Author's Note: Normally I don't do author's notes at the beginning of the chapter but I need to say a few things before diving into the chapter. First, that their has been a story wide retcon, There are no longer 10 (or 11) Vampiric Houses. There are only 5 (or 6 if you include House Valentine). Also there is a Lemony/suggestive scene in this chapter I will separate it out with "***" and a few lines at the start and end if you do not want to read something like that.

Chapter 35

Mitch woke up with a sharp gasp, sitting up quickly, cold sweat covering his body and his hands were shaking.
"Mitch?" Rebeca asked sleepily sitting up next to him. She had started sleeping in his bed with him since his nightmares had started and became a daily occurance about a month ago, right after he had rescued her and her family. The nightmares were normally not the same, visions that tormented his victory over Nathan, or sometimes perverted reality and showed his failure.
"Another dream..." Mitch trailed to Rebeca, getting himself under control. She put a hand on his arm and Mitch turned to her, who smiled at him.
"Just a dream hun," She said and Mitch smiled back.
"Do you want to talk about it?" She asked curious, but Mitch shook his head.
"Not this time," Mitch said.
"Ok, she said and pulled him into a hug and held him.

He held her close as well, she looked up at him and pulled him in for a kiss and Mitch welcomed it. Their lips touched and Mitch felt an electrical-like current run through his veins and he pulled her onto his lap and she wrapped her hands around his felt like he could fly, she made him feel incredible.
"Your amazing," Mitch whispered, breathless. She smiled and started trailing kisses down from his lips to his cheek and down, tracing his jaw and then to his neck. She started sucking a little on his neck, softly scraping her teeth against his skin, her pointed canines but not piercing skin.
"Hmmm?" Rebeca hummed against his neck, vibrating his skin making him go crazy. Mitch leaned to her neck and started slowly licking her neck, one of her hands wrapped around his short silver hair and pressed him against her neck and they both bit into each other's necks at the same time. Pure pleasure filled Mitch's body, feeling euphoria and arousal at the same time and equal measure and Rebeca pressed herself closer to him, biting deeper, sending Mitch into a new wave of pleasure. Her blood filled his mouth and let it trickle down his throat, hot and delicious, nothing like normal food, it could taste good but never as good as blood and food never would *satisfy* his hunger. He wanted more but kept himself under control, he couldn't take too much, just enough to replenish what she was taking.

She took her fangs out of him and he did the same and she looked up at him with pleasure filled eyes.

"More..." She trailed and moved herself down, on all fours looking level with him before she ran her hands down his chest.
"More..." Mitch trailed back and with lighting speed he had taken off both of their shirts. Rebeca growled at this and pushed him down flat on the bed, she ran her fingers over his chest and down his stomach, tracing his muscles. He wasn't particularly a body builder type but since his Change, he found it easier to maintain his 'fit' descriptor.

Rebeca leaned down to his chest and bit into it, just above his heart, pleasure flooding into him.
"Mine," She murmured. Desire filling his thoughts like smoke and Mitch rolled them over, quick and hard. His hands were on her wrists above her head, earning a soft moan from her and she twisted in his grasp. Her eyes were half lidded her, hips bucked up and Mitch's mouth claimed her's, she pushed back and kissed him back hard. Mitch started to trail kisses down from her lips and she whimpered a little when his lips left her's, he went down to her neck and further down to her chest, to the slope of her curve and she writhed under him. She withdrew slightly to look at her and smiled. Her eyes were still half-lidded and her breathing was heavy, almost panting and Mitch bit deep into the exposed skin above her bra. Earning a louder moan this time and he saw her face turn smiled down at her and she smiled back, face still red.
"Sorry," Mitch said, breathless.
"It's ok. I liked it..." She said, also breathless.

Mitch heard footsteps on the stairs and quickly, using his speed again, they were both presentable and both were under the covers curled up to each other when their was a knock at the door.
"Hello? Is everything ok in there?" She heard Anna's voice, Rebeca's mother.
"We are fine mom," Rebeca called out to her.
"Ok... You both overslept. You've got 15 minutes to be ready so we can catch the plane," She informed them.
"Thanks for reminding us mom," Rebeca said and Mitch heard footsteps going back down. It was Friday but Anna had called the school, New Falls High, and informed them that Mitch and Rebeca were not going to be attending school Friday or Monday and they both go the school work they needed yesterday. Anna and Thomas were Mitch's legal guardians now. They were going on a plan trip to Germany, a small town that the Pureblood Houses used as a neutral meeting grounds.

It was there that Mitch and Rebeca would present their evidence of Mitch's connection to the previously dead House Valentine. And on Sunday night, in Berlin, about an hour drive away, was a concert featuring Paramore. They were both going and Mitch had a big surprise planned out for Rebeca.

Rebeca looked at Mich, eyes still heavy.
"15 minutes?" She trailed with a mischievous smile. Mitch smiled back but shook his head and started to get up. Rebeca pouted momentary but smiled and followed. They both go up and Rebeca went over to her room to change.

