Chapter Four: Preparations and Planning…

Upon landing in London, Michelle took a moment to touch up her makeup while Ana checked her weapons making sure each were loaded. Once ready, they put on dark sunglasses then stepped off the plane. An armed escort met them on the tarmac with a limo, Michelle paused. She had not ordered anything in advance, this was unexpected. Ana, who was a half a step behind Michelle, leaned in whispering, "I thought we were coming in quiet. This isn't quiet."

"I didn't order it."

"No?"

Michelle heard the soft click of the safety being turned off on the guns Ana carried on her. Confident Ana was ready for whatever this was, Michelle descended the stairs and approached the escort. The man in charge greeted Michelle with a bow.

"My Queen, it is our honor to serve you. My name is Gavril, this is my team."

"I didn't request for your presence. Who ordered you here?" Michelle asked.

"Dinu ordered us in from Rome. He's waiting for you at your hotel," Gavril replied.

Michelle nodded, Dinu was their scout in the area. If he deemed it necessary, it was necessary. She gestured to Gavril to open the door, the man smiled and rushed to do as ordered. Michelle and Ana got into the limo with Gavril and another man. The rest of the escort followed in a second vehicle. They took them directly to their hotel where they went through the backdoor then straight to their room. Their scout, Dinu, was waiting for them alone.

"My Queen, how was your flight?" Dinu asked from a bowed position.

"Uneventful. Why didn't you send word about the team meeting me at the airport?" Michelle asked. The scout remained bowed as he answered.

"It was a last-minute decision due to new intel. I apologize for the surprise my Queen. I think only of your safety."

"Give your report Dinu," Michelle ordered. The scout straightened and nodded.

"The party is being held at Eason Estates; I have the guest list. Bo Liu is not coming but the rest of the vampire council have all arrived. It was the number of vampires each royal brought with them that warranted you having some security with you."

"How many are we looking at?" Ana asked.

"Marcous brought a hundred. Gonzales seventy-five. Shaw a hundred and fifty and Jones has two thousand. The guest list shows over a hundred names. I've also heard they'll have two humans on hand for every guest plus a heated blood pool."

"How big is that estate?" Michelle asked.

"Not large enough to hide those numbers," Dinu replied.

"Do we know the set up?" Ana asked.

"The main house is where the party is being held, it's the neutral zone. The rest of the estate is for the others. Since Jones is the host, it's his people providing security."

"Did you secure the invitations?" Michelle asked.

"Yes, two invitations as requested. There right there on the table. That will get you past the armed guards onto the estate and in the door. After that it's up to you."

"I understand. Thank you, Dinu, for taking extra precautions. We'll move out two hours before dusk. Until then secure the room, no one in or out. I'm going to rest. Oh, those two vampires that I've been looking for. They're here. Find out which royal has been hiding them."

"Yes, my Queen," Dinu replied. He bowed then left.

Once alone, Michelle turned to Ana, she smiled on reflex looking at the beautiful blonde doctor. She pulled off her sunglasses, tossing them onto a nearby table. "Want to lay down for a couple of hours? Tonight's going to be a lot."

"Do I look tired?" Ana asked. She frowned pulling off her own sunglasses tossing them next to Michelle's. Tension radiated off Ana, she wandered the room peeking out the windows while fidgeting. When Michelle didn't respond right away Ana repeated her question.

"No, of course you don't look tired. In fact, I've never seen you look more vibrant and beautiful. My concern is for you. In our years together I have learned that if you don't get at least four hours of sleep you'll get distracted and short tempered. I need you at your best tonight."

Ana sighed and her body relaxed. "I'm sorry Michelle. I don't know what's been wrong with me of late."

"Come," Michelle said as she reached out to Ana. The beautiful blonde doctor took Michelle's hand with a small smile allowing Michelle to take her to bed. There they took off their coats and kicked off their shoes. Ana removed all her weapons, setting them on a nearby dresser. Michelle pulled back the top blanket then gestured for Ana to get in. Ana climbed in laying in the center, Michelle followed lying next to her.

"You're too far away Michelle," Ana protested. She moved until she was pressed up against the other woman, wrapping an arm and leg around the brunette to hold her close. Ana asked, "Is this alright? Are you comfortable?"

"Yes, this is perfect," Michelle replied.

It wasn't long before Michelle felt Ana slip into a deep slumber. In the quiet darkness of the room, she closed her eyes focusing on the rhythmic thump of Ana's heart. She wanted to linger in the moment, but her mind went in several directions. Tonight was long in the making; preparations had been made for years. Radu never let her forget the threats she faced, he never stopped pushing her, never stopped preparing her for what was coming. Tonight was step three. Take care of loose ends and check out the competition before shit hits the fan. Should be simple enough with Ana as her backup.

