Huge Note: So I have avoided giving names of cities and countries so far in the story in fear I would do the research on that city or country and try to emulate my character into that setting, and horribly mess up because I've never been to those paces. Brunette said this was New York City, I couldn't agree more (since that's where I pictures Allison) but I'd never written the name down in the chapters. And finally, finally, Allison's home country has a name. I was looking on the map of Europe to see which country I could take over and change into a monarchy and I found the tiny principality called "Andorra." (It's tiny. Look between Spain and France) But I thought, that's no good, what if the people of Andorra don't appreciate that I change their entire society for the sake of my novel? It's a principality. France and Spain control it, and I don't want France or Spain to control my countries. (No offense, but I like you right where you are.) So I pulled a Princess Diaries, I made up my own country. Taking over the space where Andorra sat (sorry tiny country, I'll rewrite you instead of changing you) and basically resting in a big chunk of the Pyrenees Mountains, it's called "Aldorra" (so original, eh?) And information about it shall follow in the next few chapters.

Have to laugh when I imagine how jazzed the entire town of Forks was when they found out a bestselling author used their town in her teen novel. I know I'd be excited if my home town was used in a book. Hell, I'm from Texas and I was super excited when I read that Jasper came from Texas. I was all, "THAT'S MY STATE heehee."

SoldierDudette, I never post the next chapter until you and Brunette review because the both of you tell it like it is and it's usually exactly what I need to hear and in turn, make the story better. You, my dear, are absolutely right when you say that right now would be the best time to have Luke's pov, and I am so reluctant to make it happen but after you pointed it out I fully agreed. Damn, I love to hate you, cheri. You shall have your wish and if it's weak, it's your fault. Fair enough?

Enjoy.

Chapter 16 – Epiphany

.x. Allison

I had a busy day ahead of me. And although my walk had a slight limp and I had to wear clothing to cover all evidence of intercourse on myself (I was surprised with his complete control over his vampire desires, not one puncture wound was on me... Not that there weren't other marks...), I made the decision to thank everyone who had helped me during my stay here in America, then I was off to Lucy's to convince her to leave with me. A trip away from the city she, Danny and I had so many memories in, for a secluded valley nation within the Pyrenees mountains, would do both of us some good.

First, to the office of a man I had spilled coffee on the floor of, even though it wasn't entirely my fault because I was kidnapped. My favorite article writer, Tom.

"Lovett! My secretary told me you came in again the other day. I must have just missed you." Thomas greeted me as I came to the doorway in his office. He didn't seem to be too busy... Better make this quick anyway.

"Yeah, I had to run."

"Fast enough to drop the coffee you had for me?" He pointed to the discolored area of the floor I was standing on. I scratched the back of my head. At least I had a new cup of coffee in my hand for him now to make up for it.

"Sorry about that. I just wanted to say thank you for everything you've done for me and all the help you've given me with keeping me updated with the city's latest over the years." I told him as I sat opposite of his desk. It was tiring to stand.

"Of course." he replied in his chair. "Did you come all the way here just to tell me that?" he asked, a little surprised. I bobbed my head side to side.

"More or less. I'm leaving in the next couple days, so I also wanted to say goodbye."

"Leaving?"

"Out of country. Got a job offer elsewhere, in Europe. In between France and Spain."

"Sounds like good pay. I'm sorry to see you go, though! You've given me such good material for stories when I needed something." We both arose and embraced. "Good luck in Europe."

"Thank you. As a parting gift, I leave you coffee in a cup instead of on the floor, and one final story." I told him. He looked avidly interested and returned to his side of the desk.

I simply set the cup of coffee before him and turned to leave. He was stricken, pondering what tip I had for him and stood again to stop me from leaving without telling him. I pointed to the coffee and waved good-bye with a nice smile on my lips.

"Keep in touch with me when I'm in Aldorra. Look me up under "La Seva Majestat Reial la Reina Allison" and my contact info will coincide." read a little note paper-clipped to the cup. I dismissed myself before he had a chance to read it and ask me questions. When he typed that phrase "Her Royal Majesty the Queen Allison" into any search engine, he'd figure it out, and he'd have one final story from me.

I was on my way to the next stop; I had many people to thank, many cups of coffee and lattes to give away...

.x. Lucas

I arose for the simple reason that I could not sleep. My mind was in a frenzy. I couldn't calm myself long enough to shut my eyes and set myself at ease. I easily slid the heavy stone cover to my tomb away and stood. The sun outside didn't touch my skin but it's presence irritated my eyes...Used to be a lot worse in my first century. I rubbed them vigorously and then noticed the folded piece of stationary resting behind the hand of one of the angels and demons sculpted into my tomb on the top. I lifted the note carefully and opened it...

Of course it was from her. Her flawless handwriting, the incredible scent lingering on the paper. I saw "Dearest Lucas" and I was exhilarated with the phrase, but then I closed the note again as my eyes burned and I couldn't focus. Needed to get to a completely dark room first... I avoided the sunlight that peeked behind the curtains of my mansion and sneezed a couple of times when on my way to the basement. There was one small room in my basement that did not have windows... and it was a trash room. Inside was every piece of furniture I'd broken out of anger or accident, and when I needed to vent some emotions or sudden urge of violence, I went there and wrecked. My homes did not need to suffer on my behalf.

