Chapter 3: The Council

The car was driving fast on the roads of L.A. Inside, Beth was still in shock from what she'd just seen.

"Do you still think it's a joke?"

She was still looking at the names hoping that she was dreaming, but she wasn't. She felt Talbot staring at her, trying to find an answer through her reaction. She tried to calm down and looked at him.

"I don't understand what it is. Why is Mick's name on a list with Richelieu or Raspoutine?"

"Actually I was hoping you could give me an answer."

"Really? Is that why you called me?"

"Yes, I want you to find out what this list means. I even received an anonymous call, quote:'Files for your eyes only' ."

"So why share this with me?"

"Because I trust you."

That was the second time a man told her that he trusted her. Mick could trust her, but could Talbot? She had to talk about this list, it was too dangerous for the vampire community.

"Well, I'll try to help you." She paused and thought a second. "Is that all the names on the list?"

"No I have five pages with names which have no logical connection. Here, take a look." But there was a logical connection: they may all be vampires. Beth could easily guess it only by the names of the ones she knew.

Someone knocked on the door and a woman appeared:

"Talbot, we need you a second."

"Okay I'm coming."

The woman closed the door. Talbot stood up and as he went to the door he said to her:

"Take a look at the list, but the list stays in this room, okay?"

"Yes, sure."

As soon as Talbot closed the door behind him, Beth stood up and took the pages with her to the photocopier, which was standing next to the desk. She had to make some copies. She tried to hurry. She was nervous and afraid that Talbot would suddenly appear in the room. As she finished copying all the pages, she turned off the machine and put the originals on the desk. She wrote a note for him: "Sorry I had to leave, an emergency. I'll work on the case for you."

The car approached her destination. She turned off the motor and went inside the building with the pages in her hands. She ran down the corridor and reached the room where he was working.

"I'm a lucky man! Twice in the same day!"

"Josef, we need to talk. It's really serious."

Josef saw her face and he could feel that she was nervous. He claped twice and all his men left the room. Beth approached the desk and held out the pages to him.

"Talbot showed me the pages. I made some copies for you."

As she saw his reaction as he read the names, Beth's fears were confirmed. They were indeed all vampires. She realized how crazy it was: Richelieu, Rasputine and even Caesar were vampires.

Josef nodded and looked at the names. His worst fear was in front of his eyes.

"Does Talbot know that you made copies?"

"No. Actually, he just hired me and then he showed me the pages. He had to leave the room for a while, so I decided to make copies."

Beth could see a little smile on his face as he said: "still the quick study." He lifted his head and looked at her. "Can he possibly know that you made these copies?"

"No, he can't. I left everything like it was. And…"

"Yes?"

"He said that he trusts me."

Josef was really smiling now. "Well, we'll use his confidence in you to get all the information we need. Or I would have to kill him."

"Kill him? Isn't that a little too rough?"

He wasn't smiling anymore, his face was severe. Beth had never seen him like that before.

"Rough? Beth, this man, this attorney, has a file with vampire's names! If vampires have lived on this earth so long, it's because of our secrecy! So, no Beth, it isn't 'a little too rough'. It's what we have to do, if we don't have other options."

Beth was listening to him and realized that she was part of that world and she had to follow those rules, even if they didn't follow her principles. But killing Talbot was too much for her. She definitely could use her new position to find out who sent the list.

"I'll find out who did this, Josef. Talbot didn't understand why Mick's name was on the list. When I asked him why Mick was on the list, he answered that he hoped I could help him. That shows that he still needs me."

"Yes. We'll do that and try to keep him in the dark. If he discovers something, I'll send someone to kill him. Believe me."

She believed him. Josef left the list on his desk and crossed his fingers in front of his face, his elbows on the arms of the chair. He looked at her and asked:

"Why didn't you give it to Mick?"

"I don't know. I thought that you were the one who could think of what to do. And I'm sure that he'd come to you with the list anyway, so I took the short way."

"Have you seen him since you left his place?"

"No, I haven't."

"Why?"

"I don't know. I haven't had time, I guess and I needed space for myself."

"I think you're afraid to see him, Beth. You're afraid because his ex-wife turned you." Beth didn't answer. She looked down and heard the voice crashing on her. "You can't come here everytime you need help. I'm not your friend Beth. I'm happy to help you, but you have already someone who cares for you." Josef was right. He was Mick's friend, not hers. "Go home and get some rest. I'll manage with the list, but I'll need you to work on this."

