Note: Please see Prologue for warning, copyright and disclaimer information.

Old Friends

Corrine woke me early with a large breakfast that I couldn't very eat much of. By nine we were on the road, headed for some major shopping. On the way to our first store I made Corrine pull up to a pay phone.

I crossed my fingers and called the only number I had for Glenn Johnson. An operator came on telling me the number had been disconnected and I pressed the necessary buttons on the phone to get past the message. I was relieved when Glenn answered the phone himself.

"It's me," I said softly.

"Eliza," he breathed, stunned at hearing my voice. "It's been forever."

"I need help," I told him.

There was a long pause. "I heard you turned against us, Eliza."

"You should know better, Glenn," I replied in a hard voice. "I'm a spy, nothing more. I still help where ever and whenever I can."

"And whose spy are you?" he asked.

"I can't tell you that." If he found out that I worked for the vamps, I knew there was no way in hell he would ever help me.

He sighed. "What is it you need?"

"Mac didn't die in the raid," I told him.

"What?" He sounded shocked.

"Dougal embraced him." I was surprised by the lack of emotion in my voice.

"How did you find this out?"

"He walked up to me in a bar," I said flatly. "He has amnesia, he doesn't remember any of us. Look, he thinks that a vamp named Kate Hepburn or Prudence Gentry may have had something to do with the raids." Our apartment hadn't been the only one invaded that night.

"Kate is the vamp who came to town a few weeks before the raid, isn't she? But Prudence Gentry?" he asked, confused at the name. "Isn't that—?"

"Yeah, my name," I replied wryly. Elizabeth Prudence Gentry was the name I grew up with, my real name as far as I knew. Glen was one of the few people I'd ever told that; Mac had been the other. "Kate and Prudence are one and the same. She hates Cormac, wants him dead. He thinks she wanted the same thing nineteen years ago."

"I hadn't heard of her being involved in the raid," he murmured. "I still know people in Baltimore, I'll see what I can learn." He paused, then asked, "What are you going to do if she was involved?"

"She doesn't have to have been involved," I told him, my voice like steel. "If she so much as knew about the attack before it happened, her head is mine."

"You've changed, Eliza," he whispered. "What happened to you?"

"Too much to explain, Glenn," I replied sadly. "Too much to ever go back."

"I remember when I first saw you in Baltimore," he said after a little hesitation. "You were hard as a kitten, all teeth and claw when anyone tried to get too close to you. Mac Brennan overshadowed everyone else for you. Is it still the same?"

"He's a vampire," I coldly reminded him, and myself.

"That doesn't answer my question, Eliza," he replied softly. "Do the lights still dim when he walks into the room?"

I had once told Glenn that when Mac entered the room it was like all of the lights dimmed and Mac was the only thing I could see. "There are lights?" I asked dryly.

"Take care, Eliza," he warned me. "Remember that he's a monster now. You don't want to lose your life because a vamp was once the man you loved."

"I know," I whispered. "I wanted to destroy him, but…."

"I understand," he told me gently. "Those pesky lights."

I chuckled, a low sad sound even to my ears. "I'll call you back in two hours," I said. "I need anything you can give me and I only have twelve hours."

"Of course, Eliza. I'll see what I can do," he promised.

"Thanks." I hung up and went back to Corrine's car.

She kept up a steady stream of chatter while we were shopping. She wouldn't take me to the discount stores, and insisted on picking out everything we bought. She was so pleased that I was finally letting her buy things for me, I didn't have the heart to refuse.

It seemed like Corrine made me try on everything. She refused to even look at the type of clothing I was used to wearing, instead buying things that were 'in'. To top everything off, she bought me a large suitcase and overnight bag that matched.

Two hours later I found another pay phone and called Glenn back.

"There's a vamp in Boston that was in on the raid at your apartment," he said in a low voice.

"Son of a bitch." I didn't believe I could get that lucky. "Which one?"

"Valerie," he replied.

I couldn't stop myself from gasping.

"Do you recognize the name?" he asked.

"She bit me," I told him. She'd almost killed me that night. "Where in Boston?"

"She hangs out at McDougal's on the pier."

"I know it," I said slowly. "I've hunted there."

"Will you be hunting there tonight?" he asked, amused.

"I never stake and tell," I told him in the same tone. "You know me better than that."

He laughed, then sobered quickly. "Do you plan on spending any time with the new and improved Cormac?"

I closed my eyes. "I'll be spending the next two weeks with him," I replied calmly, "to try and help him regain his memory. After that, I'm done."

"Let me know how things turn out," he said. "Let me know if he's…."

