Chapter Three

Human Nature

Simone navigated her Mercedes through the busy streets towards Chinatown's business sector. "A lot of vampires think that because of his wealth and influence, Josef is the most prominent of them all in L.A., but I just found out that's not true."

Sitting in the passenger seat, Beth shot her a sidelong glance. "Wait. You mean he's not?"

"No, and I'm just as shocked as you are. There's another one. A female. Josef has only met her a few times over the past hundred years, and no recent meetings since the Vietnam War. She's not well known like Josef or the Monaghans, but her wealth comes from importing and exporting over the centuries with countries all across the world."

Simone pulled into a vacant parking spot in front of a convenience store and restaurant. Several men and women milled about outside near the doors. An elderly woman stood to the side near the end of the sidewalk spraying water on potted plants situated on a small, wooden table.

Beth peered outside at the scene. "Is this it?"

Simone nodded as she turned off the car. "Ryder and Adrian gave me the address. I guess if there were any dealings between this woman and Josef, intermediaries handled their business."

"But here?" Beth gestured outside. "Simone. We're in front of a store and a restaurant. A store and a restaurant. What vampire is more powerful than Josef and works in a convenience store or … The Lucky Dragon?"

Simone shrugged. "I don't know. Why does that one vampire work at the morgue? Or Mick a detective? Or Josef as a hedge fund trader? Or the Monaghans as sports agents and managers? What makes vampires do what they do?"

She sighed and gestured out the window. "All I can say is Josef is taking a big risk by allowing us to speak with this woman, because he made it sound like this woman is highly connected. He knows his life is on the line, but he thinks by coming forth to this her, she will be in his corner if everyone calls for his head."

Beth stared Simone down in silence for several seconds. Simone stared back, expressionless.

"Plus, I heard the sushi is good."

The two women exited the vehicle and went inside the store. Several customers were standing in line as a cashier rang in purchases on a touchscreen register. A few ventured up and down the aisles shopping for different items.

Simone spotted a stocker in the corner labeling small bags of candy. She tapped Beth on her elbow and pointed to him. Beth nodded and walked up to him with a smile. "Hi. I'm looking for the owner. Is she available?"

The stocker gave her a confused look. Beth started to ask the question again but Simone stopped her. "He may not speak English," she said as she reached into her purse and pulled out a folded piece of paper. "I don't know how Adrian knows Chinese, but he wrote a note to give to anyone who works here."

Simone unfolded the paper and held it out to the stocker. He stared at it questionly for a moment before taking it. His eyes darted over the characters carefully before giving her a short nod and turned to walk to a closed door marked OFFICE. He opened it and gestured for Simone and Beth to follow.

The "office" was anything but; an elaborately decorated foyer boasting a wide staircase. The cherry red rug stood out against the gleaming oak finish. A hallway leading to the rear of the building held paintings and photographs of several Chinese men and women, all well dressed and displaying various airs of importance.

The stocker led the way up the stairs and down another hallway to a set of double doors. He opened them both with a flourish and stepped inside, speaking in Chinese to someone just out of view for a minute until he turned and gestured for the women to enter.

The room was sparsely furnished. Chairs were non-existent. Instead, several large pillows on a plush, circular rug sat in the center of the room. A foot high, pentagon-shaped table rested on the floor in the middle of the setup.

At the far end, a woman of diminutive stature stood in front of a table of regular height where three flat screen monitors rested displayed various news broadcasts. Her long, black hair reached almost to the small of her back, tied neatly into a ponytail.

She turned and smiled at the two women. Her face held a youthful appearance. "Welcome, ladies." Her voice was strong, immediately commanding respect. She pointed at Simone as she said, "Please wait outside. It seems this young one and I have much to discuss."

Simone glanced at Beth briefly before nodding and exiting the way she had come as the woman stepped over to the rug. "If you don't mind removing your shoes, please."

Beth complied, setting her footwear by the door. Together, both women lowered themselves onto the rug while the stocker walked in with a tea tray. Setting it on the table, he bowed and quickly exited, closing the doors behind him.

"It's been a long time since I've had any dealings with Josef Kostan," the woman said. She leaned forward and reached for the teapot on the tray in front of her. "So forgive me if I'm a bit wary as to why he's reaching out to me today."

The woman poured tea into the decorative cups resting on the tray beside the pot. She sat it down and handed one to Beth. "So. What is the purpose of your visit?"

Beth held the cup in her hand, not taking a sip to drink. "I'm sorry. We just met and all. What is your name?"

The woman stared hard at Beth for a long moment, causing her to regret asking the question. She started to apologize but a smile graced the woman's features. She gave Beth a nod of approval.