She stood up and left his office. Josef watched her walk to the corridor. He'd been harsh with her, but he had to be. He wasn't her sire either. He helped her because of Coraline and Mick who wasn't clearly ready to be a sire, because he'd just accepted who he was. He did liked Beth, but she was an independent woman and he had to remind her of that.

He grabbed his cellphone and dialed the number. A voice answered and Josef just said:

"Come to my place right now." Then hung up.

***
The beeping from the phone was the only thing he could hear. He was used to having short conversations with Josef, but this one could win all the awards. He took his car keys and walked to the elevator.

His steps echoed in the parking where the Mercedes was waiting for the vampire. Mick started it and drove to his friend. On the road, he was lost in his thoughts. Josef's voice was still echoing in his head. His tone wasn't like usual, there was something about it that worried Mick. Was it because of Beth? Had something happened to her? If something had happened to her, he hoped that she would have come to him first.

Thinking of Beth made him realize how much he missed her. He hadn't heard from her in a week. She'd left his apartment, without him really knowing why. She hadn't called him or seen him since she'd moved back to her place. They'd lived together a whole month, he was watching her progress as a vampire and then she'd left him. The place was empty without her and he'd never thought that life alone would be so boring. Thankfully he'd had a lot of work to do so he'd found a way not to think of that.

The car stopped in front of the building and as he walked down the corridor, his first thought was confirmed. Beth had been there, he could smell it. He went to the office and noticed that her scent was strong. She'd been there not too long ago. He recognized her sweet scent that he'd had at his apartment the month she'd been there. After she'd left, he could still smell her in the living-room and in the kitchen. Finding her scent there was surprising and gave him a strange feeling. Mick was more worried because, as he reached the desk, he could detect scents of worry and sadness from Beth.

Josef was talking with one of his traders and asked the man to leave them. He took something from his desk and went to Mick without saying a word. He just handed the paper to him. Mick smelled her scent on the page and it disturbed him. He tried to read the names and then saw it: "Mick St-John".

"What is this? Did Beth bring you that?"

"Yes, actually Talbot gave it to her."

"What?"

"Okay sit down."

Josef told Mick the whole story: Beth's new job, the list Talbot received and all the names. Mick was looking at Josef in complete shock. That was every vampire's worst nightmare. Humans discovering their existence. " You know Talbot, don't you?"

"Yeah, well I've met him. He's ambitious."

"Okay, that's not good for us. But obviously he likes Beth."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, first he offers her that job, then tells her that he trusts her and gives her something that was meant to stay confidential. To me, it means that he likes her." Josef looked at Mick grinning. He liked to play with his friend. "I asked her to find answers and let Talbot get far enough so we can find out who sent the list. I want you to work on it too."

Mick looked at Josef. This new case was an important one and he was nervous about how things would go. Then he suddenly felt that Josef was concerned, but he wasn't sure if it was only because of the case.

"Are you alright Josef?"

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know, I feel concern coming from you. Is it because of the case?"

"Not only that. I'm thinking of Coraline bloodline. You know, since her death I haven't heard from them. Well, it's not like I talk every week to Lance. I hadn't seen them for years before I went to save her. But you know, they are very close to each other."

"I don't think you should be worried Josef. Henri was there, he knew that you didn't have a choice. And the case is over, I'm not from their bloodline anymore and may I remind you that they wanted to kill her, before you came."

"Mm..we'll see. Anyway, about the list, I think we need to have a council meeting with the vampires mentioned on the list."

"Don't you think it's too early to tell them?"

"Of course not. Mick, if some of them want to leave the state, we have to help them."

"Okay. I'll work on the list."

"Yes, you will, like Beth. Speaking of her, have you seen her lately? Talked to her?"

Mick put the pages on the desk and sat back in the armchair. He could feel that Josef was playing with him.

"No I haven't. But you have obviously."

"Oh no, not that much. She just came to give me the list. Did you go to her apartment to see if she's fine?"

"No. I didn't dare. I don't know, I thought that she had to be the one to call me. She left my place without explaining why, so I understood that she wanted to be alone."

Josef smiled. They were back at the beginning. It was an old song.

"Well, maybe you've played the sire too much and not the boyfriend enough?"

"I'm not her boyfriend. Did she tell you that?"

