Rachel dithered over whether to bring up relocation to America, but since they had a long ride ahead of them, she plowed forward. “Clarisse, I have a question for you. After this war with the Hunters is finished, would you consider coming to America with us?”

Clarisse listened and then looked thoughtful, as she obviously was thinking about Rachel’s proposal. “I will not say yes or no right now, Rachel. I am torn of course. I want to stay with you and found a safe haven and spend much time together. But, I do not know if America is the place to do that. For that matter, I do not know if England or France is, either.”

“Why do you feel that any of those three is not a good place, Clarisse?” Rachel was honestly curious and couldn’t imagine someone not loving any or all of the three named countries.

Clarisse looked uncomfortable and didn’t seem sure how to respond. Maria sent a feeling of understanding and puzzled Rachel as well, though she didn’t comment.

Finally she answered, but seemed hesitant as if she was afraid of offending Rachel. “Rachel, my dear friend, please take no offense to what I say. The western democracies are full of good intentions, but I feel that they are all destined to fail eventually. Democracy works for a time, but eventually this will devolve into bankrupt nations and mob rule, then dictatorship.”

Rachel gaped at the woman, and felt even worse when Maria silently agreed with her. “Clarisse, I… I can’t agree with you there. America, especially, is a good example of what a nation should strive to be! France is not that different. And they are Republics, not Democracies, in reality.”

“Rachel I do not wish to argue politics with you! That is a sure route to disharmony and bad feelings! I will just say that both countries are becoming more a democracy and less a republic as time goes by. Look at your state of California, where the people often vote in these Propositions. It is often in the news. The state teeters on the edge of bankruptcy every year, partially due to this!”

Rachel nodded, conceding the point. “Look, I know that you and Maria both are Monarchists, for lack of a better term?”

Clarisse nodded and Maria took this opportunity to chime in. “Very much so, Rachel. Humans need strong leadership to prosper, not this counting of noses and letting the whim of mobs rule the country!” She shuddered at the very prospect.

“But strong leaders lead to things like World War Two, not-“

Clarisse interrupted her. “Stalin, Hitler, and even Franco were not leaders, Rachel! They were despots! There is a huge difference there. I will admit that a Republic is a grand notion and in the United States and France it has worked reasonably well for over two hundred years, more or less. But I do not see it lasting.”

Rachel pondered her answer while Maria spoke again. “Clarisse and I are perhaps products of our time; I know that you are thinking that, Rachel! But, I think that we both would agree that a wise leader who looks to the future and always keeps the health, safety, and happiness of his or her people foremost would trump a democracy, where the whims of the majority trample the minority.”

Clarisse nodded emphatically in agreement. Rachel thought privately that she was dealing with two nobles who just couldn’t identify with the dreams and hopes of the common man. Unfortunately, this was picked up by Maria.

“‘Dreams and hopes of the common man’? Bah! Rachel, please do not insult my intelligence, dear. I have lived high and low, and we know that Clarisse has, as well. With age comes wisdom, yes? Well, think about how old we both are and how much we have seen.”

Rachel felt a little tag-teamed when Clarisse nodded and said, “Exactly, Maria! And do not think me that far from the common man, Rachel. After the revolution I lived in some horrid circumstances, even once with a family of pig farmers! We had nothing! I had a dress that was little more than rags, for a time. That was all that I owned!”

She went on, with a twinkle in her eyes. “Rachel, I know that you think me a filthy rich noble whose decadence at times shocks you, yes? I live well, and I do not apologize for it. I had a hard life for many years, and even as recently as the 1940s I had things rough.”

Maria sounded contrite when she responded. “Oh, Rachel, please do not feel that either of us are condescending to you in our views. After seeing so much in our lives, I think that we both believe much the same things. It does not make you wrong, and ourselves right. I just feel strongly that your society teeters on a precipice and a strong wind would blow it off into chaos.”

“What do you see happening?” asked Rachel, honestly curious.

Clarisse responded first. “The world’s financial system is a huge house of cards, Rachel. And it is awaiting a small wind to bring it all down completely. This system you have of creating money from credit is insane, to me. You let bankers run rampant and in the end it will lead to bad things.”

