Ari watched from the shadows across the street as uncle and nephew closed up the shop and headed for their car. She believed that David Rossi knew exactly what had occurred but his nephew seemed oblivious, so she suspected that he would be expecting her to show up at some point, probably sooner rather than later.

She had never suspected that her mate would be a teenager, but if there was one thing she was aware of, was that David Rossi's nephew must have certain traits in order to be so, which most children didn't develop until they were much older if they ever did. She was well aware that she was going to have to wait some years before she completed the bond with him, but she also knew that he had to agree to do so. She couldn't force it on him, because she suspected that David Rossi's wrath would come down on her like a hammer if she did so. She wouldn't force the bond anyway because if it wasn't gone into willingly then Spencer would only come to resent her, no matter how much he loved her at the same time.

Ari shook her head as she watched uncle and nephew get into their car and drive away.

Once the car was out of sight Ari, moved from out of the shadows and begun to walk lost in her own thoughts. There was something strange about David Rossi. She wasn't entirely sure what, but if the rumors were still persisting after more than a few decades, then something was definitely going on. Had this David Rossi somehow found some relic to grant him immortality? They were rumored to exist, but that didn't necessarily mean they did.

No, the more likely explanation was that he was just a species that was very long-lived like vampires. But what species lived over 1000 years, besides her own kind? Ari was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't realize she had arrived at her destination, the hotel she was staying in. It was a five star of course, because she would never stay anywhere else and why should she she had plenty of money from her own investments.

"Welcome back, Miss Westhaven," The doorman greeted her politely, as she was a frequent client. He opened the door for her and she nodded at him politely, before entering the door and finding herself in a lavish lobby.

"Your usual suite is available," the woman behind the reception desk informed her with professional politeness, as Ari was a very valued customer after all.

"Thank you that would be splendid," Ari said with a beaming smile. "I'll be here for longer than I intended due to some unforeseen circumstances."

The woman behind the reception desk reactivated the fingerprints on the suite with efficiency. "Your fingerprints have been reactivated. Please allow the bellhop to handle your luggage and escort you to your suite."

Ari nodded and allowed the bellhop to take her suitcase from her, as she was well familiar with the routine by now. This was the best supernatural hotel in the city, which was why she always stayed here whenever she was in Scotland. You couldn't beat the amenities or the services offered. They were expensive, but that was to be expected considering the services available.

Once in the suite Ari got herself some wine and thought about what to do. Her mate was only a teenager no more than 14 or 15 if she was any judge. It would be at least three or four years before he was a legal adult and she would prefer him to be at least 30 before she turned him into a vampire with his consent of course. She herself was 33, so she was still quite young by vampire standards. Ari sipped her wine relaxing back on the comfortable sofa.

She thought about how best to approach David Rossi who was her mate's uncle. She had a feeling he could be a major stumbling block if she wasn't very careful. She believed...No, she knew that Rossi was aware of what happened in his shop. There had been a certain look in his eyes that told her he knew exactly what had occurred, even if his expression had remained the same and that was neutral.

There had been a real threat in his tone when she had casually mentioned the rumors and Rossi had believed that she was trying to find out what kind of supernatural he was. What this indicated to her was that he was something very, very rare and he didn't want anybody to know what he was, which she couldn't actually blame him for, because the power she had sensed rolling off him was phenomenal. He was much stronger then at least 90% of other supernaturals so she could understand him hiding his power. There were groups out there that would try to convince him to use his power for the wrong reasons, but somebody like that, with such strong convictions and personality would destroy whoever tried. If the magical government found out about his power they would threaten to throw him in prison unless he worked for them and she could tell that Rossi wouldn't take that well. She had no doubt that Rossi would deliver some threats of his own and maybe even kill one of the government agents in cold blood if they persisted. As far as she knew the government didn't have any agents that powerful and they would never be able to control him if he didn't want to be controlled. They would either concede that he was a free agent and able to do what he pleased so long as he was breaking no laws or heads would roll, Ari had no doubt. Rossi seemed like one who only obeyed the law most of the time, but not when somebody was threatening him or his family.

She could actually understand that attitude despite the fact that she was very young for a vampire. Most supernaturals just wanted to live their lives in peace without being threatened by the government that was supposed to protect them just because they had more than ordinary powers. They had their rogues and misfits of course, but most just wanted to be left alone.

She had also sensed that Rossi's nephew was very powerful as well, which would make sense if they shared the same blood. That was no guarantees that a child would inherit power from a family member, but it happened quite frequently, though there had been some surprises over the years.

The damping charm that suppressed magical ability on the cells at the prison would never be able to hold Rossi, as they weren't strong enough. They were meant for those with normal abilities not someone as strong as Rossi or his nephew seemed to be.