Josef grinned as he saw Mick's face. He was really enjoying this.

"No she hasn't. But come on, Mick. You almost lose her, she comes back to life and the only thing you do, is play the good sire. Beth is a good-looking vampiress, she's strong and independant. I know many vampires who would like her."

Mick realized his error, he hadn't showed enough that he cared.

"Okay go home buddy and I'll call you for the council meeting. Be ready."

***
Beth finally got home, exhausted. She went to the fridge and took a bottle of fresh blood. The taste was a real pleasure and she could feel the liquid running through her body, giving her the sensation of being almost human again.

She put the bottle in the sink and walked to her freezer. As Josef told her, she needed to rest, but her afternoon with Talbot had been a rough moment. It wasn't an insignificant little case. The vampire community was in danger. At this moment she realized that her name wasn't on the list. It meant maybe that it had been written before she'd been turned? At least it was a trail she could follow.

She opened the freezer and felt the cold fog on her. She lay down inside and closed her eyes, letting her body relax with the coolness. Her limbs became heavier and were numbed by the cold. Her blood ran slower through her veins and went to a calm and very slow rhythm. Her whole body reached the state of hibernation. Beth was in the void and far away from consciousness.

Thump-thump… I walk in the darkness and I hear her very living heart.

Thump-thump…thump-thump… She's nervous, she's sitting on the floor and she's shocked.

Thump-thump…thump-thump... thump-thump…I kneel next to her, caress her sweet blond hair.

Thump-thump…thump-thump… thump-thump…I smell the sweet favor of fear, "sssh, don't be scared, I won't hurt you."

Thump-thump…thump-thump… thump-thump… My lips are on her soft skin… My fangs are piercing the tender flesh… The warm blood is filling my mouth.

Thump…thump….. thump…thump… Her hear beats are sending me the warm and tasty liquid.

Thump………thump……………thump… I feel her life leaving her body…

Her eyes opened wildly in the ice fog. She felt her fangs lengthen. The memory of the warm blood filling the mouth was still fresh in her mind. She tried to feel the cold on her body and calm back down. The dream was as real as the first one she'd had the day before. This time the dream was when she'd been turned by Coraline. Something was different though. She'd had flashbacks of her turning many times, but not like this one. In this one, she was Coraline biting her. It felt so weird, the touch of the fangs on the soft skin slowly breaking under them. The warm liquid filling her mouth. She'd liked it and it scared her. But hearing her heart getting slower made her realize that she'd felt life leaving her body. She'd been really close to death.

She lay back in the freezer and tried to forget the emotion. She closed her eyes and followed the rhythm of her breath. A strange sensation of warmness surrounded her like someone was holding her tight. She could feel strong arms holding her, cuddling up to her. Then a scent of sadness reached her, an indefinable sadness with, at the same time, an unlimited love.

Beth let herself be taken by the sensation. She felt safe and secure, like when she was around Mick. She realized that those strong arms were his. He was the one holding her, sad, crying silently. Then she remembered his voice in the darkness: "I didn't tell her how much I love her!"

She lifted her back and opened the door of the freezer. She needed air; Mick's emotions were surrounding her and making it hard to breathe. It was the first time she remembered that particular moment of that night. She'd just remembered Josef's face looking at her since her turning. But nothing of what had happened between the turning and that.

Beth left the freezer and put on a gown. She went to the living-room and looked outside. It was already evening. She'd slept almost a whole day. The vision she'd just had lasted longer than she'd thought. It explained why she felt so tired even after lying in the freezer.

The sky was an explosion of colours. It was the picture of a crazy painter who'd thrown red, purple, pink and yellow paints on the sky. Lost in her thoughts, she realized that the month at Mick's place had been a big mistake. She should have stayed somewhere else, maybe at Josef's. She knew that Mick had taken her with him because he'd felt concerned. But none of that had shown love. It had been pity and gratitude. Thankfully, she'd moved back to her apartment and only now she remembered that old feeling she'd forgot. She missed him. Josef was right, she was afraid that Mick was thinking of her as Coraline's fledgling, that he would look at her with pity forever and never again with love and desire in his eyes.

Beth was suddenly jarred by her phone ringing. She went to the table and took it. Josef's name appeared on the screen. She took the call:

"Hi, Josef. What-"

"Come to my place now. I'll PM you the address. Oh, be nicely dressed, it will be VIV only."

