Still have writer's block on Falling Stars; and lots of pointless homework from school.

Here's the next chapter, be happy :)

Chapter 5 Priorities

It had been a week since the downworlder meeting that I had escorted Camille to. A whole week of being tied down at the hotel with Camille watching my every move for an excuse to send me six feet under; or more likely an unmarked grave with my heart ripped out.

Sure, I had not actually seen her that much; but that did not mean she was not there. I was one-hundred percent sure Camille had people watching me, I was also one-hundred percent sure those people were every vampire in the hotel. Especially Lily; Lily had gone from my number one fan to my greatest enemy (second to Camille of course). Every time I ran into her I got a death glare, which from a vampire was a whole new level compared to mundane death glares. Everyone in a while she would say a few hateful things to my face and every night there was always something whispered behind my back; too bad I have incredible, vampire hearing.

I had thought my little stunt with Camille was over; thinking that I had scared her enough to put her guard back up around me with my comment in the limo I figured I was off the hook with the body guard gig. So when Lily of all people came storming into my room I was completely off guard. And by completely of guard, I mean asleep at one in the afternoon, tangled up in bed sheets, and in my boxers.

"Raphael, get your lazy ass out of bed. Camille wants you." I was sitting up in less than a second, my eyes on Lily, and my fangs out; if only the intellectual part of me worked that fast. It took me a good five seconds to figure out who was yelling and it took me another twenty to process what she was saying; which is probably why Lily took my reaction for something along the lines of blind, deft, and dumb. "What? Do you need me to draw a picture?" She yelled, or screeched, either one works.

"Why?" I asked as I ran my hand through my hair, my eyes barely able to focus on Lily. Seriously, I hadn't slept in four days, give me a break.

"I don't fucking know! Hopefully to execute you; that's what I'm hoping for." She waved her arms in exasperation; I laid back on the bed, turned away from her and pulled the covers up.

"Then why would I go anywhere near Camille?" I mumbled as I focused on falling back asleep.

Lily did not answer for a few minutes. When she did, I could feel the pierce of her eyes glaring at me, "Because thy Lady wants to see her favorite pet."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" I growled as I sat up, got off the bed and had my hand wrapped around Lily's neck in less than a second. She smiled up at me and I squeezed her neck harder until my nails broke skin and Lily's smirk turning into a grimace.

"Why don't you go ask her yourself?" She choked out the words; I released my grasp and she sunk to the floor gasping for air. That was a small vampire secret: we don't need to breathe; but to talk, or make any vocal noise at all, even we need air. I watched her for a moment, taking only a small satisfaction at seeing her sprawled on the floor until I yelled at her to get out.

I pulled on a pair of jeans and an undershirt and left my room bare foot in the direction of Camille's room; eager to get this over with as fast as possible.

"Raphael," Camille purred my name; the underlying tone in her voice was ice. She eyed me over with those emerald eyes. She was wearing an expensive looking pair of dark jeans and a simple white blouse with off the shoulder sleeves that gave me a very welcome view of the top of her breasts. However, I wasn't stupid enough to look there for more than a millisecond. "You seem to have a way of making yourself comfortable." She said, bringing attention to the fact that I had made myself comfortable in her bed.

"Lily said you wanted to see me. She woke me up. And on top of that unpleasant disturbance, you weren't even here. I took the opportunity." I explained with a small smile on my face, my hands behind my head as I watched her glare turn into an exasperated smirk. I let a second pass, daring her to say something, then got up and walked over to stand right in front of her. "What do you want?"

"I want you to go with me to a meeting." She answered vaguely; I raised my eyebrows at her. "In Paris." She finished; I hid the shock from my face and continued to look as tired as possible.

"How long?"

"A week."

"No." I answered; and headed for the door; Camille grabbed my arm and spun me around to face her. It had been decades and I still wasn't used to girls being as strong as I was.

"It was not a question." Camille clarified her voice like stone. I considered ignoring her, but figured I better not. Whatever it was, it was important enough that she wasn't going to put up with my moods.

"Really, then what was it?" I asked, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

"A demand." Camille answered no hint of humor in her voice. "And you will go with me and you will stay within my sight the entire time." Camille explained; her grip on my arm would have broken bone if I were human.

I smiled at her, my fangs clearly visible. I grabbed her hand that had a death grip on my arm and carefully pried it away, surprisingly she let me. I kept hold of her hand, and took a step, closing the distance between us so I had my chest pushed up against her front; my hand holding hers at her side. "Aren't you worried you'll be getting too close to me? I have a reputation that precedes me, remember?" I asked, my voice hushed, as looked down at her. I wasn't that much taller than her, so when I was this close to her my fangs were mere inches from her neck. And even less from her lips.

"Raphael, you're mistaken." Camille commented in a sing-song voice. "See, the problem is, although you have your reputation, the vampires still seem to admire you. Perhaps it's because you're not afraid of me like the rest, or perhaps it's because of your lack of awareness to the fact that I could kill you at any time I pleased." Camille took a half step backwards and I copied her only moving forward. She was obviously uncomfortable with being so close to me, for whatever reason that is. "Therefore, although I've ordered the others to report to me on you illicit activities, it seems they still don't want to turn you in. Even Lily won't snitch on you." Camille finished; I was starting to get an idea forming about what this trip was really about.

"You're planning to kill me in Paris?" I asked.

Camille laughed. "No, of course not!" She lifted her hand to her lips to cover her smile but quickly moved it and when she realized the back of her hand brushed my lips. "Think of it as a probation period. I need to see if all your liabilities are worth keeping you around. Of course there are a few gatherings I must attend, which you will accompany me for, but your probation is your first priority." Camille clarified; I must have looked dumb founded because she gave another short, tinkling laugh.

I had been on probation before as mundane. Of course that was for drugs and breaking and entering, and as far as I knew, probation only had one definition and Camille's version was not it.

"You want me to prove to you I'm worth keeping alive? Didn't I already do that last week?" I asked; Camille laid her hand on my chest, I wasn't sure if she was trying to push me away or keep me close.

"Yes and yes, however, I need more proof; I'm not foolish enough to say you're worth it just on the basis of a few hours." Camille answered.

"So if I fail, then you'll try and kill me?" I asked.

"Of course." Camille answered; her hand on my chest delicately slipped a few inches down so it brushed my abdomen; my muscles flexing at her touch. "However, I hope you don't give me a reason to, you're quite entertaining and I'd hate to get rid of you." She gave me small smirk.

Without thinking it over, I let go of Camille's other hand and cupped the side of her face with one hand and the back of her neck with the other. I stepped forward so I had both feet on either side of hers, her breasts pushed up against my chest, and my lips hovered a faction above hers. "Camille, don't tell me you have the same disposition for me as every female vampire here does?"

Hah! Cliff hanger, I'm now officially evil.

Hopefully, for every reader's sake, I update soon. ;)