"You have obviously been around our kind for some time. I can see some fear, but it's fear mixed with respect. Rarely do I see that in a person I've met for the first time. Especially a human. I like that." She settled her eyes on Beth once more. "My name is Sya Lin Wen. I am nearly five hundred years old."

Beth nodded and finally took a sip of her tea. She savored the sweet peppermint flavor. "Miss Wen, Mr. Kostan sent me to speak with you because he felt you may be able to help him."

Wen laughed. "Help Kostan? Why would he think that? We haven't talked in over forty years."

"Because he knows that the vampires follow an unwritten code here, and that there are consequences if one does not adhere to it." Beth leaned in close. "He respects your position here in Los Angeles and hopes that by coming to you, he will have your support as he works to correct the problem."

Wen started to speak, but noted the seriousness in Beth's expression. She sighed and rubbed her chin with her right hand, muttering in Cantonese for several seconds. "What did he do now?" she finally whispered.

"Josef was caring for a woman in New York whom he had attempted to turn sixty years ago. A vampire named Malcolm Rehnquist recently contacted Josef. Gave him the impression that the woman was in danger and that if Josef didn't turn over another vampire … the woman would die."

Beth fell silent and looked down at the tea in her clasped hands in her lap before continuing. "Rehnquist wanted Josef to turn over to him his best friend, who just so happens to be a vampire, and my boyfriend."

Wen's eyes widened in surprise at the revelation as Beth who continued to look down at her hands in silence. "What is your boyfriend's name, my dear?"

Beth looked up into Wen's face. "Mick. Mick St. John."

Wen smiled. "St. John? I've heard of him. Very young vampire. I believe he and Kostan have been friends for several decades. I didn't care for his lack of gratitude into the life Coraline Duvall gave him all those years ago, but I've come to learn that sometimes a gift really isn't a gift if it isn't wanted."

Wen sighed and rose to her feet and walked over to the monitor table. "It doesn't matter. What does matter is that Kostan committed an unspeakable crime by betraying his friend. I don't know how I can help him."

Beth finally looked up. "Miss Wen, I totally agree with you. I … was there when Mick was taken. And even though I hate Josef for what he did, I understand why he did it. And Mick understands as well. He wouldn't want Josef punished for this."

She walked over to Wen. "I came here with every intention of being honest with you. Josef … gave Mick up to Malcolm Rehnquist in order to save the woman. But now he's in danger. Josef asked us to ask for your help on his behalf. I'm not going to pretend I know what that help entails, but it would be greatly appreciated."

Wen slowly turned to face Beth, marveling at her boldness. She smiled, cupping the human's face with one hand. "You would make an excellent vampire. I guess it's the human nature in you. Have you and St. John ever spoke of you joining our ranks?"

Beth fought the urge to step back from Wen's grasp. "The discussion came up once. We prefer to figure how we can work as we are now."

Wen regarded Beth for a moment. "I will enjoy hearing the conversation if it comes up again." Her hand fell from Beth's face. "The assistance I will render is simple. I will see to it that no vampire here in Los Angeles will touch so much as a hair on Kostan's head, but you two need to keep up with what you're doing and find St. John as quickly as possible. I can do but so much."

"Whatever can be done would be greatly appreciated." Beth bowed her head slightly in respect and turned to walk where her shoes rested.

"I would definitely hurry, Miss Turner," said Wen. "Magnus McClane is an old softie, so I know I can hold him off for a while, but his patience isn't like our immortality."

Beth turned back to Wen in shock. "You know about McClane?"

"I was the one who got him the preseason tickets for yesterday. He told me. I was all in for going after Kostan when I heard what he did. Then you came here and told me why he did it. It was still wrong, but I respect it."

Wen hastened over to Beth and cupped her face once again. "I wish you good fortune in finding your beloved, and may you find him with haste."

#

Simone sat behind the wheel of her car when Beth opened the passenger door and slid in. She turned in her seat, an anxious look on her face. "Well?"

Beth reached down to adjust the straps on one of her shoes that did not want to cooperate. "Well, the good news is we might have caught a break. Miss Wen said she'll put the word out to the vampires here to give Josef some more time to make this right."

Simone shrugged. "So, we went from "forty-eight hours" to "some more time." Personally, I rather the forty-eight hours. At least I'll know when my head's going to get chopped off."

Beth looked down to examine her footwear."Considering the fact that Magnus McClane had already told her what had happened, I am very appreciative of "some more time," believe me."

"Wait, what? She knows?"

Beth nodded, turning to look at the store. Her eyes averted up for some reason, and she saw Wen staring down at her from an upstairs window. She tapped her wrist as if indicating a watch.

"An extra day, extra hour, I don't care, Simone. We can't stop what we're doing until we find Mick." She looked back over at Simone.