No, vampires did not have to sleep in tombs during the day. A vampire could sleep anywhere he wished as long as it was in complete darkness, I just preferred the stone encasement. Actually, we don't have to sleep at all, but if a vampire did, they would not have to feed as often, like an alternative to help reduce the thirst. Halling sat in his dark office all day and never slept, drinking that disgusting bottled blood... But since I had arisen and I hadn't eaten last night, I was hungry. And I couldn't go outside and no one was going to come in here, so I was at an impasse. I would have to resort to his standards.

I made a fast, and I mean fast, stop to the kitchen to break into the cupboard that held the wine, and behind all of the fine bottles Allison could drink, were bottles of blood red for me. These were not bottles of the sweet mixture of alcohol in the blood steam the clubs served, that never stayed fresh long enough because matured blood lost its luster fast when out of the body. But stored away in case of emergencies like now, a child's blood... I looked over one bottle and decided I liked the shape. I didn't bother with a glass, just broke the top off and savored it on the way to underneath the house. Yes, young blood could be bottled and stored much longer than matured blood.

I finished the entire bottle down to the last drop by the time I reached the dark basement. It quenched my hunger, but it did not solve the conflict to why I had arisen and the note in my hand. I hadn't fed in a day or two, not that I needed to fed, maybe once or twice a week, but I thought it was hunger that made me rise before.

My thoughts, that were centered around thirst for a time, were now able to think about other issues more clearly. And I realized that my thirst had very little to do with what had happened and what was going to occur. The darkness soothed my pale skin and cold eyes... I opened the note again and was able read it through. "We leave the night after tomorrow for home." My memory recalled Courtney's message in Allison's apartment. Courtney wanted her to go home before she killed Allison, and Allison would obey if it meant saving a few of her mortals. "Lucy is coming with us, and she'll know everything by the time you read this, so you can't refuse her." What?! I thought Allison wanted to protect her, not put her right in danger's path! I guess that means she expects me to protect her friend...and I would, without hesitation, for her. "I need to know if you're on my side or on the sidelines, watching as you always have." My gut was caught as I read this part. Something stirred in me... guilt? It was topped off with "Answer carefully" and I knew exactly what that meant. Our entire relationship depended on my answer to this ultimatum. If I said no, well, she would turn to other sources to protect herself and destroy Courtney, sources like Halling. Just thinking about she even near him made me want to rip his sorry head from his shoulders. It was bad enough she felt she needed to make an alliance with him, but that wasn't a half bad idea, Halling usually had the greater good in mind. I glanced at the end of the note, the valediction read "Love, Allison." Not sincerely, not from, but love.

It could have just been the several orgasms rubbing off into her writing, or it was something else... something more. I read over the note several more times and my mind retained what it said and everything it meant and could mean. I threw the note down after about the one-hundredth time and I beat my fist into the stone wall as my body shook with the sudden urge to... control some strong emotion. It wasn't anger, it wasn't quite desire either, or self-loathing... I couldn't describe what I was feeling right now and all of my thoughts ran wild as I tried to think of an explanation. My blood felt like it was boiling! The place where my pale fist landed had turned to dust.

I looked up with red eyes as the more violent vampire side of me was exposed. Allison, oh sweet Allison. What a lovely name. What lovely eyes, you have, what lovely hair, you have, what lovely blood you have! The empty bottle I held in my other was smashed against the arm of a wooden chair. I broke that in the array of sparkling glass fragments as well. My personal thoughts overwhelmed me again as I closed my eyes and flared my nostrils. Why hadn't I drank from her last night when passion was reached? The ecstasy of taking blood overcame the passion of sex every time for a vampire, only if just by a little bit. For me to have not taken her in every aspect, every sense, just didn't make sense to me. Why did I hold back? It wasn't logical for a vampire to hold back on taking blood if that situation was presented. And the situation presented her delectable blue veins underneath the succulent cream color of her skin several times... The pulse within her neck when my head was buried there, the beating in her wrist when my lips had pressed there, another throbbing vein on the top of her thigh when my tongue had ran across there... So many chances waisted!

She had trusted me not to take blood. That was one reason we were together last night. My self control when I was around her had to be enormous, and not just the control over myself toward her blood, control for other things... I didn't deserve her invitation last night at all but she had allowed me to give and give until her bodily limitations had taken enough; then she and her unyielding will had granted me permission to keep going passed her bodily limits and I drove her literally until the break of dawn. And she and I were more than satisfied. My bloody irises chilled back to their stunning blue as my thoughts came back down to earth, controlled from the monster inside.

She, her body, her sounds, her movements... all of it was divine and I was intoxicated, fascinated, in love with everything she was and is and will be. When I was completing her, every sound was made for me, every movement in response to mine, her heart was pumping and her blood was racing underneath that creamy skin! It was enough to bring me over every time she allowed me to complete her again.

I knew when she pulled me down with her last night, I had almost lost myself completely. Not just my senses to pure instinct, but my existence, my meaning of life. I'd lived for four-hundred and eighty-two years and the first time I touched her lips with my own, everything I thought I had known in that time about passion, love, existence... was completely obliterated. I had felt a powerful surge in me that I couldn't describe, but she invoked this feeling and it was stronger than the blood lust and it was stronger than my seemingly petty desire for Courtney, and that strength both ignited me and terrified me.

Courtney. Beautiful, contemptuous Courtney... she was jealous of Allison. She knew I was capable of leaving her for Allison, she saw how I swooned over Allison, how I wanted nothing but to protect her from all other evils, and Courtney was growing angrier each time Allison and I were together. Why else would she kill Allison's friends? She wanted just one little chance to separate Allison from me forever. She didn't want to share me even though she wouldn't settle down with me, she thought of me as her property, not the other way around as it should be, because Courtney was bound to me by my blood. For them I was at an impasse also.