They were going to be spending a couple days over there and both Mitch and Rebeca had packed their things the night before, Mitch was slowly but surely starting to change his sleep schedule back to a day night cycle but it was difficult and slow going. The meeting was scheduled for tomorrow but between the timezone difference and the travel time, we wouldn't get to the cottage they were staying at until the night before the meeting. The car ride to the airport that they were going to had a private plane that they were going to catch already there when they drove up. It was a fairly small plane but it didn't need to be big, only Rebeca, himself, Anna and Thomas, Rebeca's father, were going. It didn't take too long to get though the airport and on to the plane.

They boarded the plan and it was definitely set up for luxury. The seating was comfortable, spacious, had a stocked bar and a small kitchen area, the walls eere a warm cream color and in general it was nice. Rebeca had sat near the cockpit and Mitch took his place beside her.
"Hey angel? Do you know what I might be able to expect?" How many people? Who might be there? What kind of procedures there are?" Mitch asked and she blushed a little when he used her pet name.
"Well... Last time I was at something like this wasn't the best experience," Mitch explained.
"I know hun," He could tell she was recalling that memory. He could feel her guilt and he took her hand in his and squeezed it softly in apology and she squeezed back in acknowledgement.

"Well... Typically the Families do not get together like this on such short notice so... No big shindig I don't think. Every family is required to have a representative though and for this, most likely the heads of the Houses, commonly known as Lords and Ladies. They will probably bring a couple people with them each. Do you know the 5 Houses?" She asked him and Mitch shook his head.
"Well... First is House Bruno, and we tend to be historians, scholar and lore-keepers for our people, at least that is the role we most commonly take and every house has one but there are exceptions and you know Lady Selena. Next is House Crowe, they are famous for their information network known as the Shadow Web, Arial works for that family. Their leader is Lord Maximal and is a fairly elusive individual. After Crowe is House Nicolai, which are based out of Russia and handles any black market or underworld connections we might require and they typically serve as muscle when the other Houses need it. Lord Ivan is a somewhat short, stocky man, bald with ice blue eyes and thick Russian accent. Then there is House Moreii, who have their roots in central and south america for a long time and most Houses go to them if they require a supply of blood, cold or not. Lady Monica serve as the head of House Moreii, I've never met her but she has a nasty reputation. Next is House Genovanni... They are creepy... Lord Geovanni runs his House tight and close to the vest and they tend to... 'keep it in the family' if you know what I mean... They are also the foremost experts in occult matters and our own condition as well as the most knowledgeable of our kind about other Supernaturals," She explained and Mitch's eyes widen and interrupted her.
"Wait... Are you saying there are other... things out there?" Mitch asked, surprise on his face evident.
"Yes but we typically don't deal with them and they won't deal with us," She explained.
"Werewolves and Magi are the most common and most organized," She said and Mitch was silent trying to wrap his head around the fact that Vampires weren't the only supernatural thing around.
"I don't know much about either... but last is House Delacroix, they are artists and artificers without equal," She said.

As the plane ride continued she told him what she knew about the other houses and what little she knew of the other Supernaturals. A few hours into the flight Rebeca and Mitch were both asleep, hand holding and Rebeca using his shoulder and arm as a pillow. The fight would take about eight an a half hours which would make it around 3pm at home but in Germany is was midnight the day of the meeting and with Mitch's messed up sleep schedule, left him wide awake at midnight and Rebeca and her family were tired as hell from jetlag and when they finally go to the cottage an hour later. Anna and Thomas walked in, set their stuff down in the small main room, walked into the main bedroom. Saying night to their daughter and Mitch before passing out. Rebeca did much the same but got her and Mitch's stuff into their room (with Mitch's help) before She also passed out and Mitch smiled and laid down with her for an hour or so before getting up and he notice a number of notes on the main room table one for each of them. He picked up the one addressed to him and read it. It was a formal invitation to the 'Verification, Introduction and Reconizition and re-founding ceremony of House Valentine.'
A mouthful Michel commented and Mitch had agreed. Michel had gone quieter since his rescue of Rebeca and her parents. His presence always felt and Mitch had grown closer to Michel, silently bonding, he found that Michel 'rode along' as Mitch had termed it, more often, both of them enjoyed it. Mitchel had told him it almost felt like living through Mitch and Mitch would feel the invincible, powerful feeling for a time. Recently though, he had been riding long less and less and Mitch didn't have to ask why, he had known, He was hungry but he hadn't fully drank since feeding from Melissa a month ago. He knew he had to hunt, to feed, but he still had his reservations, what if he hurt someone worse than he intended? What if he hurt someone Rebeca knew? What if he didn't find anyone? But his biggest fear was...What would Rebeca think? He had told her that he had fed from Melissa and she hadn't gotten mad but held him close and told him she understood. That he didn't need to starve himself because of what she thought. She had told him this but his fears were still there, had she just been telling him what he wanted to hear and she was hurt terribly when he had fed from Melissa?