"We need to go out of the box on this."

#

The ray of morning sunlight shining through the window blinds woke him from a deep slumber. His right hand automatically went up to protect his still shut eyes, knowing the sun would be harmful if he opened.

The motion stopped even before it started, for something was preventing him from lifting his arm. Sensing the heat from the sunlight was not dangerously hot, he finally opened his eyes.

"It's about time."

His eyes locked onto the reason that prevented him from lifting his arm. A blonde, blue-eyed reason nestled in the crook of his arm, her chin resting on his chest. She smiled as her finger lightly touched his lips. "I thought you were going to sleep all morning. Which is understandable, considering what we did."

He stared back at her, eyes widened in puzzlement as his free hand reached over to run through her hair. "What … what are you doing here?"

She laughed. "I thought we both made that clear last night."

That was when he finally realized their nakedness underneath the silk sheet covering their intertwined bodies. "Obviously we had a good time," he stammered.

She slid down his chest and turned her body around until she could look up at the ceiling. "I couldn't wait until the reception was over," she said as she held her left hand up above her face. "I felt like I was going to die. Everyone watching our every move, hovering over us every second. If it wasn't for Josef and Sarah getting caught having sex in the bathroom, I wouldn't have been able to kiss you even once without someone clapping or saying, "awwww."

The light reflecting off of the five carat diamond on her ring finger nearly blinded him. He lifted his left hand to shield his eyes and noted the platinum band similarly placed. "It did seem like we were getting crowded over. Thank God Josh and Allison got us the hotel room to sneak away to."

"I didn't want to stay in the villa until tonight anyway, so Ben and Alex should be cleared out before the time we can check in." She yawned and sat up, holding the excess of bed sheet over her. "Speaking of which, what time are we due to meet Josef?"

"Five. Which gives us plenty of time to go by your apartment and pick up whatever you forgot."

She looked over her left shoulder to give him an indignant look. "I didn't forget anything."

He clasped his hands behind his head and smiled at her in silence until she playfully slapped his bare chest. "I hate you."

At that, he sat up and grabbed her by waist, flinging her over onto the bed and throwing himself on top of her body. She struggled futilely within his grasp, laughing hysterically as he stretched her arms toward the headboard and looked deep into her eyes.

"I love you, Beth Turner."

Beth stared back.

"I love you, Mick St. John."

#

Malcolm Rehnquist smiled as he took in the surroundings. "I am impressed, David," he said. "Where did you find this place?"

"My sister found a case St. John worked that required him to find and escort a federal witness back to Los Angeles." David Oxford tugged at his shirt collar, stained with sweat. "Somehow he and the witness ended up in this same abandoned hotel. The mole inside the district attorney's office relayed the information to a contract killer and tracked them here. Somehow St. John took him down."

"Yes, this here is definitely off the beaten path," Malcolm proclaimed. "But suited for our taste. Where is he?"

David led Malcolm outside the hotel room. The noon sun beamed directly overhead, forcing him to quickly shield his eyes. Malcolm stared down at his friend and clasped a hand on his shoulder. "Did you rig a room up with a cooling unit?"

David nodded as he opened the door to the room next door. "Yes, but Lucas said there's not enough power here to power it for more than one of us. I'm surprised this place even has power, to be honest."

"Then both of you need to head back to the city," said Malcolm. "I'll watch over our two guests until tonight."

David gave him an uncertain look. "Are you sure, sir? I don't mind -"

Malcolm stepped past David into the room. Garbed in a lab coat, Doctor Ian Ellis stood in front of a large chair, adjusting the armrests' wrist straps on a bloodied, battered Mick St. John. His ankles were similarly bound.

"I think I'll be just fine," said Malcolm, glancing back over his shoulder at David who stood in the doorway. "I need you fresh. Be back here around seven, and take Lucas with you."

Once David closed the door behind him, Malcolm stepped close and held Mick's head up by his hair. Shirtless, Mick's skin was a grayish white color, soaked with perspiration. His milky white eyes stared back at Malcolm with an almost lifeless glare.

"A week of starving him, followed by a week of beating him senseless worked for you, Doctor?"

Ellis nodded. "It definitely made him more submissive to the concoctions your people sent me from Paris," he said. He held out a intravenous bag to Malcolm.

"I'm using a combination of your drugs and what I did to bring Miss Whitley back from the dead. Thanks to the instructions Claudia forwarded, I believe I have him almost ready for you to talk to."

Malcolm released Mick's hair, causing his chin to fall gracelessly to his chest. "Has he said anything?"

"Nothing that really made any sense, except for one thing. He kept repeating "I love you, Beth," for about a hour. Do you know anyone by that name?"

Malcolm almost smiled.

"The name does sound familiar."

#