Disclaimer: Priest and its characters belong to Scott Stewart.

Claimer: I own Tessa.

(Gypsy32) Thank you for all your reviews, lovie! It makes me glad to know I've been describing his expressions well, and that I portrayed Julian's emotions so people can connect with him. I loved that chapter after I got the beginning out of the way. I've wanted Tessa to show him some love, but I didn't want to rush it, because it would have been unrealistic. We will find out more about the Sanctuary, and why Tessa trusts Farah with its secret. I hope to see more reviews from you! Xoxo

(Sebastian) Oh wow, I was at a total loss for words at reading your review! I'm glad you like the story so far. Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a lengthy review, and for your support. You're such a sweetheart, and I hope to see more of you! Xoxoxo

(TheElegantFaerie) Thank you for the continued support, sweetie. More lovin' coming soon. ;)

(BrySt1) I honestly haven't watched Despicable Me, but thank you for the compliment. Haha

(La Guera) Thank you for not giving up on the story in spite of your opinions on some of the chapters, and I appreciate the inbox. I hope to see more from you!

P.S. I love that you guys are so supportive, but I'm not looking for conflict in the review box. I saw a couple reviews and am appreciative of the support. It's a fanfiction site, not New York Times Best Seller, so let's just have fun and continue to develop ourselves as writers in peace. I love you all and hope to hear from you gems soon!

Chapter #16: Old Rivalry

"Are you sure about this, Tessa?"

"Yes."

Farah stood outside her door with Tessa, her baby cradled in her arms as she watched the woman strap her rucksack to the motorcycle. "So, he doesn't know about the sanctuary?"

"No. He overheard me telling you to go there, but that's all he knows."

"Are you going to tell him?"

"If all of this ends, yes. You remember what to do once you get there, right?"

"How could I forget? We've been through this before, remember."

"Even the priests can't know of this place. Not yet." As if to emphasize her point, Tessa turned her head over her shoulder with a meaningful expression.

"I know. Tessa, wait!"

She turned back.

"Does Benny know? As one of the inner circle, he should be notified."

Tessa's eyes fell to the ground. "Benny's dead, Farah."

She gasped, "What? When? How?"

"Heart attack."

"Oh, God…. Tess, I'm so sorry. I know how close you two were."

"All we can do now is doing what we can with what we've got. Just keep the ark safe, and, more importantly, the records. Alert Lucifer to send out messengers to rally the others. Tell him he's in full charge until I arrive."

Farah nodded. "When should we expect you?"

"I couldn't tell you. Just do your best to make sure those walls stay protected."

Farah nodded again before glancing back at Black Hat as he appeared in the doorway. He readjusted the rim of his hat as he descended the steps and came to stand beside Tessa, and then glanced upwards as Farah approached him so she could see under the shadow of the hat.

"Take care of her," she said softly.

He nodded once, but that was it. Farah embraced Tessa in one last goodbye before heading towards the old truck parked a little ways down the street. Tessa and Black Hat moved out on their bikes, leaving two trails of dust in their wake.

"Focus!"

Tessa made another attempt at catching his face with her fist as he continued to duck and dodge her strikes, twisting out of the way and leaning back as she tried him from different directions. She was breathing heavily, but she didn't give up to him. They had made camp on a hill once nightfall fell over the dry lands, when out of nowhere he had suddenly ordered her to begin attacking him. She had been confused at first, but after he'd shoved her back she had come at him with swinging fists. She wasn't angry, of course, having realized he merely wanted to see what she was capable of. For nearly twenty minutes now they had been exchanging blows, and she hadn't been able to hit him even once. He always avoided her attacks, redirecting her hits effortlessly and dodging her with an inhuman litheness. She released a grunt when he tripped her after sidestepping one of her attacks, and she fell to the ground on her rear.

"Focus, Tessa!" he snapped.