He had since called Melissa twice, asking how she and Erin had been getting along and she said they were doing their best to maintain a low profile a few hours from New Falls. Mitch had told her of what he had planned and she expressed her interest in helping him however she and Erin could. He had also told Melissa of his Thrist as well, she told him that his Thirst was less demanding than her or Erin's or anyone she had known but felt more, consuming. Her and Erin could barely go 2 weeks without having to feed. She had also told him that Rebeca would understand if she loved him as much as they both knew she did. She hadn't known that Rebeca had told him that she understood but she still came to her opinion none the less.
"The only one you have to convince is your Man," She had told him. He had repeated her words over and over in his head over the course of the last week.

He looked over the invitation again but noticed a had written note behind the formal invitation. It read: Michel Teir if you find yourself unable to rest the night of the meeting their will be a small gathering of Purebloods who would like to meet you outside the formal setting of the Ceremony this morning. Mitch took his phone out and checked the distance between the cottage and the address of the meeting area and noticed it was only about 15 miles away about a 30 minute jog for Mitch if he used his speed. He shrugged and got his black trenchcoat on and wrote a note to Rebeca telling her where he was going and Mitch left silently. He had momentarily thought about taking the car but decided against it, he wanted a good run. He started to jog at supernatural speed, making sure to avoid anyone else who might have seen him. The edge of the contryside was were the cottage was situated and at the dead of night. It was dead with on one even Mitch's supernaturally sharp senses could detect, even in town, the streets were barren. Mitch approached the entrance to the gathering spot. It was a nigtclub, definitely not what Mitch had expected, he saw a trio of figures off to the side of the main entrance of the club, near the VIP entrance. He could tell immediately, something deep, instinctive and primal told him that they were Purebloods.

Mitch approached them, two men and a woman. One of the men was in a bright green buttoned up shirt with a couple buttons undone towards the top, he had dark blue skinny jeans and looked like he belonged in the club. His short black hair was spiked up, his features slightly Latino? Maybe? The other man was huge, at least 7 feet tall and probably about 300 pounds of not compact muscle in a suit obviously tailored for him, very impressive compared to Mitch's 5'10, 160 lbs. He had darker skin and a big brown beard with thick chin length hair with possibly Mediterranean features? The last figure was a woman with thinish, straight black hair with pale skin that rivaled Mitch's but he could tell her extreme paleness was artificial. She had a black glossy leather trenchcoat, black pants and black T-shirt, Ruby red lips and about 5'6, 140 lbs with features more akin to eastern Europe. The big guy turned away from them and faced Mitch, the other two walked next to him and flanked him.
"The description matches..." The woman trailed with a slightly lyrical tone, looking Mitch over with a critical eye that made him feel uncomfortable.
"For the love of... Are you Michel Teir?" The big guy asked a Russian accent tickling his voice, which matched his size.
"Yes... but please call me Mitch. Did one of you write the note on the back of my invitation?" Mitch asked.
"Yes, I did, we all wanted to meet you and get to know you before the meeting tomorrow. No Rebeca?" The other guy asked with a slight spanish accent, he seemed a little disappointed when he asked about Rebeca and he made a note to ask her if she knew this guy.
"She is sleeping, Jetlag and everything," Mitch told him in explanation.
"You all seem to know my name and i'm very curious if you've been told anything else about me but... What are all of your names?" Mitch asked.
"I'm Jose," The man with the spiked hair said.
"Kastov," The big man said reaching out his hand, Mitch approached slowly.
"Don't worry I don't bite... Just make bad jokes," He said with a smile as they shook hands.
"Terra," The woman said holding out her hand, palm down and Mitch took her hand and bowed down, kissing her hand. And her eyes widen for just a second before he let her hand go and she took it back. She seemed surprise by something... Maybe his manners? but she said nothing.
"Shall we?" Jose said, indicating the VIP entrence. They all walked up to a pair of bouncers who let them all in without comment.