"Okay, I'm-"

But the beeping was the only thing to be heard. Mick had told her that Josef was kind of short, but she hadn't thought that he would be so brief. VIV? What was that? Then she thought with a smile of course, very important vampires only… God Josef…

The phone vibrated and a PM showed up with an address. Nice place, she thought. She went to her closet and tried to find something appropriate for a VIV evening. She looked at her dresses and saw the two she'd had at the V club and then at Mick's place. Maybe not this one.

She tried to think about how vampiresses usually were dressed. Black shiny leather? The Cleaner was wearing that when she'd met her, but she didn't feel like being that kind of vampiress. Beth didn't know many vampiresses, two of them were killers and the third one – well no leather.

Beth drove to the address Josef had given her, in the direction of the hills, the same place where Mick and her had taken back the missing baby. The sky was getting darker and darker, mixing with dark purple with the last small touches of the yellow from the afternoon.

Expensive houses stood proudly all along the road. They were nothing compared with the highest one. After a long bend, Beth noticed a house getting bigger as she approached it. The house was only made of glass and wood. The large windows were taking in the light from the dark sky. The floor and the roof, made of wood and were holding inside the fresh air of the night. Perfect at night for vampires but not during a sunny day.

Her car stopped at the huge black portal and a camera turned to film Beth. A man in the house, in a little office was checking the computer the heat coming from the car; no human figure could be seen. Then after few seconds, the portal opened itself to let her car drive in.

As soon as she reached the entrance of the house, a man came to take her car and parked it. Beth saw the beautiful glass house standing in front of her. She went up the few stairs and walked through the door, the only thing made of dark wood. She was standing in the hall when another man came to her and asked to follow him. Beth looked around the place and was surprised by its size. Inside, walls of wood were separating the rooms. A long corridor went to a large silver door. The man in front of Beth opened it and let her go in.

As she walked inside, she saw Josef standing in the middle of the room. It was a wonderful room. The walls gave the most extraordinary view of the sea. In the room there was only a very large table of black wood with velvet red chairs. On the only wall not made of glass, was hanging a wonderful sculpture made by silver. Beth remembered seeing it somewhere.

"It's from 'the devil's Advocate'. I bought it. Do you like it?"

Beth looked at Josef and answered, smiling: "Well, it's beautiful. But if I remember the movie, Al Pacino was the devil right?"

Josef, who was dressed in a black Prada suit, went towards her, and stared at her. She was wearing a simple short black dress, with a wide boat neck and long sleeves. He seemed disappointed and said: "I told you 'nicely dressed'." But as Beth walked into the room, he noticed her reflection on the door behind her. It showed a deep low-cut back going down to the end of her kidney. Josef smiled, pleased with the view.

"The same one that Kylie was wearing two years ago."

Beth looked at him perplexed: "Kylie?"

"Yes, Kylie Minogue."

"Is she a vampire too?"

"Oh god, no. She used to be one of my freshies. I met her in Sydney; I was on a trip with Madonna."

"Madonna?"

"Yes, but she's bad-tempered."

That discussion was really weird for Beth. Madonna and Kylie Minogue being Josef's freshies. They walked to the window which showed them the ocean lit by the silver full moon.

"Beth, I asked you to come tonight because we have to talk about the list with the vampires."

"What?" She looked at him surprised and suddenly nervous. "All of them?"

"No, not all of them. Only, some of the most powerful and the members of the high council. Anyway you already know some of them. We'll tell them that there is a list with our names on it and what we are going to do."

Beth was still feeling nervous. It would be the first time she would be with so many vampires."

"They don't know who turned you and you don't have to tell them. Well, some of them know, like Guillermo and Cordelia."

"Cordelia?"

"You know her as the Cleaner."

"Oh, okay."

At the same time, the silver door opened and Cordelia came in, wearing a shiny leather dress. Other vampires came in and Josef left Beth to welcome his guests. Beth was still standing next to the large wall of glass. Cordelia went to her and looked at her.

"I remember you. You were the human with Mick."

"Yes, I was."

"I liked your temper. You were scared but didn't show it. You should make a nice vampire."

Beth didn't know if she should thank her or not.

"Are you still living with Mick?"

Josef told her everything "No, I moved back to my place."

"I really like you. Independent, brave woman. I like it. If you need something, call me. Here's my card."