And worse, I was jealous over Allison as well. Jealous over the right and possession of her blood, the most sacred source for a vampire. Taylor Halling had a sample, why couldn't I? I held the frame of the door with a iron grip and thought about every time I had the urge to drink from her, she became scared. The look in her eyes... she never looked at me as if I were not her equal, and I appreciated that immensely, but when she was fearful from the lustful glint in my eye, she looked straight at the vampire within and I could feel her heart tremor. If only she didn't cringe like that when my senses locked on her internally, I wouldn't feel bad and get slapped with the stone hand of guilt each time I had the urge. Allison was brave, very brave, but she feared death like everyone else.

But no. I didn't own Allison, no matter how much I wanted to... wanted to make her mine forever. She didn't belong to me and I was acting like she did. I wanted to make it so no one else would ever touch her again, would ever pleasure her the ways I could and did. There were only two others before I, years ago when she was in college. And that was fine, as long as there were none after me. I knew last night was most likely a one time sort of deal, but that wasn't good enough for me. Call me possessive, call me selfish, I was every one. I didn't deserve someone as kind, noble, and wonderful as Allison. She was different than Courtney in so many ways even though they looked so much alike. She was a more genuine person, a more meaningful lover, deeper in soul. But even though I didn't deserve her, I wanted her.

I sat down now, holding my head in my hands. Why was I so incredibly weak when I was around her? Not in strength, not what I meant. I mean in will. I gave in to my temptations I had worked centuries to control, the night I lost control and kissed her passionately in the alley under the stars... I would have taken her, whether she wanted me to or not, I had lost myself then, too. I would have allowed the monster I had caged in me to escape long enough to take whatever innocence she had left and then I would have been beaten down by guilt afterward.

But Courtney didn't like that too much. She wanted to be the one to take away Allison's will and innocence and life. And I only wanted to protect her from that. Another impasse.

Speaking of protecting, my thoughts lapsed around Halling again. What the bleeding hell was that fiend up to? He had kidnapped Allison, scared her half to death, threatened her life, and stole her blood. After that had happened, the protective gene I felt for Allison multiplied by tenfold. Taylor claimed he sent Allison to get information from me, and I didn't feel as betrayed as I should about that, but what bothered me was not knowing his intentions. Taylor wasn't an idiot, a bastard, but not an idiot. He would have known I saw his deal with Allison in her head, not even she could fool me on that, no matter how talented. But he proceeded like that was expected. Then when I spoke to him a few days ago, more like threatened him, when he was on his way to Allison's apartment for his investigator duties, I had made a death threat toward him if he so much as touched Allison. He looked like he expected that, too. His dark eyes reflected triumph! Then he told me the most peculiar thing, it confused me more on top of everything else and threw me off from guessing his intentions again. He had said "That sounds about right." As if Allison and I's relationship was part of some master plan he had! There was no way.

Another weakness in my character I knew I couldn't control, I knew that if Allison ever asked me to get on my knees and beg for forgiveness, I would without a doubt. I had in the church, actually, minus the begging. And what a gracious soul, she had forgiven me without me asking, without me begging. I had torn myself up about her sorrow and linked it back to me from Courtney, and she somehow did not find it in her heart to hate me for what I haven't done. I had told her I wouldn't help her or Halling because of the revenge cycle, it would make them no better. But that was only one small part. Before Allison literally walked into my life, I had been under Courtney's spell and I made my foolish self believe I loved her when it was merely a one sided infatuation, and I had always understood that, I just never believed it. I killed her fledglings, but that was all I would do, before now. Allison wants me to say yes to her ultimatum, I knew she did and I know I wanted to. No, I did not deserve her at all. But I would throw away dignity for her, my right of will as a man if she muttered the command.

And this flaw in myself angered me. I saw submission to a woman as a sign of weakness. I forced it to subside.

I stood and glanced over at a half-shattered mirror in the corner. I chuckled a little bit as I remembered Allison's shock when I had a reflection in the fountain... perhaps tonight I should explain a little bit about vampire's limitations and abilities... The man in the mirror had a satisfied smile on his face; the emotion was... happiness. He frowned after he thought this. When was the last time I had been truly happy? Courtney offering her hand to me in a sense to give herself away? My mortal life when my mother and I would go into town to escape my brassy German grandmum?

I speculated my features... my hair had looked better, but at least I was wearing clothes. What would Allison think if she saw me right now?

I turned away and my nostrils flared again.

Now I cared what she thought of me too?!

There was a word for this. A modern sense of a word that had a different denotation than it's literal meaning. I had laughed at it once even though the irony of it was that it described me now. Oh, yes.

I was whipped.

Lucas Gunter Hawthorn was not a lap dog of a woman. But the woman was a Queen... That hardly mattered to me, Allison was amazing without the royal names. Her power of authority inside her, however, that trait secretly thrilled me. There was some crazy part of me that wanted her to control me, to have control over me. Like last night, I might have happened to be on top dealing the cards, but she was the one calling the shots. I didn't want some woman who would throw herself at me because I looked or smelled good, no, there had been plenty of those who became food. I wanted Allison, her fears, her ambitions, her daring personality, her flaws, her defiance, but she was not too defiant that she was brash and just annoying. What exactly was it that I loved about her?

Wait. Love?

I loved Allison?

My eyes were wide as I repeated those words aloud. They weren't foreign syllables, I had whispered them to Courtney in the past. But there was this new, unexplainable, powerful feeling that was behind them, willing them from my mouth...

