Mike watched Vicki and Henry leave, then turned to Renelle asking, "How long have you known the blood sucker?"

Renelle didn't blink an eye at Mike's comment about blood sucker but said in her deep sultry voice, "Not that long. I've known about him for a while, but just recently met him." She put a cool hand on his knee, "Don't be so harsh judging him."

Mike frowned at her, "You know what he is. How can I help but judge him harshly?"

"You've never done anything to be ashamed of? You've always made the right choices? Mike, we all have our little secrets."

Mike put his head in his hands and mumbled, "When it comes to His Royal Highness, why am I always the one in the wrong? He's a blood sucking, condemned by God, vampire. Evil in is purest form."

Renelle turned her head away and closed her eyes to control the anger growing deep inside her. "Do you believe in divine forgiveness?"

"Of course!"

"Then tell me, why wouldn't God forgive a vampire if they begged for forgiveness and tried to do everything in their power to live an honorable life and take a stand against evil?"

"Everyone knows a vampire has no soul."

"Who's everyone and how can they be so sure?"

Mike sat up straight, "All the legends and church teachings say vampires lost their souls to the devil when they became vampire. When you've lost your soul, your damned."

Renelle turned to Mike, "Have you seen Henry do anything evil?"

Mike was about to answer when Renelle added, "Vicki choosing Henry doesn't count."

Mike shook his head, "No, nothing evil, supernatural maybe, but not evil. He's helped Vicki and me out of a mess or two. I want to hate him."

Renelle said, "Instead of thinking about hating him, why don't you think of loving someone else?" Renelle pushed the dark curl off his forehead adding, "I'm not sure why, but I really want to get to know you better."

Mike took her hand from his forehead, running his thumb across the palm noticing how cool it was. "You may be right. I'll tell you about me, if you'll tell me about yourself."

Just as Renelle was about to speak, the waiter came with two bowls of soup and chips. They both shrugged and started their meal.

***

Vicki entered the small sub level apartment that Renelle had lent to Henry. It was plainly but comfortably furnished. There was a small kitchen living area, a bath and one bedroom. Vicki looked at Henry and asked, "How can this be much safer than my apartment?"

Henry walked into the bedroom and opened the closet. He ran his hand across the lower part of the back wall until his finger found a slight depression. Pushing harder, he triggered the mechanism and a small opening appeared. He gestured for Vicki to go first. She stooped down and had to get on her hands and knees to wiggle her way forward. On the other side she was able to stand in a small room that held a bed, a night stand with a single lamp and a half bath.

"Once your on this side of the door, it can be secured and not open from the other side and it's fireproof."

"Is there another way out?"

"Yes, but once that way is used, this room can never be entered again. It's an egress for dire emergencies only."

"So I'm guessing during the day you'll lock yourself in here and I won't be able to get to you."

"For now, but when the time comes for you to take the final step to become vampire, you'll be in here with me."

Vicki looked around the room, shrugged and exited the way she came in, crawling on hands and knees. Henry followed close behind and pushed the mechanism causing the opening to close.

Vicki's offer to help refused, she had no choice but to watch as he carried their things into the apartment. He left the stuff she put in the box alone but hung their clothes in the closet. He set up the laptop on the kitchen table and started the process of connecting to the Internet. "It's a small place but it has everything necessary for survival in the modern world."

"Did you ever live here?"

"From time to time. A vampire that wishes to live a long life, has multiple safe places. It was part of the deal when I sold the Toronto region – that I list my safe places."

"Did you tell Renelle about all of them?"

"As a matter of fact I did. I had no intention of coming back. I'd been thinking of leaving before I met you."

"Sorry I messed up your life."

"You know you didn't. Some of my carefully laid plans got shifted, but I'd never wish away my meeting you. I've been more alive the last two years than I've been in centuries. Don't you know how much I love you and need you?"

"Yes, I know. It's scary and it's wonderful. I've never wanted to be needed by anyone and I most certainly didn't want to need anyone. I've been independent since the first time I walked to kindergarten."

***

Mike and Renelle talked a little about themselves, but mostly about the plans for tomorrow evening's confrontation at the condo. As he walked with Renelle out to their cars she said, "Would you like to come and see the late show where I work? I can promise you will be entertained."

Mike looked at her and said, "I wish I could. I have early shift tomorrow and from the sound of things, tomorrow will be a long one."

Renelle leaned toward Mike and gave him a gentle kiss on the lips, holding back the vampire passion that was roiling around inside her.

Mike gave back a kiss equally gentle. He felt like a teenager with his first crush as he touched a long red curl and said, "When this is done, I want to spend the rest of my life getting to know all about you."

