Part 7

"So have you dealt with our other guest?" Penelope asked her mate with sarcasm dripping off her tone making Aaron glad that his mate wasn't furious at him.

"Right now he's tied up in the basement and I promise you there's no way he's going to escape," Aaron grinned evilly. "I thought we'd leave him down there for several days with no food or even water and maybe he'll expire naturally and we won't have to do anything, other then bury the body. A human body needs water at the very least in order to not die of dehydration after all. Of course, if he's still alive by the time I go back to check on him in say a week, I'll put an end to him I promise you. Of course, if you want to be there I won't have any objections, but if you want to stay out of it that's fine too, since I know very well what you normally think about killing someone, even if it's very well-deserved."

"I believe I can make an exception for Mr. Egbert Zeller," Penelope said with an evil grin. "Anybody who buys children from their own families deserves whatever they get. I mean the man is what at least 50? And JJ is barely of legal age to get married and not without parental consent. You know very well that kind of situation always infuriates me, so that my normal inhibitions go out the window. I never believed that that I would say that until it happened that first time, just a few years after we had met. Besides, from what I can tell JJ certainly didn't do anything to encourage him, as she seems like just a nice girl that was just trying to survive."

"So did she tell you anything?" Aaron asked unsurprised at his mate's answer, as he had known what her probable reaction would be when they had encountered JJ and her attacker while they were walking the neighborhood.

"Just that her mother died when she was five and that her father basically neglected her. She has had to learn to fend for herself from a very young age and luckily, she was intelligent enough to do that, because I know very well that a lot of females would have simply killed themselves or died from starvation at the very least. JJ was lucky that she has a lot of common sense and probably instinctively knew what to do from a young age. However, I doubt she's had very many homecooked meals since her mother died when she was five and that would be too young to learn how to cook."

"So she either survived on things that didn't need to be cooked, or she probably taught herself to prepare at least simple meals," Aaron said and Penelope nodded in agreement.

"Cooking isn't really that hard, as all it takes is reading the recipe and a lot of common sense, which she seems to have in abundance," Penelope agreed.

"And her intelligence only helped with that," Aaron added and Penelope definitely agreed with that, so she nodded. "Of course, for all we know she might've had a helpful neighbor that fed her at least some meals, but didn't interfere any further in her family life. That's actually probably what happened, because while she's underweight, she's not is severely underweight as she could be."

"That's possible," Aaron admitted thinking about it. "It's possible that some of the family's female neighbors were good friends with her mother before she died and decided that looking after the daughter, even if they had to keep it very low-key was the right thing to do in memory of her mother. I doubt they could do as much as they probably wished they could have if they wanted to avoid the wrath of the father."

"And it's also possible that those ladies husband had no idea what they were doing, because as a general rule men tend to be very unobservant, not all of them, just a great many of them. Of course, that's certainly not true for you, but then you're a vampire and you're over 700 years old, so it's a little different," Penelope added.

"Yes, vampires tend to be observant as a rule if they don't want to get themselves into any sort of trouble," Aaron admitted and Penelope nodded in agreement. "Of course, there is no trouble that I've ever come across and I can't handle, but I'd rather avoid that sort of thing altogether as you well know. For on thing it tends to bring the notice of people that I'd rather remain unaware of my existence or at least that I'm anything more than an ordinary bloke."

"It's possible that some of those women, even taught JJ how to cook simple meals, although how she would've gotten the money for groceries since her father was apparently such a louse is beyond me."

"I'm sure he left the housekeeper money for that, because after all in the neighborhood we were walking they wouldn't be able to afford to eat out all the time, since that can get rather expensive."

"That's true, we both forgot that they did have a housekeeper, so that's likely how JJ survived," Penelope said. "The housekeeper probably also fed JJ on the sly."

"Yeah, but the woman didn't live with them or anything and only came a few days a week to clean the house, but still, it's possible she fixed the food at home and brought it with her when she knew the father wasn't going to be home, as she would know the father's routine better than anybody else, except other members of the family," Aaron said.

"Some of the neighborhood woman and the housekeeper were probably in collusion to make sure that JJ didn't starve at least," Penelope said.