My mind was finally able to operate a little more clearly and calmly. I remembered now, there had been something else last night and the nights before. When Taylor had damaged her, I wanted to make him pay for it. I didn't, but I wanted to. Then last night, before the passion... her tears had collided with my skin and there was a spark. The hot water and salt sent a electric current through my cold body and awakened the monster within as I looked at the pain and sorrow in her eyes...

And I wanted to literally kill the person who caused it.

But then I remembered who that person was and... no. It was enough. Just one moment of pure hatred toward Courtney was enough to break the spell she had over me.

I picked the note up from the floor and looked over it again. 'Answer carefully.' It read for the last sentence.

Yes, very carefully indeed. Suddenly, my mind was perfectly clear. I had made my decision.

.x. Allison

I stood before Lucy's door with her favorite donut and latte in hand, white chocolate maple syrup and a chocolate glazed donut with little sprinkles. I hesitated before knocking. How would I start this? Would she believe me? Maybe I should have brought books, journals, pictures...Luke had plenty of those in his amazing library. I didn't have time to take my presence back when Lucy opened the door and smiled when seeing my nervous one and her favorite treats in my hand.

"Did you do something wrong and are now trying to butter me up into forgiveness?" she accused teasingly. At least that signature sparkle was in her eye again, even if just a little bit. I knew Lucy was still recovering from recent tragedies... or at least, on the right path to it.

"What? No!" I replied with a bigger smile. She dismissed the nervousness I had almost instantly and I followed her inside. "If I was begging for forgiveness, wouldn't I have bought something a little more...flashy?" I motioned to my fat wallet, which was actually full of hundreds. But she could think what she wanted.

"Right, riches of the royal, I forget you have loads stashed away." She paused suddenly, her entire light-hearted mood lost as she gasped at what she said. 'Loads,' was part of the English dialect Daniel had rubbed off on us through the years.

I quickly changed the subject when I noticed this. "I didn't come here to beg for anything, but I bring the foods because I want you in the best, most satisfied mood possible when I tell you-" While I was talking, I walked over to the comfy couch in her living room that faced the window where the sun poured in. My legs and basically every muscle in my body was so sore and I had been walking all day... I limped over to the cushions and sat down with a long sigh of relief. Old sofas had never felt better. Lucy gasped and that's what had cut me off.

"What?" I asked quickly, almost alarmed.

"You! You..." she pointed at me, surprised... Then the sparkle returned to her eye more brightly than before. I was uneasy as she looked at me almost like a proud mother or mentor. "You finally did the dirty with him, didn't you?"

My jawed dropped as a faint red ran across my cheeks and I hid my face behind my hair. "No!" Goddamn, she was amazing. All she had to do was watch the way I walked! Damn her always being right about everything... "Yes." I replied

"Why do you look so ashamed?"

"I'm not ashamed." I replied a little to quickly. I paused and thought over just how I felt about it. "No, definitely not ashamed." I added with a small smile. She joined me on the couch and looked as if she wanted details, to gossip about my sex life, ugh. "I just want a little discretion about it, and you noticed so easily..."

"Oh please, Ally. You know being amazingly perceptive is just one of my natural skills. No one else could have noticed that and made the deduction I did."

It's not a skill, you're just plain amazing, Lucy. My own little angel complete with a wardrobe bigger than Central Park and every latest magazines of the world. You've been such a great friend to me and I don't want to leave you behind and leave you unprotected so Courtney can take advantage of you, too. Come with me to another country so that I can be selfish and have you at my side as I rule my kingdom again, making you give up the life you know here. Come on, I just have to spit it out...

She noticed I was contemplating and took a sip of the latte. "You wanted to tell me something?" she asked sweetly and titled her head. She was unbelievably adorable... I can see why Danny fell in love with her so easily.

"Everything, actually. I'm thinking of a good place to start."

"Just...spit it out. Start exactly with the thought you have now." she suggested. I stopped thinking and concentrated on my one thought. Vampires.

There was a warning I had to give her first. "Lucy, before I reveal anything; any secret, any plot or plan... Know that if I tell you, you will have to leave this city. You'll have to go with me."

"Go with you where?" she asked, a tiny amount of remorse in her voice. It made this that much harder...

"Home."

"Home?"

"My home country. My people have missed me long enough, and once I tell you what you've wanted to hear from me and what I want you to know, you'll be in danger harboring a huge secret you are not supposed too. But you deserve to know it, Lucy. You deserve it a lot more than I do."

There was a long and uneasy silence, in which Lucy looked at her knees in thought, trying to come to a decision. Finally the blonde looked up at me with her aqua eyes and nodded. "Okay. I understand."

I acknowledged her acceptance, but this was still difficult and unfair to pull her away from her home and take her to mine. I stood up and began to pace. How crazy was I about to sound? Would she even believe me or refer me to a councilor? It would be harder for an American such as herself to understand... if she'd grown up in my country, around all of the legends of vampires and such, it would be much easier to believe me when I said. "Vampires are real." There, I said it. That wasn't even the biggest part but at least I'd gotten it out. I didn't take her silence well.

"What?" she finally asked. Yes, I wouldn't believe me either.

"Vampires, Lucy. Suck your blood, pale skin cold to the touch, amazingly gorgeous, burn-up-in-the-sun vampires! They are very real, I have seen them, been around them... You know, the vampire concept you might still have trouble grasping." I sounded like a lunatic. Please, put that white jacket on me now so I don't have to continue!

She was simply quiet as I paused to look up at her. "I guess I need to have an open mind for this, don't I?" she asked me with a small and unsteady smile. She was debating whether to believe me or not.

