As promised a Josef chapter, full of angst!!!! This will be the last post until after Christmas, possibly New Years!!!!! I need to spend time with my family and so do all of you.

Enjoy!!!!

Mortality

Josef awoke to the sound of laughter. He groaned and turned to look at his clock. Then he realized he wasn't in his freezer, he was in his bed. What the?! He blinked into the sunlight was pouring in through the un-shaded windows.

Faster then he cared to move, he jumped up and crouched behind his nightstand for cover. Why…? He puzzled. Then the events of the previous night and earlier that morning started to come back to him.

This is why I don't get involved with humans. He mentally kicked himself. They leave you out to dry in the sun.

Then another part of his brain answered, But she is not a human, she is something else..

His logical side replied, Yeah, something else… that can KILL you.

Josef rubbed his head. He had a splitting headache. He couldn't think strait and all the light was not helping. Wait, why am I not rabid with hunger? Laying in the sun this exposed, he looked down, Yep, still naked. I should be attacking the first thing that moves.

He heard the laughter from downstairs again. He tried to listen in, but couldn't. It must be this headache. He thought as he started to call for a freshie, then her remembered, Shit! I lent them all to her. Now what am I going to do?

He knew perfectly well what he had to do. He needed to suck it up and beg Adriana for a drink. I hate begging…. maybe Mick wouldn't mind opening his fridge to me, not that I enjoy that stuff, but I really need…Shit Mick… Mick's here…

Josef groaned again and rested his head on his knees. This is not going to be pleasant, but I might as well get it over with. He stood-up and made a dash for his closet. Strange? The sunlight didn't burn when I crossed the room… Josef shrugged it off, probably his head hurt too much to register any other pain. He searched for his bathrobe in vain. Finally he slipped on a pair of flannel PJ pants and wondered down stairs.

As he came to the bottom of the stairs he could hear Mick, Beth and Adriana in the kitchen. Great, I have an audience.

Mick heard Josef as he stumbled down the stairs. He smiled as Josef dragged himself into the kitchen, "You look like something the cat dragged…" Mick stopped. Not because of the look of malice on Josef face, but something else… Mick couldn't put his finger on it. Contrary to the agony in Josef's eyes, he looked healthy, almost fleshy pink and he smelled…odd. Not to mention he was standing in a beam of sunlight.

Beth looked up to see Josef stumble into the kitchen. He looked like he was fighting a really bad hangover, but he didn't look as pale as he had the night before. He must be full from feeding last night. She thought. Then she looked to Mick when he stopped mid-sentence. What is wrong with him? Beth wondered, seeing the look of horror on Mick's face.

Mick took a few steps toward Josef. Then looked to Adriana in astonishment. She was also looking a Josef, not with Mick's curiosity, but with sheer terror.

"What's going on?" Beth asked. Josef looked up finally, blinking into the sunlight, he saw Mick's and Adriana's faces. Only then did he realize that his stomach felt nauseous. He dashed to the sink and threw-up. Beth was the only one to move toward Josef. Mick and Adriana were still frozen in place.

Beth placed a soothing hand on Josef's back as he continued to heave. She looked up, demanding answerers with her eyes from Mick and Adriana.

"No…no…no…" Adriana muttered under her breath and back toward the wall away from Josef. Mick grabbed her as she tried to flee the room.

Beth opened her mouth to speak, but was interrupted by Josef, muttering from the sink, "I need blood, quick."

Beth grabbed Mick's glass from earlier and handed it to him. Mick made a motion to stop her, but Josef took it before he could and downed the contents. Josef dropped the glass and stood there for a moment. Disgust crossed his face, then he turned back to the sink and threw-up what he had just swallowed. "What…what was that?" He stammered.

"Blood." Beth said, confused by his reaction.

"No it wasn't. I have been drinking blood for 378 years and that," he pointed to the glass on the ground, "was most certainly not blood."

Mick let go of Adriana who shrank down against the wall. He approached Josef cautiously, "Yes is was Josef. That was blood. I was drinking from it earlier."

Josef looked at him, confusion written all over his face, "But…but…" Then it dawned on him. The sun hadn't burned him, he couldn't hear downstairs, and now he couldn't drink blood. His eyes widened in terror, "No…no…no…" He looked at Adriana, huddled against the wall, silent tears running down her face, "You!"

He lunged forward, but Mick caught him, pulling him away. "No Josef. You don't have the strength." Mick held his friend at bay. Josef stopped fighting and slumped to the floor.

Beth moved to comfort Adriana, still confused by what was happening. She watched as Mick silently sat across from Josef, unsure of how to comfort his friend.

Beth looked to Adriana. Her tears flowed freely down her cheeks and Beth heard her muttering. "I didn't mean to…I knew better…I never should have…He never wanted…"

"He never wanted what?" Beth asked quietly.

Adriana looked up into Beth eyes and whispered, "Mortality."

Beth's eyes widened. Josef was mortal… again?

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