"Well, enough speculating," Aaron finally said. "We'll let JJ tell us in her own time, because even though she seemed really calm when she came along with us I'm sure she's still in shock at what almost happened. We can make educated guesses certainly, simply because both of us are very familiar with human nature and we've probably seen every type of behavior in our years. We might even be mostly right with what we were just discussing, but as I said there's no point of speculating and JJ wouldn't want us talking about it behind her back anyway. We need her to trust us or she'll run off and we might not be up to locate her again.

"You're right," Penelope agreed. "I'm looking forward to having a friend, as I just felt a kinship to her, although I'm certainly not sure why. It's as if we were sisters or perhaps, mother and daughter or even close cousins in another life, even if I don't usually believe in such things as reincarnation."

"Well, once she grows up if she wants to be turned into a vampire I'd be more than willing," Aaron mentioned, "but that's for the future."

"That's not a bad idea, but you're right that's for the future, as right now we just need to work on gaining her trust and make sure she knows we'll always be there for her," agreed Penelope.

"So while our guest is sleeping and our prisoner has no chance of escaping why don't we head upstairs?" Aaron suggested with a leer that was only half playful.

"You're wish is my command," Penelope immediately agreed. "We have hours before JJ wakes and Mr. Zeller doesn't matter, since he'll soon be very dead. You know that normally I'm against murder, but in this case it's well deserved, because we both know that it is likely he's done something similar before. I suspect that JJ and I will be busy all day tomorrow getting her everything she needs and we might want to spread that out into a week, as she needs absolutely everything. Shopping all day certainly won't tire me out, however, it will tire her."

"How are you going to explain that you're buying so much?" Aaron asked.

"Well, I was thinking that the luggage could have been lost when she came by train, as that happens all the time, so all she had was the clothes on her back," Penelope explained. "Or perhaps, the things she brought with her weren't considered suitable for her new station and so we're buying her all new things. Either story would work, although we need to consult JJ, before we start bandying either about since she deserves to be in on the decision. It will likely shock her that we are asking for her opinion, as I'm sure she's not used to being asked. Also I think it's best that it's your brother that died so she can be Jennifer Hotchner, instead of Jennifer Garcia. Once I take her to get her hair cut and maybe a few other things, like her nails done, she will be unrecognizable from who she is now. Believe me, new clothes, new hairdo, gain a few pounds and nobody will know who she is, if she just happens to run into somebody that she knew before. Of course, she also needs a totally different attitude, and not act so afraid of her own shadow, but I think that will come in time the longer she hangs around with us," Penelope said.

"Yes, she likely just needs some positive influences on her life, because those women who likely at least kept her fed could only do so much," Aaron agreed. "She hasn't had a positive, strong female role model ever since her mother died when she was five, as I'm sure her father didn't allow her to go out to often, except to school since that's a legal requirement."

"But she wouldn't have dared talk about her situation, because it would likely be viewed, as her, just telling lies to gain attention," Penelope said and Aaron nodded grimly.

"Unfortunately, a lot of times the man is believed over the females, so going to the authorities would likely only give her a bad reputation or telling someone like the teachers. Women are still seen as second class citizens in a lot of cases, even if things are getting better," Aaron agreed. "I believe that JJ is smart enough to know how people would probably react if she told anybody of her father's neglect and so she said nothing. It was probably the smart decision, but I certainly feel sorry for a young girl who had done nothing, to make her own father apparently hate her at least after her mother's death, although it's very possible that he didn't much like her before because he wanted a son."

"And that dislike turned into hate once the mother had died," Penelope said, "because now there was no wife to give him a son. If that's the case, the depth of human stupidity still astonishes me after all this time."

"Yeah, it's a very stupid reason for treating your daughter so badly, which unfortunately, happens way too often," Aaron said by way of agreement.

"Tell me about it," Penelope practically growled. "I knew I had a pretty privileged childhood, but still it makes me mad at the way a lot of men treat women, even over a hundred years later."

"Things have already changed a lot and will continue to change for centuries to come, we just have to be patient," Aaron soothed his mate, although he realized he had a very unique point of view, but then so did every vampire that was at least 100 years old. "Unfortunately, humans are an imperfect species, but then so are vampires and I have no doubt that this kind of behavior will continue for as long as the human race exists as it will never be stomped out completely."