He offered her his hand, but she just kicked up with her legs and landed back on her feet before continuing her attack. It impressed him that she was still going strong, but he could see she was beginning to grow winded. He ducked under her leg when she spun in a roundhouse, and he grabbed her ankle before shoving her leg away with ease, causing her to trip. He never hurt her when he handled her, obviously, but he wasn't treating her as if she would break either. He didn't have to. She was a strong one. The moment he had shoved her the first time to get her going, a hellfire had ignited in her eyes with such abruptness that he'd been taken aback at how viciously she'd came at him, but it only egged him on. When she swung at him again, he leaned back so her fist couldn't reach his face.

"Follow my movements!" he said.

Her fist thrust forward, and he grabbed it. With a firm jerk, she was spun around and pulled against his body, but she surprised him when her leg came up swiftly between his legs. Since they were only training, she didn't go in for the blow, stopping short just before nailing him in the groin. He saw her grin at this small victory, and he released her.

"Good. Again!"

They continued to spar. She was a fast learner, he'd give her that. She had a talent for memorizing hidden patterns in movement, and if he had been a regular opponent she probably would have floored him multiple times by now, but he wasn't human, and she wouldn't just be facing humans during this journey they were on. If she had any hope of survival, she needed to learn how to fight a faster, smarter enemy, but there was promise. If she kept going like this, she had a lot of potential.

Tessa shouted as she was shoved up against one of the larger rock formations, his hands secured around her throat in a chokehold, but she wasn't defeated. Arm shooting up, and thrust downwards and twisted, breaking his hold. Keeping a hold on his wrists with one arm, her opposite elbow shot upwards, which would have resulted in a broken jaw if she had actually hit him.

"Good!" Black Hat stepped away from her and began to circle her slowly, like a shark stalking its prey. His golden eyes seemed to glow menacingly in the moonlight, hawk-like in the way they burned through her. "Do you remember what I told you about how vampires move?"

"Yes."

"Where I'm standing right now. You're facing twelve o' clock. Where would I land if I moved like them, starting from point A at three o' lock to the left."

In one fluid motion, she whipped out the gun holstered at her hip and swiftly held it up to the five o' clock position.

"Good. Point A is six o' clock to the right."

Her arm shot towards two o' clock.

"Very good. Why don't you shoot at the vampire if it's already landed?"

"Because by the time my bullet reaches it, it will have moved to the next point."

"Which is why you shoot for Point B if A has already been reached. Good." He walked around to her front, and she looked up at him. "Remember that it's not an exact science, and you will very rarely be fighting one at a time."

Her eyes bore into his, but he could tell she was hanging on to his every word.

"Close your eyes," he commanded softly.

She did, and he began to circle her again.

"Relax. I'm not here…. They're not here…" Suddenly, he grabbed her, and her eyes snapped open. Her arms shot up between them and thrust his arms aside before figuratively thrusting a dagger into his heart. "Good! Relax."

She closed her eyes once more, returning to a relaxed stance.

"Breathe…. Keep your eyes closed…. Focus…" Once again without any warning, he pounced her.

They landed on the ground with her on her back, her eyes flying open. She grabbed his shoulders, feet tucking underneath them before pushing up with all her might. Vampire or not, gravity would always win this particular battle, as he was flipped onto his back—but he was too quick for her. She found herself on her back again within the same second. Her arm came up to push against his throat when he flashed his fangs in her face with a snarl, and the fist holding the invisible dagger thrust up into his stomach with a twist. Metaphorically incapacitated, she flipped him onto his back again before driving the blade into his chest.

"Impressive. Always remember to keep a block up for that head," he instructed.

From that day forth, they spent their resting periods training. He taught her how to predict the movements of the vampires, not once breaking character while he was attacking her. If she didn't feel threatened, then she would never learn. Of course, she knew he would never really harm her, but the display helped keep her sharp. Every night, he had been working her near bloody, but she was nothing but receptive. His pride for her grew every time they trained. Any other woman he'd come in contact with would have crumbled after the first day from the strain, but not her. No, she was strong, and she was a hellcat. It seemed every time he struck her down, she came back faster and fiercer than before, determined to show him she was capable. Another skill he had come to learn she possessed was knife throwing. Her aim was nearly flawless, and she had the arm of an outfielder. Since discovering this talent, he had been teaching her how to impale a moving target.

