After a sixteen hour flight, an hour long taxi ride, then another hour long bone jarring jaunt through the forest in a four wheel drive Jeep where they were let off to continue on foot, Kuki was beyond ready to arrive at their destination. Where the hell was this place? Did it even exist? He was growing doubtful.

The first hour in the forest, the colorful fall foliage had been intriguing. The bright yellows, dark oranges, flaming crimson, and intense purples of the leaves was captivating. Squirrels scurried across branches in search of nuts to add to their winter stores knocking off leaves that fluttered down to the ground. The occasional deer crossed their path, studying them with fearful inquisitiveness before moving on. After three hours, the colors were blinding despite the waning light of day and the sound of little animals skittering through the dry leaves into the ground cover was annoying.

Miyu had neglected to tell him exactly how long and arduous the journey would be. Although he would not have changed his mind to come, a heads up would have been appreciated. No wonder she had only returned here three times in her entire life. The sun would be setting soon. They had not come prepared to set up camp.

"How much longer?" Kuki asked, shifting her backpack that he had volunteered to carry for her.

Her stamina despite her weakened state astounded him. He continued to observe her for signs of exhaustion but so far she showed none, other being slightly paler than usual and breathing a little hard. However, considering they had been hiking for hours, he was breathing a little hard himself. He stretched his aching fingers that had been gripping the handle of his suitcase. Thankfully the wheels had not fallen off yet but might not last much longer. They had taken quite a beating from the uneven ground and small rocks they had bumped over.

"We should be getting close," Miyu said, consulting her map and rechecking her compass. Reception to their cell phones died upon arriving at their drop off point making GPS navigation impossible. Turning in circles she muttered, "I know we have to be close."

"Close to what?" a deep voice inquired.

A tall man with wide shoulders and dark brown skin the color of the bark on the pine tree he had been concealed behind appeared from his hiding place. Straight, glossy black hair flowed down his back in a low ponytail gathered at the nape of his neck. He was dressed in a dark green uniform, a shiny gold badge on his chest. He held a shot gun in his hands; ready to fire judging by the position of his hands but aimed straight up into the air presently.

Urie moved his body in front of Miyu, blocking her from the big man's sight. He could feel animosity drifting off of imposing individual in palpable waves.

"Everett?" she inquired, peeking around her boyfriend.

"Miyu," the magnificent tree of a man with a badge and gun returned, his face staying as impassive and stony as the face of the mountain rising to their left. "This is your chosen mate?"

"No, this is my boyfriend," she corrected. She stepped around him to face the other man. "Kuki, this is Everett Burrell. He is a park ranger. He's also the first line of defense protecting the colony. How have you been Everett?"

"Good. My wife is expecting our first child in a month," he said, his eyes hard black marbles in his head as he glared at her.

"That's amazing! Congratulations!" she exclaimed.

"Yeah," he grunted, his nostrils flaring as if her exuberance irritated him. "Thanks."

"Are you here to lead us in?" she asked.

"No," he answered curtly. He stuck his forefinger and little fingers in the corners of his mouth releasing an ear drum bursting whistle.

A pretty blond teenaged girl dressed in jeans, a gray hoodie, and red converse sneakers appeared from the shadows like a ghost taking form on the earthly plane. A boy just a few years older, around fifteen, with the same pale blond hair and brilliant ocean blue eyes jumped down from the close by tree on her left to land on his feet right in front of Miyu.

"Hi," he greeted them cheerily, sticking out his hand. "I'm Philip Garrison, and this is my sister, June Bug."

"My name is June," she corrected him, rolling her eyes. "You're Miyu, right?"

"I am," she confirmed, shaking the boy's hand then his sister's when she stepped forward.

She introduced Kuki to all three of them. The boy and girl greeted him politely, shaking his hand and welcoming him. Everett snorted like an angry bull in response to his introduction.

"Come on," Philip Garrison said, taking Miyu by the hand. "We need to hurry. Everyone is expecting you."

