Hey, everyone. I would have had this up sooner, but due to the weather in my neck of the woods, I was stranded away from the computer, so what's a fanfic writer to do? Anyway, thanks for the feedback that was offered, I always appreciate it.
Initimate Stranger, we Coraline/Mick shippers got to stick together, right? We're way outnumbered, and it's always cool to know that someone's appreciating that aspect to this story. Enjoy the ride
Modern LA
At 8:00, Beth's source called. "Beth Turner," she answered.
"I must be brief, Miss Turner. I assume since you are an acquaintance of Josef Kostan, this must have something to do with Lola."
Well, that was a name Beth never thought anyone would have to hear again. "What makes you say that?"
"I only know what she has done before, two hundred years before Josef Kostan came to know her. I was her lady's maid, you see. Her husband and sire, Luke, had grown bored with her, and loved another, Lillianna. He wished to turn her, so they could be together…eternally. Lola had the wild fury of ten beasts!" the Frenchwoman exclaimed. "Before Lillianna could be turned, Lola slipped a tiny amount silver into her tea, so it would be in her blood as she was turned, corrupting the transition, or so my mistress claimed. All I know was that she never awoke. Fearing she was a prisoner in own body, Lucas ended all."
"Do you think Lola could have done the same thing again?" If this was true, poor Josef! He'd been beating himself up for decades over something his whack-job ex rigged.
"I have not seen her since a year after she turned me. She was an evil woman, by mortal or immortal standards." There was a shudder to the voice on the other line. "I only know she is capable of repeating her evil acts, and I hear that she and Josef Kostan were lovers for a good many years. If she thought she could lose him…I know she is more than capable of repeating her evil deed."
"How do I know any of this is true?" The story seemed like the real deal, but Beth had been in business long enough to know some people got off on spinning utter crap, passing it off as truth.
"I cannot tell you my identity," the stranger insisted.
"Why? Why do you think Josef would hurt you?" Beth pressed.
"I made an enemy of him long ago, another story altogether. Believe me, mortal one; if our paths cross again, I will not be so fortunate. But if another suffered because of Lola, it is my duty to try to help them by at least by offering an explanation." Beth started to ask more, but then, her informant was gone, a whole new set of problems. Josef would want more than a word of some mysterious enemy. Second of all, that didn't solve Sara's problem. Was there an antidote to the silver's effects? Was it too late?
Well, she had a place to start. She'd research silver, not just in relation to vampire lore, but everything about it in general. Maybe Mick would be a good place to start getting some answers. She'd stop by his place tomorrow. Also, she had to re-examine Sara's diary. Lola could have befriended her in order to slip the silver in her drink, or hired someone in Josef's inner circle to do it.
The knock on her door broke her concentration. "Mick?" she wondered, hoping it was. She'd missed hanging out with him, even though it'd only been a few days. This time, though, she checked, remembering Josef's Snow White comment. "Well, speak of the devil," she muttered, seeing who it was.
"You flatter me," Josef quipped as soon as she opened the door. Oh, supernatural hearing, got it.
"So, did the meeting fall through and you're here to whack me?"
"I was an asshole earlier," he admitted cheerfully.
Stepping aside, she gestured him in. "So, you're here to apologize?"
Josef laughed like she'd pulled a Jay Leno. "Oh, and a sense of humor too. I can almost see why Mick's so enthralled with you. No, I'm not here to beg your forgiveness or anything else. Still, you're trying to help me out, even if you're way out of your league, so I'll try to at least fake some manners in the future."
"Out of my league?" She hadn't been planning to tell him, but since he thought he knew so much, she just had to put him in his place. "As a matter of fact, I already have a promising lead."
"Oh, the silver, you mean?" Josef was casual as he completely burst her bubble.
Beth took a step back, her face incredulous. "You knew what Lola did?"
"If I had, she would have been dead long before your time. She would have died screaming if I'd even suspected she'd hurt my Sara." Beth considered herself a pretty plucky individual, but Josef was freaking her out, he looked and sounded murderous.
"Okay, okay. Jeez, a simple 'no' would have worked fine." She rubbed her arms, grateful when Josef's murderous mood evaporated as fast as it had come on. "So how-"
"I was listening at your door," he told her without a shred of shame. "Well, it's only fair since I heard my name. I was coming by anyway, and I tell you, my ears were positively burning."
"Then why did you accuse me of being out of my league?"
"I was baiting you, seeing what you'd say." He scowled, but it was more cute than scary. "Amazing. I spend years searching for answers, and a mere human get's a promising lead in days. If this wasn't about Sara, I would be very put out."
"Well, maybe if you hadn't put the fear of God into this woman, she would have come to you with the answers. You don't think she's lying, do you?"