"In any case, I think it's time we head upstairs," Penelope suggested and Aaron nodded eagerly.

"I'll meet you of there once I am sure we're locked down for the night," Aaron promised her silkily, causing Penelope to giggle and have a very hormonal reaction, down in her vagina.

"I can hardly wait," Penelope said eagerly, as she headed for the stairs.

"I'll expect you to have the bed turned down and to be laying totally naked when I arrive," Aaron told her his voice a sexy growl.

"Yes, sir," Penelope said giggling, as she raced upstairs, causing Aaron to smirk, as he knew he would be obeyed exactly and he was looking forward to making love to his gorgeous mate, but then he always did.

~~~Aaron and Penelope~~~

"This is wonderful, so soft," JJ made as she fingered the soft material.

She had been fed excellent breakfast much more than she usually ate at one time, mostly because of the fact that, the neighbors had to feed her in secret, so they didn't earn the wrath of her father. Her father had never thought about her as out of sight was definitely out of mind and she seriously doubted that he had ever thought about how she was keeping herself alive. She knew that he ate out mostly and likely never even thought about the fact that she needed to be fed to and if it hadn't been for some of her neighbors that were friends of her mother's before her death she probably would've starved to death years ago. Of course, the housekeeper Gertrude had helped out a lot to when she had realized how bad her home situation was, but she also had to be very careful, because her father likely would've fired her in an instant if it was discovered that she was feeding his daughter behind his back. Hell, half the time he hadn't even remembered to give the housekeeper money in order to take her shopping for new clothes since children did grow after all. JJ was well aware that the reason her father had done so was mostly to keep up appearances so that she didn't go round dressed in things too small for her, as he had an image to maintain after all.

JJ tried her best to stop thinking of her father as that part of her life was now over.

"This color will look wonderful on you," Penelope said. "Why don't you go try it on and I can tighten up the waistline if it's a little too big, which won't take me more than a few minutes."

"Oh, no, I could never wear something this nice," JJ protested quietly.

"Yes, you can, as you now are going to be a totally different person from what you were before," Penelope told her, her voice stern. "You must develop a new attitude to go along with your knew looks so that people that knew you before won't recognize you from your posture, even if that's not too likely. Still, I won't allow you to remain the shy girl who doesn't know what she wants in life as that will allow people to take advantage of you easier, because you'll come across as naïve and that's just the recipe for all the conmen to come out of the woodwork. You must have confidence in yourself and your abilities, even if I know most men don't go for that type of thing. I'll help you grow into the woman you should already be becoming if not for people holding you back, like your father. This is the 1850s after all and women for the most part are no longer treated like second-class citizens although they still a lot of that going around I'll admit. Still, if you ever get married I'm sure you'll find yourself a nice modern man, someone who will love you no matter what just as Aaron loves me. I'm no longer the same naïve young woman I was back when Aaron rescued me from dying of smallpox. I've done a lot of things over the years that are not considered appropriate for a woman to have done, but Aaron didn't scold me about it, because he said that a vampire's life can be very boring if they don't try new things, whether or not they're appropriate for their supposed sex. Aaron really is pretty modern in most ways, although he's certainly old-fashioned in others, but I love it, as he treats me as an absolute equal in all things."

"It sounds wonderful," JJ said wistfully

"It is," Penelope promised. "I'm not saying that Aaron and I haven't had a few arguments, as it's impossible to get along all the time, but we make up afterwards and have a better understanding of each other. Of course, now that we've been together for over 100 years we hardly ever argue at all like we did in the beginning where I had to learn to trust that he always had my best interest at heart and that kind of thing takes time to develop. Now I want to see you go to the dressing room and try that on and no arguing with me Miss Jennifer."

"Alright," JJ sighed giving in, as she knew she wouldn't win anyway.

"I'll make sure you look good and we'll be buying a lot of clothes in the near future not to mention other things, as you need an entire new wardrobe. Things that are appropriate for your new station, and that is as the niece of Aaron Hotchner, a rich businessman that earned his money honestly. Appearances are important and you can't go back to who you were before as that reflects back on Aaron, not that he cares one way or the other but still..." Penelope told her softly. "Aaron and I have already made ourselves known to high society, even though we just moved here last year, so we have an image to maintain."

"And now that I'm living with you I have an image to maintain to," JJ sighed in understanding.

"Sorry, that's just the way it is," Penelope shrugged.

JJ took the fine dress that Penelope had picked out for her and admitted that it was a beautiful garment, but it was just something she had never considered seeing herself in before. It had been explained to her that it was partly how she saw herself, was why she preferred a more simple things, as she didn't see herself, as the beautiful almost grown woman she was, one who would be garnering the attention of numerous men in a few years.

JJ disappeared into the dressing room with Penelope's earlier words ringing in ears.

It is due to your upbringing that you don't see how beautiful you really are and you'll be quite the looker once you have finished growing up. Having a stable female or male figure in your life will help turn you into the beautiful woman you will become. Someone who has confidence in herself and her abilities and who will make an excellent housewife if that's what she wants. Some men might prefer a female that doesn't seem to have much intelligence or at the least is all wishy-washy, someone who won't argue with them in other words, but things are changing rapidly and some men want a woman who is confident in herself and yet is still decidedly female and knows it.

Nobody had ever told her things like that before, but then she also realized that her mother's friends probably hadn't considered it appropriate, even if it had occurred to them. Vampires however, apparently saw things from a different perspective, but considering how old most of them were this was not surprising, because out of everybody on the face of the earth vampires saw how humans had changed from what they had been like centuries ago.

JJ managed to get into the dress with no help, as luckily, it wasn't one of those complicated rigs, that were mostly only worn to parties and special occasions, which was a good thing as far she was concerned.

JJ emerged from the dressing room and Penelope studied her. "You look really spectacular in that, so we'll be buying it. Now go try this on," Penelope ordered handing her another dress.

JJ didn't bother to protest knowing that it would do no good and so she headed back to the dressing room without a word.

