CH22

Kate jumped into Irene's living room and saw Irene was surrounded by Alexis and Paige and Irene had a shocked look on her face. "You didn't tell her," Kate surmised.

Alexis shook her head. "One shock at a time mom."

"You must be Irene, I'm Kate and I'm Alexis's mother. It's a pleasure to finally meet you. Paige has nothing but good things to say about you." Kate offered her hand and when Irene finally took it, Kate used it to bring Irene into a hug.

"I should probably get you two home first, you're first sweetie." Kate took hold of Alexis's arm and jumped for home only to jump back a few short seconds later. She was met with the same wide eyed look on Irene's face.

"Say goodbye to your friend, Paige," Kate said.

"I know it's a lot Irene, just talk to her when you find her and let your heart tell you the rest." Paige didn't want to think about them not finding her. Kate took Paige's arm and jumped her next to Alexis.

"Pray she is jumping for home or we may never find her," Kate warned them and felt bad since this was partly her fault. She jumped back for Irene.

"Hi." Kate looked at Irene who was still, barely breathing. "We call it jumping. Essentially I can jump from one location to another anywhere on the planet in an instant. I just need to see where I'm going, either by having already been there before or seeing it in a picture, so long as the picture isn't too old." Fortunately for both of them Hunt had pictures of where Sirene had been living since he had been there when he found her.

"You…" Irene was still in shock. Kate simply smiled. It reminded her of doing this with Paige. "Your friend Paige has done this several times with me," she assured her and stepped in to wrap her arms around Irene. "Better hold on tight. It doesn't hurt but it can be a bit of a shock," she warned her and jumped.

She let go of Irene and let her look around. Irene found herself way up high looking out over a city and seeing their lights. "Where are we?" Irene had no idea. Kate spun her to look in a different direction.

Irene's eyes opened wide. "We're in Seattle?" She could see the Space Needle in the distance. "Sirene lives in Seattle?"

"Actually Sirene lives on an island just a few miles east of Victoria, Canada. We need to wait here for about half an hour," Kate informed her knowing that they needed to wait to make sure the sun was down at Sirene's home.

"You can do this anytime and go anywhere?"

"There are a few limitations, but yeah, pretty much. I haven't been on an airplane for a while now."

Irene was silent for a while as she wandered around the roof of the building they were standing on top of. "You said we?" she asked.

"I only know of three people who can jump. I used to only know of one other, but I didn't even know if he was still alive. His name is Jackson Hunt and you already know the third person."

Irene stopped wandering around and turned to look at her. It wasn't possible was it? "Seriously!?" Irene watched Kate begin to smile. "Sirene can… she knows how to do this?" Irene tried to think back to all their dates and started looking at them with different eyes.

"Can she teach me how to do it?" Irene didn't notice that she had included Sirene into her future so easily. However, Kate noticed. "I don't think so, no. I'm not entirely sure, but likely no." Kate was pretty certain you needed to be a vampire, not a human, and old enough to develop the power.

"Darn." Irene hung her head. "Sirene can take you anywhere you want to go. Stay somewhere else for a weekend instead of staying at home. Go see your favorite team out on a road game. Go see the running of the bulls." Kate immediately thought 'Oops,'since that event likely happened during the day with the sun out. Still Irene could go alone.

"Alexis said she had loved a woman before, do you know who?"

Kate remained silent not sure how to answer that one. "Yes, I know they were deeply in love with each other. Their love was unshakable, neither of them feared what other people thought and had no fear of showing their love for each other." Well, so long as they did it at home.

"What happened?" Irene wondered.

"One of them did something incredibly stupid and shattered both of their hearts. It left them adrift wishing that they could find a way to fix it, but they didn't. Sirene never did find anyone else while the other one did."

"And then I rejected her," Irene understood. Kate walked over to her and wrapped her arms around her. "You got scared and it's understandable. If Sirene didn't have the history that she had neither of us would be here. You two might possibly find your own way back to each other." She held Irene close and prayed they could find and reach Sirene and that she wasn't still on the run. Her old lover needed to be happy again. It had been too long already.

