...sheriff?" She asked him innocently.

"Actually...we wanted to set up a trap for your attackers...it would temporarily seem to place you in harm's way...but we would be surrounding the place and when it came down...we'd be on top of it."

"On top of what?" She replied darkly.

"Uh-eh-em...on top of the situation." Zoycite stuttered as he placed a finger in his collar and brought it around his neck to air it out once more.

"Is there someplace that everyone knows that you go to?" Ami asked her.

"La Crème." She replied.

"Excuse me?" Ami inquired softly as Zoycite looked up from his clipboard once more.

"I'm going to the newest club called the La Crème this weekend." Usagi began. "Everyone has seen me there and knows that it is new routine for me."

"Well then, we want you to go there and make sure you make it known that you are going." Ami began. "Do you usually go with a friend?" She asked.

"My associate, Minako Tsukino." Usagi replied softly as she looked to Zoycite with something akin to interest in her face. "Is that all the information you need...Commissioner?"

"Yes...I'm sorry to keep you...I know that you are busy and all."

"It is of no consequence." She ended with a smile. "If you'll excuse me." Ami waited for her to leave before turning to Zoycite and hitting him upside the head.

"What was that for?" He exclaimed as he rubbed the sore spot.

"She was flirting with you and you had this school boy look on your face…god, she practically had you eating out her lap for goodness sake!"

"She did not!" He retorted.

"Why do I suddenly feel like I'm in grade school?" She shook her head from side to side as she rubbed her temples.

"You're not…jealous, are you?"

"No." She replied too quickly, her cheeks flushing; he laughed.

~*~

Usagi greeted the guards at the front desk before heading towards the elevator; with a smile she ushered both her and her pet wolf inside, allowing the doors to close behind her before kneeling in front of it and grabbing it by the ears.

"Now I want you to be a good boy, no biting unless I tell you...you hear me?" She said in a puppy like voice that she could tell, by the way in which it snarled at her, irritated it to no ends. She stood tall and pressed her hand against the side panel of the elevator. A red infrared line appeared and went across the wall.

"Retinal scan detected." A womanly computer voice announced. "Please proceed with voice activated password." The voice finished.

"Ytineres". She spoke mechanically.

"Status Confirmed." The computer replied. "Proceeding to the fourth floor."

The elevator stopped on the fourth floor and Serenity turned both her and her companion away from the elevator door and faced the wall. The back wall of the elevator opened and without hesitation she led both her and her pet through the doors.

~*~

She passed through a long and dark cavernous like hallway, with a red carpet lining the floor and torches alit on the walls. It was eerily silent to the point in which a pin drop could be heard.

She stopped in front of a set of doors, commanding her pet to wait for but a moment. When she stepped back out she was dressed down in a long sleeveless black velvet dress that clung to her body like a second skin, shaping her from her breast to her legs. Her hair draped around her in long silver waves. Without a second glance she continued gracefully down the long passageway, until she reached two huge and heavy oak doors with golden handles. Lowering herself to the level of the wolf she removed his leash and placed it in her hand. She then opened the door and walked into an even larger room set off in stone with candelabras all along the walls.

As her presence became known, everyone in the dark clammy room arose from their places around a huge stone table that was set in the midst, their heads bowed, black hooded garments hiding their faces from view. Without acknowledgement she walked towards the front, her pet following her, where a marble stone throne faced the table. She sat down. As customary everyone in attendance sat in his or her respective spots, heads still bowed. "The wheels are already in motion and we shall begin our ascent in this world...no longer shall you hide in the night." She began with a vicious tone about her. "Plan Omega shall runs its course, and then they will cower below us, as your Queen I shall see to it that you get your revenge for the way in which you are being treated. We are not lower beings as many see us to be." She paused, tilting her head to the side. "Saffir, what news have we? I shall assume at this point that plan Alpha has already been established with the alkali in your sector and will be enacted in three moons?" A man with ebony hair stood from his seat round the table.

"Plan Alpha set in stone my liege." He replied with a firm voice. "I am taking 30 demon alkali with me which shall ensure a 75 percent casualty just as you wanted."