"Yes," I replied. "Please, believe what I say. I would not make this up."

"I know you wouldn't. Please continue. I'll try my best." she told me sweetly and drank a larger gulp of the drink. Now she understood why I brought her favorites... I was trying to convince her I was not insane.

"Alright. So, we've got the vampire concept down?" I asked. She nodded. "Luke is a vampire." The second wave, I took her wide eyes as shock. "But a... good vampire, I guess you can say. He blends into society and doesn't cause trouble. I trust him." For the most part.

Lucy recovered from her shock as I babbled on. "I've talked to him too, Ally. He seems like a nice guy, though I always knew there was something else about him... I wouldn't have shipped you two together if I suspected he was really going to cause you harm." I sighed. Either she was humoring me or she believed me. "But a vampire, huh? Did he suck your blood?" she asked with a little perk.

My eyes were wide. "No. Just..."

"Just the sex. Gotcha."

"Can we not talk about that right now?" I begged.

"Continue please." she added innocently.

"Thank you. Let's see... another vampire who's in the system of society? Taylor Halling."

"That drop-dead-gorgeous investigator?"

"Yes, poor choice of words for him, though." I said. "He's good, for the most part. I don't think we can fully trust him like we can Luke, really, but I might have no other choice. I've formed an alliance with him against- ...a bad vampire."

Lucy heard the graveness in my tone and she looked up to the reluctance in my eyes. She was so brilliant, I knew she'd figure it out. "This 'bad' vampire wouldn't have anything to do with Daniel's murder, would they?"

I nodded slowly. "I know who the culprit is, Lucy. And I'm going to kill her."

"'Her.'"

I nodded slowly again. "She wants me, Luce. She just wanted to kill me and make me suffer, but since I've been hiding out in America instead of where she wants me..."

Lucy nodded in understanding. "Danny took a hit for you." she finished heavily. I waited for a moment. I waited for anger, for her to resent me. It didn't come. She looked unusually calm for this situation.

"I... Aren't you angry?"

"Should I be?"

"Yes!" I exclaimed. "It was my stupid fault he got hurt! You should be trying to choke me...or something violent to take out your...emotion." Her calm composure began to make me feel silly.

"I know you didn't go to this vampire and tell her to kill Danny, therefore this is not your fault and I have no reason to bear grudge against you. I can bear a grudge against her, but I choose not to, also."

"But... why?" I asked her. It didn't make any sense to know who a killer of your friend was and want to feel nothing.

"Because being angry at the culprit will do no good for me. I'm obviously not in a position to stop her if you're here, trying to protect me by taking me out of country. I'll only become bitten with hate and my rather clear sight will be blinded with thoughts of violence all of the time. I don't want that, so I will not hold a grudge. I will leave the hatred for someone who can do something about this murderess, and they can channel their rage into her destruction."

Her words shocked me. She was... rising above the vengeance that threatened to consume me. And others. It was astounding. Her statement was very powerful.

"Please tell me why she wants to kill you, Allison. That worries me. I agree to go with you where ever you wish but I want to know why."

I was still speechless at how well she was taking this. I worried if she holding back what she really felt, or if this was really the truth from her. I came to her side again and eased myself down next to her, her eyes spoke the truth, and she was not full of hatred. I smiled at my angel and felt ridiculous to expect resentment from someone as wondrous as her.

I began from the beginning. I told Lucy my story of coming to America with my mother, about my family and it's dilemma with the curse, about my parent's tragedies and why I changed my name and had to lie to her all of these years. I told her of my goal to find my mother's killer and find a way to break the curse before I would return home; what I had discovered along the way and recently, about vampires in the city, the covens. I tied in the bizarre wolf attacks with my introduction of Courtney and then I told her the story of Courtney V, minus the visions I had been given. I tried emulating the way Luke had told me, and Luke did a better job than I did, in my opinion, but the point had gotten across. Lucy sat very passively and held her questions until I was done.

"She is an enemy to me, and unless I start taking action, I and everyone I care about around me are sitting ducks. I don't want to leave you here all alone, Lucy. Reason one, it's cruel for me to suddenly take off in a time of need for the both of us, and two, I cannot take the chance that Courtney will get to you, too."

"It's hard to understand her motives. My impression, while you were telling me about her life before... becoming a vampire, was that she is just a psychopath with a beauty complex and a grudge that won't die." What a good summary for Courtney. I agreed.

"Honestly, knowing her reasons matter little because I know she's not going to just stop and walk away from her "life goal." Luke told me all she knows for existing is to kill, so anything else is out of the question. It's going to have to come to putting an end to her or me, and I'd really prefer it'd be her." I thought of the note I gave Luke. If he didn't choose to be on my side... it would most likely cost my life in the end. Lucy nodded and raised her arms as if to give a hallelujah. "Now, I want to leave tomorrow night if that's possible for you to pack in that time. And don't worry about money, I can pay for you, everything you need, your tickets and anything else you may want on the way. I just need to make sure you have a passport."

"I do, luckily."

"Excellent. Are you sure about this?"

"Yes, Allison. If your majesty wants me to come with her on a royal adventure, I shall." she said playfully and bowed her head. I made a face. I didn't want my friend to start bowing already! I would get enough of it when I arrived in Aldorra... "Anyway, I want to come with you. Don't think I'm obligated. I'll be fine. I was thinking about... taking a break, for awhile. It's just too much to stay here and go back to work. Too many memories for me to handle right now."

