Disclaimer: I do not own Moonlight. And I have no intentions of letting it go.
Thank you to those who are reading this. And many, many thanks to those who review and let me know what you think.
Chapter 4 Sleeping Beauty: Answers
Later upon returning to the club, Kira retired to her office and collapsed on the couch. She stared at her wall of monitors; showing her every angle of her club. One screen was tuned to a local news channel that was running a report on the explosion at Josef's building. Tears welled up again as they rebroadcast Beth's report that had been downloaded from BuzzWire. Thomas and Eli both stayed away, letting her have time to grieve alone.
Memories of her vampire existence were filled with Josef. He had been a constant presence for 105 years and the thought of going on without him left her feeling hollow. Even during her fifteen year absence, Josef had stayed in touch and visited her on occasion. What would she do without him sticking his nose into her business and giving her unsolicited advice on her life? Tears fell unstopped as a few publicity photos of Josef flashed across the screen.
The sharp ringing of her private phone line startled her out of her grief. She hurried to the desk and noted the caller ID indicated Mick's landline.
"Mick, do you have a name?" she demanded shortly.
"Name is Josef. Who were you expecting my girl?"
"Josef?" Kira whispered in shock. "What kind of joke is this?"
"Sweetheart, it really is me," Josef's voice reached out to her. "I'm at Mick's and I'm very much alive. Mick told me I had better call you and give you the news. He also said I have to stay put."
"Josef……. How? They said you were dead," Kira said shakily. Her hands trembled as she gripped the phone tightly.
"I'm lucky my pet. It doesn't matter, just know that I am fine," Josef said cryptically.
"I'm coming over….." Kira started to say.
"No!" Josef said quickly. "Stay home. I have no idea who is after me and I do not want them connecting you to me. I do not want you in danger. Let Mick investigate this further and then we can get together," he instructed.
"But……"
"No argument Kira. Mick and Beth are going to do some hacking and will trace the assassin. Give them time."
"I thought they were angry with each other," Kira said in confusion.
"They made up. Stay put sweetheart and I'll see you when Mick gives me the green light," Josef said warmly. In the background Kira could hear a door opening and feminine giggles. She smiled knowing for sure Josef was okay. She was positive Mick wouldn't like the freshies at his place but relief flooded through her knowing her sire was still in the world.
*****
When the knock on the door finally came, Kira instantly knew it was Josef. She ran to the door and pulled it open revealing her sire in a long dark coat, his cap pulled low over his forehead. Josef grinned at her and opened his arms wide in greeting.
"There's my lovely girl," he beamed.
"Josef!" Kira cried in joy and flung herself into his arms. She clung to him as if afraid he'd vanish before her eyes. Chuckling softly he finally broke her hold and came inside, shutting the door behind them.
"I'm glad to see you too dear," he said kissing her quickly. "As you can see, I'm in one piece."
"Who did this Josef? And why?" Kira asked. She went and poured them each a glass of blood. Giving him his, she took a sip of hers to steady her nerves.
"John Whitley hired an assassin," he said grimly, taking a drink himself.
"Whitley? Sarah's father, that John Whitley?" she said in shock. "Is he still alive?"
"Still alive and evidently he knows what I am. I have to go to New York," he responded. "I have to check on Sarah." He sat on the couch.
"Does Mick know?"
"He got Whitley's name from the hit man. He doesn't know who Whitley is. I lied to him. If he comes asking don't tell him about Sarah," Josef warned.
"Why not? Why keep it a secret?"
"Sarah is the reason why getting emotionally involved with humans is a bad idea," Josef growled and took a bigger swallow of his drink. "Why encourage him with Beth?"
Kira sighed as she sat beside him on the couch.
"I vaguely remember being human once," she said dryly. "You didn't hesitate to turn me."
"I wasn't in love with you my dear. I wanted you and I will confess I was in lust with you but I turned you for very practical reasons. Destroying Adele Carrington and her family was great motivation," Josef said with a grin. "Who knew you would grow on me the way you have?" He leaned over and kissed her gently. "I am very fond of you my sweet and I am so sorry you had such a shock."