They entered the building and it was fairly dark but with harsh neon lights as the lighting. Jose led them though the building, obviously knowing where he was going and had frequent this place more than a few times as he greeted a few people along the way to the room he lead them too. It was a smallish room but still bigger than what they had needed, a big circle table was in the center of the room with seating and a small bar in the corner, unmanned. The walls were a light brown color, at least 3 of them were, the fourth wall was a huge, wall sized, one-way mirror looking out to the main floor of the nightclub, it was crowded but not exceptionally. Mitch could faintly hear the music on the other side of the mirror, something electronic, with a beat and he found himself bobbing his head to a beat that obviously no one else could hear because when he turned around the others were staring at him and he found himself close to the mirror, only a foot or two away, he hadn't remembered moving up to it.
"Sorry, I have sharp senses," Mitch apologized.
"No problem at all man," Jose said as he walked up to the bar.
"Anyone want anything?" He called out as he started perusing the inventory. Everyone told him something but none of it made any sense to Mitch.
"Any soft drinks?" Mitch asked and Jose turned to him.
"Soda? Sure but you don't want something stronger?" He asked genuinely surprised.
"No, besides, I'm underage," Mitch explained and Jose almost dropped the drink he was making for Terra and Kastov nearly spit out a gulp of beer but managed to swallow it before he started laughing. Mitch caught Terra out of the corner of his eye who smiled but said nothing.
"Seriously?" Jose said, serious.
"Yes, I'm 17,"Mitch said a little annoyed, they all gave him a weird look.
"What? Jose you look around 22, Terra, you don't look a day over 25 and Kastov, you don't look a day over 35," Mitch explained his frustration.
"Did Rebeca tell you that we start aging differently when we start to Drink?" Kastov finally asked after recovering from his laugh. That was when Mitch did indeed remember she had told him that right after she had told him she was a vampire.
"I just remembered," Mitch admitted.
"It's ok," Jose said.
"That rumor was true..." Terra said under her breath, probably not wanting Mitch to hear.
"Ahh... Rumors..." Mitch trailed to everyone but spared Terra a glance and winked so only she saw it and she frowned, Mitch assumed it was because he heard her.
"I'm curious as to what your talking about Terra," Mitch finished with a smile and she frowned more.
"Rumor has it... You hadn't spent much time at all in the company of the Pure aside from Rebeca and her immediate family..." she trailed and Mitch caught something in her eye, a dangerous glint and Mitch didn't understand the reason.
"It is true I haven't spent any time with other... Pure? Is that what you call yourselves?" Mitch asked.
"Yeah... in unformal settings, it rolls off the tongue a little easier than Pureblood sometimes," Jose said.
"Doesn't that sound a little... Pretentious, don't you think?" Mitch asked.
"Some think it does..." Jose answered, stealing a glance at Kastov who was in the middle of a pull of beer.
"And others don't," He finished and gave Terra her drink and set Mitch's down in front of him before going to a hair with a bluish cocktail.

"Any other questions for me?" Mitch asked with a smile and he took a niff of his drink, a habit he had developed when he was younger but his drink smelled different... Mitch stared daggers over to Jose who looked a little guilty under his gaze.
"Something wrong Mitch?" Jose asked and Mitch set his drink down and got up from the table.
"Thank you all for the company but I'll be going now," Mitch said before leaving.
"Wait Mitch," Terra said getting up.
"You ass, I told you he would notice. He heard music from the other side of the mirror," Mitch heard Kastov scold Jose. Mitch heard combat boots behind him and Mitch was halfway down the hall before he turned around and found Terra a bit too close for comfort. Their faces were less than a foot apart and Mitch took an involuntary step back and found his back against a wall.
"I'm sorry Mitch, about Jose, he is an ass sometimes but he didn't mean anything by it, just wanted you to lossen up a little," Terra told him.
"What did he put in my drink?" Mitch asked with a sigh.
"Alcohol I imagine," Terra said also with a sigh.
"If you want to go then ok, I'll lead you out but give us a second chance please?" She asked, taking a step closer, way too close again for Mitch.
"Can you take a step back please?" Mitch asked her. She smiled and her eyes studied him for a moment before tilting her head to the side, her blonde hair was in a ponytail and it had been down before. Her pale neck exposed and Mitch's heart started to race, his fangs extending millimeter by millimeter and he felt Michel start to ride along.
A Beautiful meal... He heard Michel and Mitch pushed him back and forced himself back under control.
"Do I make you feel uncomfortable?" She winked innocently, anything but, did she know what she was doing? Mitch asked himself. He put both of his hands on her shoulders and moved her a step back from him.
"Yes," Mitch said. She narrowed her eyes before nodding.
"My apologies," She said coldly.
"Will you be rejoining us?" She asked.
"Yes, just don't do that again, please," Mitch requested.
"Do what?" She asked.
"You know what," Mitch said and she smiled.
"What? Serve myself up to you like a steak on a silver plate? You won't get in trouble for this will you? I'm great at keeping secrets..." She trailed eyes lidded and she was close again.
"Another rumor... Is you can't feed on normal people, but other Pure... And that you starve yourself... You don't need to starve yourself... Feast," She said and whispered the last part in his ear, her lips inches from his ear. Her voice low and breathing heavy.

Mitch's eyes flashed and Michel was with him again, with lighting speed and a little more force than was necessary he pushed Terra against the wall Mitch just had his back to. Captured her hands with his and held them above her head and quickly with a growl went to her neck and she gasped and stiffened under his hands Mitch was centimeters from her throat, fangs out before leaning to her ear.
"Be careful what you wish for.. You might just get what you want..." He trailed before letting her go and turning around and heading back to the room without a look back but he could hear her breathing, almost panting, though from fear or arousal he wasn't sure and wasn't sure he wanted to know.