"I usually assume everyone's lying until it's proved otherwise. Still, it's all I've got to go on for now." Beth couldn't be sure, but she thought she saw a flicker of sadness in his otherwise bland expression. "I expect you to verify her story."
"Me? What about you? I figure since Sara's the love of your life, you'd want to hunt the answers down yourself."
Josef looked genuinely baffled. "Why bother? When you're rich, you can pay other people to do your homework for you. Besides, believe it or not, a multi-billion dollar corporation doesn't run itself, even with my brand of genius. Besides, you're doing so well, it'd be a shame not to let you keep going."
"First of all-" she started to say.
"You're coming with me to New York." Beth's jaw dropped, shocked. Who the hell did he think he was, her boss? He was on a power trip Donald Trump would do a double-take over and Beth didn't plan on putting up with it. Josef must have guessed she was about to let him have it, because he waved his hand dismissively. "Oh, save me any feminist tirades. Put your girl power aside for a minute, and think smart. I have more connections than you can shake a stick at, including in the media. You stick with me, and your career will skyrocket."
"I don't accept bribes," Beth argued.
Josef snorted. "You're a big girl, Beth, and reporters shouldn't have delicate sensibilities. Besides, it's not a bribe, it's a legitimate offer. If you say no, I'm not going to wreck your career since I don't, strictly speaking, need you; I just want your help. Still, you'll always regret it if you don't jump on this opportunity."
"And my job?" She was starting to cave, the temptation strong.
"You figure it out, I'm sure you'll come up with something."
"How do I know you'll stick to your end of the deal? You may be Mick's friend, but that doesn't mean you're mine." That wasn't to say there wasn't some sort of respect and compatibility between them, but for Josef, friendship was a privilege you didn't earn overnight, and Beth knew she hadn't made the mark yet.
"There's an ancient custom called a contract. I'll have one drawn up. Put a lawyer on retainer if you want to play if safe, I'd do the same thing. Also, as a token of my sincerity, I'm willing to pay you $30,000."
"$30,000," Beth repeated in disbelief. The amount of money was huge in Beth's book, representing a measure of financial security. Oh, sure, she couldn't buy a house on that, but she could pay off her car, credit cards, have a few shopping sprees. "How'd you hit on that number?"
"10,000 is for the answers you've already supplied. Admittedly, you came across them on sheer dumb luck, but I didn't stipulate on the means you acquired what I wanted, and frankly, I don't care. 20,000 is for the trouble of putting your career on hold, and coming to New York. You'll have your own place, a penthouse of mine, and your meals will be provided. All your bills will be paid during your stay in New York, and you'll be supplied with a limit free credit card for any expenses on this case. However," his voice turned sharp, "you will be expected to account for any charges. I want clear, concise documentation, understand? Any spending money, you'll have to provide for yourself."
"That sounds fair," she said automatically.
Josef looked incredulous. "Fair? Fair! I'd say it's beyond generous. The expense will hardly make a ripple on my finances, but it's still a good deal of money I'm spending on you. Don't get big ideas and think you're actually worth it, because you're not. Sara is, however. She's worth every penny I've got."
"That's a lot of pennies," Beth commented mildly, forgetting her irritation. As much of a jackass as Josef might be to 99.9 of the population, he was an absolute gem where Sara was concerned.
"I'll have the contract drawn up," Josef told her. "You can hire a lawyer in New York. We leave tomorrow morning."
"How am I supposed to-"
"Take care of everything before then? That's your problem, Beth, not mine. I will collect you tomorrow, eight o'clock sharp. I don't know how long we'll be gone, that depends on how efficient you are, I suppose." He turned to leave, leaving Beth sputtering.
Finally, she managed to spit out a coherent sentence, just as he reached the door. "They'll fire me!"
"Probably," Josef agreed without an ounce of sympathy. "With me backing you, you'll get a new position somewhere else."
"I like my job!" Beth protested.
"Life's full of little disappointments," Josef drawled. "If you're half as creative as you think you are, make up a good lie. Your mother's dying or your brother needs a kidney, whatever."
Knowing it was pointless to argue with him, Beth gave up. "When will Mick be joining us?"
"I wasn't under the impression I was paying Mick's bills. Oh, wait, I'm not, so therefore, he won't be joining us. Surely, you can conduct an investigation without him there to hold your hand." He spared her one glance before disappearing. "Don't bother him. He's not a part of this, he's got enough on his plate."
Coraline's Party House, 18 hours earlier
"Mick, get out," Coraline gasped. No matter what the dynamics currently between them, her instincts were screaming to protect him, to protect the one her heart thought of as 'mate.'
She heard Mick sniff the air, saw him shift into a fighting stance. He knew they weren't alone now too. "Coraline-"
"She's 600 years old, Mick," Coraline snapped. "You never were much of a fighter, you fight like a friggin' human. She'll annihilate you."