Maria chimed in. “The number of people alive now is staggering, just awaiting some virus like the Black Death to run rampant through all countries. Disease has always been a worry for mankind, Rachel. Clarisse is quite correct, and I suspect that if the financial systems do not break down on their own, an epidemic would be the push that starts it all.”

Clarisse nodded. “I do not even speak of climate change, peak oil, natural resource scarcity, terrorism… ah so many possible woes that we stand on the brink of! But Rachel I am an optimist at heart, and I think that we shall overcome any and all problems, in the end. However, that does not mean that we will not see tough times. We will, I fear.”

Rachel sighed, thinking that these two were a real pair of grim predictors.

Maria snickered. “Rachel I am always, first and foremost, completely and totally honest with you. We both share our concerns, but nothing says that they will come true. And, so what if we disagree on political things? There are more important things!”

Clarisse put her arms around Rachel and hugged her tightly. “We shall agree to disagree on government and leaders, for now, eh mon ami? Let us revisit this topic in, oh, say one hundred years? And see which of us were closer to the target, eh?”

Rachel grinned and agreed with her. “You do have a gift for bringing the sun out from behind the clouds, Clarisse! And yes, both of you, we will agree to disagree on politics!”

Clarisse laughed softly. “We will not always agree on everything, Rachel. And politics and religion are two areas where you rarely will see that. As long as passions do not inflame things into arguing and petty insults, I do not see any difficulties in discussing them from time to time.”

~o~O~o~

Clarisse’s old friend lived in a modest-sized home not far from a Legion base. She knocked on the door and a Caporal answered. He obviously recognized her as he led her and Rachel into the home.

He called out to someone and then bowed to the two women and departed.

A very tall and handsome man walked into the room and smiled at them. He looked to be much younger than the fifty years of age that Clarisse had told them he was. His hair was cut military style and only showed a few touches of gray around the temples. His eyes were a piercing blue beneath thick brows. He had a strong chin and the harsh planes of his face were offset by a ready smile that always seemed to reach his eyes.

“Bonsoir, Mademoiselles! Clarisse, it is so good to see you again! And who is this lovely woman you bring with you to delight my eyes?”

“Bonsoir, Julien! Rachel, I would like you to meet Commandant Julien Laurent, of the Foreign Legion. Julien, this is my dear friend Rachel Harrison.”

Julien took Rachel’s hand and bowed while he kissed it. She smiled and said “It is a pleasure to meet you, Commandant Laurent.”

“Non! It is I who has all of the pleasure tonight, in the company of two such lovely and elegant ladies! Welcome to my humble home, please come sit and talk with a lonely old man.”

Clarisse and Rachel followed him into his den, and sat side by side on a loveseat as he took the chair facing them. Clarisse smirked and said “Lonely, Julien? Such a fable!” She turned to Rachel, “Julien has his pick of lovely women from everywhere but cannot seem to choose one and settle down!”

Julien laughed and shook his head. “Ah Clarisse, but I always wait for you, as you know! Why settle for second best, when the most beautiful woman in France is right here!”

Clarisse gave him a mock frown, and then dissolved into giggles. “Your pardon, Rachel. We always flirt and fence with one another. We settled that long ago, as you well know, Julien!”

Julien stood, walked over to Clarisse, and kissed her on the cheek, before returning to his seat. “Yes we did, my lovely Lady. Now, I know that you did not come here just to break my heart once more. What can I do for you my dear friend? Anything that I have or can get is yours. You but have to ask me.”

Clarisse smiled at Julien and then sighed. “It is those fils de putain once again, Julien.” Rachel blinked at her uncharacteristic foul language.

Julien stood up out of his chair, angry. “Merde! When will they stop this? How many of my men did they kill this time, Clarisse? And I hope that you were not harmed?”

Clarisse shook her head. “Not a one, yet, Julien. My friend Rachel and I have decided that it is time to end their crusade against our kind. They are after her, as well. We came to ask you for slightly more support. Not three or four soldiers but a dozen! And not as guards, but as soldiers to hunt these vermin down at last!”

Julien clapped his hands. “Bravo, Clarisse! And I applaud you as well, Rachel, especially if you were the catalyst that convinced our Clarisse to go on the offensive! I have often counseled her to stop fighting a defensive war with these people!”