He circled her slowly, his eyes scanning her up and down. She was standing at ease, her eyes closed and her breathing steady. He almost smiled as he observed her, but his countenance remained stone-set.

"Are you ready?"

She whispered, "Yes."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Can you lose?"

"No."

"Can they get you?"

"No."

"Even though there's more of them?" he asked.

"There's a lot more."

"Even though they're stronger? Faster?"

"They are much faster, and much stronger."

His shoulder was a mere inch from her body as he walked around her. They had rented out a room in the town's inn, and all the furniture had been pushed up against the walls to give them space. For the past hour he had been sparring with her, going over each maneuver and defense technique he knew from his own training.

"So if they get you…"

"No way," she replied calmly.

"Say it."

"Let them come to me. It takes twice as much energy to attack than dodge."

He had her pinned to the ground. "You're finished. It's sunk its fangs into you."

Her eyes remained closed. "I still have time."

"How much time?"

"Three seconds."

"And what do you do in those three seconds? Scream? Panic?"

"I grab your neck."

"My hands are pinning your arms down."

"I kick up under you."

"Show me."

Without a second's pause, she kicked up with both her feet. She grappled with him a moment, but she managed to wrestle him onto his back, where she straddled him. His arms shot up to grab her, but she wasted no time in driving down the invisible blade.

"Good."

They were sitting on the bed together, as she cut herself slices out of an apple with the knife in her hand. He was leaned leisurely against the wall, watching her silently. After nearly four hours of training, she was left drained, but she had come to learn that it was during these periods of rest that he enjoyed testing her abilities to react with speed. Sometimes he would throw a punch to see if she could deflect it in time, or he would throw an object and bark a number on the clock, the object acting at the lunging target. His eyes shot up to her suddenly, before grabbing the apple from her hand and whipping it across the room.

"Five left!"

She whirled around and tossed the knife. Before now she had always missed these targets when he threw them, but this time she was rewarded with a direct hit, as the knife impaled the apple midair. Whether it having been pure luck or not, a beaming smile threatened to tear her cheeks, and the corner of his mouth turned upwards as she got up to retrieve the knife.

"You're a fast learner."

"Do you think I have a chance at the real thing?" she asked.

"Time will tell. Granted, your skills are impressive considering you're not a priest, but it took me years of training to become what I am now," he answered honestly. "The ones you faced at the reservation were left behind by the pack. They were weak, but compared to a human with no training, they're a force to be reckoned with." He looked up at her. "But can they hurt you?"

"No."

"We must consider all possibilities."

Her eyes shifted up to him. His were solid gold.

"Lye down on your belly," he commanded softly.

She appeared inquisitive but did as he said, watching as he climbed over her to straddle her lower back. His hands gripped her arms so she couldn't move them, and he lowered his head so his breath was beating down on her neck.

"In this position, you can't kick under me. You can't punch me." His hot breath scorched her skin. "I have my fangs in your neck. You have three seconds."

Her eyes opened to glance back at him uncertainly.

"Close your eyes."

She did.

"Relax…. Remember, there is always a way out. In this position, my arms are my weakest point… so although the enemy has the upper hand at the moment… you're smiling inside…"

Her eyes opened. Swiftly, she pulled her wrists together on the floor and used what little leverage she had to grab his left wrist with her right hand. Using her head, she pushed it up against his elbow. Honestly not having expected her to figure a way out so fast, she was able to escape from his grip as he was forced to let go of her. The moment her wrists were free, she kept her hold on his arm and rolled so he fell off to the side, and she used her entire body to push back on him while pushing against his elbow with her hand, her free hand coming to pull his forefingers back. If she had pulled hard enough, she would have hyper extended the tendons and broken his wrist.

"Very impressive."

She released him, but that was a mistake.

"You forgot to kill me."