Renelle smiled and said, "I'll make sure that happens."

***

Vicki looked around the place and said, "What will we need for tomorrow night?"

Henry sat down at the kitchen table and wrote out a list for Vicki and handed it to her. She read it over and looked at him, "This isn't much. You'd think after all this time, you'd need more to get rid of Astaroth than this list of junk."

Henry looked at her with one eyebrow raised, "It's not junk. The items listed are the tools that help focus the will. There's lots of ways to cast a spell, it's the power behind the casting that makes it work."

He looked down and started printing carefully and then handed her a second sheet of paper, "Give this to Mike in the morning, have him memorize it."

Vicki looked at the paper then at him, "What is this? I can't make sense of it."

Henry said, "It's Latin It's similar to Italian. Mike should be able to pronounce it or find someone to help him. He has to be as close as possible tonight." Henry stopped talking and held out his hand for the paper. He pulled out his cell, "What's his phone number?"

Vicki looked at the clock, "You sure you want to call him now. He gets real cranky when he gets calls this late at night."

Henry smiled, "He's not sleeping. Renelle had his motor running on high. Trust me, he'll appreciate the distraction."

Vicki gave him the number and watched as Henry made a face when Mike answered, "That's not a very nice place to put my blackberry. Mike, I need you to memorize some words. I'll have Vicki drop off the written text later, but I wanted you to hear how to say them. It's in Latin, but these words sound similar to Italian. Surely someone in your family speaks Italian. Yeah, it has to be as close as possible to the original." Henry repeated the words several times. Mike echoed them back. "Good. Vicki will be by the cop shop with the script. Think of it as a play. Yes, Renelle is beautiful. She's a good person. Quit being so judgmental. She's not just a stripper. Watch her show some evening. See you outside the condo at 11:30 tomorrow night. We'll get this done. You'll have to ask Vicki." Henry's eyes darkened as his voice deepened, "GO TO SLEEP!"

Vicki smirked, "He'll be pissed the next time he sees you."

"I need him rested. Pissed is the right attitude when facing Astaroth You need to work on pissy too. Forget that, you have pissy down pat."

Vicki tilted her chin, "You trying for a fight, boy?"

Henry pinched his lips together and smiled, it brought out the dimples and made his eyes sparkle, "I saw how you looked when Mike watched Renelle walk across the room. I'm the jealous type remember."

"Possessive is closer to the truth. So am I. You were looking at the young ladies in the other booth."

"Nothing wrong with looking for a quick bite. If I've got the rules right, I can eat all I want as long as I don't play with my food. The same goes for you by the way. You're looking very hungry when people get to close to you."

"Maybe I am. Speaking of bites, when can I bite you?"

"The day after tomorrow." Henry stood, opened his arms and she walked into his hug. He placed his lips on the soft curve of his neck but held back the vampire.

"Why are you stopping?"

"The next time I feed from you will be the last time you're human. I'm locking myself in the little room now. Get some rest before going out today."

Henry shoved himself away from her and moved at vampire speed to lock himself away from the temptation of taking her completely. He needed his anger and hunger for the battle.

Vicki watched the opening swing shut. She sat on the bed and felt her mind go on overdrive. Her cell phone rang and she answered it. "Renelle? Oh. Yes." She went into the closet and felt along the top edge of the back wall. "You're right. I can feel something. Thank you. I feel better knowing there's a way to get to him. Yes. That's a good idea. Give me a second will you?" Vicki set the phone down, got out of her clothes and slipped in between the sheets before picking up the phone. "Go ahead." Renelle's voice filled her mind as she heard, "GO TO SLEEP."

***

Henry stood outside the tall glass and steel structure that had been his home for almost ten years. He loved this place more than any other he had lived in but he left it tainted with evil and no one was able to stay there after that. He had run from love, life, and happiness because of wounded pride and a demon. He was able to save his Vicki from the damaging marks, made peace with his past and now he was ready to finish off the demon. At his side stood his Vicki, her Mike, and now in place of Coreen was Renelle, who may or may not be the love of Mike's life. He looked to Vicki, "Take one of the items from the bag, and let Renelle and Mike choose their's."

He then looked at Mike, "You have the words?"

Mike nodded and was about to speak when Henry held up his hand. "Don't. They'll have more power if you don't speak them until I give the signal."

Henry made eye contact with each one then nodded his head, "Let's do it."

Henry squared his shoulders and walked into the building with a king's pride. He looked at Greg and his black eyes flashed. Renelle walking beside Mike, looked into Greg's eyes with another flash of power. Greg sat and stared at the small TV at the security desk not seeing.

