CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Within a few more days I was back to a healthy state. I had a bit of trouble explaining to Doctor Fisher that I was fine. I think she was a bit shocked I recovered so fast after losing so much blood.

For those few days I had been on an iron rich diet now, not that my tests said I needed more, but to get her off my back.

I couldn't tell her about having Mattie's blood running in me. I didn't know what she might think. Is she like Sam and abide by the rules? Is she like Mattie who has a loose understanding? Plus if she reported the rule break, wouldn't that mean I'd have to leave Rose? Rose, Iain and Mattie was pretty much everything I had.

During those few days I was in bed, Paper visited and picked the people who were going to be living there with me. It was a shame, I wanted to see Paper myself.

I was sat in Iain's office with Mattie beside me. Sam leaned against the wall beside the door. The people who were picked dotted around the room. There were three in all excluding myself. One, a young girl had short brown hair, glasses and wore a blue and white dress with frills on. A bit of an odd thing to wear but if that's what she likes, I'm not planning on arguing. Her 'new' name was Cindy Smith.

There was another girl, Laura Frost - a vampire - with long blond hair in jeans and a jumper. Her eyes narrowed as if she didn't trust anyone in the room, occasionally turning red.

Finally a guy, James Walsh, another vampire who wore a navy suit to match his eyes. His blond hair had been dyed black at the tips. It was amazing to see it dyed considering his hair was just long enough to catch his shirt collar.

All three had their managers with them, all of them in formal wear. I never really noticed but Iain wore formal type clothes whenever I saw him. Maybe it was a must.

With Ted activated, the meeting began.

"So I hope you all know why you're here today." Iain said. Looks like he was going to spearhead this.

Everyone nodded. Mattie stood, rounded to the back of my seat to wrap his arm around my shoulders.

"There is very limited information we can give you about Paper," Iain continued. "But we do have an aim we would like you to accept before going into Paper." He paused to get everyone's undivided attention. And it worked. I had no idea about this 'aim'.

"To note this is a personal request and by no means are you obligated to follow through. If you choose not to help, then please do not interfere with those that have agreed. This includes telling Gold." Iain made eye contact with everyone, finally landing on mine.

"I would like you to get information regarding Matthew Taylor."

Mattie?

"What?" Laura cried out.

All eyes shot between Mattie and Laura including my own. They all had the same puzzled question plastered on our faces in varying degrees. Somewhere there was a part of me that registered some between disgust to bewilderment. I tried very hard to ignore those who reacted with disgust.

"But… why?" She said once she composed herself.

"Rose barely has any information on Mattie's past. It may also provide some answers on the 'hate' or 'dislike' some vampires have against him." Iain said ever so calmly as if raising his voice would be a certain trigger to set Laura off.

"Iain." Mattie said. He looked straight at Iain. "Why now? My past has nothing to do with my contribution to Rose nor with my future."

"It may not affect you, but it does for other people."

I shuffled in the chair constantly aware Mattie would know. The question passed my lips constantly and the answers I got just didn't sit well with me. How did Sam word it before? Something about Mattie being human? If I hadn't seen that old photograph, it would probably be too hard to understand or accept. I only knew Mattie as a vampire do it's hard to imagine him as anything but.

I felt Mattie rub my shoulder. Yes, he knew.

"What makes you think Paper has the answer?" One of the managers asked.

It's only Iain asking this. He's… amazing doing this. Especially when it's so risky. Even though I had questions on it and asked around, I never thought that the information might be at Paper or Gold and should the opportunity arise… to be honest, I'm not too sure if I would have even taken it.

"There's a lot of things we don't know about Paper or Gold, right? Our 'sisterly' relationship disappeared a long time ago so for Paper to continue making its yearly rounds… that's saying something, don't you think?" Iain shrugged. "I mean Emily, you know as much about Paper as I do."

"Yes, but I don't know… this sits oddly with me. You're telling them to spy on Paper?"

"You're describing it as 'spying' relating to the relationship. It died, as Iain said. It's just for show now." James said, nodding. "Many veterans - and we don't have a lot of them anymore - still use this 'relationship' as an excuse to do things. They did mean something to some people but Rose has been here for a significant amount of time and those things just don't matter to the newer people."

"But the name is still there," Emily stared daggers at James. "Bloody sisters. Bloody Rose, Bloody Gold and Bloody Paper."

Both were still arguing when I heard a "what's your decision?" whisper next to me.

"I'll do it." I didn't even need to debate. I looked right into Mattie's eyes with his arm still around me. "No question."

It might be because I'm his feeder or because of my quest to understand everything I can, or even my love for him that's making me come to this decision. Whatever it is, it feels right. I won't have regrets on it later.

His emerald eyes stared back. "Are you sure? Once you say you are, you can't change your mind halfway through."

"I won't."

We both were silent. Heck, the whole room was silent and looking at me as if I was an alien.

"Well that's one decided. Anyone else?" Iain said smiling in my direction. I guess he would have known what my answer would be even before this meeting happened. The points were obvious.

"I'll help." It was Cindy.

"James? Laura?" Iain said.

Laura was shaking her head. "Definitely not."

"I suppose it'll give me something to do." was James's answer.

"Well then," Iain continued. "Please don't reveal the contents of this meeting to anyone but those involved apart from Laura. Paper will be coming in a week's time so we expect everything to be sorted out regarding your six month stay. You will also need to sign a document so Rose knows not to give you any cases for the months you aren't here.

"Laura, could you please leave?"

She stalked out of here like no tomorrow. Ted needed to be shut down before the door could open, but it didn't put a dent in her mood. Or her stride. Turned off and then on, it seemed like a storm or some kind of hurricane had passed through and we had survived it.