When Mitch walked back in, Jose stood up from his seat and faced him.
"Hey man, I'm sorry, I didn't mean anything by it. I'm a prankster and sometimes an ass," He apologized to Mitch.
"Thank you Jose, I understand. I know I come off as serious, maybe too serious but their is a reason," Mitch told him before walking over to the bar and grabbing a bottle of soda.
"Where is Terra?" Kastov asked Mitch and right then she walked into the room, her hair down as it was when he first saw her.
"Right here Kastov, miss me?" She asked but he was silent, looking over at Mitch.

"Anyway... Thank you for your apology Jose. Were their more questions?" Mitch asked and for the next hour they grilled Mitch about him, his condition and his relationship with Rebeca. Mitch answered them honestly for the most part but didn't go into detail about his split soul or feeding habits, but nothing they wouldn't learn from the meeting tomorrow.

"Hey Mitch, do you enjoy dancing?" Jose asked. That was quite a different question than the ones they had been asking before.
"Yeah but not a lot of experience but yes," Mitch answered.
"Why don't we go dance? We've been sitting, talking for the better part of an hour and a half, how about a little movement now huh?" He asked everyone who all nodded or agreed, they all got up and Jose led them to the main dance floor. Music, harsh light and harsher shadows assaulted Mitch's senses. The music seemed to take a hold of Mitch. He wished Rebeca was here and he sent her a text, asking her if she was up, before moving out to the dance floor. He felt weird, like he was 'in his element' but noticed people didn't stare at him like he was used to or if they did it wasn't for the reasons he had been used to. They would either glance over but turn away casually like they didn't even see him, or they would look at him like he was a cool drink of water, or maybe something stronger but Mitch wasn't sure. As he made his way to the dance floor he felt his cell go off. Rebeca told him she couldn't sleep and that she got her note and asked if he was ok. He replied he was and asked if she wanted to go dance and told her where he was. She replied that she would love to dance with him and to give her a little time and she would be there.

He smiled as he deftly dodged the dancing and went over to the bar on the opposite side of the dance floor. A couple younger girls and even a guy asked him to dance with them but he turned them all down. He wasn't used to the attention, he wasn't what he would've described as attractive and he only had one girlfreind before Rebeca so it was a bit weird for him to be getting the looks he was getting. His Change must have changed him more than he thought. He hadn't really noticed when he looked in a mirror but he decided he was going to look the next chance he got.

He made it over to the bar and it was kind of dark, like most of the club but the area was lit up by luminescence bottles, Neon red, yellow, blue and many other colors clashed together in a garish light. He saw Kastov sitting at a table and walked up to him, gesturing if he could sit. The noise would've made it difficult to hold a conversation but Mitch was going to try.
"Thanks," He said, raising his voice just a bit to see if Kastov could hear him.
"No problem," Kastov said in a normal volume voice, figuring that Mitch's sense could pick he voice up and he was correct.
"So... Mitch... What did you do to Terra?" He asked, blunt as hell.
"I did nothing to her," Mitch told him and he gave him a look.
"She came on to me and I rejected her," Mitch explained, which more or less was the truth, he seemed to accepted this and leaned back in his chair, which he noticed was a bit bigger than any other chair Mitch had seen. He nodded over his shoulder and he looked and saw Terra dancing with Jose.
"Be careful with her... She doesn't do anything that she doesn't mean and doesn't do anything unless it advances her agenda or her House's," Kastov told him. So perhaps she was fishing for more information than he was going to tell. That was some pretty extreme measures to get what you wanted or maybe it wasn't that extreme for her, Mitch wouldn't know.
"So... Why do you want to bring back House Valentine from the dead? Literally and figuratively?" He asked, chuckling at his own joke. Mitch thought for a moment.
"I'm not completely sure... That question does not have a simple answer like I wish it was. Partially, so I can give Rebeca the life she wants, or more specifically any life she wants, partially because it feels right... it's hard to describe but I almost feel like my ancestors want to be brought out of obscurity. Partially because I can, I have the power, opportunity and ambition to make it happen. And also... You and the whole meeting is going to find this out today but..." Mitch trailed and took a deep breath, preparing for just about any reaction.
"I can not feed on normal people, humans, I violently reject their blood from my system however, I can feed on Pureblood and I think Kindred have pureblood in their veins and I can feed from them as well. I know that if I was Lord of House Valentine. I stand a better chance of negotiating a sable supply of... nourishment. I do not want to hunt, it will make my life infinitely more difficult than it already is and I don't want to hurt anyone that I don't need to and I'm more likely to do that in a home than out in the streets preying upon Pureblood and Kindred alike," Mitch explained to Kastov. He was quiet for some time before leaning back and thoughtfully drank his beer.
"That's a neat trick," Mitch pointed out.
"Huh?" Kastov asked.
"Your nursing the same beer Jose gave you when we got here," Mitch told him and Kastov smiled and laughed heartily.
"Sharp senses indeed!" He said after laughing. Mitch had been prepared for nearly any reaction to his answers but not for him to simply ask another question and move on.