Outside the condo door Henry took a deep breath and placed a hand on the lock, he pulled up the vampire strength and crushed the doorknob and locking mechanism. The door swung open with a gentle push. They moved inside the empty condo.

Vicki looked around for some sign of Henry's ever living there and it was all gone. Mike did much the same and realized he had missed the arrogant prince. Renelle nodded and placed a hand on Henry's elbow. He looked at her and gave a quick smile acknowledging what she smelled.

"It's my blood on the floor. Twice by the same sword."

Vicki gasped, because she could smell it too and thought, "How could he love me? I hurt him so badly."

Henry looked to Vicki, feeling her thoughts and whispered, "But I do love you."

They walked to the bedroom. Renelle stood where the bed and Coreen had been. Mike took up his former spot. Vicki stood in front of Renelle and Henry stood to the side as he said the words of summoning.

The room grew cold and misty, then Raymond stood over the stain that marked the floor where Henry had been pinned by his own sword.

Raymond laughed, "Thanks to all of you, I've had more power than I ever imagined." He looked down at his body and added, "This weak shell was perfect for my needs. We've made a right mess of your little part of the world. My power is growing and soon the Final Summons will be on everyone's lips."

Henry said, "Don't count on it."

Raymond raised a hand and spoke, "Vampire - remember your sins."

Henry fell to his knees and saw all the faces of those he had killed, those he left broken hearted, and those he scorned. He begged forgiveness for all the pain he had caused as he had begged each night for hundreds of years, since a Dominican priest helped him to find his way in the darkness. Henry stood and said, "I've been shrived of my sins. You're evil has no power over me."

Astaroth/Raymond turned to Renelle/Coreen and tried to pull the heart away. She smiled and said, "You've never touched this heart of mine and you never will."

His eyes then fell on Mike, "I'll give you Vicki. She's mine to do with as I please." Before Mike could speak Vicki held out her arms and showed Astaroth the changes in the arcane symbols.

Vicki spoke, "I'm not yours. The marks are mine now."

Henry started a chant and Mike replied in Latin.

Vicki rang the bell. Henry called out and Mike replied.

Renelle closed an open book. Henry called out and Mike responded.

Mike blew out the candle. Henry called out and all responded.

There came a cry of great pain as a whirlwind of mist formed over the stain on the floor. It grew in size and density as a voice was heard, "You've displeased me Astaroth. Your orders were to be a part of the human world and not stand out from it. You've become too visible. Calling attention to evil has brought a belief in God back into the lives of many." The words of final summons were spoken from the mist. Astaroth/Raymond vanished. The blood smell and stains faded. The mist lifted.

Mike said, "Well hell."

And Henry answered, "Well said. Let's get out of here."

***

Mike and Renelle walked off together holding hands. Vicki watched them go before saying, "Will she tell him?"

Henry nodded yes, "She will, but he already knows. She's the third of our kind he's been close too."

Vicki leaned against Henry, "I wonder how he'll react to loving a vampire."

Henry placed a protective arm around her waist, "It's not your business. Let him go. He needs to live his own life, just like we need to live ours."

***

Henry held Vicki close to his breast as she took her last breath and died in his arms. He lowered her to the bed and straightened her arms and legs. He took his hand and closed her eyes and kissed her lips. Wringing out the cloth in the basin at the bedside he tenderly washed her face and bid her good bye.

He emptied the basin in the sink and hung the damp cloth on the rack. As he felt the sun on the horizon he lay down beside her and clasped her cold hand in his.

With the setting of the sun Henry returned to the living world and looked at Vicki's still form. The vampire hunger and anger, that demanded blood from a living heart, drove him from her side. He went out into the darkness hunting for an unsuspecting victim to quiet the raging vampire. After feeding deeply, he returned to his beloved Vicki, undressed and stretched out beside her.

Sunrise found him with his head resting on her still breast. The coming of the next night brought him no relief and he made up his mind, if she didn't come back to him this night, he would join her in death.

The light was dim in the cold silent room and Vicki held his attention as he waited hoping that they had succeeded in their plan.

After what seemed like hours, Henry heard a faint thump, then a second, louder thump followed. Another thump, and Henry saw Vicki's eye lids flutter. He straddled her, put his lips close to hers and took a deep breath waiting for her.

She opened her eyes, raised up and breathed in as Henry breathed out.

She smelled, tasted and saw Henry as she said, "My love."

His cock slid into her while saying, "Welcome back."

Her eyes silvered as her lips pulled back from fangs, "I'm so hungry."

Henry tilted his chin exposing his neck, "Feed."