Beth looked around the room and many vampires were inside. She recognized Guillermo who smiled at her, but many others were vampires she'd never seen before.

Then she heard Josef claping in his hands: "Well my friends, let's take a seat." He went to Beth and with a hand on her back, he led her to the end of the table, where a high chair was at the very end. He stood in front of the high chair and placed her at his left, before he made a sign to sit down.

As all the vampires sat down, the silver door opened and Mick went in the room, nervous. He went to Josef and sat at his right, in front of Beth. Josef looked at him with eyes showing him his disappointment. Mick avoided his look and saw Beth in front of him. The Cleaner was next to her looking at Josef. Beth smiled at him but he avoided her eyes too. She was disappointed and surprised by his attitude.

Josef stood up and all the eyes were on him: "My dear friends, I asked you to come here tonight because we have to discuss an important case that involves us. The vampiress here, Beth Turner, has given me a list that the attorney Talbot has shown her. The list has the names of the vampires living in L.A."

The silence was suddenly broken by no sound but by a cold air showing shock and fear. Josef felt it like Beth but he kept speaking:

"The attorney has received the list recently and doesn't know what the connection between the names is. Beth has just been promoted and works for Talbot, who trusts her completely. She'll work for us and keep him away from the answers. I trust her, so you can do the same. Mick, here, is going to work on the case too. I promise you all that we'll find who sent that list and why. Then the punishment will be severe."

Josef sat back in his chair and looked at the reaction of the vampires. They were all shocked and worried. It was a terrible threat to all of them. Their identity was revealed, and they were all in danger.

One woman stood up. She was blond, tall, thin, beautiful. Her skin was white as snow, her eyes blue like the ocean and her hair blond like the sun. As she began to speak, Beth lost herself in her velvet voice:

"How do we know that Talbot won't find out alone?"

Josef smiled and answered:

"Nicole, just as I've told you, Beth is working with him. He trusts her and he'll follow wherever she'll point him to."

Another vampiress stood up. She had short black hair, beautiful red lips and big dark eyes.

"If he's the only one who knows about the list, why don't we simply kill him? Your friend Beth can do that. It would be easier if, like you tell us, he trusts her."

"I was thinking of that, but he's quite an important man in the DA's office. His death won't stay unnoticed, the last one was killed already. And I think that we can use him to find the one who sent the list. Are you satisfied Elisabeth?"

"No, I'm not."

"Well, we all know what you used to do with women, you were taken by the authorities then, right? So I'll prefer to follow my way. Mrs Bathory."

Beth looked at the vampires around the table asking Josef questions. She was surprised to see him very calm even if some of the questions were quite stupid. Then she noticed a man, sitting at the other end of the table staring at her. He hadn't said a word since Josef had let them express themselves. He'd just listened silently and stared at her. He seemed to be a very distinguished man, from an old fortune. He had something in his expression that Beth had seen before but she couldn't remember where. She guessed a smile on his face and it surprised her. If she'd been human, one could have seen her blushing. Beth looked back at Josef and listened to him.

The Cleaner was now the one who stood up:

"I propose that we do like Josef told us to do. It means that we wait and see if Mick and Beth find the answer. If not, we'll kill the attorney. If so, we'll make a new meeting and decide what to do and how to proceed to punish the guilty person." She sat in her chair and Josef answered smiling:

"Thank you Cordelia. That's just what I meant. It's clear, simple, just perfect. I invite you now to go to the other room where refreshments are waiting for us."

The silver door opened and a man stood next to the door, waiting for the vampires. They all stood up and followed the man. Beth stood up and waited to talk to Mick who was speaking with Josef. But she wasn't alone, the man who'd looked at her came slowly over to her. She tried not to look nervous. He still had that strange and mysterious smile on his face.

"Miss Beth Turner, right?"

"Yes?" She heard that he had a little foreign accent, but couldn't recognize which one. He had obviously been in LA many years.

"May I present myself? My name is Armand Jean du Plessis de Richelieu. But just call me Du Plessis."

"Richelieu? The one of the four-"

"No, I'm sorry to disappoint you. That one is my twin brother. He stole my name and position, but it's a long story that I would have the pleasure to tell you later. I came to you because I recognized something in you."

Beth felt uncomfortable. She was worried to hear to what he had to tell her.