"Thank-you Saffir, I am counting on you to follow through." She looked to the front of the table where Diamond sat patiently before calling on him. "Diamond, I assume that you are on top of plan Beta?"

"Yes your highness." He called out to her as he stood to attention. "I am taking 2 others with me, Nefarious and Dragonus."

"I need three volunteers to assist me with taking care of our 'lawful' friends tomorrow evening...your job will only be to make sure that the our guests get the bait, and then to apprehend them after." She waited silently for three to speak through mind signal to her before continuing. "Now, I assume the fighters have been kept in secret about our plans?"

"My liege." One man spoke out of turn; sensing his aura she at once new his age, he was new to the order. He kept his head bowed as he stood awaiting his acknowledgment. Her fingers gripped a piece of the arm of her chair, crumbling it to pieces as she looked to the newcomer whom she recognized as her lowly examiner servant. "Permission to speak..." He continued carefully as he looked up at her.

Fatal mistake. If an alkali looked up into her eyes, it meant that he or she assumed they were almost equal standing or greater in relation to her; bowing was a sign of respect, something the newcomer did not understand.

"Permission granted." She replied as she looked down upon him; this alkali seemed to have defiance in him, something that could not be allowed.

"Seeing that your majesty wanted to keep the fighters at bay, I have made extra precautions by sending some alkali to cause a distraction...I knew that it would please my liege and further along her order." He replied arrogantly yet fearfully; everyone present kept their heads bowed, they knew that if there was anything Serenity did not tolerate, it was arrogance, especially when that arrogance attempted to mess with the order that she had planned.

"And who gave you permission to send alkali unto the fighters? And how is it you plan for distraction from plan Alpha?" The look in her eye was an immediate indication that she had some malicious plans in mind. However, since the man who had spoken was new to the clan and did not know the order, he had not realized just what trouble he had walked upon. All he could see was that he had her attention, if he made good with the plans he had made, he could rise in rank within her eyes. He smiled.

"I have sent five alkali to a nearby place, of where the fighters are located, to feed on it's inhabitants...now the fighters shall not interfere with your plans my liege."

"Are you a leader in your sector?" She inquired softly as she pet the soft down of the wolf's silky gray coat.

"No my liege."

"Were you the leader of the five alkali that you sent off to die?"

"They shall not die my liege...we are new, but we know the ways of the clan."

"ARE YOU the Designated 'LEADER' Over THEIR LIVES?"

"No my liege." He replied humbly.

"Come here." She continued. "And stand aside silently." She kept her eyes on those present at the table, fingers gently rubbing her chin, while the newcomer stood to her left and away before speaking once more. "We have a new ally." She crossed her legs and began to continuously slip her fingers into the coat of the wolf dog once again. "The dark lord of the werewolves is now under my control and we can now double our efforts to make sure that our goals are successful." She smiled. "On the night of retribution, we shall create a chaos so great that none would be able to stop us from fulfilling our ambitions, the werewolves can help us, now we need only rally the aid of other demons as well." She paused. "As for now, say hello to the dark lord." She knelt down to its height as it barked and snarled at everyone in attendance, drool dripping down from its mouth. "Endymion...you hungry?" She resumed her puppy like mannerisms as she looked from him to the newcomer; fear at once striking in his eyes. "Newcomer, in this order we do not question its queen nor do we away from the plans that she has set." She snapped. "And as customary with every proceeding, in order to make sure that everyone knows that there is no disobedience in my presence...I make someone the example…that someone is you."

"My liege, I am sorry...it shall never happen again. I-"

"Silence!" She interrupted angrily. "There are no second chances." She stood up from where she had knelt next to Endymion before looking at the man once more with rage in her eyes. She turned to the stony table. "This is what happens to those who mess with the order!" She needn't say a word; she merely looked to where Endymion sat obediently. Everyone cringed and gripped the arms of the chairs in which they were seated as the sounds of screams filled the air, tearing and ripping, gnawing and snarling, grunting and hollering in the midst. "Any questions?" She smiled lightly.

And then Seratio Devertari was no more...