"I screwed up." Irene could see it. Kate pushed Irene away from her just enough to look at her. "No, you didn't. You did what your head told you to do. The trick all of us have, myself included, is listening to what out hearts are telling us."

"I was alone for a long time with a broken heart until I met Castle. My head told me one thing." 'He's a human you idiot!' "While my heart told me another." 'I'm lonely you idiot.'

"I've never been so happy that I listened to my heart and let it do the talking. My head had the fear and my heart told me not to listen and I'm ever so happy that I didn't let my fear rule me."

"I'd still be alone today and not having nearly has much fun as I am now. Your first question to answer for yourself is did you react because of the fear that your head told you? Or did you run because you knew this wasn't who you are and you just wanted a friend?"

"Just remember Irene, Sirene has loved before and knows how to love you too. You just have to not fear what that means for you. You might be surprised to learn that Sirene has her own fears," she informed her. Sirene was a vampire and hundreds of years older that Irene. Talk about the ultimate age difference! One was very experienced in life even if she did look about the same age as Irene, while the other was still learning her place in life.

"Time to go." She looked at her watch.

"Kate…Thank you. I haven't had a mother to help me in a long time." Irene blinked back the tears.

"You're welcome. I'd be happy to add you along with Alexis and Paige. Ready?" She looked down at Irene who nodded her head. And with Irene in her arms they jumped for Sirene's home.

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"Tell me good news," she asked as she entered the room.

"We have several thousand rounds of vampire killers now, more than enough to take out any coven. We also have more than enough C-4 to open 3 holes in any building."

"Excellent!" Finally some good news. She was a lot happier when things went her way. "Now we just need to find their coven."

"We have a thought about that," he offered, knowing that it wasn't his place.

She, however, was willing to listen since it had taken so long. "Show me," she demanded, not willing to listen to something stupid that just wasted her time.

"We've collaborated and worked out where we have looked and found nothing. They are getting into the city somehow, probably by vehicles. We have run them off each time they get close. Likely they have our location pinned down to a small search area. Doing the same to them, we have eliminated this area," he swept his hand over large areas on a map that were outside of the city.

"Too far out means a long drive and they can't risk getting caught out with the sun up; they will die in place leaving them vulnerable as you have taught us. What if they are hiding here in the city, maybe even in Manhattan itself?"

She thought about it for a moment. "Closed and inactive during the day but comes alive at night." She thought about it. Still this was New York City. A lot of places only came to life at night. From Central Park to the warehouse district and beyond.

"Fine, create a circular search pattern centered on Central Park and work your way out. Inform me of any sites that look promising and I'll look them over myself."

"Yes Mistress, immediately." He bowed his respect and didn't notice how brown his nose kept getting.

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"WOW!" Both Kate and Irene spoke at the same time as they arrived in Sirene's living room which was were Hunt took his picture.

Kate looked around and she could almost swear she was back home with Lord Hunt. She was standing in a large open concept log cabin that had the living, dining and kitchen in one large space with a handmade staircase off to one side. It was smaller than home had been, but it certainly had the feel. Hell, even the furniture looked handmade like home.

What Irene saw was a rustic log cabin with lots and lots of wood. Giant wood beams with an open structure roof. Probably 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom on the second floor over the kitchen. Wood walls and wood floors. Even the kitchen had wood.

"It's GORGOUS!" Irene sounded off after a minute, as Kate nodded her head.

"It feels like home when we were younger," Kate mentioned and immediately bit her lower lip, cursing her big mouth.

Irene heard her and spun to face her. "You knew Sirene before this. …How?" Irene thought about it. "You're not old enough to have been together for 10 years. But it was you wasn't it? You're the one whose heart was broken."