Clarisse laughed and Rachel giggled, but both nodded. Rachel said, “Yes, my arrival here was a good thing for us both. I think that they would eventually have gotten me. Clarisse saved my life when she appeared. Four of them had me cornered!”

Julien shook his head and looked sadly at both of them. “You know, I could see capturing you and locking you away if you went about indiscriminately killing people and leaving a trail of bodies. But I know from Clarisse that you do not do this. You take what you need and you try not to harm people. You do not deserve to be hunted down like rabid dogs.”

He paced around the room as he continued. “When Clarisse revealed her true nature to me, I was stunned, of course. But I had known her for some time already by then, and knew her to be a woman of character, who would not harm anyone if she could but avoid it. I have happily helped her against these swine that hunt her, and will again. Of course you will have my help, Clarisse, and you as well, Rachel. How soon do you need these men?”

Both women smiled at Julien and Clarisse looked at Rachel with an eyebrow raised. Rachel asked the Commandant, “How long would it take you to recruit twelve to help us?”

He sat back down and rubbed his chin while he considered her question. “At the fastest, including travel time to Clarisse’s estate, probably two days, my dear. You need experienced men, both for your own sake and theirs as well. I would not send recruits in against these Hunters of yours.”

Rachel and Clarisse looked at each other and Rachel nodded. Clarisse smiled warmly at her old friend. “Julien, that would be splendid. Just send them to my estate, please? I will do the usual… adjustments, so that they will not have any fantastic stories to tell. They will just have memories of boring guard duty and training, no?”

Julien laughed and nodded. “As per usual, dear lady, that will be good.”

Maria had a question on her mind. “Julien, could you make sure that one of the men is an officer who is good with tactics and hand-to-hand combat? I believe that would better the odds for us.”

“But of course, Rachel! I’d intended as much, anyway.”

She nodded. “This is good. We may be stronger and faster, but their strength worries me somewhat, and none of us have any training in combat.”

Clarisse stood and walked over to Julien, who then also stood. She took his hands for a moment and looked into his eyes. “Julien, I always wish that we could have shared more, but I understand why we cannot. I appreciate all that you do for me, truly. You have been a hero to me countless times.”

Julien took Clarisse in his arms and hugged her tightly. “You need never thank me, Clarisse. Just having you in my life has been thanks enough. Please let me know if anything happens and I will personally take leave and come to you.”

Clarisse placed a warm kiss on his lips and shared a smile with Rachel. Rachel could see why she was attracted to this man, indeed.

~o~O~o~

They took their leave of Julien and got back in the rental car they’d procured earlier. Rather than make the long drive back to Calais and then to London they chose to drive into Paris and spend the day at a hotel.

They spent the rest of their evening enjoying each other’s company in various ways, which deepened the connection to each other. Later, in the afterglow, Clarisse told Rachel and Maria that when this was over, she might very well come across the Atlantic with them. At least, for a time, she added.

Rachel finally asked about Julien. “Clarisse, I sensed a lot of history between you and Julien? If I am prying please forgive me, but you looked so sad.”

Clarisse shook her head. “You are not prying and it is not a secret, Rachel. I revealed my nature to him over twenty years ago, when he was a sergeant. I asked him to join me but he refused. He felt that to voluntarily become a vampire was an offense against God. I respected his feelings and we parted at that time. We have remained friends, however.”

“I am sorry, Clarisse. He seems quite a man, and soldier.”

She smiled fondly. “He is an extremely honorable and loyal man, Rachel. He was quite taken with me, and I him. If not for his religious concerns you might very well have found us as a couple when you came here.”

Maria added, “Again you show remarkable restraint, Clarisse, not to mention that you have acted very honorably yourself in this matter. Some would have turned him against his will, but you asked, and then honored his refusal. That is true honor and I must say that you have gained my respect many times over since we met.”

Clarisse was moved by Maria’s words and they saw her eyes moisten with tears. She wiped her eyes and gave her dazzling smile in answer.

~o~O~o~

They turned in and spent the day sleeping and undisturbed. The next evening they arose and went out hunting for a short time before leaving for London. Nothing untoward occurred and they saw no suspicious men or felt any eyes upon them during the entire visit to France. Rachel remarked on this curious turn of events.