Ah, perfect then. Going to a peaceful, secluded country in the mountains with fresh, crisp spring air would do the both of us some good. "It'll be okay." I told her and we took comfort in a warm embrace. "It's a good thing you agreed, or else I'd have to kidnap you." I teased. She giggled. I looked for that sparkle again, it was a good sign in her aqua eyes.

"I can't believe you slept with Danny's murderer's creator."

I worried she would think less of me for this fact; but the look on her face held a humor over the sadness. She was trying hard to make his death into something less... painful. Being able to freely discuss him would be a good step towards that. I made a mental note to work on that with her while my smile was awkward. "I wish you'd stop badgering me over details to my private sex life." I said as I stood.

"Oh come on!" She threw a pillow at my head. "I told you about mine! You got Danny and me to share a night and I told you about it!" She laughed hollowly through the remorse of that phrase. "Now it's your turn to tell me about who I hooked you up with."

I was about to tear this pillow in half because that was a very good point! I threw it back at her instead. "Vampires have endurance, "best sex ever," end of story, I'm not telling you anything else!" She began to tussle me again, this time asking about the limp and how much of a good time I must have had with him if it left me unable to walk properly. "I can't hear you!" I shouted now with my hands over my ears.

We both could be so immature when we were together. And she was the only person I could act like this around. I enjoyed the easy-going moments, because soon they would be very rare and replaced with Royal duties and obligations. I needed to prepare for that, mentally and physically. I needed to get in contact with the parliament and the regent sitting in the monarch's place while my country waited on me...

A pillow hitting me in the back of the head again brought me back to the world. "Allison! Get out of your happy place. I was only kidding."

I knew she meant well. But to get back at her, I ran over and stole her donut and took a huge bite out of it. She shouted and threw another pillow. "Hey! Now I don't feel sorry anymore... give me my donut!" I ducked as she swiped at me and tripped over her coffee table. I had to run away when she got back to her feet."I thought you didn't like super models, huh? ... Three years without a single boyfriend and you landed the odd one out! Aha, that says something about you, Ally!"

I ended up dropping the donut on my shirt and getting a huge chocolate glaze stain over my left breast. That's when we stopped. "Ugh, I'm going to go home and change..." I told her as I wiped off the chocolate best I could. Now I had a brown smudge on my shirt. Wonderful. "I'm going to come back with a cab before sunset. I would really feel a ton better if you stayed with Luke and I tonight. I don't want to leave you alone during the night."

"Pssh. You did last night."

"And you were very lucky nothing happened to you, Lucy! Please don't make me take you by force. I will."

She paused for a minute and a sly grin grew on her face. "Wait, home? Your apartment is off limits so that means... You're staying with Luke besides here?"

"For the time being. You'll really like his place." I told her with a grin.

"Don't tell me it's one of those rooftop suites that only rich celebs can afford." She said with another sparkle in her eye.

"Better." I told her. She swooned for a moment and tried to guess.

"Don't ask me! You'll have to wait until sunset...which is in..." I was surprised when I realized I'd been out the entire day already! "One hour."

So I returned to Luke's, changed quickly, and then left again to retrieve Lucy.

.x. Lucas

I wanted darkness.

The time for a vampire to rise, traditionally, was drawing nearer. I disliked staying inside during the day, perhaps my next mansion will have tinted windows so I can do as I want when the sun is up, threatening to spit on me if I take a glance outside. Sometimes I considered migrating to the northern regions, where it is cold and dark for a larger portion of the year than it was other places, like here. But then I recalled how seemingly empty and forlorn it had been in a northern part of Canada when I lived there for half a decade or so awhile back, how lonely I felt and unhappy I was. The dark winter was simply the mirror of eternity, bleak, cold, alone. I couldn't see how humans could stand to live in such a godforsaken place, so I put the natives there out of their misery and returned to Europe.

I lay on my back, perfectly balanced on the thin piece of wood that used to be the back part of a sofa with my hands gently resting on my still chest. My eyes were closed, my mind had been completely blank before I heard noises, and felt a presence. Warm, the pulse was just a beat higher than normal; from the sound of her steps it was because she was running, in a hurry. Allison. After about a minute, her steps exited the mansion again and her presence faded into the sunlight outside I didn't have a sonar for within my heightened senses.

I wondered momentarily what she'd been doing all day. She started her day by leaving me that note and then made trips in and out of the mansion as she pleased. That meant she felt comfortable here, comfortable enough to go and come, do as she wanted without worry of hospitality. That was good.

A few minutes later, when I felt the sun was very low in the sky but not quite low enough for me to rise without being miserable with 'allergies' and the burning heat of the dusk, her presence returned. Very enthusiastically, with another body. I concentrated on the sounds of their steps and heartbeats, their voices, movements... Allison led the way, her pulse rising as she announced my home to her guest, another light-weight female from the density, her heart beat just as rapid and her voice replying with just as much excitement as Allison's. Her friend who's name always escapes me... starts with an L, similar to mine, mentioned in the note... Lucy. The young little blonde. The one who Allison insisted she take with us for her protection and friendship.

They traveled from the front, to hallways where Lucy stopped every few steps to, I suppose, admire something on the wall. "I always thought this was an abandoned haunted house..." she said. I chuckled. That's what most people thought and I had nerve enough to buy the place for that quality. "It's even more breathtaking in the back..." Allison told her and their steps drifted off toward that direction.