Before she could even think to react, he was lunging at her. Remembering the technique he showed her, she used her feet to kick up against him while he was still partially airborn, and he was thrown onto his back, but he always had a trick up his sleeve, and before she could process what had happened he had managed to grab her and pin her to his stomach, arms and hands pinning hers against her chest. Fangs poised, he went to bite her neck, and she threw her head back with a resolute shout. Taken aback by the hit, he released her, and she rolled to the side, but he was recovered within a millisecond and springing at her. Her invisible blade was already at the ready, as she reached out with her free hand. She caught him by the shoulder and drove the blade in through his heart.

A moment's paused followed. She was panting slightly, breasts heaving as she looked up to meet his eyes, her fist still pressed into his chest. He was smiling down at her fondly, and she could see the pride reflecting in his eyes.

"That's my girl."

She smiled, and he leaned down to meet her lips in a loving kiss.

Tessa woke up the next morning to find him not by her side. Upon glancing around the room, she saw his hat and coat were no longer hung on the bedpost. That was strange. Usually he told her if he was going somewhere. Pushing the covers back, she stood and pulled her shirt over her head. It was as she was pulling on her boots that she suddenly became aware of a ruckus forming outside. At first she excused it as a couple of men who'd had too much to drink last night, but then there was a shout from the clerk downstairs. Buckling her boots, she ran down the stairs to investigate.

"What's going on?" she asked, a she approached the doorway where the older man was standing.

"Your friend is out there fightin' a priest!"

Her head snapped to the side to look out the door, and her jaw nearly hit the floor at what she saw. It was Priest! He and Julian were circling each other slowly like a pair of wolves, hackles raised and faces set into snarls. Priest's eyes were blue fire as he glared at his enemy, body stiff in a guard.

Her eyes widened, but before she could say anything they sprung at each other in a blur of swinging fists, clashing in an untamed turmoil of kicks and punches. She winced as Julian got in a good hit to Priest's jaw, making his head snap to the side sharply.

"Stop it!" she shrieked. Her eyes flew wide when she saw a flash of metal when Priest removed a glinting blade while turning. "JULIAN, LOOK OUT!"

Black Hat ducked a swipe from blade, and he managed to grabs Priest's offending arm. With a solid hit to his arm, the blade was knocked from his hand, and Tessa released a breath. She had to do something, or they were going to kill each other! Although she knew how unwise it was, she ran forward.

"Priest! Julian! Stop it!"

Black Hat leapt into the air, and when he came down his fist made harsh, brutal contact right in the center of Priest's chest. Priest was sent slamming to a sliding halt on the ground, where he remained immobile for a moment before slowly pushing himself up. His other hand was pressed to his chest, pain etched over his features. To Tessa's relief, Julian didn't attempt another attack, remaining at a standstill as he stared down at his fallen brother with dismal eyes. Taking this as her chance, she swiftly stepped between them and held her arms out just as Priest managed to push himself to his feet.

"STOP!"

"Tessa, get out of the way!" Black Hat snapped.

"Please don't fight!" she begged them.

Priest stood before her, staring at the both of them incredulously. "…Tessa?"

She reached for Julian as he moved to pass her, and she promptly wrapped her arms around his waist to hold him back from attacking. "Both of you just calm down!"

"Have you been with him this whole time?" Priest asked whilst wiping a bit of blood from his lip.

She tightened her hold on Julian when he tried taking a step towards him. "Look, I know you two have a past, but do you think you can refrain from killing each other long enough for us to talk?" she asked. Priest was eyeing her through a narrowed, suspicious gaze, but he made no verbal denial. Taking that as a partial yes, she nudged Julian. "Julian?"

His face twitched in a sneer, his eyes solidly locked with Priest's. "She just saved your life, Priest."

Ice blue eyes narrowed in Tessa's direction.

It was worse than sitting through a dinner with your fiancé's parents. They were currently seated in a secluded section of the local pub. Tessa had purposely made Julian sit down in the chair against the wall so she could have the outer seat. This way, he wouldn't be able to spring up from his chair to stride around to Priest as easily, who was seated across from them. The air was caked with tension that could have been cut with a knife, neither man having broken eye contact since they'd sat down. It was like sitting with Michael and Lucifer at Sunday dinner.

