*BOOM*

The condo I was renting was blown to smithereens. Even though I knew that I had basically declared myself dead, it felt good to make a nice explosion out of it. I had left a good number of personal effects and even some bones (don't ask, you don't want to know) that would be too charred to get any DNA samples off of them. Not that I let the authorities, at least governmental ones, have my real DNA. I drove to Jane's place to bug her for a while, and to get my identity set. After camping a few days at Jane's place to smoothly and secretly transfer the majority of my assets over, I was able to learn the facts of the new identity I had. I was now Joseph H. Smith, a freelance traveling photographer willing to take on any gritty assignments in the name of film. Also, I had a dead rich grandmother which explained my wealth even though I was in a job where money wasn't too big of thing. Easily memorizing all the info I needed as I had done many times before, I longed for the simple days where a simple change of face would be all one needed to get through in life."Modernization can be such a pain sometimes," I said sarcastically to Jane, who was watching Bones next to me.

She laughed, "Oh yeah, I am sure, that's why you bought a first class ticket for your flight to Turkey. I am sure you will be thinking that same thing as you sit in the first class seat, wishing for the travel of your first overseas venture."

I rolled my eyes, and looked at the time. I said, "Jane it is midnight you know, shouldn't you be getting to bed?"

She stuck her tongue out saying "HMMMMM well looks like the old man here needs a nap, should I get him some tapioca pudding?"

Punching her lightly, I told her, "Yeah, maybe a cane for me to and a cushion for you when your boss punts you across the office for sleeping on the job because I kept you up."

Jane grinned devilishly, proclaiming "Now now, that isn't such a bad proposition, what ways could you keep me up? You are one of the few who can due to all the odd hours I have and the profession I am in."

It was a tempting offer, as Jane was a gorgeous tall redhead with blue eyes to die for, and it had been quite some time since I had had this sort of down time. Concentrating, I prepared myself for the pain. My blood began to boil as I leeched the virus from my own bodily fluids for sexual functions. It was one of the tricks that I was very grateful to have as I didn't want to be forcing myself to celibacy forever. In addition, I hardened myself slightly so that Jane wouldn't be able to scratch me during our fun as I recalled she was quite wild. I also reverted back to my true form, 6ft tall, a short buzz cut of black hair, dark tan skin, and dark brown eyes that looked almost black as night. Much better than that photographer I was forced to look like. From the way Jane's eyes lit up, it seemed she was in total agreement of that last thought. We then had a competition of who could rip whose clothes off the fastest, and being stronger by far I won that argument easily. The other competitions we set ourselves in, well let's just say it was very close before the foreplay ended, and we finally got what we both wanted for the night.

I woke up long before Jane, with her snuggled against me early in the morning. Hating that little to no sleep perk of mine, I decided to delve into my memories and remember those who had long been dust.

*flashback*

As we bought my mother into the house, we all knew she didn't look too good. Coughing up blood and that much of a skin discoloration couldn't be a good sign. We were simple villagers, unknowing of the dangers of diseases, and the risk of infection. Many came to us to wish our mother well, and it was there that they most likely got it. No one could know at the time, but still, a wave of sadness passed through me. A messenger passing through town offered his services to send for a physician in the nearest village he was heading to next, Baranok. We thanked him and he hurried onto his horse and sped away. We waited, and waited some more, and people began to fall sick all around. The local midwife herbs were useless here as the people began to fall ill. Even I was feeling unwell as the infection spread throughout the town. Life in the village slowed to a crawl as the people could no longer function, so sick were we becoming. Then…

*end flashback*

I stirred out of my reprieve as Jane began to get up herself with the morning light peeped through the windows. Yawning she declared, "Ugh knew I should have closed those blinds, but I had the most awful distraction," punching me playfully. "Are you all ready for your flight?" she asked.

I replied, "Ready as I will ever be. Wish you could come so the flight would go by faster, but I don't relish getting kicked off a plane again as I did once for it."

Jokingly, she teased, "Might be worth it to have one with your experience in lovemaking to play with again." Then serious she said, "Such a pity that we don't have normal lives, we could of lived together, had children and all that. But we our both wed to our duties, and you for a painfully longer time than I." She kissed my cheek.

For a moment, a wave of regret washed over me. I knew that what she said was right, we both liked to give too much to our own duties for more than a little sexy fun (not that I minded that fun in the slightest). Still, part of me would have liked to have the life she described I gave her a gentle smile saying, "Well one of the perks was meeting you my dear, and though we shall never be more than the best of friends, I hope that you one day settle down yourself for a very lucky husband. But until then-"I kissed her and said, "Might as well enjoy what we can, no?"

Chuckling, Jane replied, "True enough, and…oh shit look at the time we both have to get ready quickly now, and change back to that photographer of yours, we don't have much time left before your flight or my work." Quickly changing and making last minute packs, I saw Jane put the finishing touches on her looks in an awesome business suit. We got in her Nissan Altima with my luggage and drove to Ronald Regan National Airport. As we said our goodbyes, I couldn't shake off the bad feeling I had, and after living as long as I had, that was never a good sign.

I whispered to Jane, "I don't believe that this will end simply in Turkey, Gentek and their dogs are too persistent for that. Alert the Chroniclers Jane, have them at alert 3." Her eyes widened as she choked out, still in a whisper though, "Alert 3! Joseph if you are wrong the Eldest herself will probably want to skin you." I confirmed, "Alert 3 Jane, use my proxy authorization code if you must, but I don't like where this is going, and if it gets out of hand, even I won't be able to stop it alone." She nodded and I hugged her, then I turned my back on her and went to Turkey.