"Yeah," I whispered. "If he's still the same, or if he's a bad guy."

"And if he's bad?"

"I tried to kill him once, Glenn," I admitted softly. "I can't do it."

"I could," he said in a hard voice. "Mac was my friend, a long time ago. If he's a black hat, I'll take him out for you."

"I might take you up on that, Glenn," I replied with a sad sigh. "It's hard to aim in the dark."

"Those damn lights," I heard him say as I hung up the phone.

I walked back to Corrine and she insisted on taking me out to eat.

"You didn't eat much breakfast this morning," she chastised. "When was the last time you really ate?"

I didn't answer because I honestly didn't remember. She ordered me a large lunch and watched over me until I'd eaten at least half of it. I had to force myself; I had no desire to eat.

When I'd eaten all I could, I pushed my plate away and studied her for a moment. "Corrine," I began softly.

"Yes, Eliza?"

"I really wanted us to spend the day together before I left with Cormac tonight," I told her.

"But you can't," she finished, disappointed. "Why?"

"Cormac thinks that someone close to me knew about or maybe caused his accident," I replied carefully. "I need to find out if that's true."

She glanced up at me in surprise. "And if it is?"

I looked away. "All I ever wanted was a normal life, Corrine," I whispered. "Mac and I could have had a chance at that life. If this person caused his… change, or knew that it was going to happen and did nothing to warn us or stop it—" I couldn't continue.

Corrine did it for me. "Then you have to seek vengeance," she said sadly, shaking her head. "I never knew you could be like this."

"I wasn't always like this," I replied simply, looking away from the disappointment I was afraid to see in her eyes. "I can understand how it might disgust you."

"No," she said, reaching across the table and taking my hand. "From what you've told me, you have reason to be like this. It can't be easy living the life you lead."

"I don't want your pity," I said emotionlessly, giving her a level look. "I knew when I started down this road exactly what the price would be."

"Your eyes tell me that you can be very dangerous," she said. "But I know your heart, Eliza. You haven't lost everything you think you have."

"What do you mean?" I asked with narrowed eyes.

"You haven't lost your soul."

"I sold my soul a long time ago," I told her in a cold voice. I barely stopped myself from adding to the devil.

"I don't think so," she said thoughtfully. "Maybe you thought you did."

"You don't understand the things I've done, Corrine," I replied, pulling away from her hand.

"No?" she asked. "Maybe you're right. Maybe you have lost your chance at the white picket fence and the dog. But at least now you have a chance to find out for sure."

I shook my head, but smiled at her, determined to let her have the remainders of her illusions as long as possible.

"I need to go to Boston today," I told her, "to look for someone who might be able to tell me the truth."

"Can I come with you?"

"I don't think so, luv," I said gently. "I don't want to put you in danger. I'll call Gillian and see if she can give me a ride into Boston. I'll call you in a few days."

She looked disappointed, but didn't argue with me. "Is there anything you want me to tell Cormac if I see him?"

"Yeah," I said. "Tell him that Gillian took me to Boston, and that he won't have to worry about the problem we talked about anymore. He'll know what I meant."

"Okay," she said. "Let's go back to my place and you can pack everything up. Cormac is flying out of Boston tonight, isn't he?"

That was a good question. "I'll find out."

We returned to Corrine's apartment and she helped me pack all of my new clothes. Somehow I got everything I'd taken from the apartment except the crossbow into the suitcase without her seeing any of it. She insisted that I shower and change before leaving, and I had to admit that I felt better after having done so. Gillian agreed to run me to Boston, which left me with only two more calls to make.

The first was to Brenda's cell phone, even though I knew she wouldn't be awake. Her boy-toy answered.

"This is Eliza Harrow," I told him, trying very hard to be civil.

After a surprised pause, he said, "What can I do for you?"

"I realize that Brenda is unavailable," I began tactfully, mindful of Corrine's presence beside me, "but I need information and it can't wait until she… returns."

"All right."

"You are aware that Brenda has made the arrangements for Cormac to leave town tonight?" I asked.

"Yes," he replied. "I understand you were going to travel with him."

"I need to know what they are," I said. "I have a few things I need to clear up in Boston and if he is flying out of the airport there, I'll just meet him at the plane."

"He is," Rafael confirmed. "I believe he's planning on leaving some time after midnight, but I don't know exactly what time. The plane is being readied now."

"Do you think it would be possible for me to leave my things on board while I run my errands?" I asked.

"It shouldn't be a problem."

"Thank you for your help," I told him.

"You're welcome, Ms. Harrow," he replied.