Ari knew better than to interfere in David Rossi's life by trying to uncover his secret. If he wanted to reveal what kind of supernatural he was then he would. It would only bring trouble if she tried to find out what kind of supernatural he was, especially considering that his nephew was her mate.

You didn't interfere in a supernatural's life unless you wanted to face the consequences, especially not someone as strong as Rossi was. Supernaturals like Rossi would fight back with every power or weapon in their possession and she knew she would be toast half vampire or not.

Ari simply sat and thought for awhile and made decision on how she was going to handle the situation. She would need to approach David Rossi she knew. Perhaps at his residence, because if her mate was going to be working with his uncle, at least for the summer, then it wasn't a good idea to talk in front of him at least until she and Rossi came to an agreement.

She picked up the phone and dialed the number for a private investigator, that she used occasionally. Once she got him she ordered him to find every single bit of information on David Rossi and his family that he could and to report back to her as soon as possible.

Within days she had everything on the family, which was basically all surface information.

David Stephen Rossi, Ari read.

Age: true age unknown, though rumored to be at least a thousand and that's the minimal guess

Origins: unknown

Married: Liana Rossi, original surname unknown.

Children: four

Other relations: nephew

Lived: previously lived in Shorebarrow, United States. Now lives in Glasgow Scotland.

Type of supernatural: unknown

Occupation: Jeweler

Notes

It is unknown why the subject moved from Shorebarrow to supernatural section of Glasgow Scotland, but it can be speculated, that subject simply needed a change of scenery, as Rossi had been in his previous location for several centuries at least. Shop in Shorebarrow is being run by another man, but once I checked the records, shop is still owned by Rossi family. No other family related to subject is known, so where this nephew comes from is unknowable. Spencer Rossi could simply be an orphan that the family took in, though that is mere speculation, not fact. The nephew is registered as such, but there are ways to do so that don't necessarily involve the law.

Since Ari was well aware of this she nodded to herself. It was quite possible that the Rossis had indeed adopted Spencer, though the reason for now was unknown. It could simply be that one of the Rossis had run into him and they had taken him in, before he could be snatched up by one of the evil people that roamed the streets. If that was the case, she would be grateful forever that the Rossis had done so.

So much about the Rossis was unknown. It was as if the family's history had been deliberately obscured. But the question was why?

She knew she wouldn't discover the answer to question without approaching the source and she intended to do so probably tonight, though she didn't know where he lived. Rossi seemed to be able to lose whoever was tailing him with surprising ease. This told Ari that he had likely been followed before, so had gotten quite good at avoiding tail or perhaps it was just a natural talent.

In any case investigator hadn't been able to tail him very long at all, and Ari suspected that Rossi knew it was her that had hired him, as he was likely incredibly perceptive and he already knew that she was interested in his nephew. Rossi was probably laughing himself silly at avoiding her private investigator, Ari figured. It probably wasn't going to be easy to corner him, so they could talk, but Rossi would have to give in eventually.

Liana Rossi

Age: unknown, but likely not more than late forties.

Origins: Rumors are that she lived on the streets of Shorebarrow, before going legit at 18. Reasons unknown, though there is no parental figure in evidence, past her 13 birthday. Parent(s) were likely killed in some way.

Married: David Stephen Rossi

Children: four

Other relations: nephew

Lived: previously lived in Shorebarrow, United States. Now lives in Glasgow Scotland.

Type of supernatural: unknown for certain, but rumors say that she is a witch, though type unknown.

Profession: owns a shop that sells magical supplies, but mostly has someone else running it.

So a little bit more was known about the wife, Ari thought, taking a sip of her alcoholic beverage

Rossi might be annoyed that she had a private investigator had looked into his past, but he would probably understand why she had done so. Rossi past was very mysterious to say the least and his wife's while less so, was still not very clear. More was known about her, then him but not much.

Something very mysterious was going on here, Ari thought finishing her drink.