"I have another question... How do you feel about the Kindred, our servants?" Kastov asked, his eyes dark, peering at Mitch. Mitch in turn met Kastov's stare with his own as he spoke.
"I feel like what was done to them is wrong. They were killed, maybe even murdered by the person who brought them back to life, and they were brought back to life to serve someone as a slave to their Master, to their Thirst, forced upon them, and to eternally battle with themselves over which side controls them. Their dosile, passive side, or agressive destructive side," Mitch answered, his voice was measured but only because he made it so. He had strong feelings about this but he did not know Kastov's position.
"Good to know... How do you feel about feeding?" He asked, moving on again surprising Mitch yet again.
"Why do you just ask, I answer and move on? You don't say anything in the positive or negative to what I say," Mitch asked.
"Because I am not here to judge your intentions or actions, not here and now. I ask to gain knowledge, not to pass judgement," Kastov explained simply and Mitch nodded, surprised by his answer.
"Feeding..." Mitch trailed thinking. When suddenly Kastov smiled, ear to ear before standing up without warning and looking at something behind Mitch.

"MR. DELACROIX!" Mitch heard Rebeca squeal and she ran past Mitch and threw herself into Kastov's arms and chest and he opened his arms to catch her.
"Ah child, how are you?" Kastov asked smiling obviously happy to see her. "Have you been remembering to mix your own spices?" Kastov asked frowning down at her.
"Nope, still using the 'devil's seasoning'!" Rebeca said smiling, Mitch thought Kastov wanted her to feel guilty and she was having none of that.
"What would your mother say!" Kastov asked incredulously.
"She does the same!" Rebeca said still smiling wide.
"Gah! My art is lost on the both of you!" Kastov said exasperated and shaking his head. Mitch stood up and Rebeca finally let Kastov go.
"It's been years," She said smiling up at him and she jumped a little noticing Mitch for the first time.
"Oh honey I'm so sorry," She said and gave Mitch a huge hug which he returned.
"You ok hun?" She asked whispering in his ear.
"I'm fine," Mitch whispered back. She stepped back and Mitch noticed what she was wearing. She had a light amount of make-up on. She had put her thick brown hair in a bun. She also had a dark navy blue tank top over a green T-shirt with a black leather jacket on. She had a dark green skirt on, somewhere between a normal and miniskirt in length. She smiled and blushed a little as she noticed Mitch checking her out, Mitch smiled back at her.
"You look great, very pretty," Mitch complimented her and she grew even reder.
"Come on Mitch, lets dance," She said, taking his hand and leading him to the dance floor.
"Have a nice time you two!" Kastov told them and Rebeca waved a hand as they left. Normally he would've protested a bit, being kind of a shy person and not typically confident in public but that was right out the widow, he really felt in his element and it showed as Mitch started dancing with Rebeca. They were close to each other, moving together to the beat and after a few minutes they slowed down a bit.
"You your ok right?" She asked while they danced.
"Of course, I got an invitation to come over the night before the meeting and they just wanted to get to know me outside a formal setting," Mitch explained.
"I didn't tell them anything that they weren't going to learn at the meeting today," Mitch added after a second.
"That's good. Who else was there other than LORD Kastov Delacroix?" She asked and Mitch's eyes widened in surprise.
"He didn't tell me he was head of his house..." Mitch trialed.
"That jerk..." Rebeca trailed staring daggers at Kastov's direction.
"So... 'Devil seasoning?'" Mitch asked with a smile.
"Oh right... He was my teacher, taught me and my mother how to cook, for such a big guy, he's rather agile and quick. He is my friend, his daughter is my BFF, and his son was a friend as well. My parents also named him my god-father. Also 'devil seasoning' is seasoning salt. He was a huge advocate of creating your own blend of seasoning rather than letting someone else decide that for you, aka buying it at the store," She explained to him.
"Ah... And it's been years since you've seen him?" Mitch asked.
"Yeah... Him, his daughter, my best friend or his son... I kind of cut myself off. You know that I moved from Europe to New Falls when I was just starting freshman year. I haven't really talked to anyone since I moved," She explained.
"Why?" Mitch asked, she looked away.
"Can I get back to you on that please?" She asked, pleading with her eyes to let it go and Mitch nodded.
"Of course hun, I didn't mean to upset you," Mitch apologized. She smiled softly and they stopped dancing and she put a hand on his cheek.
"You didn't. Your perfect... I just don't want to talk about it right now, it's not something I'm proud of and it's somewhat private but I promise I will tell you about it," She told him and Mitch nodded, accepting immediately.
"No problem hun," Mitch said, she still had a hand on his cheek and she was looking at him. He leaned down and kissed her softly and she did the same after they withdrew a few moments later Mitch smiled.
"I keep forgetting how important family is to this world. And I have none," Mitch said, a pang of sadness springing up. She pulled him close and into a hug.
"I'm sorry baby... But you do have a family. You have me, and my mom and dad see you as a son they never had," Rebeca told him and he smiled a little.
"I appreciate that, thank you," Mitch told her feeling a little better.
"So who else was there?" Rebeca asked, changing subjects which Mitch was grateful for and they started dancing again, slowly.
"Well, there was Jose..." Mitch trailed and described him.
"Kinda... Party-going prankster?" Rebeca asked and Mitch nodded, his brow furrowing in confusion.
"You know him?" Mitch asked.
"Jose Manwell of House Moreii," Mitch gave her a questioning look as she started talking and she stopped a moment before explaining.
"If someone is introduced like that they work for the House in question or may be part of the extended family but they aren't a semi-direct descendant. Only they are able to carry the House's last name,"
"Only by reputation," She continued. "He asked my best friend out shortly before I left Valen but she declined him at my bidding. I had heard some not so flattering things about him being a player and not looking for anything serious commitment-wise. Turns out that I was right in the end though and I saved my friend some heartache,"
"Ah... Then there was Terra," and Mitch again described her to Rebeca.
"Do you know her too?"
"Again, only my reputation but that sounds like Terra Geovanni. She and her twin sister Abby will do anything to accomplish their uncle, Lord Genovanni's, will," She explained.
"Hmmm..." Mitch trailed thinking.
"What is wrong hun?" Rebeca asked. They stopped dancing and started making their way back to Kastov.