"You may know Coraline Duvall? I understand that she was married to your friend monsieur St-John. Well, she was from my bloodline. I discovered her death some days ago. Monsieur Kostan was the one who told me about her death. Monsieur Kostan and I have known each other for many years, centuries actually. He didn't tell me more about it. But the reason I'm talking to you about it, is because I can smell her on you."

Beth was now really worried. What was he going to do?

"Oh don't be afraid. It's a very little amount of scent that I recognize because you and I are in the same bloodline. I know that Coraline was a very special woman and as I see you, smell you, I can guess that your turning wasn't desired. Though, I am talking to you now, because I want you to know that if you want to learn more about your bloodline, about your sire, I mean, your real sire, just call me. It will be a pleasure. I liked Coraline very much; she was a very smart woman, but my brother made a monster of her. I thank you for listening. Good evening Miss Turner."

Richelieu gave her his card, made a bow and left the room. Beth stood alone, looking at the card and thinking of his last words. Then she heard Mick moving, Josef still sitting in his chair. She placed the card in her purse and went to Mick.

They stood next to the silver door and in front of each other, nervous. Beth was the first to speak:

"Hi."

"Hey, how are you?"

"I'm fine, thanks. And you?"

"Fine, fine. I was on my way home. Do you want me to drop you off?"

"Oh, no thanks. I came with my car, so-"

"Of course. Well, I'll see you. I'll call you about the case. Bye."

Mick left the room, and Beth saw him walking down the corridor to the black door. She heard Josef's chair moving and him walking over to her. She didn't want to look at him, because she knew that he was grinning. "Well, well, well. That was awkward. I love awkward. Don't stay here, go after him. He's just a stupid, young and oldschool vampire. But I like him like that and so do you. I'll call you for the case. Here, take the list. You'll need it or Mick will."

Josef handed the list to her and winked at her. She smiled at him as she took the list and left the room. She walked down the long corridor and reached the large black door. A man outside was waiting for her, next to her car. She sat inside and started the motor. Josef had told her to go to him. She started to think of her relationship with Mick. He'd just been so weird with her after the meeting. He was probably angry at her for not calling, but he hadn't done anything to show her that he cared. Then she remembered "It's my fault, I pushed her away. I saw her crying when she left my apartment! I didn't tell her how much I love her! It's my fault, Josef!"

Her eyes were bright, she remembered everything now. She pushed her feet on the pedal and drove.

The car stopped in front of the building. She went inside and took the elevator, the one she'd taken so many times since her re-meeting with him, the one she'd taken when she left him a week ago. She was now in front of his door, she was nervous, but she had to do it.

She knocked on the door and Mick opened it, surprised. He let her come in. She looked at the place she'd left some days ago. It was exactly the same and it reminded her of all the time she'd spent there. She realized then that she'd missed this place.

She was standing some feet from the door, in front of him. She was holding the list in her hand. "I brought you the list. You might need it to work on it. I have already one at Talbot's office, so I don't need this one anymore." She held it to him. He took the list, said nothing, just looked at her, confused. "Uh, Mick… I came also here to tell you that I'm sorry that I didn't come directly to show you the list. I just thought that Josef would know how to handle it."

Mick didn't answer at first. He was still looking at her, thinking. Then he said: "I was surprised that you went to him so easily, especially for a case. We used to work together, you know. And you didn't call me once! It's been a week since you left and you never called to tell me that you were okay. God, Beth you lived here a whole month and I helped you. I didn't even understand why you left. And then Josef called me and I was so scared something had happened to you!"

"I'm sorry Mick, but you have to understand that I needed space for myself. You were so nice to me, but you were too overprotective, you looked at me like a victim!"

"I thought that I'd lost you!" For the first time Mick was yelling at her.

"I'm sorry Mick. This afternoon, when I was sleeping in my freezer, I just remembered that you were scared to lose me. I didn't realize it before. And in the car, before I drove here, I remembered your words, your sadness from that night. I'm sorry for what I did to you."

Beth looked at him, but he didn't react to her words. She understood that she had nothing to do there any longer. She went to the door, opened it and left without saying good bye. She was standing in front of the elevator, which opened. As she went to step inside, she felt a hand on her shoulder. Mick was standing next to her.

