A.N. At the end of this chapter I'm taking…borrowing something from the Buffy-verse about Dracula. Where suddenly there's a castle where there wasn't one before.

I really hope this chapter is ok, I'm not that happy with it. Sorry in advance if it's not very good. It's better than it was before I took out the majority of the Kitty part, it was something that just didn't fit. It was going to be this whole thing where she went back to the castle and spoke to Dracula letting her know what she found out from Maria and later from eavesdropping on the Pod Squad's meeting but it just slowed down my writing and the story. I'm almost done with the fic actually. At the most there will be 5 more chapters at the least 3 more. So it's almost done.

Chapter 6

Maria follows after the bodyguard Dracula sent and Liz down the stairs and watches as the duo exit through the back door. So many bombs have been dropped on Liz this past week, Dracula, vampires, her best friend being a vampire, her vampire best friend being attracted to her.

Everything that would have any normal person running for the hills and screaming in utter terror, but not Liz. Standing perfectly still Maria waits and listens for the limo to start and drive off, once it did Maria made her way back into the Parker's apartment. From there she grabs her purse from Liz's bed, steps out of the window and onto the balcony only to jump off the ledge to land solidly on her feet. Being a creature of the night definitely has its perks.

"Tsk-tsk Maria." A sultry voice sounds from the shadows. Heels click on the pavement echoing down the empty alleyway.

Grinning she turns around, "Hello Kitty. Why are you following me and not Liz? I thought it was your job to track the Prince's mate?" Although she and Kitty have never had any animosity towards each other they've also never had a great friendship. In other words Maria and Kitty are on alert around the other vampire.

"Since the Princess is now with the driver and three bodyguards the Prince has changed my assignment for tonight." Kitty grins. "Instead of Liz I am now watching you."

"Me? Why?" Maria turns her entire body to face the blonde vampire.

"The open display of your abilities for one. How were you to know that it was only I that was in this alley? Those irritating little children that are obviously of the non-human variety could have been poking their noses where they didn't belong and vampires would be exposed." Kitty raises and eyebrow while keeping her voice calm and steady.

Coughing for effect Maria places her hands on her hips and steps toward Kitty a few steps. "First off, I cast my senses out and only felt you, second none of the Pod Squad would be here. They're expecting me over at Michael's place to discuss Liz and Tess and whatever they have in their head." She shakes her head, "Although why they think it is any of their business is beyond me." Maria rolls her eyes upset at the aliens for constantly poking their noses where they most assuredly don't belong.

Nodding, Kitty, obviously distracted by her thoughts began to pace around the deserted alley. "Dammit, we don't need them poking around in the Prince and his mate's affairs." Stopping she glances over at Maria, "Go to Michael's apartment, make sure they don't inadvertently come up with the right conclusions. Try to get the guy with the big ears to talk about Tess, which might keep the conversation away from Liz for a little while."

Without saying another word Kitty jumps high and onto a three-story building, making her way through the small city by way of rooftops. Maria lifts her gaze skyward, "What like I wasn't going to do that? I'm not a fledgling." Taking a glimpse at her watch she sees she has only a few minutes before the meeting was scheduled to start…yes they had a schedule. With a burst of vampiric speed Maria rushes to Michael's arriving there about two minutes late…the meetings never started on time anyway.

Entering Michael's apartment like it was her own she strides forward to where the rest of the group was waiting for her, hmm, guess the meeting did start on time for a change. "Sorry I'm late, busy at Liz's helping her out with her date and everything."

Why not rub the fact that Liz was on a date with someone not approved by the Pod Squad, doesn't mean she was going to tell them much more about it. "Can we get this show on the road, there are places I need to be."

"We called this meeting because," Max starts going on and on about Tess and how she doesn't seem human and the most important matter, in his mind anyway, who was Liz seeing and how did she meet someone in less the twenty-four hours.

Maria had to fight from rolling her eyes, of course Liz didn't meet him twenty-four hours ago, well technically she did but she's known Dracula for years, ever since she started dreaming about him. So really when it came down to it Liz and Drac have been together for over six years, even if neither knew about the other.

"Listen let's deal with the most important issue, Tess, why do you get the feeling that she's not human? Maybe it's just your dick that is pulling you to her. Ever think of that Max?" Maria moves the conversation away from Liz; at least for now, she's sure the topic will come back to her.

"No, it's not that." At least not completely anyway, yes he is attracted to the blonde elf like girl but normally attraction doesn't force his movements. With Tess he couldn't stop himself from placing his lips on hers. "Nothing makes sense, who could Tess be, is she alien is that why I'm so drawn to her, is she FBI and using some kind of pheromone on me?"

"Or you're just too weak to resist her sluttish like charms." Maria maliciously smiles at Max not at all sympathetic to him and his problems involving Tess. She doesn't care that is was something as simple as a kiss, Liz was still a teenager and that kind of thing was a huge deal to her.

Isabel stands and glares at Maria, "What would you know about any of this. You have no idea what we as aliens go through every day. Now I'm not saying that Max was right in kissing Tess, but if he felt that he had no choice then it's definitely something that needs to be addressed." She defends her younger brother not liking Maria's tone one bit.

Maria simply shrugs her shoulders, not saying a word but letting Isabel know that she'll let Max say his peace. It will be interesting to hear what Max thinks about everything; somehow she knows it's going to be an idiotic theory.

"Since I didn't have really any control of my body," although he's not as strong delivering that line as he had been moments ago, "I think that maybe Tess did something to me to make me turn away from Liz and go to her. And maybe this guy that Liz met last night was a ploy by Tess to make sure Liz stayed away from me."

Maria had to fight the powerful urge to laugh her head off. Don't worry Kitty there's no problem with Max accidentally finding out about Dracula or vampires, he thinks this is all about him. He doesn't know how wrong he really is, granted Maria knew nothing about who or what Tess really was, although she had her own suspicions about the blonde but she could guarantee that Dracula had nothing to do with Tess.

Alex who had since stopped watching Isabel and glanced at Maria noticed his friend's apparent problem in keeping a straight face. "Ria? Are you alright?" He stands next to her resting his warm hand on her shaking back.

With difficulty she nods. "Yea I'm great." She struggles out. Tears are leaking out of her eyes from her trying to hold back the laughter. In case you were wondering she can act as good, even better than any Hollywood actress, how do you think she kept her secret all these centuries, but this was for the Pod's benefit only. "Continue please."

Reluctantly Max resumes his theories, "Tess knew I would never leave Liz so she got someone to be there when Liz saw Tess and I kissing, he obviously got to her at a vulnerable time and is now making sure she is kept away from me."

Maria watches as the rest of the alien abyss nods their heads agreeing with this assumption. "Now, what we need to do is first get Liz and get her away from this Prince guy, once we let her know what's going on she'll come back into the fold." Max tells them all.

"Sure if you say so Max." Whispering to herself and she rocks back on her heels. She wouldn't be surprised if they happened upon the Prince's castle, wherever he goes a castle is magically erected. Pretty handy if she says so herself.

For the next hour she listens to how they were going to get Liz back and away from the "evil Prince" that held her hostage, if she didn't know any better she'd swear Liz was a damsel in distress. But nothing could have been further from the truth. With their plan decided, with none of her help by the way, the Pod Squad, her and Alex left Michael's apartment onto where Tess was. They'd get her to tell them where the man that took Liz was.

TBC