On the way back Mitch told Rebeca what Jose and Terra had both done. She was fuming by the time they got back to Kastov.
"Looks like Rebeca is going to kill someone," Kastov commented on Rebeca's mood.
"You told her what Jose did didn't you?" Kastov asked Mitch but smiled.
"Where is he?" Rebeca asked with all the subtly of a volcano.
"I believe he left already with a couple females on his arms," Kastov answered, Rebeca growled and sat down in a huff and Mitch sat down next to her. They were all quiet for a minute before Rebeca broke the silence and asked.
"How is Adam?" Her voice sounded casual but Mitch felt a little tension.
"He is well, as well as he can be at least. He really wanted to come with me once he knew you would be here but I needed him to hold down the Fort while I was away," Kastov answered, Mitch noticed Rebeca was a little reliefed when he said that.
"That's good. That he is well, is his swordplay going well as well?" She asked.
"Excellent. He is one of the best swordmasters alive today, even beaten myself a couple times," He said with a hint of pride and Rebeca smiled.
"He's been asking about you... Not just me but his sister too," Kastov trailed, sparing a glance at Mitch, who looked confused, Rebeca looked away, suddenly uncomfortable.
"I'm not surprised... We didn't exactly leave things right... How has he responded to the Rumors?" Rebeca asked. The tension was growing thick and making Mitch uncomfortable.
"Not well..." Kastov sighed. Mitch could tell a lot was going on unsaid, questioned and answered and he got up and Rebeca looked up at him.
"Mitch?" She asked looking up at him and her hand went to his arm. He thought he saw alarm in her eyes but it was gone in a flash, she made to get up but he put a hand on her shoulder.
"It's ok hun, I'll be back, i'm gonna get us a couple drinks. Stay, talk to Kastov. I'll be back," Mitch told her who looked like she was going to protest but she closed her eyes and nodded. Mitch left them both and headed to the bar, making sure he couldn't hear them. He wasn't going to eavesdrop on their conversation, pretty sure he might not actually want to hear what was being said. He decided that he wasn't going to ask Rebeca about it until she was comfortable enough to bring it up her self.

He made his way over to the bar. It had been steadily getting more and more crowded as the night went on. For Mitch it wasn't too hard to not bump into anyone but it was damn near impossible for anyone not supernaturally quick. So Mitch didn't think much of it when a larger frat guy bumped into him and yelled.
"Hey watch it!" Mitch apologized but he felt a hand on his shoulder spin him around and he saw a fist going for his dodged the clumsy strike and made sure he didn't hit anyone else.
"Hey... St-Stop Movin!" He yelled, sluring his speech, obviously drunk.
"Don't do this," Mitch said. The frat guy tried to hit Mitch again only this time Mitch caught his arm, locked it behind the guy's back and with his free hand and a little leverage slammed the Frat's face into an empty table near by and put a little pressure on the locked arm, enough to make him yelp.
"Let this go," Mitch told him and let him go before going to the bar, turning his back on the guy as he slowly picked himself up from the table. Mitch didn't know where that came from, it's not like he had any hand to hand combat training.
Subconscious instinct. That was me. Knowledge past down from blood to blood until the knowledge comes with the Blood Michel explained in his somewhat cryptic way.