"Everyone?" Miyu questioned, giving her suitcase over to the boy.

"Come on," June Garrison said, grabbing Kuki's suitcase with one hand and his hand with the other.

"Wait," he protested, as the girl pulled him forward.

Their actions, their instant familiarity and overstepping physical boundaries explained a lot about why Miyu acted the way she did. Uncomfortable with the girl holding his hand, he tried to shake loose but couldn't. Her strength shocked him making him realize he had probably not experienced Miyu at her full strength yet.

Within minutes, they reached their destination. It was as if they had been transported to another place entirely. A wide path made of small rocks that appeared to have been gathered from a stream bed led into what looked like an upscale suburban housing subdivision located on the outskirts of any metropolitan American city. Somewhat befitting of their surroundings, the houses were built using whole logs, knot hole covered pine planks, or large cedar panels. Their massive size and modern style prevented them being mistaken as mere rustic cabins set in the woods. Also electric lights illuminated the interiors. There were no driveways or garages because there were no vehicles. Ancient, humongous evergreens spread their branches over the houses shielding them from view should a helicopter or airplane fly overhead. The world had no idea this place or these people existed.

"Where is everyone?" Miyu asked, glancing around.

"At your house, waiting for you of course," June replied as if the answer were obvious.

"Your father invited everyone over. He wanted to throw a big party for your return home," Philip expounded.

"Hey!" June yelled at her brother, slapping his chest. "You ruined the surprise!"

"Oh, for pete's sake, June Bug! She looks too tired for a surprise. It might give her a heart attack or something. Mom said she's sick."

"Shut up, stupid!" She punched him in the arm.

"Miyu hates surprises," Urie interjected.

"Dammit, Dad," she grumbled, her lips compressing into a thin white line.

They walked straight down the street to the house at the end. The two story log house backed up to the forest, nestled in between several large pines and junipers. A big porch extended the length of the front of the house and appeared to continue around the sides and most likely spanned the back. Laughter and music leaked from the inside and carried to their ears. This was definitely the place.

"Welcome home, Miyu," a chorus of voices exclaimed when she opened the door.

Kuki watched her face. Her exhaustion showed in the whiteness of her skin and the contrasting dark circles under her eyes. She currently looked like an archetypal vampire. Yet she smiled kindly, offering a friendly hello and handshake to everyone they passed.

Men gripped his hand and slapped him on the back. Women kissed him on the cheek or hugged him. He hated it. The physical contact, the pleasantries, the introductions, were wearing him out. He could only imagine how this was tiring Miyu. He was sick of meeting people whose names he would never remember. He did not care to remember their names. One person, one reason, had brought him here. Her recovery was the only thing he cared about. Although nice and heart warming, this welcome home party was draining her even further and angered him.

Kuki carefully examined the people around him without staring at a single person for too long. He had not expected them to look this way. Where were the pasty skinned, overly thin, black haired, black eyed demons? He cast a passing glance at Miyu. Unfortunately, she fit the popular media mold at the moment. Except for her eyes of course. However, the shiny gold had dulled to a sickly shade of mustard yellow.

Taking his eyes from her wan face, he went back to observing the faces around him. Their skin colors differed as greatly as their hair colors and eye colors. They truly were set apart from other humans but not in a way detectable by the eye. What made them incubi or succubi was on a genetic level and not defined by obvious outward appearances. They could be using a type of camouflage like Miyu had to cover the real color of her hair and eyes.

They were not so different from ghouls. Ghouls could disguise their bloody red eyes and repress their appetites for human flesh, hiding their true identities and masquerading as humans. However, the disguises always failed for one reason or the other no matter how carefully crafted and painstakingly kept up. Perhaps it was only a matter of time before their masks slipped as well.

At last, they were led to her father. He stood in the kitchen, leaning against the counter, beer in hand, speaking to a woman standing in front of him. By the way her hand pressed to his broad chest over his heart and her eyes met his, it was evident they were intimately involved.

