Chapter 12

Josef had gone ballistic, as Mick had known he would, as soon as Buzzwire twisted the story into vampire related. Pacifying the 400 year old vamp seemed to be the norm these days. Still, Mick had to admit that there was some basis for his paranoia. Yet he had been shocked when Josef had suggested he "take care" of Beth. Mick's immediate reaction was that he was implying she be killed and that got his vampire temper riled. Enough that Josef backed down a bit.

Still, Mick knew there was a kernel of truth in what Josef was saying. She was a danger and not just in outting us. If she remembered him ... and Coraline -- and his part in the kidnapping -- and started talking about it to the public and the cops, what choice would he have?

But this was his Bethie. No, he would continue to protect her and hope that she never knows the truth. For if she did, how could he trust her?

And trust was a very big issue ever since Coraline ... ever since then. He had allowed himself to become involved in human's lives and problems only a few times. Like with Eileen and her scum of a husband, Lee Jay. Since then, he had forced himself to not get involved.

But now he just couldn't seem to help himself. It was Beth. All the vampire passions seemed to become stirred up with whatever was left of his humanity and he remembered his long ago vow.