The blonde doctor moaned in her sleep then nuzzled even closer to Michelle. She could smell Ana, her shampoo, her skin, her breath, and underneath it all, her blood. It was intoxicating. She had to restrain herself from kissing Ana's forehead and licking her skin. Michele loved the way Ana tasted, more and more her desire to lick Ana all over was seeping out in her behavior when they were alone. She always kept her hands to herself and her thoughts secret when they were around others but when they were alone what little barriers were between them fell away. Ana never discouraged her; in fact, it was the opposite. However, they never spoke of it, never acknowledged what was happening between them.

Michelle breathed in Ana's scent; relieved she fed so heavily on the plane as she needed all the help, she could get to resist her persistent urge to drink from Ana. Her blood tasted the best and was the most satisfying but Michelle would not the mistake of weakening her best asset. As they lay there Michelle repeated "We have work tonight. We have work tonight," over and over again trying to keep her desires under control. For a moment Michelle regretted not bringing the Bloodstone with her, it would take away her hunger for a significant amount of time. Then she remembered where she was and what would happen if the relic was stolen from her. No, it was too important to take out of Romania.

Four hours passed; Ana was laying mostly on top of Michelle who was silently meditating to stay in control. Silently going over the plans wasn't enough to keep herself distracted, Ana had wandering hands in her sleep. Michelle kept one eye on the clock on the dresser across the room, counting down until it was time to go.

"Michelle…" Ana said still sound asleep. The blond doctor reached out touching Michelle all over until she found the brunette's breasts. Ana massaged Michelle's breasts as she began to grind against the other woman. Then Michelle felt Ana's lips on her chest and neck.

Michelle froze.

This was new and she liked it, yet she didn't know what to do about it. Michelle stayed frozen while Ana continued to grind on her, grope her and kiss her where she liked it. Michelle's body woke up in a way she thought wasn't possible anymore. She knew hunger as a human and as a vampire, her body introduced her to one more type of hunger. Sex. Michelle had refrained from taking a steady lover but broke down a few years back and had a series of one-night stands. Men, she fucked but did not eat, well, except that last one. It scratched an itch, and she went on with her life. Michelle didn't even think feelings like this were possible for her.

Ana nibbled Michelle's neck, the brunette gasped as the sensation sent shockwaves through her body and directly to her pussy. Ana was torturing Michelle in the most delicious way, reducing the brunette into an incoherent mess. Then guilt seeped in, and Michelle groaned, she couldn't let this happen. Michelle convinced herself Ana was having a sex dream about her husband, and she couldn't take advantage of Ana like that. With a deep sigh and even deeper internal conflict, Michelle gently stopped Ana and disentangled herself, leaving the bed. Ana resisted but remained asleep. Michelle took a deep breath then went to the bathroom, closing the door. She stripped down, turned on the water then got in. Michelle started off with cold water then moved to hot. Nothing helped.

⁕ ⁕ ⁕ ⁕ ⁕ ⁕

Ana awoke alone.

A heavy sense of disappointment washed over her as she found no one next to her. When she slept with Michelle, the beautiful vampire was there when she opened her eyes. This was the first time she hadn't been there. The good feelings from Ana's dreams disappeared before she could catch them leaving her with confused images in the back of her mind and lingering feelings, she wasn't ready for. Trying to shake it all off, Ana got out of bed then went in search of Michelle. There was no note, then Ana heard the shower running. She went to the bathroom door, opened it carefully then peeked in. The shower was made of a large sheet of glass giving an unobstructed view of the woman inside washing her hair with only the steam from the hot water blurring portions of the glass.

This was the third time in all their years together that Ana saw Michelle completely naked. The first time left an indelible impression upon Ana. Until that moment Ana always assumed she was completely straight as her attraction had been toward men, all her relationships were with men. Then six years ago, Michelle stripped down in a field under the light of the full moon. The sight of Michelle's nude form stunned Ana; a deep sexual hunger sprang up inside her confusing her. She had never had any attraction to women before, but Ana couldn't deny that didn't want to just look, she wanted to touch, taste, and explore. The confusing feelings were pushed down and locked away. Ana was terrified of ruining her relationship with Michelle if she told her friend how she was feeling. Ana was even more terrified Michelle would stop feeding off her or stop allowing Ana to occasionally drink from her. She didn't want anything about her relationship with Michelle to change.