Kuki stopped short, refusing to advance further. He stared at the man. Over six feet tall, muscular, tanned, blonde and blue eyed, he could be the epitome of the all American hero. He also shared physical traits with the two kids who had brought them here. Were they Miyu's half siblings? He glanced at the woman standing in front of her father. She was petite and small, another American classic with long wavy blond hair and sapphire blue eyes. She had to be their mother.

For a moment he felt sad for Miyu. When was the last time she was home? Had she just met her half siblings for the first time and not even known it? The girl and boy appeared to be young teenagers, probably thirteen and fifteen. Or was he assuming too much and making up stories in his head? Perhaps Miyu had failed to fill in those blanks of her past for him like so many others. Over the last thirty six hours he was becoming more and more aware of just how much he did not know about her.

"Miyu," her father said, walking over to greet her.

The mountain of a man, about the same size of the one they had met in the forest, smiled revealing a set of large, incredibly white, impeccably straight teeth. However, this man's face was softer, more handsome - almost pretty. His large arms, massive biceps flexing, encapsulated the tiny woman in front of him, his daughter. She must look like her mother because not one single thing about her appearance resembled her father.

"Dad," she returned, hugging him back.

"I'm glad you're here," he murmured, taking her face between his large hands. He kissed her forehead and both cheeks. "We're going to make you better. But tonight, we relax and have fun."

The people around them cheered and whooped happily. Kuki sneered in disgust. Couldn't these people see she was exhausted and sick?

"Kuki Urie," he heard her saying, realizing she was introducing him to her father.

"So this is him? Your boyfriend," he stated, not bothering to hide his disappointment.

He shrugged off her father's apparent disapproval. Kuki disapproved of all of this. He took the big paw extended to him and shook it. The large hand squeezed his like a vise, and he squeezed back just as powerfully. He would swear he heard something crack, but it was difficult to tell with all of the noise. A triumphant smile stretched his lips when the handsome man's face turned red.

"Thank you for bringing my little girl home. I was afraid for her making the trip by herself in her weakened state," her father said.

"Yes, me too. That is why I came. Do you really think this party is appropriate?" he asked, waving his hand around to bring attention to all of the people milling around them like swarming ants. "It has been a long trip. Much longer and more difficult than I expected. She should rest."

"Are you telling me what my daughter needs, boy?" the man demanded, narrowing his eyes in anger.

"Yes, yes I am," Kuki returned boldly, not intimidated in the least.

"Hmph," the American Hero snorted. "You're right." Clapping his hands to get everyone's attention, he announced, "Okay! Everyone out! Party's over! Ya ain't gotta go home, but you can't stay here."

The announcement was met with utterances of disappointment and few boos.

"All right, everybody out!" seconded the pretty blond woman who had been standing with him. She had not been formally introduced to them. "We can have another party at a later date."

"Take Miyu upstairs to her room while I get everyone out of here," her father told Kuki.

"Yes, sir," he returned, taking her by the arm.

Miyu led him through the kitchen to the back staircase. She walked up the stairs slowly, leaning heavily on his arm.

"I need a shower," she said.

"Okay," he responded. He would be thankful for a moment alone with her that did not involve hiking through the trees.

Entering the upstairs hallway, Kuki could see their suitcases sitting in front of one of the closed doors. He led her to the second to last door on the left, pushing it open.

A gigantic bed with pillar sized posts dominated the left side of the room. The large round decorative balls on top of the thick wooden bedposts were the size of cannonballs. A small table sat on each side of the bed. Two four drawer dressers and a free standing oval mirror sat on the right side of the room. A rocking chair was positioned in front of one of the large windows.

Kuki situated her on the side of the bed on top of the overstuffed light brown comforter.