Mick didn't take offense, but then again, it was hard to offend him, especially in a crisis. "We'll take her together," he proposed. "Two against one, better odds, right?"
"I don't need your help," she hissed, even though she was secretly touched he'd offer, even as much as he distrusted her. "Just get out, I don't have the luxury of protecting you."
"No, mon chéri, you don't." There was no accent to the French endearment, only cold disdain. Coraline beheld her sire with cold detachment. Oh, she didn't have the ridiculous resentments Mick did, the day she became a vampire was the day she found freedom, found her strength. She was grateful to her sire, and once, they'd held each other in affection, but their relationship had long since soured.
"Veronica," she greeted tonelessly. "So, you've found me, eh?"
"Of course, Danielle." Coraline's sire stepped forward. She was not a beautiful woman, though not unappealing either. If she was anything, she was harshly handsome, her sense of style and grace recommending her as much as anything. She was composed, even tranquil, but Coraline knew it was only a matter of time before Veronica struck. "Did you not think your insolence would be punished? You killed my most beloved servant. You will be held accountable."
"He was a rapist, and sadistic besides," Coraline snapped. "Good riddance, he was beginning to draw attention." Moral misdeeds usually amused Coraline, but rape was the exception. She'd never forget being trapped on the stone floor, her stepbrother ramming himself past her virginity, taking her with delighted brutality.
"Mortals are for our pleasure, Danielle, his violent delights were his affair, and if there was punishment due, it was mine to dole out, not yours." Her voice never raised an octave, never altered in tone. She was almost pleasant as she explained her position.
"Do your worse, old woman," Coraline told her without qualms. She might come out a little worse for the wear, but she'd survive the encounter, or at least had a decent chance. "Just let him go. He's insignificant, a mere child, and he's no friend of mine."
"I'm not going anywhere," Mick asserted, having watched the scene between the two powerful women silently, understanding his ex a little better now.
"I would go, if I were you. She's right, you're of no importance, and I have only one target tonight."
"Beat it," Coraline growled, wanting to strangle him for being so damned stubborn. "There's no goddamned permanent cure, so there's no point in saving my ass, okay? Out!"
"And leave two lovely ladies all on their lonesome?" Oh, for the love of-
"Mick-"
She made a mistake. She always made them where he was concerned, her love for him her weakness. She took her eyes off Veronica, turning to Mick to try to get it through his thick skull. "Coraline!" Mick's yell echoed off the walls as he grabbed her shoulders, trying to yank her out of the way.
It was too late. The silver bullet found its way into her thigh, agony swimming through her veins. "Ahhh!" she screamed, falling to the ground. The poision was right behind the pain, sapping her strength, making her vision blur. The bitch had a gun. She'd never thought there'd be guns. It had never been Veronica's style before.
Another bullet flew through the air, finding its way through Mick's left temple, exiting the other side. He collapsed beside his ex-wife, inert, his eyes closed. "Mick," Coraline whimpered, dragging herself the short distance over to him. She barely noticed Veronica leaving the room. She sniffed, nuzzling at him in the mindless way a wounded animal nuzzles their mate. He was alive, the bullet was out, and he'd be okay.
The joy in that realization gave her the resolve to reach for the knife in her jacket pocket, and dig the small bullet out of her thigh. The pain was white-hot, so acute she almost blacked out herself as she dug for the small piece of wretched metal, compounded by the damage already done.
The bullet was almost out when she smelled gasoline. What? Her sluggish brain struggled to function, to find the answer to the overwhelming stench. She covered Mick's body with hers. Love him, need him, protect him, was all she could reason through. Then she smelled smoke, and she understood. Veronica was finishing them off with fire.
"No," Coraline mewled, terror building. Since the night Mick almost killed her, even a lit match sent panic through her. She dug for the bullet more erratically, slicing her flesh open, blood pouring out, doubling her weakness. Finally, mercifully, the bullet popped out.
"Mick, baby, hang on," she whispered. The fire was beginning to spread, from the other room, two other ones being set. She tried to stand, but her legs buckled. She was healing, but slowly, the pain still threatening to overwhelm her. She could get out, but getting them both out alive would be a challenge, one that she might not be able to handle.
The sinister voice of self-preservation was whispering to her, and usually, she listened to it. Leave him, save yourself. It's fitting, isn't it? He staked you, and then left you to the flames he made. If Josef hadn't saved you, there'd be nothing left but a pile of ash. What goes around, comes around. Coraline was hardened enough to pause for a few seconds, consider. It would be the ultimate revenge, poetic justice in its rawest form.
Coraline stood, looking down at him. The fire was edging closer, her throat closing, her body shaking. She made her decision.