Love Takes a Stand

Vicki was tired, bone, mind numbing, tired. She couldn't sleep for more than a couple of hours at a time, and snatching a few hours here and there wasn't cutting it any more. She looked at herself in the bathroom mirror and stuck her tongue out in disgust. She was a face that was thin, complexion flawless and her gray green eyes clear. She looked beautiful even to herself but she felt awful.

Three months has passed since Henry started the process that should turn her vampire, but somewhere along the way, the process got stuck. Her vision, hearing, sense of smell, and strength had all improved along with the ability to move quickly and quietly, but she hadn't developed any of the vampire's mind control abilities. She had the beginning of fangs but she didn't have the urge to hunt. She could and would feed if Henry either offered himself, or if he vamped the prey and allowed her to feed. Anything with caffeine made her violently ill. That took away chocolate, colas, and horror of horrors, coffee. How could anyone expect a woman to remain in a good mood without chocolate or coffee?

Vicki came back into the bedroom and looked down at Henry. She studied his profile, the way his hair framed his head and the way he was perfectly proportioned to his height and weight. When he chose, his presence commanded attention, at other times, people wouldn't even notice him in a room. He could put anyone at ease with his smile and a few words. Vicki loved the man and the vampire. She thought she had known what love was until she met him, then she knew beyond all doubt what true love could be and for her, Henry was it. Vicki kissed his lips and turned on her heel. It was time to take her life back.

***

Henry woke to the sound of music and fingers tapping on a keyboard. Then he heard a phone ringing and a fax machine responding. Puzzled he grabbed his favorite red silk robe and opened the bedroom door to see Vicki pick up a cell phone and start talking. She smiled and waved her hand to him, and he frowned in return.

While she finished the phone call, he turned off the CD player, picked up the printouts from the floor and stood in front of her holding the papers. Vicki took the pages, studied them briefly and placed them on top a stack of papers.

Henry raised and eyebrow and said, "Would you mind telling me what's going on?"

Vicki patted his cheek, "I'll be happy to." Then she sat at the dining table in front of a laptop that he'd never seen before.

"Out with it. I'm hungry and I'm confused. Neither one makes me happy. Where did all this office stuff come from and why?"

"My turning vampire stopped. I'm trying to find out why and I want to get control of my life. So I bought a new computer, along with a fax, copier, scanner, printer combo. I've sent out some feelers and am going to start up a new agency investigating unusual and paranormal events. The first investigation will be why I'm not a vampire even though I'm living with and feeding from the best there is."

"Okay I concede that I'm the best looking and the most well bred, but there maybe better vampires. Where have you started looking?"

She warned, "You're not going to like some of this."

Henry pulled the sash of his robe tighter and asked, "What have you done?"

"I've called Augustus and Dr. Sagara."

He shrugged saying, "That's not too bad." He pulled out a chair from the dining table, sat and added, "I know you! There's more. Out with it."

Vicki looked down at her fingers resting on the keyboard and whispered, "I asked Augustus to get in touch with Christina, and I've called Mike. I was going to place a call to Sinead when you came out."

Henry's English accent had faded years before, but whenever he thought of Christina it came back full force, "What the bloody hell were you thinking, woman? Your calling her? She'll kill you and me just for the hell of it. And she's my business, not yours."

Vicki's half formed vampire became agitated at his tone and said, "You've told me she's turned multiple lovers into vampires, and I can take her on in a fair fight."

"She's turned many, but she's killed even more. Killing a former lover is a favorite sport of hers, plus she has a special dislike for you and she doesn't fight fair."

Vicki's eyes narrowed as she asked, "Why would she hate me so much? I didn't do all that much to her."

"She automatically hates anything I love. I've told her you're my future and that I'll kill her if she comes at me again." Henry looked into her eyes, pulled up his vampire power and commanded, "Victoria, don't resist me. Have you spoken directly to her, and how much did you tell her?"

Vicki looked at Henry and the young vampire within her responded to it's sire. She didn't have the will to fight him, "No I didn't get to talk with her. Augustus said it wouldn't be safe and told me to talk with you. Then, if you were in agreement, he would contact Christina. So daddy vamp, I have to get your permission before I can go play with the big kids."

Henry reached across the table with his palm up and willed Vicki to place her hand in his. She continued looking into his eyes and placed her palm on his saying, "Henry, I'm tired of waiting. If Christina has any ideas, I'm willing to listen."

Henry tightened his fingers, slowly increasing the pressure as he said, "She won't have any ideas that I haven't already considered."

Vicki met the pressure and tightened her own grip, "You haven't shared any of them with me."

Henry continued to increase his pressure and she responded in like. Finally he let go saying, "You're strength as vampire is improving. All your senses are. You haven't used your glasses in weeks and the volume on the CD was set at its lowest. Vicki, it's not time to give up on the idea of your becoming totally vampire."

"Can you honestly sit there and tell me this is a "normal" transition?"

"No it's not normal, but then again, from where I sit, nothing about you is "normal."

"Is that a complement?"

Henry tugged on her hand slightly and said, "Come over here. I don't want a table between us when I tell you what I think is causing the delay."

Vicki stood and continued to keep her hand resting on his as she made her way around the table.

Henry spoke softly as he pulled her onto his lap, "I don't mind feeding you, and I don't mind sharing the prey. We could go on living this way indefinitely."

Vicki started to protest, but he willed her to be silent and continued speaking, "I know you, and I know that you want to be independent. So, I'm going to work with you to find the answer, but I assure you it's not going to be found by talking with Christina, Sinead or Mike "

Vicki was tempted to open his robe, but fought off her rising heat as she said, "You already know what the problem is, don't you?"

"I've suspected for some time, but have been waiting and hoping I was wrong."

"Tell me."

"It's the marks. The ones Norman put on your arms. Whether you meant to or not, when you accepted Astaroth's help to save Coreen, a door was open to Astaroth's realm."

Vicki looked around the dining area and the makeshift office she created and shrugged, "Well I best get rid of this stuff and find another way to fill my time."

"Don't. I like the idea of an agency that will look into the mysteries that are behind the obvious. I'd like to work with you. I was getting the hang of investigating when all hell broke lose. As for the question of the marks interference with your turning, I know someone we can talk to that knows more than anyone about our kind."

Vicki said, "I want your help as long as you remember who's boss."

Henry grinned, "I always know who's in charge."

Vicki gave him a quick jab, "My idea, my knowhow. I'm boss!"

Henry started nibbling on her neck mumbling, "Yes, but I'm the talented beginner that can teach you a thing or two."

Vicki put her hand on the back of Henry's head pushing him tighter against her throat, "Who do you know?"

He stopped nibbling just short of breaking the skin and said, "Xenethia. The oldest living vampire. It'll take some work, but we can find her."

The new business phone started ringing and because Henry's hands and mouth were busy, Vicki reached out to answer, listened then said, "Yes Mike I called. It's true. I've closed the agency for reasons I'm not going to explain and have opened another, much more selective agency. I'm not taking any more divorce cases, failures to show, failures to pay, or skip cases. I'm going to look into unusual cases. I've a knack for it, and I've got a trainee / partner. What's it called? "Perplexed, Bothered, Bewildered?" Nelson investigates." Henry gave her a pinch and she added, "When my partner proves himself, his name will be added. Yeah, you've met him a time or two. Call me when you're confused with a case and can't get beyond the normal. Bye, Mike. Thanks for getting back to me."

Vicki laid the phone on the table then got busy returning Henry's kisses and matched his teasing fingers move for move.