"Look," Tessa said at last. "I know you two would love to be at each other's throats right now… but fighting teeth and nail until one or both of you are dead isn't going to help anyone." She looked to Priest. "What are you doing here, if you don't mind me asking?"

"I could ask you the same question," he said, almost condescendingly. "I've been convinced he was dead since he was engulfed in flames," He nodded towards Black Hat, "but it appears that's not the case. Then I come to find you conveniently in the same location as him."

"Watch your tone with her, Priest," Black Hat growled lowly.

"He found me," Tessa answered calmly. "But can we set that aside for a moment? Is there a reason why you're here?"

"Why should I tell you?" he sneered.

"You have every right to be suspicious of me, but I'm only asking because something weird is going on, and we don't know what it is. I was hoping you knew something."

His eyelids twitched slightly in a squint. "What are you talking about?"

"Are you here because of vampires?"

"…We received word of vampire activity not too far from here," he answered, but with no small amount of caution. "One of the others was supposed to meet me here, but he never showed…"

Her eyes lit up with realization. "You think Julian killed him."

Black Hat jumped in, "Well, I didn't."

Priest's gaze snapped to him sharply. "Why should I believe you?"

"He's been with me this whole time, Priest," Tessa said.

"Again, why should I believe you?"

She silenced, not having an answer for him.

"You've been with him this whole time, and by what I'm seeing it's not involuntary. Why shouldn't I believe you're covering for him?"

"Leave her out of this, Priest," Black Hat warned. His eyes were fierce. "She has nothing to do with the vampires. Your business is with me."

"What business is that? The last time I had business with you, you murdered my family and took my daughter hostage."

The air thickened, and Tessa shifted a little uncomfortable in her seat.

"I didn't do anything to the priest that was supposed to meet you," answered Black Hat tightly. "I haven't done anything since the night I found Tessa, which was in Blackshire over two months ago."

"You expect me to believe that?"

"It's true."

His head turned to Tessa.

"Priest, again, you have every right to be suspicious of us. Believe me, I understand."

He seemed to be considering her carefully. "If what you're saying is true, then why has there been vampire activity?"

"It wasn't Julian, and it wasn't me."

"Then who was it?"

"I couldn't tell you," Black Hat admitted. Priest's eyes shifted to him guardedly. "You want the truth? The truth is I'm no longer in the vampire business."

Blue eyes narrowed. "No? Did the werewolves offer you a better deal?"

Black Hat's stare remained rigid. "The queen banished me."

The icy-eyed man paused, considering him carefully. For a split second, his gaze shifted to Tessa, but her stare was just as solemn. When he finally spoke, his voice dripped with distrust, but they could tell he was beginning to listen to them.

"Why?" he questioned at last.

"I don't know," answered Black Hat. "I went to where she was being kept, and she drove me out. She tried killing me."

Tessa added, "A day later he was captured and taken to Shawshank Reservation."

Priest stared. "Captured."

"We don't know by who… or why."

"Clearly someone wants me out of the picture," said Black Hat.

"Does that shock you?"

He rolled his eyes. "The men that got me were a bunch of smalltime bounty hunters. They had no clue what the hell they were doing, and if it hadn't been for their numbers they wouldn't have gotten me. Someone hired them."

"Why are you telling me this?" Priest asked suddenly.

"Because there's clearly a new threat out there who wants Julian gone so he or she can take over," Tessa replied.

"If that's true, then they are clearly stronger and smarter."

She tilted her head at him curiously. "You said the priest never met you?"

He caught on instantly. "He's not behind this."

"But someone is… someone who's strong enough and smart enough to take down Julian. That means they can fight like a priest and think like a priest… and if they're responsible for the queen casting him out…" She trailed off. "To me it looks like we're dealing with another human vampire."

Momentarily forgetting their dislike for each other, Priest and Black Hat exchanges inquisitive glances.

Just so you all are aware, I've made some changes to the story in previous chapters. Some scenes have been removed and replaced with a different scenario, so you may want to read back a bit. Reviews are most loved and celebrated! If you're following this story, I'd appreciate your insights.

Cheers, loves. xoxo