Disclaimer: I do not own Blood Ties or any of its characters. They are Tanya Huff's creations.

Characters thoughts in italics

Thanks to my story consultant, Lena, for helping with the wording of sentences, dialogue and all your other suggestions.

Chapter 10

Henry roused from his daily death. He pulled the release handle and partially lifted the hatch before stepping outside. Normally feeding was first on his agenda but that was not the case tonight. Nothing came before Vicki's safety.

He crept up the fire escape and crouched on a landing near her motel room. The private investigator wasn't alone. The sound of a heart murmur indicated Coreen's presence as well. They were talking about some of Vicki's dreams. She was starting to remember more but was still having a hard time making sense of them.

Someone rapped on the door. Coreen looked through the peephole. Mike.

But after what Vicki and Mike had told her about something morphing into Henry, she wasn't going to take anything for granted.

"What's was our agreed upon password?"

"I don't remember, Coreen. It's been a long day."

"Vicki, that's not…" Before Coreen could finish her statement, the door flew open and she was thrown against the wall.

As Mike walked to the motel room, he noticed the door was open. Open doors are never a good sign. He slid the safety off his weapon and peered around the corner. Coreen was lying unconscious on the carpet floor. His twin was approaching Vicki. He fired. His bullet never reached its target. It paused in mid-air before falling to the floor. Mike suddenly sailed backwards into the wall.

Henry was preparing to enter the room through the window when the detective discharged his weapon. Soon after, he was suddenly airborne before flying backwards into the corridor wall. The door slammed shut.

Mike's doppelganger transformed into a fair skinned young woman with long blond hair. She was wearing a blue jean jacket and black leather pants. Her blue eyes flashed to red.

"No sense keeping up the charade."

"You didn't give that good of a performance anyway," Vicki retorted. "So you were the one that attacked me? Not Henry?"

"You're a sharp one."

"Are you going to talk me to death or finish what you started?"

The tall blond plowed Vicki into the wall. Vicki's knee struck the demon's chest. The woman stumbled backwards. Vicki's fist swung towards her face. An invisible force halted its progress.

"So much for doing it the old way."

The demon hoisted Vicki into the air. "Once you're dead, Astaroth will be unable to enter this world. My lord will be pleased."

Henry slowly raised the window and dropped inside. He quietly unraveled his rosary from his wrist, wrapped his fingers around it and thrust his hand into the demon's back. She dropped Vicki to the floor as she fell to her knees. Her body was soon engulfed in flames, setting the carpet ablaze. The fire quickly spread to the rest of the room. Coreen stirred and Vicki helped her to her feet. Henry scooped the still incapacitated detective off the floor as they escaped the burning building.

Henry could hear police and fire sirens in the distance as they crossed the street. He opened his luxury car, gingerly slid the detective off his shoulder and placed him upright in the back seat. Coreen sat next to the detective as Henry settled in the driver's seat and Vicki jumped into the passenger's seat. The Jaguar drove off.

"Where are we going, Henry? And how were you able to do what you just did back there?" Vicki asked.

"I have a friend who runs a clinic. He should be able to examine Coreen and Celluci to see if any additional medical attention is required. As for your second question, I think you've been exposed to enough of the supernatural tonight without getting into what I am."

Vicki was puzzled by Henry's last statement but she decided not to press for now.

Mike shifted a little in the back seat. His eyes moved underneath his eyelids before slowly opening. "Good thing, I have a hard head or I would have brain damage. Was that another demon back there?"

"Yeah, she wanted me dead so that Astaroth couldn't come to Earth. Who's Astaroth?"

"Vic, remember when I told you about that guy Norman trying to summon a demon? Astaroth was that demon."

"Oh." Not really knowing what to say next Vicki changed the subject. "How are you, Coreen?"

"I'll survive. Some help I was!"

Henry's eyes glanced at her in the rearview mirror. "I wouldn't be too hard on yourself, Coreen. You did the best you could. The important thing is that the demon is gone now."

Vicki grimaced. "You got that right. I don't think I want to ever hear about anything that remotely resembles supernatural ever again. And by the way, Henry – I meant it. I expect a full explanation of how you managed to do that all as soon as possible."

A muffled snort came from the back of the car. "Oh, yeah. I'm sure you do, Vic. And I would love to be there to see that too."

As Mike and Coreen were examined by Doctor Evans, Henry and Vicki sat in the waiting room.

"Since we have some time on our hands, why don't you tell me about your connection with the supernatural?"

Henry smiled as he reflected to the time when he first told Vicki what he was. Hopefully this conversation would end equally well. "I'm a vampire."

Vicki didn't flinch as those words left his mouth. She was uncharacteristically quiet. Her green eyes were fixated on the wall behind him.

"I am going to let you in on a little secret okay?"

"You believe in vampires."

Henry chuckled. "I am a vampire."

"You didn't try to kill me."

"Was I supposed to?"

"Isn't that what vampires do?"

"And I suppose you also thought that garlic and silver crosses would hurt them." Henry raised his arm revealing a wooden rosary wrapped around his wrist. "Call me old fashioned but I'm pretty religious."

"Okay, say you are a vampire…Mr."

"Henry Fitzroy." They shook hands. She briefly looked at her hand before continuing.

"Fitzroy. Why would you try to stop another bloodsucker? That's hardly a professional courtesy, is it?"

"I couldn't have something like that running around the town, terrifying the masses, now could I? Next thing you know the villagers are out with their stakes and torches."

"That happened much."

"Often enough."

"Really?" She said in disbelief.

"Really. I've lived a long time, almost five hundred years."

"Wow, I wouldn't have pegged you for a day over four fifty."

"I use a great moisturizer. It's a shame you're not the more trusting type, Vicki." Henry rose from the leather sofa.

He grabbed a sword letter opener. Vicki quickly rose from the couch. Henry inserted the letter opener into the palm of his hand.

"That's a nice trick." She responded.

"It's not a trick, Victoria. I'm telling the truth."

She sighed. "That's what I'm afraid of."

Henry had called Vicki's name several times before lightly touching her shoulders. She finally became aware of his actions.

"Victoria, are you alright?"

"I'm fine, Henry. I just remembered when and how you first told me that." She smiled. "At least that explains your nightly visits to the hospital."

"You mean you didn't buy my explanation about having a skin condition?"

"I did until now."

Several weeks later

Since remembering Henry's supernatural connection, more of her memories had returned with each passing day. Vicki hoped that sifting through her old case files would fill in any remaining gaps.

"Hi, Vicki."

"Who are you again?"

Henry's smile was immediately replaced with a look of concern.

Vicki tried to keep a straight face but she couldn't contain the smile which slowly spread across her face. "Just kidding."

The frown immediately disappeared from his face. "Don't ever jest in such a way, Victoria. For a moment I thought you had suffered a relapse."

"Nope, I'm definitely on the mend."

"That's good to know. It's nice to have you back, Victoria."

"It's nice to be back."

THE END

Author's note: I always have such a hard time ending my stories. I hope this was a satisfying ending.