Then it happened again three years later. After a particularly fun night out hunting, Michelle returned with her clothes drenched in blood. Michelle was so eager to tell Ana everything right away, she pulled Ana into the bathroom with her. Michelle thought nothing of stripping down, walking around the small space naked before climbing into a steaming hot shower. Struck dumb by how beautiful Michelle was, Ana had a very difficult time maintaining the conversation. Later, the images of water running down Michelle's naked body stayed with Ana for weeks. Intense sexual desires bloomed inside Ana tormenting her, unwilling to confront what that meant Ana instead tried to rid herself of the overwhelming feelings by using Petru. Fucking the feelings away with her husband didn't work this time. Attempts to touch herself in search of relief backfired as well, as thoughts of being intimate with Michelle worked Ana up more. It wasn't enough. Nothing seemed to purge the confusing and demanding desires growing inside her. Eventually Ana convinced herself despite the intensity of her feelings and desires for Michelle, acting upon them would only lead to the ruin of their relationship, something Ana couldn't bear. Ana was certain hoping for anything more with Michelle was futile, that Michelle already loved her as much as she could, and all the affection Michelle showed when they were alone was due to Michelle's vampirism. Ana put on blinders to all of Michelle's behaviors in hopes that her feelings would fade or just go away. It didn't work, Ana's feelings only deepened over time confusing her more and more.

Waking up and finding Michelle in the shower was out of one of Ana's fantasies. She couldn't pull herself away from the door, or from the sight of Michelle's soaped up body. Her eyes lingered on Michelle, and pieces of her dream floated back. Kissing Michelle passionately, touching and kissing every inch of Michelle's body, Michelle between her legs looking up at her. A shiver ran through her, the intense physical reaction was quickly followed by a throbbing need between her legs. Ana was shaken.

A hard knock at the door of the suite startled her. Ana quickly but carefully shut the bathroom door then shouted, "I'll get it!" She hurried to the door and checked the peephole.

Ana opened the door, she said. "Hello Dinu. Is it time already?"

"No, I'm early. I got word of a large accident on our route; the alternate is going to take a little longer. We need to leave soon," Dinu replied.

"Come on in, Michelle's in the shower."

Dinu stepped inside then went to wait in the sitting room. Ana went to the bathroom, knocked then cracked the door announcing. "Dinu's back. He said we need to leave early because of an accident."

"Okay. I'll be right out," Michelle replied.

True to her word Michelle emerged from the bathroom, with dry hair and fully dressed in under ten minutes. The beautiful vampire had taken to dressing in dark colors of the latest styles, power suits in the day, evening gowns at night and dark pants and jackets for travel. The vampires impeccable style inspired Ana to build a better wardrobe but today they were dressed in almost identical outfits. Black jeans, calf high black boots, long sleeve dark shirt with a black jacket. Michelle adjusted her clothes then turned to Dinu and ordered, "Report."

"Three things my Queen. The vampire Ash and Serena have been staying here under Jones protection. It's why we couldn't find them before. They will be attending the party tonight as Jones guest. As Dr. Lazar said, there was a large accident on our original route. We'll have to leave now if we want to keep the original schedule."

"The preparations?"

"Everything is ready and waiting for you."

"Excellent," Michelle replied.

"Let me put all my stuff back on then we can leave." Ana said.

Ten minutes later Dinu was leading the way to the garage where their escort and car waited. Gavril greeted them with a nod of his head then opened the car door for them. All three climbed in. Gavril gestured to the second car then climbed into the main car. They pulled away and were on the road in moments.

"Did you get the rest of the info on whose tickets we're taking? Are they well known here? What's the likely hood of being recognized as frauds?" Ana asked.

Dinu pulled out a file from a briefcase on the seat next to him. He passed the information over to Ana. She flipped it open to find a dossier on two women with full color sketches of what they looked like. "Phoebe Harington and Lottie Brand. At least one is blonde," Ana said.

"The other one?" Michelle asked, leaning over Ana's shoulder to see the file.

"Black hair. Dinu did a good job. From a distance we could pass as these women."

"They're from here but live in Germany. They're both over three centuries old. No one messes with them, and they only come out for the big parties."

"Dinu did a fantastic job!" Michelle said making the man blush.

"I do what I can for my Queen," Dinu replied.

"You'll be our driver in. Just the three of us, right?" Ana asked Michelle who nodded.

"How long is this drive?"

"Seven hours. We'll get there after the witching hour as you requested," Dinu answered.

Michelle nodded then turned her gaze out the window, she still wore her sunglasses despite the tinted windows. Ana kept hers on as well, but this was to hide the fact that she never took her eyes off Michelle. Dinu respectfully kept his eyes directly ahead of him and off the two women with him. They made most of the drive North in relative silence. Michelle seemed lost in what was to come while Ana silently fought with herself conflicted as ever.