~*~

"And that is as far as I know about the Omega plan...Sere thinks things out too well, not even I now the exact ramifications of it...what are we going to do?" She asked as she looked down at her hands guiltily. "I feel bad about betraying her trust like this, but I don't think she has the right to change the balance..."

"I wish you would have told me this before..." He frustratingly began to pace back and forth in front of her.

"I'm sorry, but you have to know how hard it is for me to do this; she really trusts me...and now I even have to hide my thoughts from her, I've never had to do that before..." She was so unnerved that she felt like throwing up; she could feel her heart beating at a fast pace.

"So you say that tomorrow night is when plan Alpha will take place?"

"Yes, as well as Plan Beta...but plan beta is really rather harmless..."

"Okay..." He stopped pacing and suddenly turned towards her. "Unfortunately, we can not save them all, that is certain, or else she will know that someone from the inside has leaked the information..." He rubbed his chin back and forth as he thought over every detail. "This is very risky..."

"What?"

"First we need travel up North and visit...what could become our allies, then...then we need to save the lives of one gypsy family..."

"That shall not be a proble-"

"The family of Setsuna." He interrupted her with a serious look. "They are the last of the clan of the ancient ones."

"Robert have you gone mad??? That is one of the soul purposes of Plan Alpha, to thwart from the idea that Serenity is really after that particular family! How in the world do you plan on getting them safely out when they are the main target??"

"It is rather simple really, we place the wrong family in the wrong house...the young ones aren't very smart, they would not know the difference...besides, Serenity is already crossing the boundaries on what is rule by going after them. Amongst all gypsies, their race is 'not' to be 'touched' by anyone! Not by demon, and surely not by vampire! She is my niece, but she has gone too far!"

"I do not know about this..." She looked away nervously before looking back towards him. "Perhaps she doesn't know about the rule, maybe she is doing this for other reasons." She argued.

"Minako think about it...would Serenity almost eliminate an entire clan for just a family because she wanted revenge on Setsuna?"

"I do not know...sometimes I really wonder, she's so kept and secretive that I don't know what to think of all of this..." She pressed the creases in her skirt with her hands before bunching them up between her fingers once more.

"The reason why she is attempting to kill this family is obvious; she knows exactly what they mean to whatever she is planning, and they know something about this plan that 'we' obviously don't!"

"Fine," She relented. "But we have to be careful."

~*~

"Hey..." She looked up from where she lay in the dim lighting of the room and into the soft eyes that were looking at her with love. She rubbed her eyes slowly, giving her a look of an innocent child, before sitting up in the bed.

"Hey yourself." She smiled angelically. "Where you been?"

"Taking a walk...thinking." He smiled lazily as he sat next to her, his hand reaching over to feel the slight bulge in her tummy.

"Growing fast." She commented as she placed a hand over his.

"I know...a sign that the baby has true vampire blood running through it." He looked away silently before turning back to her. "Rei I'm sorry...about the other day, I didn't mean to push you away like that...and…I'm sorry."

"It's okay." She placed her hand on his cheek and grinned lopsidedly before her demeanor suddenly changed; she looked at him gloomily. "Everything is so different Jed-I...I don't want you to go away from me." She cried openly in front of him and he placed his hand on her face and wiped her tears with his thumb.

"No more tears Reianne." He brought her to sit in his lap. "We have cried enough over this, now is the time to plan...I think I may have found a way around it..." He took her hands gently into his own and began to caress them softly.

"What?"

"I was researching on the vampires and trying to discover everything about them...when I came upon an ancient soul-bonding ritual-"

"Jadeite-" She shook her head disapprovingly, unsure exactly where he was going, but knowing she wouldn't like it.

"Listen to me Reianne." He spoke firmly. "If we do this...then you could turn me like you and not only will it help us in our fights but...but then we could be together..."

"Jadeite no, I couldn't do this to you...I-I don't even want this for myself" She shook her head in disbelief as he looked at her with determination. "I don't even have the means to...no!"

"Rei please...I love you, I want to be with you." Tears brimmed his eyes; she could barely stand to look at his sad face. "I want to raise our child with you, it hurts to know that you will live to surpass me alone, we could grow old together please love...this is the only way."