He turned her so he could face her. She was astonished when she felt his lips on hers. His kiss was so tender that she let herself taken by him. It was her first kiss as a vampiress. Feeling his cold lips on hers, feeling his love like that, was something she'd never experienced before. Her whole body concentrated on the velvet touch of his lips on hers. He slowly pulled them from hers and looked at her blue eyes, his hands in her soft hair.

"I missed you so much Beth. I'm sorry too. I could have tried to call you. I just didn't understand. I just missed you so much."

Beth felt her body warm with his tender words. She'd missed him too. Her lips slowly brushed his, and the light contact made her shiver. The hands that she placed behind his head made her feel every soft hair through her fingers. His lips took hers and he kissed her again. Beth felt his tongue licking her lips and she opened her mouth to let it come in. She felt his tongue caressing hers and she trembled with pleasure. She let herself be taken by him as their tongues danced sensually, increasing her desire. She pulled him closer to her, so she could feel every part of him. He held her tighter, clenching his arms around her, like he was afraid to lose her again. She could feel every muscle from his body and felt his pleasure increase with her touch on him. Their kiss was now passionate. Her fingers were caressing his hair, asking for more. She felt his strong arms around her, his fingers in her hair, and that made her shiver.

Mick took some steps back and she followed him, without breaking the intense kiss. They were moving slowly to the door, as if they were floating on the air.

Mick broke the kiss and looked at her, smiling. The vampiress in front of him was beautiful. Her lips were redder from their passionate kiss. Her eyes were shining; she wanted him. Her scent was reaching him, the one he'd smelled all those days without seeing her, the one he'd smelled at Josef's. She now stood in front of him, her scent showing off her desire. He took her hand and guided her inside slowly. When she was in the apartment, he closed the door behind her, still holding her. He pulled her to him by her hand that he held and placed his other one on her naked back. The touch of his hand on her skin made her sigh and she closed her eyes to lose herself in the explosion of her senses. They were now looking at each other, without speaking. Words were unnecessary. He caressed her naked skin with the top of his fingers. He felt her reacting to his touch. Her blood ran faster in her veins. She was aroused. Still looking at her, now with a deep desire, he slowly moved his hand up and down on her back, feeling the soft skin. She shivered from the sensual touch and Mick could see that her nipples were hard from pleasure.

Beth wanted to kiss him, his hand on her back made her want him more. Every particle of skin was awakened by his touch. She felt the reaction running through her nerves in the direction of her brain then back to the rest of her body. She was completely lost in his touch. One of her hands was held tightly by him. She slowly moved the other one along his chest, feeling his muscles under his shirt. As she touched him, she could feel his reaction, his blood running faster and his scent full of desire. She lifted her hand from his neck to his brown hair. She slowly pulled his head closer to her so she could reach his lips that she wanted so badly. She kissed him, feeling his hand caressing her back. She opened his mouth with her tongue and felt him reacting to her kiss. He responded, pulling her tighter against him with his two hands. He turned her and pushed her slowly against the beam. He put one of his knees between her legs which made her open them. Feeling his thigh between hers made her more excited.

Their kiss grew harder, Beth could feel his arroused scent coming from his body and Mick was surrounded by hers, which made him crazy. He wanted her completely. He lowered his leg and moved her, walking slowly near the couch to the other beam . She could feel the fire on the crystals of the decoration, burning next to her and the warmness opened all the pores of her skin to let the warmth caress her skin. He placed his thigh between hers and his hands under her armpits. He lifted her arms slowly, caressed them and held her hands tight against the beam. Beth was under his control, which made her more excited. His knee was still between her thighs and she felt it moving up. She wanted him, but she couldn't move. She kissed him harder and felt her fangs lenghten. She was so aroused by him holding her hands captive that she bit his tongue. The taste of his blood increased her desire even more. Mick could feel her excitement, he let his hands slowly slide down back from her armpits to her breast and slower to her waist. She lowered her arms in rhythm with his hands. She felt his hands sliding to her waist, along her hips to the end of her dress. Her breath became faster in anticipation of what he was going to do. She felt his fingers grabbing the edge of her dress and he heard a hot sigh from her as he lifted her dress up, his fingers close to her skin. Every inch of skin reacted under his touch, and Beth put her hands on his, following his movements. He broke the kiss as he lifted the dress and discovered slowly the beauty of her body. His knee was still between her thighs and as he lifted the sweet material, he saw her black satin panties. He slowly reached for the two sweet circles of her breast and kissed them. Beth threw her head back, feeling his soft lips on her skin. She tightened her hands on his, showing him that she didn't want him to stop. He followed the dress with kisses on her skin until he completely lifted it over her head. She was now almost naked in front of him, warm with desire. Her eyes were white, her fangs lenghtened, and for the first time he was caught by her beauty as a vampiress. She was surrounded by a halo of desire. He let the dress fall on the floor and pulled her in to kiss her passionately. She wrapped her arms around his neck to press him tighter against her and kissed him back. She felt his hands on her waist, sliding slowly down her buttocks.