~~~Aaron and Penelope~~~

"So JJ protested when you wanted to buy her so many nice things," Aaron chuckled, as soon as Penelope told him how their shopping trip had gone.

"Yeah, but she stopped protesting when I insisted, although I could tell that she thought she didn't need so many nice things. Of course, we both know that's her childhood upbringing, one where her father basically ignored her existence has a lot to do with that type of attitude. I told her that she was Jennifer Hotchner now and she had to dress the part, as we have an image to maintain. Yes, neither one of us really cares about that, but other people do and it's just easier for us to act a certain way in public then to cause people to gossip maliciously. I think JJ understands that better now, once I explained it to her, because she really hasn't been educated in how a person of high society are supposed to act, then again we were in a middle class neighborhood the night we rescued her, so that's not surprising. I believe that JJ truly thinks she doesn't deserve to have so much money spent on her, since what we bought wasn't exactly cheap, as it's all silks, linen and satin, which are expensive materials. We know who is most responsible for that attitude and hopefully, we can both encourage her until wearing nice things is second nature. We can hope, that attitude isn't too deeply entrenched into her personality."

"Well, hopefully, once she's been with us for a few years she'll come to realize that she does deserve all the things you bought her and more. She deserves to find a husband that thinks the moon rises and sets on her and have as many children as she wants. However, as I said earlier if she decides she wants to be transformed into a vampire than I'm willing. I would prefer her to be at least late 20s early 30s before that happens, because you're prevented from doing a lot of things if you look too young. Well, not unless you reveal that you're a vampire and that's often not a good idea, since so many humans hate our kind. Besides, by that point your face as well as your emotions have matured."

"That's very true," Penelope conceded. "At least I was close to thirty when I came down with smallpox and you saved my life."

"But I would've changed you, even if you had been only been 18 or 20, but I'm certainly glad that you at least look close to me in age," Aaron said. "For JJ though I won't change her until she's at least 30 unless she comes down with some kind of deadly disease like you did, though I certainly hope she's at least in her late 20s if that occurs."

"Well there's no point of worrying about it right now," Penelope said. "JJ and I have several days of shopping ahead of us, but she certainly has enough to get her started, although we are a long way away from getting her a full wardrobe. By the time we're done she's probably going to have more clothes and she's ever possessed at one time before. If I have my way I'm going to train her how to put a stylish wardrobe together, so that she can develop her own style, a style that will turn men's heads."