"It's complicated and not really my story to tell, but yeah, she broke my heart. Sirene had a reason and while I didn't then and still don't agree with it, her reasoning was sound at the time. It simply cost us our love for each other and caused both of us pain."

"I found Castle and she hasn't yet found anyone to fill her open and broken heart."

"Except for me," Irene said softly.

"Except for you," Kate agreed. "I'm going upstairs." Upstairs she found two bedrooms and a Jack and Jill bathroom. She also found a suitcase that had been dropped and left behind. "So Sirene beat us here. We may have just missed her. Now where did you go, Sirene and when will you be back?" She wasn't willing to think, 'If at all.'

Kate went back downstairs and found Irene wandering around looking at every little thing. "She's been here and left again," she commented on her way down.

"I can stay and wait for her, you don't have to stay."

Kate pulled out her phone. "No cell service," she announced, as Irene also checked her phone.

"I found the washer and dryer so I can wash the clothes I'm wearing. We're both about the same size so I can borrow something from her while they are being dried. I just need food." Irene walked towards the two refrigerators, not understanding why she had two and where was the range?

"IRENE, NO!" Kate yelled just as she opened one of them. She stood there in shock.

Kate jumped next to her and closed the refrigerator door. Irene's mouth hung open and her eyes were open wide. "It's filled with blood. Why would she have a fridge filled with blood?"

When Kate took too long, Irene reached for the second refrigerator only to have Kate stop her from opening it. "Kate?" To Irene being blocked meant there was blood in it, too.

"What the hell Kate! What's with all the blood?"

Kate opened her mouth only to close it again just as fast. "What the hell is going on? What the hell are you two? Vampires?" Irene meant it as a joke.

Kate's silence kept her talking and flying out into left field. "My god! Are all of you vampires? Even Paige? I don't understand. She and I have gone out to dinner together, she eats food not blood. We've been out in the sun together. She has stood up for me, defended me, tried to get me to see things can be better," Irene continued, as she stared at Kate.

"Irene." Kate tried to place her hands on Irene's shoulder. "DON'T. What are you? Oh my god, you jumped us here. I don't even know where I am or how to get back home. Why did we jump to Seattle first?" Irene was sure she was screwed or in this case, bitten.

"You want to turn me into a vampire don't you? My god, I've been so stupid. Paige set me up and I thought she was my friend." Irene was now way past left field and still going.

"IRENE STOP!"

"Paige is human and in love with my daughter. Castle is human and I love him and I'm pretty sure he loves me back. Yes, my daughter, Sirene, and myself are vampires, but we don't attack and suck humans dry. That's why we have refrigerators filled with blood bags."

"We fall in love with whom we please. I would do anything for my daughter, her lover, and Castle. Forget what you saw in movies, that's just Hollywood and is meant to entertain you and make money. That's not who we are."

"Irene, think about it. You've been out on dates with Sirene. Did she at any time try and bite and drain you dry? You've been alone with her haven't you? And she did kiss you, does that sound like something a vampire would do?"

"We're no different from you Irene, we just happen to drink blood to live. You have no idea how much animal blood I've had."

Irene stared at Kate. "Animal blood, seriously?"

"Blood is blood Irene. Any type of blood like AB- or O+, it doesn't matter. Blood is blood. Just like animals have blood. And we don't have to drink a human or animal dry and kill it. I've tasted Castle's blood countless times, he's even nicked himself on purpose for me to taste while we are making love to each other. I have no doubt that my daughter and Paige have done the same. We do it as part of loving the other, not because we need the blood."

"We are not killers, Irene. We're just…different. Come, sit down with me." Kate moved over and sat on the loveseat. "Please sit Irene," she motioned at a chair and waited for Irene to sit down. "Scared?" she asked her since she still looked very wary of her.

"A little. You're supposed to be drinking me dry right now, so that I don't sound the alarm and have you all killed."