I hung up the phone and sighed deeply. I was grateful the ghoul hadn't given me a hassle, but it still gave me the creeps to talk to him. It reminded me too much of Linda, Kate's ghoul when I was growing up. She'd hated me, and never had a problem showing it.

"Why didn't you call Cormac for that?" Corrine asked.

"I would rather surprise him at the plane," I told her, thinking quickly. "He may still be upset with me. Can you give me a minute? I have to make one more call."

"Sure," she said. She walked out onto the balcony of the apartment and I dialed Kate's number.

"Prudence," I said in a hard voice, "I heard a rumor that you might have known about the… accident before it happened. If that is true, my dear, hide."

Gillian picked me up a few minutes later and on the ride to Boston, we talked about Corrine. I explained that I knew she had 'Awakened,' and that Cormac had once been the same Tradition that I believed her to be. She agreed not to question anyone about him or Corrine, and for that I was thankful. As much as I liked Gillian, Corrine was the most important thing in my life, and I'd already more than proven I would do anything to keep her safe.

I did ask a favor of her while we were on our way to Boston. I knew that I couldn't keep my apartment now that first Kate then Cormac and Corrine had compromised its location. I told Gillian that I no longer felt safe in the flat, and she agreed to look for another place for me. She thought she could find something by the time I returned and agreed to keep the matter a complete secret.

We dropped my suitcase and carry on at the plane. I laid my crossbow on the floor near the suitcase, knowing I'd have to find a case of some sort for it somewhere. Gillian dropped me off near the docks and returned to Salem.

I spent most of the afternoon asking questions and looking for Valerie's lair. I found a few locations that might have worked well for vampires, but there were too many people around for me to check them out like I wanted to. I did find an abandoned building I thought might be useful if I managed to find Valerie.

It turned out that the clothes Corrine had bought for me weren't as much of a hindrance as I thought they'd be; guys took one look at my cleavage and bare midriff and forgot to ask why I needed the information I was asking for.

At sundown I was at McDougal's waiting for Valerie. She came in an hour later with her puppy and sat out on the deck 'drinking' martinis. I watched from the dining room and sipped coffee while they ate. When they finished, I followed them out.

They walked south toward the water and I kept far enough back that they didn't see me tailing them. When they went into a converted warehouse, I darted forward and caught the door before it closed. Valerie turned and when she saw me she gasped.

"You're dead," she said in disbelief.

I smiled. "I'm the ghost of Christmas past," I told her.

Her ghoul looked between the two of us, confused.

"Let the puppy leave, Valerie," I told her in a low dangerous voice. I didn't want to kill him if I didn't have to.

"Oscar," she whispered, never looking away from my eyes, "get out of here."

"I won't leave you," he replied urgently. "She looks dangerous."

"Leave, or die," I told him. I pulled a stake and readied myself to use it. To me, Oscar wasn't really human, he was one of them, a ghoul, and just because I didn't want to kill him didn't mean I would hesitate to do it if I had to.

Valerie pushed him toward the door. "Now, Oscar!"

The boy hit the door running and I turned back to Valerie. Her fangs were bared, and she was doing her best to intimidate me. "Funny thing, Valerie," I told her, "vamps don't scare me. I guess that comes from killing so many of them."

She backed away from me toward the stairs. I grabbed her arm and drove the stake through her heart. When she collapsed to the floor, I picked her up and threw her over my shoulder, then carried her out into the night.

Twenty minutes later we were in the abandoned building I'd found earlier and prepared especially for her. Heavy chains secured Valerie to a workbench, and quite a few woodworking tools lay collected nearby. I pulled the stake from her heart and she gasped as she regained control of her muscles.

Quickly taking in the situation, she looked at me with real fear in her eyes. "What to you want?"

"I want to know everything you know about that night," I told her.

"I don't know anything," she claimed almost hysterically. "I just did what I was told!"

I gave her a hard smile and reached for the nearest tool. Luther had taught me a few things about pain, and now it was time to teach Valerie.

An hour later, I was convinced she'd told me all she knew, which actually wasn't all that much. According to Valerie, the vamps that'd raided our apartment had orders to embrace Mac and me. She said that Dougal wasn't supposed to turn either of us personally unless something went wrong. I didn't understand what that meant, and she couldn't explain.

She had no idea if Kate had known about the raid before the fact. Dougal had his orders directly from the Tremere Primogen of Baltimore and no one else knew the details. She told me she hadn't really meant to kill me, but my blood had tasted so good, she'd gotten carried away.

I was going to let her go when I'd gotten everything out of her I needed, but in the end she got stupid. When I left the building, there was nothing left of her but a disgusting pile of decomposing fluid on the floor.