Minutes ticked by and they made their way to the stairs leading up to the second story. Lucy and her fluttery-like steps went ahead of Allison's sluggish and lazy steps. Was she... exhausted? Her heartbeat and presence radiated less excitement as I assumed she went into thought about something. I was too far away to tap into her mind, too much material separated us; it would be much easier if I were touching her but I could shallowly tap into people's minds from their physical presence alone. Her steps stopped altogether as she leaned herself against a window seal and sighed when taking a seat. Yes, she was exhausted. I could hear it in her voice from even this far away.

"There's just bed rooms and junk rooms up there. The first door on the right is where Luke sleeps, don't go in there. He'll come out when the sun sets completely." Allison explained.

Lucy asked if she could slide down the rail when her steps reached the top of the stairs. A moment later her weight shifted from the floor to the rail and I heard her weight drop to the floor again at the bottom of the stairs, plus the sound of a vase smashing. It was followed by several apologies and the increase of her heart to a very rapid level. "Oh, shit. I'm so sorry. That looked really expensive!"

"Nonsense. He won't mind; and if he does I'll just buy him another one." Allison replied calmly. "Just...clean it up and maybe he won't even notice. Household knick-knacks are not on the top of his mind, I don't think."

House hold knick-knacks? She dare call that vase a knick-knack? It had come from a royal palace in Switzerland when monarchy still existed there. It was literally one of a kind. I arose off my feet as I heard Lucy's steps flutter toward the kitchen and the rubbish bin with the pieces of the vase. Allison shoved the rest of the evidence under a rug as I slid fluidly to the ground floor from the basement and surprised them both when I suddenly seemed to appear in the middle of my living room.

"Good evening, ladies." I said toward Allison in an alluring tone, then glanced at Lucy just to see the shock of her face that matched that sky-rocket heartbeat of hers. Allison's chest sounded relatively normal, though being tired could have been a part of it. They both looked as if they'd just been caught with their hand in the cookie jar and I laughed quietly to myself. I took a closer look at Allison and saw the invisible lines under her eyes that screamed for a soft bed and eight hours. I was both prideful and sorry I'd given her body that sort of weariness, but more prideful for the moment. I smiled gently toward her as she stood straight and placed her hands innocently at her sides.

"You have a lovely estate." Lucy's voice came from the side, attempting to break whatever awkwardness was about to befall the atmosphere. I turned toward her and thanked her politely. From the both of their minds, I saw the conversation that was shared only an hour ago about the 'everything' Allison described her friend would know. Allison seemed leery about my behavior toward her friend.

"Luke, Lucy will be staying here tonight, if that's alright with you."

And I suppose if it wasn't alright, Allison would have her way anyway. She didn't even bother to ask the host of the home before inviting a guest, knowing I'd agree without a problem. I loved that assurance in her. "Yes, that is quite alright. There are plenty of bedrooms upstairs and downstairs, choose whichever one you like. I need to speak to Allison in private for a moment, so go ahead and make yourself at home." Lucy's heartbeat fluttered as I proposed this. She flashed a smile with implication toward Allison before shuffling away. Her presence was a lot more... jittery now that she knew of my true nature, but oddly she was not fearful. Come to recall, her presence had never really been fearful as most ordinary mortals are when speaking to me, when we'd spoken before in the past. What an interesting character, I thought; and from the look Allison shot back at her, she seemed to think the same.

Allison looked to me now, bewildered, anticipating, unknowingly into my eyes. The assurance of her personality faltered and I felt her body tremor as a small flush of nervousness swept through her and a tiny splash of rose came to her creamy cheeks. We were thinking about the exact same notion: the answer to the ultimatum. She honestly didn't know what I was going to say in response to her note, or if she did, she had every doubt. I could see all of the thoughts as she went over the facts in her head and tried to think of a logical outcome, then she thought of all her options if I rejected her (disdainfully they involved Taylor and possible death). There was a problem with that, though; this feeling that was nestled inside of my body for her was not logical. Desire, love, whatever it was named, was not logical at all. It didn't always make sense but at the same time had perfect reason.

"Join me in the study." I offered and held out my hand. One, it was a more private setting, two, it allowed a barrier to keep her friend from eavesdropping, three, I had something of hers she wanted. She came forward with a lazy step and took my hand; to save her the trouble of walking on those legs I knew I'd made sore, I picked her up with my arm around her back and under her knees. The lovely rose on her cheeks grew but she was thankful for the gesture as we made our way to the library room. Her form, so delicate, weightless, felt perfect in my arms. Her curly hair that smelled rather wonderful hit my cheeks like sweet scents in the wind, and I loved that, too.

.x. Allison

The sun had just snuggled under the blankets of the horizon and the azure and royal blue sky gave room for the stars to dance in the backgrounds of the windows in this anticipating setting. Luke, probably feeling good about himself for his physical display of myself in his arms right now, was leading me on. He was going to pick me up, lead me into different rooms, jump on different subjects and avoid just answering my damn question. A simply answer, please, just yes or no! Just tell me, right now, yes or no... whisper it in my ear as you carry me, or, drop me and yell it to my weary muscles as I hit the ground. My tired arms hung around his neck and my sapphire eyes pleaded into his icy blue. He only smiled and seemed not to notice until we came into the library and he shut the door behind us.

I was set down on my own two feet again, and before I had a chance to get straight to the point, his lips were on mine. Fervently, roughly, passionately. His firm grip came to my waist and pressed me against him; I couldn't help but let my hands crawl up his sturdy build and return his romantic gesture by molding into him, letting his lips consume, tongue invade.

I was utterly confused as he did this, but my mental state mattered little in my zealous response. There was no way for him to reject me if this, this... wonderful and powerful emotion was invoked between us. Was there a word for this? I could only think of one that made sense right now, two if you count the name of the one delivering.

