After The Asking

Henry looked at Vicki's face as she watched Mike drive away and said, "If you want, I'll give her a year's worth of nightmares."

With a puzzled look Vicki said without turning toward Henry, "Try to give who nightmares?"

Henry pulled her around to face him, "Crowley. I don't like her. I didn't like how she treated Mike and I most certainly didn't appreciate how she treated you."

With a wicked gleam in her eye she said, "Thank you, but that won't be necessary."

Henry got a look of suspicion on his face, "You did something, I know it. What did you do to her?"

"I didn't. Elemental did."

"Victoria, I want details." He then turned in circles calling, "Elemental! Come."

A pin point of light flickered above Vicki's head and Elemental buzzed, "Her idea. I follow orders."

Henry pulled up just enough anger to allow both Vicki and Elemental to know he was in no mood for games.

Vicki looked away then moved closer to Henry so that he had to put his arms around her or behind his back. He chose her waist as the best place to rest his arms. She then said, "Crowley graduated a few years ahead of me at the police academy, then came back as an acting instructor. She had a vicious way of making my life hell until I found out she hated small insects, and especially hairy spiders."

Henry raised one eyebrow and said, "And?"

Vicki allowed her fangs to show as she smiled wickedly, saying, "Elemental helped encourage several families of insects and spiders to move into her house, her car and her office."

Henry looked at her with a wicked smile of his own and said, "When did you have time to arrange that with Elemental?"

Vicki kissed his questioning lips as Elemental buzzed, "You, Mike talk, she order. Easy task, lasts for years."

Henry sounded disgusted, "Mike and I are planning the best way to kill vampires and you're plotting getting even with Crowley?"

Vicki said in a quiet voice, "If we didn't survive, I wanted to leave her something to think about."

After a moment she started speaking again but with a change in subject, "What happened last night? What did we accomplish?"

Henry rubbed his chin in her hair and said, "Let's go in and clean up. Mike will be back soon, we can discuss it together."

"What makes you so sure Mike will be back tonight?"

Henry looked at the street and said, "He needs to talk about what he saw and what he did. There's no one else besides us that could possibly understand."

Vicki said, "You care about him."

Henry nodded, "Of course I do. He's mine, even if he never admits it. I was taught by my father's people to care for and protect what's mine."

They walked hand in hand to the upstairs apartment, each thinking their own thoughts.

Vicki was standing at the window looking out at the street as she spied Mike's car slow as it came toward their building, she turned and said to Henry who was on the phone, "You're right, here comes Mike."

Henry ended the conversation and said to Vicki, "I've told Augustus that Vindictus is active on this side of the Atlantic and to warn all vampires that claim territories, to be ready for his type of invasion." Vicki started to speak but Henry cut her off saying, "We can't fight Vindictus ourselves and forming an army of vampires and humans won't work. It's been tried in ages past. The best way to control Vindictus is to make others aware of his existence and keep snapping at his heels so that he doesn't have a chance to get fully established."

Mike knocked on the door before Vicki could ask another question. Responding to the knock, Henry called out, "Since when do you bother knocking? Come on in."

Mike opened the door and looked at Vicki asking, "How did he know it was me?"

Henry laughed and said before Vicki could, "Your smell."

Mike raised an arm, took a sniff, and said, "I showered. I don't smell!"

Vicki's smile became gentle as she pointed to the couch saying, "Becoming vampire improves the sense of smell. You have a pleasant, unique scent that showering doesn't erase. Don't worry about it. There're times when Henry enjoys being a pain."

Mike kissed Vicki's cheek as he sat down, "Ya think?"

Henry stood watching with noble dignity then said, "I suggest you quit kissing my girl."

Vicki burst out in full laughter, bent over the startled Mike and gave him a resounding kiss, then said to Henry, "You didn't say I couldn't kiss him."

Elemental started buzzing around all three heads.

Henry held out his hand and the light rested just above his palm. "Take it easy. We're not fighting." Henry dropped his hand and Elemental drifted quietly to the ceiling to watch its friends.

Mike started speaking before he lost his nerve, "Did that really happen last night? Did we kill vampires, and did I keep you safe all day? Or was it some elaborate dream?"

Henry sat down across from Mike and Vicki stood behind Henry's chair. Henry closed his eyes for a minute than started speaking, "The human bodies you found are still in the morgue, still drained of blood. You did see a projection of Vindictus just as Vicki and I did. There were almost two dozen, vicious, evil things attacking us last night. Vicki and I spent the day in the back of your brother-in-law's van. Yes. It was very real. Did we accomplish anything of value? I'm not sure, only time can tell."

Mike looked from Vicki to Henry, "I was afraid you were going to say that. Is my city safe from Vindictus?"

Vicki placed a hand on Henry's shoulder and said, "Answer the question. I need to know the answer too."

Henry looked up into Vicki's face and then toward Mike then said, "For now, yes, as long as this city's vampires stay alert."

Mike stood, "Are you telling me there're more than you two in this city?"

Henry looked away, "There are more vampires and other creatures living in this city than I can count on two hands. Do you want to know who and what they are?"

Mike walked over to the window and looked out asking, "Are you going to tell me all my nightmares are true?"

Henry stood and walked over to Mike saying, "Not all your nightmares, but many of them are true. Keep your faith in God strong. That has always been the greatest defense against evil. Now that you are known as one of mine, you will have to be careful. Vindictus still has followers here. Not all of them made themselves known last night. Stay away from the truly dark places at night. Keep your wooden stake, holy water and cross with you at all times." He waited for Mike to absorb what he had said before speaking again, "Vicki and I have to move to a less visible place." He turned to where Vicki still stood behind the chair and said to her, "I've been meaning to speak with you about that and now is as good a time as any."

Vicki held up her hand and said, "No. It's my turn to now." She looked at Mike, "You quit the force right?" Mike nodded yes and Vicki continued speaking, "Take over the agency, Mike. You already know Jamus and Lana. The business is well established and the transition would be easy. It's time for me to move on with my life with Henry and you need a job."

Both Mike and Henry looked at Vicki with their mouths hanging open. She looked at them saying, "What? I can see the forest for the trees. I may be stubborn and hardheaded at times, but I'm not dumb."

Henry said, "That's pretty much what I was going to suggest."

Mike swallowed and said, "When?"

Vicki looked to both men she loved and said, "Henry can go house hunting while you make sure everything is right and tight with your resignation and I'll have my attorney work on the sale of the business." She looked strong and positive as she added, " Now that I've made up my mind, let's get it done." Then walked to the bedroom before her men could see the tears.

Henry and Mike looked at each other, and nodded in mutual agreement. Henry spoke first, "No matter where we end up, you'll have our address and cell phone numbers."

Mike replied, "I'll take good care of Vicki's agency and she can have it back whenever she wants it."

Vicki heard their remarks and spoke to the spark that had followed her out of the room, "Thanks Elemental, for letting me know Henry's plan ahead of time."

Elemental buzzed back, "We need to keep our Henry and Mike safe."

I'll come back to Vindictus later. Hope you are continuing to enjoy my stories.

RealTears