Kira hugged him tightly.
"I am so relieved you are okay. My world would not be whole without you," she said happily. She took no offense at the fact that Josef hadn't turned her out of love. She had known that from the beginning and while she had convinced herself she loved him when he turned her, she knew now that wasn't true. Her desire to strike back at her powerful mother in law had colored her emotions and in the end she had never regretted what she had done. "Will you go after Whitley?"
"I have never wished him harm. I understand his hate, I took Sarah from him," Josef reflected. "I don't know what I'll do; I just need to see Sarah."
"Then go, you'll feel better. I'm glad you stopped by. I'll keep your secrets, I always do," Kira said softly.
"I know you do," Josef approved and touched her cheek lightly. "I'll call when I return from New York."
"Maybe she will awaken this time," she said hopefully, although she figured that was impossible.
"Maybe," Josef echoed. He too had his doubts at times but he would not admit that to Kira or himself. "Well, I have a plane to catch, would you like me to check on the New York club while I'm there?"
"No, Franz has everything in order. You concentrate on Sarah."
With a quick kiss to her cheek, Josef rose and left.
It was only moments later that the phone rang and Mick was on the line.
"Hello Mick."
"Kira, have you seen Josef?"
It crossed her mind to lie but then she decided not to.
"Yes, he came by to show me he was okay," she replied.
"Did he say where he was going? Is he headed to New York?" Mick questioned.
She smiled, knowing that he all ready had figured where Josef was going. But she had promised not to tell Mick about Sarah.
"What did he tell you?"
"Nothing Kira and you know it. Who is John Whitley?" Mick demanded.
"Let it alone Mick," Kira advised. "Josef know what he is doing. He'll be okay."
"He's going to kill him right? Kira, what is Whitley to Josef?"
"I don't tell tales Mick….. You know that. If Josef wants you to know, he'll tell you," Kira hedged.
"Damn it Kira, Josef is not behaving rationally," Mick protested.
"I've kept your secrets Mick St. John. Don't expect me to share Josef's without his consent," she growled. "He will tell you when he's ready."
There was quiet on the other end of the phone.
"I'm sorry Kira."
"It's all right Mick. If you want answers, make him give them to you," she said kindly. "Take care of him Mick," she added, knowing Mick was heading to New York.
"Beth and I are going. We will take care of him," Mick promised and broke the connection.
Kira smiled as she hung up the phone. She liked how casually Mick mentioned that Beth was accompanying him. She thought about warning Josef and then changed her mind. Josef kept too many secrets and she felt he needed to share this with the younger vamp because it was so obvious that Mick was in love with Beth. It didn't matter that Beth had a boyfriend; her actions indicated a growing attraction to Mick and Kira believed that she and Josef shouldn't try to keep them apart. It was time to include others in her life and Beth was someone Kira cared about.
It was almost dawn of the next day when her phone rang as she was getting ready to get in the freezer.
"You sent him here didn't you?" Josef said without a greeting.
"No Josef, I didn't. He has all ready figured out where John Whitley lived and was determined to go to after you. I only asked him to watch over you," Kira told him.
"He saved my life tonight. The assassin is dead," Josef said seriously.
"Then I'm glad he followed," Kira said in relief. "And how is Sarah?"
"No change," Josef said sadly.
"I'm so sorry Josef," Kira said sympathetically. "When are you coming home?"
"In a day or two. I need to be here for now."
"I understand. Are you going to go after Whitley? I truly hope not Josef," she stated.
"I don't want his life…but I can't have him sending any more killers after me. And I need to create a reasonable explanation for why I'm not dead. I do not wish to change my identity or leave Los Angeles just yet. Since my head of security was on the killer's payroll, I have no reluctance painting him a liar."
"Call me when you get home," Kira said.
"I will. Thank you my girl," Josef said and broke the connection. Kira smiled and hung up. She could sleep with peace of mind this day. It eased her mind to know that Josef was safe and would not be relocating from Los Angeles.
End chapter.
Thank you for reading. I do ask for reviews, it makes the writing so much more fun. Thanks.