"That has always been a problem. Most humans are a lot like you, or the you that was freaking out. There are 22 vampires in my house and they all get along with Paige and Castle easily. I'll admit it wasn't that way at first, but they've learned to trust them over time."

"Sirene isn't any different Irene. You just need to give her a chance. Talk to her and listen to her." She looked at her watch. "We need to leave in about an hour before the sun comes up in New York."

"That's why we stopped in Seattle!" Irene stared at Kate as a light bulb went on over her head.

"Sunlight will fry us to ash in seconds as we scream in pain during those seconds."

"Wood stake to the heart?" Irene queried.

Kate shrugged her shoulders. "Sort of. A piece of wood alone will hurt us and over time we'll recover after we or someone else pulls it out. Pound it though our heart and our body so that it hits ground on the other side and yeah, we die, permanently," she admitted since she needed to tell Irene the truth.

"Garlic, holy water?" Irene inquired.

"What about them?"

'That answered that question,' Irene thought. "Dracula?"

"Hollywood."

"Coffins and sleeping on dirt?" Irene tried another.

"Sirene sleeps upstairs in one of the bedrooms, go look for yourself. Go on, I swear she's not up there in some creepy coffin waiting for you to open it and suck you dry."

It was just minutes before Irene came back downstairs. "That bed was nice. I don't know where she got it but I want one." She was smiling as she came down the stairs, which made Kate chuckle.

"No coffin filled with dirt?"

"No coffin filled with dirt." Irene admitted. "She even has towels, shampoo, moisturizer and other stuff."

"Which tells you what?" She wondered if she had reached Irene yet or was she still creeped out.

"Sirene is a vampire just not a movie vampire."

"Trust me. Paige and Castle had just as much trouble as you are having right now and look where they are now."

"I need to leave soon the sun will be coming up in New York shortly. You still have 3 or 4 hours here. So I have a question..."

"Do I stay or go home with you." Irene got it.

"You have a question to ask yourself. Before you found out that Sirene was a vampire, what did your heart tell you and what did your head tell you and which one are you going to listen to?"

Irene actually didn't want to answer the question. Why couldn't Sirene be a guy? "I'm scared but I'll stay and wait for Sirene to come home. We need to talk. You swear that she won't bite me and bleed me dry?"

"Sirene won't bite you and bleed you dry. In fact if you let her, she'll probably kiss you senseless and maybe teach you what it is to make love to another woman if you want. She certainly knows a few things and has a few tricks that will leave you screaming in pleasure."

"I have to go. Last chance."

Irene shook her head while swallowing her fears. "I'm staying. Just come back to get me." Irene had no idea how to get back if Kate didn't come back to get her.

Kate hugged Irene and brushed her lips over Irene's cheek. "Give her a chance. Good luck." And Kate jumped for home and barely had time to strip off her clothes and jump into bed with Castle's arms around her before the sun came up, killing her and the others.

Irene went outside to look around and didn't see anyone. No people, no other buildings of any kind. "My god she lives out here all alone?" It was then that Irene's heart took a hit.

She found a garage, got a side door open, and found it filled with a work shop. "She made all the furniture. She's a carpenter!" She wandered around and found all kinds of power tools, wood finishes and stains, piles of lumber. Even the attic had lumber waiting to be used. A lot of it looked like it came from some old barn.

She stepped over to a pile of old wood beams that looked like they were 14 x 14 and tried lifting one. "My god, how strong is she?" Irene couldn't even budge it a little bit. "She has no car. How does she come and go and get this stuff in here?" She kept looking around and found that she was in the middle of making…something.

Irene left the garage and walked around the house and finally noticed that all of the windows had big shutters on the outside that looked like they could be locked from the inside.

She was curious so she went back inside to look at them from the inside. Just as she closed the door she found herself with her arm shoved up her back while being pushed against the door. "OW!" She was immediately released.

"Irene! …How...what. How did you get here?" Sirene backed away from her.

Irene turned around and saw Sirene. "Hi, can we talk?"