Beth uncrossed her arms, still kissing him and let her hands caress the soft cloth. She touched his muscles through the material and felt his breath getting faster under her touch. His tongue was caressing hers harder and she felt herself being taken by him. She couldn't wait anymore and wanted to touch his body. As she licked his tongue passionately, she ripped up his shirt and pulled it off. She started to unbutton his trousers when she felt his hands on hers, making her move slower. Their hands pushed the trousers down, sliding down his muscled legs, and with a kick, he pushed them away.

Mick felt Beth's arms wrapping around his neck again and was pulled against her. He could feel her blood running fast through her whole body. The heat was more than mere sensation, he was consumed by her desire. She was discovering the new sensations and she used them on him. She was now kissing his neck and wanted to bite him. But it was too early, she wanted him first. She just nibbled his skin and she felt him hard against her. She wanted to feel him.

Beth slowly lifted her right foot and slid it slowly against his leg, along his thigh, until she felt his strong hand grabbing hers. He squeezed his hand against her skin and he felt a hot sigh on his neck. He grabbed her other leg and lifted her up onto him. She tightened her arms around his neck and kissed his mouth passionately. She felt that he was moving from the beam and then felt something cold under her buttocks. She was sitting on the table, her legs around his waist.

Mick released her, slid his hands over her bust, and made her lie on the table. Beth was breathing hard as she felt his fingers sliding on her skin, followed by his soft kisses to her through her panties. He kissed her breasts and her stomach as he slid his fingers on the elastic of her panties. He grabbed it and let the soft cloth fall down her legs. Beth moaned and lay completely naked on the table. Mick took off his underwear and leant to nibble her breast. This time Beth sighed loud. She lifted her back, grabbed his face between her two hands and kissed him as she wrapped her thighs around his waist. Mick wrapped his strong arms around her waist and pulled her tight on him. She could feel him naked, hard, moving slowly into her. She let out a cry of pleasure as she felt him moving inside her. All the particles of her body reacted to Mick's movements.

Her hands caressed his soft hair as she kissed his warm lips. They were moving in rhythm on the table, lost in pleasure. The rhythm quickened, their moans getting louder. Beth felt her orgasm coming and with it a terrible need for blood. Mick felt that she was close, like he was. He saw her eyes shining with lust. He licked the skin of her neck and felt that she was ready. As he moved inside her, he pierced her flesh with his fangs feeling her warm blood fill his mouth. She cried out in pleasure with the contact of his fangs on her skin. She felt his mouth sucking her blood as he moved faster inside her. She was really close. He licked the two wounds and pulled his head on the side to let her bite his neck. She saw the veins appearing through the skin. She didn't know if it was the sensation of him still moving hard inside her or only the need of blood. She licked the skin and put her fangs very slowly in his flesh. The reaction happened instantly. Mick moved faster under her touch and as her mouth was full of his blood, they both came. His blood reached her brain so fast that she could faint. She discovered the taste of desire and love in his blood, it was so powerful that she was still lost in her orgasm. Mick felt her head on his shoulder, heavy with pleasure. He could still taste her delicious blood. He'd never enjoyed something so strongly; her flavour and her desire mixed with her scent were still running through his body.

They were both now next to the freezer, still naked. No words had been pronounced but they didn't need them to understand what they felt for each other. Mick opened the freezer and the cold fog filled the room. Beth closed her eyes to enjoy the cold touch on her skin. As she lay in the freezer, Mick's phone began to ring.

He smiled at her and went to the pocket where his phone was. He looked at the screen but didn't recognize the number.

"St-John?"

"Hi, it's the Cleaner. I need you right now. I have a body in front of me, decapitated and crucified."

"Why do you need me?"

"It's a vampire… and on his chest, there is a strange symbol… of blood."

"Okay, I'm on my way."