His lips separated from mine once he sensed I needed air, and only for that reason. "Lucas..." I whispered in a tone soft enough for only him to hear.

.x. Lucas

Her voice. My name muttered in such an intimate style. Her flushed cheeks and shallow breaths. All of it. I was just now realizing I loved all of it. How could I have not realized such an emotion before? How could I doubt what I felt for this wonderful, marvelous, astounding woman in my arms, heart racing for me? Was Courtney's beautiful exterior, but suddenly empty and cold interior that blinding to the beauty before me?

I didn't want to justify my reasons for not acting before this moment. I thought I had loved Courtney since the moment I set immortal eyes on her, but I couldn't have been more wrong to mistake an obvious lust and infatuation of beauty for true feelings. I just didn't understand until I met Allison. Suddenly, seeing Allison's logic a little more unbiased, it was perfectly right to destroy Courtney. It was not only my responsibility, I owed it to my lover and my rival-who-was-still-an-ally, and to the system of all things right and justified. She had not only broken laws and killed brutally and revealed herself, she did it all for the most selfish reasons possible.

I was brought back from my mind when Allison's warm breath touched my lips. That sweet taste lingering in her mouth... it was...

I kissed her deeply again to get another taste.

It was chocolate. I smiled and pulled back from her and then descended to the floor to kneel on one knee.

There was a skipped beat of her heart within her chest as I did this and locked my eyes with hers.

.x. Allison

He paused long enough for me to catch my breath, but when he didn't return immediately like he had the night before, my grip tightened on the back of his neck and shoulder and I moved closer to his lips. How could I deny something so... inspiring. Just looking at him was sex.

His cold mouth overcame mine again and then he suddenly broke off. I was confused for a moment, and when I saw he'd sunk down on one knee, I was even more so.

"Allison Mary Lockett." he voiced in a prurient tone. My hand was clasped into his, his other ran quickly through his hair to give it the messy look adored on him. "It is my deepest, and most sincere honor and pleasure to serve you, through whatever you may lead me to or have me accomplish, through sickness or wound, until death take me from your loyal guard." I believe my heart had stopped as he said that, that, play on vows for marriage to tell me "yes" in a much more articulate fashion. "Do you accept my righteous services?"

"I do." I managed to reply. He stood, the biggest grin exposing his perfectly white teeth, complete with fangs. "Wait, I need a sword." I interjected suddenly. I'd been thinking of the royal court all day... trying to recall all of the etiquettes and mannerisms for the royal of blood to know... It was time I put one to test.

He seemed trivial for a moment but obeyed my request. Luke disappeared for a moment, I heard a rustle from the other side of the room, and he stood before me again with an old iron sword with a worn handle in his white hands. I nodded a thank you and made a motion for him to kneel again.

.x. Lucas

I pondered what she had planned for a moment, and I smiled gently when I guessed and returned to one knee on the floor.

"Do you," she started, putting the sword gently on my right shoulder, "Pledge to serve Her Royal Majesty the Queen Allison, in all her goals and ambitions, to loyally fulfill any and every command given even if it means going against situations of the past..." I looked up at her as she said this with a guilty smile. She still had one doubt of me and what I felt toward her, and she had no idea how silly it was for her to have that doubt compared to what I felt right now. "And protect her Majesty until death?"

"I do." I said with a complete assurance behind my voice. The tenacious look in her eyes right now, the richer tone of her voice. This was the sweet Lockett blood within her I fantasized about drinking, and I loved that too.

The sword lifted to my other shoulder. "Then I hereby declare the two of us bonded by the ancient code of honor..." I brushed the sword aside and didn't want to let her finish. "valor," she rushed but I captured her lips. "...and fortitude." she managed.

She returned my kiss for a moment but became rather unresponsive after another... The sword was leaned against the wall and I felt her body collapse into mine, unintentionally I believe. I'd almost forgotten, almost, she was exhausted. She was brilliant, and had been performing wonderfully all day long, and that took a toll for a sore human body. There were many things to do, people to call, messages to send, tickets to buy, bags to pack. But that could all wait until tomorrow. I guess, as I easily picked up her form again to go lay in a nice bed, I could arrange some of the things she had on her mind for her. She was quiet as I carried her away, into the bedroom next to the one Lucy had chosen. When I walked by the open door, Lucy was enthralled to see me carrying Allison into the room over. She thought it was a 'fond and loving gesture' and her aqua eyes lit up with a hopeful glint, like she wanted me to do something else sweet for Allison.

I set my lovers' form on the bed and she was already drifting away. Lucy came next to my side and made a soft cooing sound. "Ah, poor thing... I hadn't known she was that tired."

"As tempting as it sounds to change her into something a little more comfortable, I'll leave that to someone she trusts." I told Lucy with a bit of a sexual tease directed toward Allison. Lucy giggled.

"She does trust you." she replied softly as I turned to remove myself from the room. I paused for a moment, but then continued.

Before I took care of anything for Allison, a nice meal sounded rather delicious to get the disgusting essence of the bottled blood from my system. I looked forward to the hunt tonight.

"Have a good time." Lucy called to me as I stalked away, thoughts centered around a kill. Did she know what I was thinking...? No... no, there was no way. It was just a lucky hunch. I laughed and went on about my night.

As the author begs you: Not to ask too much of everyone, but you all would make me soo so happy if I reached 100 reviews before I post the next chapter. For the last three chapters, nine people have reviewed consistently... if three more do, that'd be the goal. Please make my day, won't you? -bites lip innocently-