Aaron actually chuckled at that. "If anybody can do it you can, as you've always possessed a rather unique sense of style. Besides, you're right that JJ is a very pretty girl we just need to bring that beauty to the forefront."

"Well, I certainly have my work cut out for me as the father of barely remembered to leave money for the housekeeper to help her buy clothes when she outgrew her old ones. I believe the only reason he did so was that he didn't need JJ attracting attention by being too shabbily dressed, as she had school at least. Not to mention the neighbors would have talked and that would have ruined his reputation," Penelope said with contempt dripping off her words.

In that statement Aaron could hear the contempt that his mate had for JJ's father and he couldn't really blame her for that at all, since he felt the same.

"Don't worry we will be dealing with her father, although we'll have to make it look like an accident, as we don't want to upset JJ," Aaron promised. "I think you can wait a few months though, as that way the rumors of JJ's disappearance will have a chance die down. Then if the father disappears it will just be assumed that maybe he left town, as people will probably figure that he couldn't bear to live in the house where his daughter disappeared. Of course, we both know that the father is a bastard, but he probably has most of his neighbors fooled, at least those that don't pay attention to how he treats his daughter."

"That will probably work," Penelope mused, as she had learned a lot about the way the world worked in the last hundred some years

"Even if someone gets suspicious we'll make sure that there is no way it can to be traced back to us, as we're always careful you know that," Aaron promised.

"I also think it's a good idea if we start calling JJ, Jennifer or maybe Jenny, because it would be rather unusual for two girls to have the same nickname, even if no one ever makes the connection. I would think we need to do that it at least until we move elsewhere, in a few years of course, as we don't want it to seem that we were the culprits of Zeller's death or JJ father's by moving too soon. We only moved here last year, so I would say we need to stay at least another three or four years and by that time JJ will be over 18," Penelope said.

"That's not a bad idea, although we don't usually move on so soon that doesn't mean we can't," Aaron said thinking about it. "We can always tell people who are curious that there has been some kind of great tragedy in our family and we need to go and be with the rest of them."

"Or perhaps, you can get some kind of high paying job in another city and of course, you're not going to pass up the opportunity," Penelope suggested.

"That's not a bad idea and it would be a more plausible explanation, as people move all the time if they get better jobs in a different city," Aaron said.

The two of them fell silent and simply sat there for a little while cuddle together, Penelope with her head on Aaron's broad shoulder and with Aaron's arm around her rather ample waist, because she was much bigger boned than a lot of other women.

Penelope really liked the fact that Aaron always listened attentively to her ideas and sometimes even put them into practice, so it truly was an equal partnership. Now they had to add JJ to their already smooth dynamics, but both were willing to do that, it would just take time that was all, time that they had plenty of.