"I'm going to lie down for just a minute," she yawned, propping herself against the pile of decorative pillows lining the headboard of the bed

"Okay. I'll unpack our things so you can get to your clothes. It won't take but a minute," he said, lifting her suitcase onto the unadorned rectangular trunk sitting at the end of the bed.

By the time he turned from depositing the handful of items into the top drawer, she was asleep. Snoring lightly, she lay curled onto her side, hugging the pillow shaped like a bear. He smiled. Taking the hand knit blanket in fall shades of yellow, orange, and red draped over the back of the rocking chair, he spread it over her body.

After emptying her suitcase, he unpacked his. Peeking out of the room, he could see downstairs due to the rest of the second floor being open to the first beyond the hallway. Two people walked around the living room. Her recognized them as Philip and June. They were cleaning, picking up cups and plates left behind by negligent party guests. He closed and locked the door.

Thankfully there was a bathroom attached to the bedroom so he did not have to wonder where one was located. He wished Miyu had been able to take a shower with him. However inappropriate it may be, he would have liked to made to love to her. He needed her closeness. But right now, his needs did not matter. After his shower, he quickly wrapped a towel around his waist to return to the room to check on her.

Miyu had rolled over, abandoning the bear, but remained rolled tightly into a little ball under the blanket. She appeared to be sleeping peacefully. Her cheeks were pink. He pressed his hand to her cheek then her forehead. She felt warm but not feverish.

There was a quiet knock on the door. Kuki went to the door, unlocking it to open it a crack.

"She's asleep?" her father asked.

"Yes. I told you she was exhausted," Kuki hissed, clearly agitated.

"Come down to the kitchen," her father said politely but obviously not as a request. "I would like to speak with you."

"Let me get dressed," he responded, his stomach clenching until he thought he might vomit.

Once dried off and dressed in a black v neck pullover and jeans, he padded downstairs barefoot. He returned to the kitchen via the back stairs, finding the man there brewing coffee. Her father used a ceramic pour over device sitting on top of a cup like the one she favored. Maybe she did get more than being a succubus from him.

"I assume you like coffee since you're with her," her father said without turning around.

"I do," Kuki replied, sliding onto one of the backless bar stools at the counter.

"Allow me to properly introduce myself. My name is Mitchell Garrison. You can call me Mitch. Yes, that was my present wife I was talking to when you walked in. Her name is Eliza. Philip and June are our children," he said, extending the freshly brewed, steaming cup of coffee to his guest.

"I didn't ask," Kuki rejoined, gratefully accepting the coffee.

"No, but I could see the questions in your eyes when you looked at me earlier," Mitch Garrison stated bluntly, his voice rich and smooth like the coffee. "Miyu knows all about them. I had written to her about them. That's why I sent those two out to meet you. She met them all on her last visit here." He continued, his voice gaining volume and speed. "I waited for her mother for years. When I realized she was not coming back, I moved on. I love my firstborn child with all of my heart. But she wanted to stay in her Mother's country. I didn't abandon her and create another family replace them. I simply got on with my life, choosing to live as I see fit...just like my first family did."

"Hmmm," Kuki hummed, staring into his mug.

For a brief moment he felt remorse for jumping to conclusions. He had wrongly assumed Mitchell Garrison pushed her mother out of his life and turned his back on Miyu. Quite the opposite was true. First her mother, then Miyu, made the selfish choice to leave the man behind, to live where and how they pleased. Then there were her half siblings. He wanted to think she had been too tired to react appropriately when reuniting with her half brother and sister in the forest. But then again, what was she supposed to do? Meet them with open arms, happy smiles, and warm hugs? They were complete strangers after all despite sharing blood ties.

"As you can see, being what we are is not restricted to a certain race or carry specific physical attributes. That's how we fit so easily into regular society. But we're still different," Mitch proclaimed, a hint of pride in his voice.

"Is that why you choose to hide in the mountains here?"