Iain sighed before continuing. "Think of this like a case but for a long period of time. As usual there are a few little things you'll have. Since there isn't much about Paper and their policies on outsider equipment, we can only hope that they won't see it as 'spying' or anything else. If they don't allow it full stop, dont argue. Again, you'll get the equipment within the week before Paper's arrival."

Cindy raised her hand and like a teacher and student scenario, Iain said, "yes?"

"Since Paper is a sister of Rose, wouldn't they have similar or the same policies that we do?"

"No. They are mainly research and development so will have rules… guidelines, whatever you want to call it, in place to target that speciality. However, please remember the nine rules Gold has given us."

"Can we talk to other people who have done this?" James asked.

"Again, no… because… shortly after returning to Rose they moved over to Paper."

What?

"What do you mean by that?"

"It means Paper is hiding something. Or many things." Sam piped up from the door. I had to turn around fully to give him my undivided attention.

I almost forgot he was here.

"This lack of knowledge between organisations is our advantage and our disadvantage. The advantage being we can have almost free rein in what we can do and not get caught if it's something bad. On the other hand, the disadvantage is we don't really know what or who were dealing with.

"Every year they come and every year they take more of our colleagues without a reason why. Rose can't contact them and they won't answer. We also try having this meeting about Paper every year but the outcome is the same. We need to know why."

"What makes you think that same outcome will happen?" James asked, crossing his arms in the process.

"We don't, but we do have Alice, who Paper seems to be pretty interested for some reason."

I shuffled in my seat as all eyes turned on me. Each one made me look like I was an alien, all except three: Iain, Mattie and Sam. Mattie squeezed my shoulder in reassurance before patting it. None of them said a word. Maybe none were needed.

"Does anyone have any questions?" Iain said, glancing between everyone. "Everyone is free to come into my office if and when they have any questions to ask. Under no circumstance are you to leave it till the last minute nor are you to not ask it." He paused, "Okay, this brief has ended. Can everyone leave but Sam, Mattie and Alice?"

I don't know but I have a bad feeling about this. I could be wrong though.

Everyone filtered out and once the door was once again closed with Ted switched on, Mattie put his hands under me. By that I meant under my thighs.

"What the-" I squealed as my cheeks grew warm and red. "Mattie, that tickles!" Damn it! What's he doing?

"Ah, come on, Alice." He said grinning.

I sneaked a peek at Iain who had a weird expression on his face. It was between 'not-this-again' and 'should-I-even-tolerate-this?'

Mattie picked me up just to put on his lap. I shot him a disapproving look but he just grinned like the schoolboy, wrapping his arms around my waist and leaning his head on my shoulder.

"Geez, Mattie." Iain said. "You were making a statement there with your arm. Need you make even more of one?"

"It's okay. It's just you three."

I tried to climb off his lap but he kept me in place with a huge spoon. "Mattie…" I mumbled, my cheeks flaming again.

Sam shuffled to lean against the front of Iain's desk. I couldn't see his expression. "What is it you wanted to tell us?"

We all seemed to freeze until Iain replied, "There are two things I need to tell you. Since you're the only one whom I trust who's a feeder in that little group," he indicated toward the door. "I would prefer it if you saw Mattie's history yourself."

I nodded. I didn't really know what to say. I mean, I understood… kind of where he was coming from… but then again…

"All managers do things differently, Alice. It's like with Sam and Mattie. Sam sees that the nine rules should be followed,whereas Mattie sees them more like guidelines.

"Plus I barely know Cindy and James." Iain shrugged.

"Do you mean you wouldn't mind it if Alice doesn't look at my history?" Mattie said. I shuffled on his lap. His breath on my ear did some things to me. Sitting on his lap was one of the moments when he was really close to me.

As if I was Caim.

I kicked the thought out of my mind. Unfortunately it hit against the sides of my brain and landed in a heap.

Geez, if he were human, I probably would have noticed when he was going to talk.

Iain pulled a face. "Well I would severely discourage it. It just depends on the situation."

"And the other thing?" I asked.

Iain squared his shoulders as if the next piece of news was really bad. Was it a premonition of what was to come?

"I know you two both want to be partners." He motioned toward me and Mattie.

Well I do…

Wait. Mattie forgave me? He wants to be my partner? Did he mention that before?

Suddenly my mind was a mess. I couldn't help but turn around to just stare at his face. Hopefully despite being a vampire, he'll let me in to peek at his emotions.

His eyes saw mine. Those damn emerald eyes that just blinked like nothing happened.

Then he grinned, holding me tight.

So he did.

A flash of relief came over me only to be washed away by Iain. But there was something at the back of my mind wondering if he really did forgive me. I chose to ignore it.

"That might just have to be delayed because of the whole Paper thing."

"What?" I cried out.

"I don't know... " Iain started pacing in the space between me and his desk. "Paper doesn't seem to like Mattie so I don't want to prejudice it." I was going to ask why - probably a bit more harshly than I would have - but Iain held up his hand to stop me. "I know. You don't like it. Both of you don't-" I really did want to see the look on Mattie's face but I felt weird having to move around on his lap a lot. "But I'll start the paperwork for a switch in partners once you're back from Paper. And don't ask me why Paper don't like Mattie, okay?

"The plan is for the six days that we have, you two can spend the time you have together and for the last day… try to remove all traces of Mattie's scent on you."

"Scent?" I asked.

Sam perked up. "Vampires can tell if humans have a partner because their touch leaves a scent on their skin. Right now you smell mostly of Mattie and of myself."

My face grew warm. Right…

"You'll have to wear my clothes, stuff like that." Sam continued. The trail in his voice meant he was aware of Mattie's displeasure. Heck, I could note that due to the stillness of his arms around my waist.

"Fine." Those arms squeezed me. "As long as I can have Alice for the six days."