"Don't you know what will happen to us if we do this...I'll turn full and then we'll be just like them!"

"No! We don't have to...I read up on them Reianne, we will not have to drink of it so often, and there is away around killing people for blood. Meanwhile we could use animal blood to replenish us if we wish; we'll still have our souls, we don't have to be like them."

"Jadeite, I couldn't even bite you if I wanted to...I'm not full-"

"You are almost there, all you need is a little taste and they will grow on you..."

"Jed-"

"Reianne...you're my soul, my other half-please...do this for us..." His cries were muffled as he buried his head into her hair, holding her tightly to him. She looked away sadly with comprehension; he was right, it was the only way.

"Okay..." He barely heard it, but he knew the words had come from her lips. "What do I do?" There was a moment of silence before he pulled away from her slowly. She watched in surprise as he took a sharp knife out from beneath the bed; he must have been debating over this for a while if he was already prepared for the chance that she may agree.

"What do you need a knife for?" He knew she was scared by the way in which her bottom lip quivered.

"You do not have teeth to cut, I will have to make the first incision for you." He smiled reassuringly as he placed the knife on the dresser next to the head of the bed. "Don't worry, I won't cut to deep...I'll be careful." She nodded her head in approval, allowing him to continue. "The ritual requires an almost complete draining of my strength-don't worry Rei," He immediately interjected when he saw the worried look on her face once more. "It will be replenished soon after when I drink of you." She watched confused as he lifted his shirt above his head and lay back on the bed.

"I don't understand...what are you doing?"

"Almost complete draining Rei...perhaps someday we will look at this and laugh...but the only way to do this is through sexual contact..." He paused. "You'll have to be on top...in order...in order to keep me down once you start."

"Keep you down?" She asked incredulously. "Jed, you're not telling me everything." He sighed.

"Rei..." He wasn't sure if he should tell her this, but realizing the importance of it he decided that perhaps he must. "It's going to hurt so much that even though you're a vampire, it's going to take all your strength to keep me from throwing you across the room...you'll have a better advantage if you're on top...don't worry bout me though, I've practiced stoicism." He half expected her to cry out at his last statement and say that she wasn't going to go through with it, but she didn't.

"Okay." She conceded as she lifted her flimsy nightshirt above her head and cast it to the side while looking at him intently. She never thought she'd see the day where she would be using sex as a vehicle for something else with her own husband. Nervous fingers pulled her underwear off as he removed his pants before they stared into one another's eyes. She couldn't stop the tears that were coming and her body shook lightly as he began to kiss them away; she was attempting to seem strong, but it was obvious that it wasn't working. He kissed her cheeks, her eyes, her neck, her forehead, her ears, and then finally her lips as he pulled her down with him onto the bed. He licked the salty tears from her face before traveling lower down her body; she cried out above him when he reached for a pert nipple and began to nibble on it. His hands held her body over him, her breasts over his face as he feasted, preparing her for their joining.

"Jed..." She moaned. "Please...I'm ready...let's not waste any time..." He had been fearfully putting off the inevitable, but he wasn't about to tell her that he feared this ritual because of the danger it held; it was possible that when she drank of him that if she wasn't strong enough she wouldn't be able to stop. He put those thoughts aside as he lifted her up and over him, the tip of him teasing, his body already tense and moist.

"Promise me that when you drink you won't stop on my account Rei..."

"Jadeite-"

"Promise me!" He commanded.

"I promise."

"There will be a point in which my blood will taste nasty to you because you are so filled with it and it runs through you...stop then and only then." He told her fiercely; inside he was hoping that it would taste different to her tongue, only the true vampires could have the control to stop...he didn't know if she was considered true or not...if she wasn't, however, Rei would go into hysterics when it ended and his pale lifeless body was all they had to show for it.

"Okay." She whispered softly before he forced her down upon him and closed the gap.

~*~

Usagi swayed to the music, her body heated with arousal and glistening with sweat. Her breasts puckered through the fabric of her strapless and short crème dress, the hardness of her nipples evident.