"Yeah. There's some of us who choose to venture out into the world. By and large, it's not a good idea. It's best we keep to ourselves, stay separated. Especially for succubi, like Miyu. I never wanted that life for her. Her mother made the choice for her. I tried to find her and bring her back. When she returned, I begged her to stay. By that time, it was too late. She had decided to make her home with the humans. Humans have no idea how endlessly needy and selfish they can be. They take a real toll on our kind with their incessant demands. Emotional parasites," he added bitterly.

"But you left the colony. You loved a human. You had a child with her," Kuki argued.

Mitch Garrison chuckled lightly, sliding Kuki Urie a sidelong glance and flashing that brilliant American smile.

"How do you think I know how just selfish they can be? Her mother stole her and abandoned me, refusing to return. She was murdered, you know. Did Miyu tell you that?"

"No,"Kuki answered in an exhale when he remembered to breathe.

"By a ghoul," her father added, turning to face him. The smile had turned menacing, hateful. "She told me what you are. I'm truly shocked and a little disgusted she can love you."

"Yeah, me too," Kuki agreed, avoiding the man's gaze. He took a sip of the coffee that scorched his tongue and seared his throat, hurting only slightly less than the man's scathing words.

"My girl is sweet, loving, accepting...forgiving beyond what she should be and beyond what some deserve."

"That I knew."

"Let me tell you a few more things about our kind, son," her father began, taking a seat on the bar stool beside him. "I love garlic. Italian food is my favorite. I'm not afraid of crosses or holy water or any other Christian symbols but I still don't like religion. I don't burst into flames in the sunlight. We stay indoors a lot to avoid being seen. I don't sleep in a coffin. Coffins are for dead people. We're not dead. That's one of the main attributes that separates us from vampires. Oh, and speaking of vampires, a stake through the heart will kill anyone...whether they're a vampire or not."

Kuki sipped his coffee without tasting it. He found humor in what her father had said but could not find it within himself to laugh. She had already educated him on the differences between her kind and vampires. Last night she had teased him about the vampire thing while packing. His sense of humor had failed him then too. Her father had that same dry, sarcastic wit she possessed. She had his forthrightness and his ability to shock and offend with the truth. Once again, he discovered more personality traits she had inherited from her father.

"Go ahead and laugh, boy. That's some funny shit," her father remarked, slapping him on the back. "Have you ever been called a zombie?"

"Actually, your daughter called me one once. After I called her a vampire," he confessed.

"Oh, I see," he muttered, scratching his chin. "Well, I'm sure it was then you discovered how fragile she can be. In most basic terms, we're powerful empaths with super human strength, better than average senses, and lengthier life spans. But we wear our hearts on our sleeves. We feel things more deeply than others. Including love."

Mitch sighed loudly, toying with the handle of his cup.

"Listen here, son," he began,"I only allowed you to come up to this mountain because I know how much my daughter loves you. I assume you love her just as much since you dared to make this trip."

"I do, sir," Kuki assured the caring father. "Speaking of that, I would like to speak with you about marrying your daughter."

"Aw, hell, boy, do you really think that girl needs you to ask me?"

"Well, no, but -"

"Urie, let's just stop that conversation right here. The next few weeks are not going to be easy for her. Or for you," Mitch added pointedly, turning his head to look at him. "I'm sure you've learned more about her in the last two days than you have in your entire relationship so far. Her mother was the same way. Mysterious, secretive. It was annoying as hell, but the woman had me hooked on her like a drug."

Kuki knew that feeling all too well. Anxiety swam through his gut stirring up nausea in its wake.

"I'm sure you will continue to learn more and more about her during your time here. Probably a lot of things you don't want to know," her father warned him. "Tell me when this is over if you still love her and want to spend the rest of your life with her."

"I'm confident I will, sir."

"Good. Because she's going to need you. She will get through this. Don't you worry about that. She's stronger than she looks right now."

Kuki nodded. He already knew she had the spirit of a survivor. He was well acquainted with her determination and stubbornness. Based on that information alone, he knew she would be just fine.