Hopefully, Rossi would give her some answers what she finally got him in one spot, but if he didn't then she wouldn't push, as that would likely just make him stubborn and he might not let her anyway near his nephew until he was at least 18. She was going to have to be very, very careful and she knew it.

~~~Dave and Liana~~~

Several weeks later

"You wanted to talk," Dave suggested of the half vampire before him. Dave regarded her his expression neutral.

Ari had finally managed to get him to agree to a meeting and that had taken her over a month to do so. Ari had a feeling that he was playing hard to get on purpose.

"You're a hard man to get a hold of Mr. Rossi. Deliberately I'm sure," Ari said.

Dave didn't answer the accusation simply tilted his head curiously, silent and waiting.

"You know what this is about," Ari said more seriously.

"Why don't you tell me," Dave suggested refusing to give an inch. He did indeed know what this half vampire wanted he still wasn't going to give anything away

"You want to play this type of game, very well," Ari decided, seeing that she wasn't going to get anything out of him. He was obviously going to make her work for her answers. "You are a cautious man, I can respect that."

Dave said nothing just waited patiently.

"I know you realized that day in your jewelry store that your nephew is my mate."

"I did," Dave confirmed immediately. "But he's too young to be the mate of anyone right now. He's very mature for his age certainly, but he is only 14."

"I certainly wasn't going to take him as young as he is," Ai said. "But I would like to keep in contact with him over the next four years or so, until he turns 18. Only you can prevent me from doing so, so I was hoping we could come to some sort of arrangement."

"Spencer has no idea that he's your mate," Dave said calmly. "I have not told him, I wasn't sure if I should. He has enough on his plate right now and is due to start college in little more than a year."

Ari knew that her mate must be really intelligent if he was going to start college at just 16.

"Shouldn't you let him make that decision? As you said he's mature for his age and certainly intelligent enough to think for himself," Ari said. "Don't you think he'd be rather upset at you if you keep such an important secret from him."

"That's something I hadn't considered," Dave admitted looking sheepish, "and I should have. He probably would be rather upset at me for at least not informing him. I have never treated him like a child, because he's always been very mature and I don't need to get into the habit. I suppose I can talk to him and let him make the decision, but if he says no, to getting to know you, you will stay away at least until he's 18, is that understood?"

"Perfectly," Ari promised.
"Alright then," Dave said after studying her for several long, painful seconds. "Don't ever break your word," Dave warned her, his voice suddenly full of menace. "You won't like the consequences if you do. Absolutely no one gets away with harming my family. Spencer's family, he's my son, even if that's not by blood,"

It didn't need to be said that Rossi would track her down and destroy her, if she betrayed his family.

"Understood," Ari agreed, knowing that she had better agree or she wouldn't be able to get near Spencer until he was at least 18. What was even worse was that she was sure that Rossi could end her if she annoyed him too much and would have no trouble doing so. It was very likely he had killed in the past and when he had, had not regretted or felt guilty for doing so. She doubted that he'd killed indiscriminately, but only if it was to protect his life or someone else's so she could see him doing so with no regrets.

"Alright then," Dave decided calmly. "I suppose I don't have a right to keep it from him. All contacts will be with either me or my wife present at least initially. I'll make sure Spencer understands this when I talk to him."

"I will never harm him," Ari mildly protested.

"Probably not," Dave admitted. "But still I'm responsible for him since his parents are dead and he is not yet of age. Call me, old-fashioned if you will. He's only 14 and you are at least thirty, though I know vampires can be much older than they appear."

Ari filed that piece of information away about Spencer's parents. It certainly sounded true, so it probably was. Ari listened to Dave's heartbeat, but it was perfectly calm and he wasn't sweating at all, two signs that he wasn't lying. Either he was the best liar in the world or he was telling the truth, which might explain why Dave was looking after her mate.

"We have an agreement on a conditional basis," Dave said finally, rising from his chair that he had brought from the back of his shop. "Prove you are trustworthy and I'll trust you a little more."

"Trust takes time to build," Ari agreed calmly.

"Yes, it does," Dave agreed with a small, genuine smile. "I'm glad you understand that, because so many people don't. They expect you to trust them automatically, just because they seem like upstanding members of society, which is just foolish. If there's one thing I'm not it's foolish. Here is my phone number and you can call me sometime in the next few days."

Dave gave the half-vampire his phone number and she input it into her cell phone.

"You already have mine," Ari said.

Dave nodded. "Now if you don't mind, my wife is expecting me home. She knew that I was going to meet you and she knows all about her nephew being your mate. Still, she worries about me, so the sooner I get home the better."

Ari wondered what his wife could possibly know that made her worry about her husband, but she knew better and to ask, so she said nothing. Still, it was a clue, but a clue was useless without more to go on.

"I'll talk to Spencer tomorrow," Dave decided. "It's the weekend, an excellent time to have such a conversation, since the store is closed. Weekends are for family."

Ari nodded gratefully seeing that this David Rossi wasn't going to put off talking to his nephew. She was grateful.

Dave simply led Ari out of the store and made sure to lock up and put up the wards, before he headed for home, making sure that he wasn't followed. Apparently, this Arianrhod Westhaven, knew better than to try to follow him, as that was not the way to gain his trust. This was very good in his opinion. He arrived home within 15 minutes and unset the alarm. Liana was already in bed, so he headed for bed after resetting the alarm.

~~~Dave and Liana~~~