Finally the two headed upstairs to make love before JJ awoke.

~~~Aaron and Penelope~~~

"I think it's time we deal with our prisoner," Aaron suggested one day a week later. "He's been down in the cellar for a week now with no food or water all tied up, if he's still alive it will be a miracle, because the human body needs water on a regular basis at least."

"And he hasn't had any in a week," Penelope finished, looking rather satisfied at that, although normally that was pretty unlike her, but then she had taken a liking to JJ and Aaron couldn't blame his wife for that, as she was very sweet girl despite all she had been through in the last ten years.

"Yeah, and we haven't heard a peep out of him, but that's only because I gagged him before I came back upstairs and with part of his own shirt," Aaron smirked.

"That was smart, as that way he can't yell and possibly be heard, which means JJ won't get curious and go to investigate," Penelope said.

"I doubt that JJ has really forgotten about Mr. Zeller, but out of sight, is out of mind," said Aaron.

"Yeah, she's such a gentle soul, but then so am I for the most part," Penelope agreed. "I never imagined that I could actually enjoy watching someone else in pain and then put them to death so callously, but when I know it's well deserved..."

"You have no problem watching somebody squirm," Aaron finished.

"More or less, although I have to admit that part of my personality still makes me rather uncomfortable," Penelope said knowing by now that she could tell Aaron anything and he wouldn't think less of her.

"And it should, because the minute you start to enjoy it is the minute you should stop doing it entirely. I might take a certain amount of malicious satisfaction at putting an end to someone that has done nothing but hurt others, but it still, makes me feel guilty, like I'm taking somebody's life into my own hand and that's the way it should be. If you fail to feel guilty about what you did no matter what that person has done, then..."

"You're losing your humanity, because you're taking too much enjoyment in someone else's agony," Penelope finished.

"Everybody has more then one part to their personality, and if you had remained human I doubt very much that the part that craves justice, for wrongs done would ever have emerged. You have to remember that we have to change ourselves at least a little every time we take on a different role and move someplace new. Those new portions of our personality are still part of us and always were, we've just learned how to bring them out when we need them. Really a vampire changes things about themselves constantly, whatever is appropriate for the time. Also we're always learning new things, which only helps us improve. We can only truly be ourselves completely with others of our kind."

"So you're saying that the different ways we act were always part of our personalities, but we've just learned to bring them to the forefront when we need them," Penelope said.

"Exactly," Aaron agreed. "Trust me, I'd tell you if you were starting to become someone who is hard, cold and uncaring about others and not the same as they were before and I know that you'd do the same for me. That you still care about the fact that you're about to cause Mr. Egbert Zeller unbearable agony just tells me that you're still the loving, compassionate, gentle woman that I love so much."

"Let's get started then," Penelope said settling down, now that Aaron had assuaged her fears about being so violent on occasion was changing her for the worse. She now understood that some people, just didn't deserve to live and Mr. Zeller was definitely one of them.

The two of them rose as one and since they had not bothered to get undressed both headed for the door of the cellar, without a word, on a mission.

"Shall we go deal with this irritation permanently, my lady?" Aaron asked his mate solicitously, as they arrived at the cellar door.

"Yes, kind sir, we shall," Penelope answered. "I'll never understand how somebody can sell their daughter to people like Zeller, or how people like Zeller can be like they are and buy a young girl from her father like some kind of product."

"Humans are a messed up species that's all," Aaron shrugged.

"I suppose so," Penelope agreed, as she entered the cellar while her mate held the door open for her, like the gentleman he was.

She had no trouble seeing in the near dark, as the light from the doorway provided plenty of light for her to see, thanks to her vampire eyesight, plus there was also a small window to high up for Zeller to get to, even if he had been free to do so. Even if he had managed to reach it, it was much too small for him to wiggle through.

Aaron strode over to where Zeller was tied up and leaning against one of the walls and kicked him lightly.

"Well, believe it or not he's still alive, kitten," Aaron told his mate. "He must have a pretty strong constitution, because although his heartbeat is considerably weaker than it was and he's lost a great deal of weight in the last week he's not dead yet. He is dehydrated, but then we expected that."

"Yes, I can smell where he went to the bathroom all over himself multiple times from here," Penelope grimaced.

"Well, it's not like we let him out to use the toilet," Aaron said, although he agreed that Zeller did stink to high heaven, especially to a vampire's sensitive nose.

"Please, water!" came a weak voice. "Please, have mercy!"

"Why?" Aaron asked the man dispassionately casually kicking him from when he was slumped against the wall. "You certainly didn't have any compassion for a young woman who has done nothing to you. You probably just saw her and started lusting after her and when you found out that her father wanted to get rid of you offered to buy her, like she was some kind of cigar. I'm well aware that such things like slavery or human beings buying others goes on all the time, particularly in third world countries, but usually it doesn't happen when we are anywhere nearby so you just happened to be rather unlucky."