Zoycite looked at her from where he sat at the bar, now on his second drink. He knew that he was supposed to be on duty, but he couldn't keep his eyes off her. It wouldn't hurt anyway; there were other cops within the room dancing yet ready to take action should anything occur. In any case, she was the target, it was important that he keep an eye on her, or so he had justified within in himself. Occasionally he would turn away and look towards the door, but always, he would come back to her.

Where was Ami anyway? He had wondered to himself countless times; she was rarely late when it came to things like this. He sighed as he once again looked back to her. She looked back boldly, licking parted lips just for him.

He breathed slowly as he watched her body move up and down, hips swaying from side to side; sensual yet smooth and silky, somehow dangerous to the touch. His eyes roamed over her figure from the roundness of her breast to way down below, as he was sure his hands would have had he the courage to follow through; her eyes never left him. There was something to those eyes, and for the life of him he almost couldn't look away. He was startled when he heard some commotion outside the building; gunshots were being fired. As if sensing the danger, she was immediately at his side.

"What's going on?" She asked him fearfully.

"I don't know...hold on." He pressed the button on the radio attached to his belt and then placed the small earpiece in his ear "Charlie, what's the deal outside?" He asked. "Are you certain?" He sighed. "I see...keep on it, I'll take care of the rest." He looked back to her worried face before arising from his stool.

"I gotta get you outta here." He replied, taking control as he led her out of the building through the crowd of people to the back door. When he reached them he busted through quickly, grabbing her hand as he raced towards his car and opened the door for her.

"Get in." He said mechanically as he looked around him to see if they were being watched. Sure enough, a vehicle a good distance behind him headlights suddenly turned on. "Shit." He muttered as he slammed the door closed behind her before running to his side and getting in. "Put on your seatbelt." He commanded as he looked in his review mirror to see the car racing towards him. Without hesitation he started the car and pressed the gas, just in time to get tapped roughly in the rear.

He raced through traffic, his heart beating rapidly, but the car was on their tail, following them every step of the way. He laughed inwardly at this; he was a cop, usually he did the chasing. All laughing ceased as he felt the car ram into the back of them, sending both him and Usagi sprawling forward. He cursed as he placed his hand on the gear and switched it so that he could go faster. He passed through a red light, causing a commotion of cars behind him, but always the black sports car followed.

There was only one thing left that he could do.

Without preamble he took a quick right, sending her body slamming into the side of the car as it tilted before becoming level once more. He checked his review mirror and was pleased this time to see that the targets still kept up. He raced onward, heading towards the train tracks and the train that he knew was coming. He even slowed down a bit to ensure that the target would follow, and wove his way around obstacles to ensure that he would get there at the right time. He had not expected, however, for the targets to begin firing at his car.

"Damnit" He cursed as one bullet went through his back windshield and then his front. "Put your head down!" He screamed to her as he took one hand and pushed her head down towards the middle of the car before placing his hand back on the wheel. "Shit." He cursed again when he felt a bullet graze his shoulder; he slid down his seat and pressed down the gas harder as they neared the tracks, the sounds of the train coming in the background. When he began to see the beginnings of the train he realized with horror that chances were slim; with a sudden determination he placed the car in it's last gear and continued onward with the train only 10 feet away. If he didn't make it, it would be both their lives. He said a silent prayer as the car went through the barriers before flying over the hill on which the track lay, right before the train passed by.

He didn't know what happened to the other car, but sighed with the relief of knowing that he had got away.

~*~

He opened the door for her, cradling his shoulder, and she walked in quietly before him.

"This your place?" She asked as they entered the dark house, stirring slightly when he turned on the lights.

"Yeah." He replied nervously as he passed his fingers roughly through his hair. He watched as she looked around the room; he knew she was taking every detail into account, it was nothing compared to the place she lived in. "I know it's nothing compared to what you're used to-"

"No, I like it." She replied as she took a seat on the black leather couch. "It's very...cozy."

"I don't know how long we'll be here...why don't you make yourself comfortable while I make a phone call." He hoped that there weren't any problems, he'd hate to think what being in this woman's presence alone for too long could do to his senses. He made his exit quickly, choosing to hide in the kitchen rather than to face her.