Mitch walked up to the bar and flagged a cute 20 something blonde in pigtails, black T-shirt that was a bit too small for her... endowment, with black slacks.
"What can I get for ya?" She asked in a perky voice.
"2 Pepsis please?" Mitch asked, his voice raised over the din of music and people. She nodded in response and a minute later she came back with a couple bottles of soda. Mitch set down a 5.
"Keep the change," Mitch said and she flashed him a white smile before moving on. The 5 had disappeared. A piece of paper now in it's place. Not even Mitch had noticed that little slight of hand and he picked up the paper. It had a name, Cindy, and a phone number and a "Call me" written down. Mitch shook his head. He had gone most of his life not being noticed by most people and now after his Change, he was getting unsolicited phone numbers and 'check out' looks from women and envious looks from other guys. Then again, maybe it was the kind of crowd in this place. Mitch took out his phone and texted Rebeca if he was clear to come back. She responded quickly, saying not yet but soon.

Mitch took a breath, he didn't want to stay at the bar area but he didn't want to dance with a pair of soda bottles in hand.
"Hey Mitch," He heard a familiar female voice and he turned around to see Jane standing there. She had a pair of black couple inch long heels, a sparikily black dress that revealed a little too much skin but she also had a black jacket over it, her hair was done up extra curly.
"Uh... Hi Jene," Was about all Mitch could say, why was she here? Mitch asked himself. An awkward silence filled the void between them.
"I uh..." She took a breath and sighed.
"I wanted to apologize about my behavior towards you and Rebeca... Especially the second to last time we met... It was wrong of me..." She trailed, apparently uncomfortable, she probably wasn't used to apologies.
"Why did you? Act as you did I mean?" Mitch asked her.
"It's a problem that my whole family tends to get... I developed an unhealthy obsession with you. It consumed me and it showed you my worse side. Not who I want to be... Is Rebeca around? I'd like to apologize to both of you," She explained and Mitch nodded.
"Let me text her," Mitch said and got his phone out and he told Rebeca about Jene, Rebeca texted back she would be there shortly. Mitch relayed this back to Jene who smiled.
"Thank you," She replied.
"So... Why are you here?" Mitch asked to make small talk and Jene smiled.
"I'm here for the meeting. A friend of my mom asked my mother to come and she didn't want to leave me and my sister behind," Jene explained and Mitch turned when he felt Rebeca approach and Jene smiled softly at Rebeca.
"Hello Rebeca. I wanted to apologize to the both of you. I had an obsession with you, Mitch, and I could have and did seriously hurt the both of you over it. I am sorry," She said nodding her head. Rebeca looked up at Mitch who nodded his head.
"We accept your apology Jene," Rebeca aid for the both of them.
"That makes me happy, it really does. I hope that eventually we might even be friends one day but I understand that doesn't just happen over night. Besides, the night is long and the day is big ahead of all of us. I will see you both tomorrow," She explained.
"Good night to the both of you," She said before turning around and leaving.

"She does have a point, at least about the time," Rebeca pointed out and Mitch checked his phone, it was nearing 3:30 am, longer than he had planned on being up. Mitch nodded and handed her one of the sodas and they both drank quickly before she took his hand and lead him to the entrance/exit doors. The music and voices dimmed significantly as they left the nightclub and Mitch took a look back and finally noticed the name of the place. The Lair... Kinda terrible name but popular none-the-less apparently. Mitch followed Rebeca out to the parking lot and he smiled before creeping behind Rebeca and turned her around to face him once they got to the car her parents had rented and he pushed her back against the car as his mouth claimed her's hard and she kissed him back with just as much passion. Mitch trailed his fingers down her side, tracing her hips and grabbed her hips and lifted her up and against the car, her legs wrapped around his waist and she arched her back, pressing her chest against him and moaning softly.
"You jerk," She said looking down at him, breathless.
"It's bed time," She complained and yawned a little but still smiled.
"Awww..." He trailed, sliding her down and her feet were on the ground again.
"I know hun... I like it too..." She trailed with a wink, "But still." Mitch nodded and she gave him the keys. Apparently she didn't want to drive and Mitch unlocked her door first before getting in and turning the car on. And they drove home in comfortable silence. When the got back to the cottage, they quietly got inside and to their rooms. Quickly changed out of what they were wearing and into their PJs, both of their backs turned to each other as they un and redressed. They both got into bed and both were asleep within 10 minutes.

Author's note: I've got two more chapters before I'm going to be closing out this story, at least this first draft of the story. I've got a couple ideas about what to do next. Either I'll rewrite this story as a second draft, write a sequel, start working on another story, or starting a new story. I'd like to know what all my current readers think. If you can, just leave a review or PM me. If you like the story, follow or favorite it. If you know someone who would like a story like this, let them know about it. I apologize if you didn't like the long chapters and this one clocks in at over 8,500 words by itself. Have a good day to all of you.

PS. If you were wondering the cover image for this story is of Mitch's eyes before the Change on the left and after his Change on the right.