"I wouldn't be surprised if he's done something similar before and that nobody has caught on, as people like JJ really aren't that important in the grand scheme of things. It's really easy to dispose of a body if you know what you're doing and the other girls were likely from poor families, as they tend not to be missed by most of the population," Penelope suggested. "I wouldn't be surprised if he's done it at least a few times before now."

"Probably," Aaron agreed looking down at Zeller dispassionately. "Or he might own a whore house and JJ was just his latest acquisition, as a lot of men go for those who are fresh and innocent. However, lets get it done, as I think we have better things to do," Aaron suggested to his mate.

"Yes, let's not waste too much time on Mr. Zeller here," Penelope agreed, as she knew exactly what her mate was suggesting.

"Please! I'll give you anything you want! Please let me go!" Zeller pleaded.

"You haven't given us any reason why we should do so," Penelope pointed out with an evil grin. "Unfortunately, for you we're unbribable, as even if we didn't already have plenty of money, there are just some things that are not only ethically wrong, but morally wrong and what you were going to do to a young 15 year old girl was one of them. Unfortunately, for you, you found two people that are completely honest at least when it comes to this particular type of situation, as there is nothing you can offer us that would get us to let you go. Both of us realize that there are plenty of different crimes in the world, larceny, murder, rape, treason, thievery and hundreds more both minor and more serious, but this is just one type of crime we can't just ignore. Isn't that right, love?" Penelope asked her husband.

"Oh absolutely, sweetie," Aaron told his mate with an evil grin, listening as Zeller's heart started beating even more frantically than before and considering his weakened condition, due to dehydration and also lack of food for a week, that was definitely not good for him. Also he hadn't been released from the bonds that Aaron had him in and while a vampire could get out of the ropes with which, Zeller was bound easily, likely tearing them to shreds, Zeller was completely human and so could not. His circulation had been cut off as well and Aaron doubted that Zeller had any feeling in his feet or his hands, as both were bound very tightly. Oh, well, it didn't matter as Egbert Zeller would soon join the fishes in the nearby Hudson River and Aaron doubted his body would ever be identified.

"What do you say, that we simply dump him in the Hudson River, with heavy rocks tied around his ankles and his waist?" Penelope suggested with an evil grin.

"You mean to leave him alive and then dump him into the river to drown, with no possibility of rescue?" Aaron asked intrigued.

"Exactly," Penelope said. "I've heard that death by drowning is extremely agonizing, even if it only takes a few minutes. Of course, I'm not saying that you can't play with him a little first, break a few of his bones, but leave him alive in the end."

"That's an absolutely fine idea," Aaron said smiling at his mate and Penelope knew she would be rewarded at a later date, which was fine with her.

Normally she would never have suggested that they leave Zeller alive after breaking a few of his bones, as normally she was a very gentle soul, but considering the crimes they suspected him of, it was more than deserved, as both she and Aaron were very fond of JJ, even if she'd only been staying with them for a week. People like Zeller didn't deserve to continue to exist, because if what she and Aaron suspected was true he was guilty of multiple crimes. She wouldn't be surprised for instance if he owned and operated a whore house or even several as some people she had learned in the last century were just depraved. Unfortunately, a lot of men got off with raping children, and although there were a lot of those on the street they weren't exactly very healthy for the most part, as living on the street in all types of weather, with very little if any healthy food was an extremely hard life and children as well as adults died on them every day.

Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on who you were JJ was really pretty, despite the fact that she was way too thin from not getting regular meals. However, that could be corrected with plenty of good food and she was already well on her way to doing that.

"Why don't you get started on that while I go upstairs to check on JJ make sure she's still sleeping peacefully," Penelope suggested. "Just remember that we want him still alive at the end."

"Yes, ma'am," Aaron answered with a grin, knowing that his mate didn't want to be present for this part and he couldn't really blame her, for she wasn't normally one for violence, because she was such a gentle soul. She could understand that sometimes violence was necessary, but that didn't mean she wanted to be present for it or actually participate in it at least for the most part. Of course, there had been exceptions, but this was not one of those times.

"Don't take too long as JJ will be awake in just a few hours and we want to have this done before that occurs," Penelope added, as she headed for the stairs.

"Well, Mr. Zeller you're mine now and believe me, what's been done to you for the last week is nothing to what I'm going to do to you now," was the last thing that Penelope heard her mate say before she was to far away, as he was talking pretty quietly. Aaron was well aware that vampires had excellent hearing, much better than even a dog's. Really she could imagine Aaron's evil grin without actually having to see it quite easily.

Aaron was always thoughtful and he didn't want her to be disturbed by what he was about to do, because even though she was consciously aware of what was happening that didn't mean that she really wanted to hear what was about to occur or witness it for herself, which luckily, her husband could definitely understand.

~~~Aaron and Penelope~~~