Picking up the phone, he dialed the familiar numbers and was surprised when he got a busy signal. He looked at his phone strangely before trying several more times. Frustrated he slammed the phone against the receiver.

"Damnit, where is she?" He winced as released his hand from the wound, the blood now flowing freely down his arm. "Where is that first aid kit?" Frustration was clouding his mind at the awkwardness of the situation when he felt another presence in the room. He turned around quickly to be met by her baby blue orbs; though he hadn't notice, her eyes glazed over when she saw the blood.

"You're hurt." She stated in a soft voice.

"It's nothing really." He winced once more when she touched the wound. "Just a scrape..."

"Do you have any dressings?" It wasn't something he was expecting; it wasn't everyday that a millionaire, who was in his kitchen looking sexy as hell, knew how to do first aid and didn't mind getting messy. She smiled.

"I have a first aid kit somewhere around here..." He mumbled as he looked around his small kitchen.

"Why don't you sit down, I'll clean your wound." He didn't feel compelled to argue for some reason as he walked into the living room and sat down on the couch. "Lie down." She commanded from the kitchen, as she no doubt searched for his anonymous missing kit. She came back in with a soft and gentle smile and knelt next to him, from whence she began to work on his shoulder; she sucked in a breath when blood began to drip freely down the sculpted deltoids of his back. "So what do you do when you're not a Sheriff, Sheriff?" She was obviously attempting to keep his mind off the pain; with a voice like that, he thought inwardly, she could keep his mind off anything.

"Actually, call me Zachary..."

"I thought Zoycite was your name?" She arched her brow at him.

"It's my first name...I prefer to be called by Zachary though..." He gripped the couch with his hand as she poured some kind of cold liquid over it.

"So Zachary, what do you do for fun?" She smiled sensually.

"Don't laugh...but I'm into pottery."

"I think that's an interesting hobby...you must have some very skilled hands."

"So I've been told..." He lightly joked.

"They're also very soft...I like a man with soft hands, they're always so warm to the touch." She patted the newly placed patch on his shoulder. "You can sit up now."

"Thanks." He felt ill at ease about the circumstances and nearly jumped when she sat down right next to him.

"So...you have anyone special in your life?" She didn't waste time, he noted.

"No...not really." He replied as he moved his shoulder a bit. "Just this one woman, but she always turns me away." He didn't know why he felt compelled to tell her that, and almost felt kind of stupid for saying it. "That wasn't meant to come out that way..." He chuckled.

"Actually, I find that hard to believe...that a man as sexy as yourself could be turned down..." She leaned her elbow on the couch behind him, her fingers absentmindedly making circles round the lobe of his ear. He shivered slightly, moving away from her a millimeter or two.

"It's easier to believe than you think." He murmured.

"If you were mine, I'd make no hesitation in claiming you physically...every night…over, and over, again" She whispered the last part huskily into his ear, her tongue touching the edge of his lobe.

"You want anything to drink?" He asked as he began to rise nervously from the couch; she gently yet firmly placed an arm out in front of him, giving him no choice but to sit back down.

"No thank-you. But are you okay? You seem nervous..." She inwardly smiled as he slipped his fingers through his hair.

"I guess this whole sexu-case...this whole 'case', has me worked up..."

"You really need to relax..." She crawled up behind him and knelt before massaging the muscles in his back. "The reason why most people don't get the things they want in their life is merely because they don't relax and let things happen...who knows, it may go there way." He swallowed hard when he felt her place her leg on either side of him, her fingers trailed downward, pausing to clutch his washboard stomach and press him to her.

"I don't think so..." He sucked in a quick breath; he could feel the beads of sweat already beginning to form on his face.

"Well...what you have to ask yourself...Zachary...is what do you want?" She breathed as she placed a light kiss on his neck and trailed it up to the back of his ear; he felt it reach him all the way to his groin. "You want me? Zachary?"

He didn't know what compelled him to take the actions he took, but the next thing he knew he was nodding his head in response as he turned to her. His lips were millimeters from hers. He breathed hard as their eyes suddenly locked on one another.

"For tonight…I'm yours." She replied before leaning down and kissing him full on the lips.