“Maybe they have us down as being in London, so coming back over here to France has thrown them off? Of course we still don’t know how they are tracking us, either.”

“This is a good thing, Rachel, for now at least. I’d prefer they attack after we get our soldiers in place. Hopefully this will work, I can think of many things that I would prefer to be doing than playing soldier!”

As they were headed toward Calais, Clarisse’s cell phone rang. She spoke briefly to someone then tossed the phone into her purse with a frown. She fished a cigarette out of her purse and lit it with an angry snap of her gold lighter and turned to Rachel, who was driving. Clarisse rarely drove, always preferring to have a driver.

“Just a few minutes ago my guards caught a Killer trying to sneak in to the Estate. They had a firefight and killed him, but not before he killed one of my men! It appears that he was coming to camp out. He had rations that my guards said would last several days. He was trying to pry open a window into one of the guest rooms.”

Rachel’s frown joined Clarisse’s. Maria voiced her and Rachel’s thoughts. “This is more proof that they can track us, Clarisse. This Killer knew that we were not at home, and so brought food with him to await our return and then surprise us while we slept.”

Clarisse fumed and puffed and finally growled, “I feel so violated when they trespass into my home like this! And they killed one of my men, which makes me so furious! How dare they come into my home and do this! We will end this, soon.”

~o~O~o~

They rode the train back to England through the Channel Tunnel with no incidents or, to their knowledge, anyone tracking them or watching their movements. After disembarking they found Clarisse’s limousine waiting with her driver and an extra guard along with him. They climbed into the limo and headed for London and the Estate.

Clarisse insisted on seeing her dead guard’s body upon arriving home. She caressed the dead man’s cheek and whispered something in French before standing up and gesturing at the other men to take his body away.

She told Rachel that his body would be returned to Julien, and if he had a family they would get a payment from her to cover burial expenses and help them through their loss.

“Do you pay this weregild to every soldier’s family?” Maria asked.

“Yes, I feel it is my duty to help their family if one dies in my service. Julien says that it has helped some greatly. It does not bring back the dead man, but I feel that I must do something for his family.”

Maria smiled and Rachel agreed with her sentiment. “You are truly a woman of honor, Clarisse.”

~o~O~o~

They slept the next day away and when they awakened that evening they snacked and debated whether to go clubbing or stay home and keep a watch for trouble. Staying home won out, and soon Clarisse was entertaining them at her grand piano, in her music room. It seemed that the graceful woman could not only dance well, but had played piano for many years, and her talent impressed Rachel greatly.

Maria showcased her singing ability with a little coaxing from Rachel. Clarisse was delighted to hear her sing, and joined in on a few songs that they both knew. Her singing voice was not the equal of Maria’s, but was still quite impressive to Rachel.

About mid-evening they retired to Clarisse’s bedroom for some intimate fun, and once again the saucy blonde took Rachel, and Maria, to new heights of orgasmic bliss with seemingly little effort. Rachel was a fast learner, however, and with a few tips and comments from Maria was excelling at driving Clarisse mad with lust and orgasms of her own.

~o~O~o~

The next evening, when they came downstairs they found Sergeant Corwin Atkins waiting for them in the parlor. He kissed both of their hands and asked for layouts of the estate and wanted to discuss plans and procedures. He was British, they learned, as soon as they heard his accent. Clarisse informed him that her head of security would brief him on all he needed to know about the estate and what they had in place.

He gave her a quick nod and said, “Commandant Laurent said that I am to protect you both with my life, and to capture, if at all possible, as many of these attackers that can be caught. Do you have quarters for my men? We will only need bed space for four at a time; the rest will be on duty in shifts.”

“Yes, there are several guest rooms, and you and your men are free to use them, and you will also be well-fed while you are here. My home is yours during your stay here, Sergeant!”

“Very good, my Lady. Commandant Laurent also said that you both are night owls, that you prefer sleeping in the daytime and that you are up mostly at night?”

Rachel answered, “Yes, we both are nocturnal people by nature. Is this a problem, Sergeant?”

“No, not at all, Miss Rachel. I just needed to confirm that so as to plan my guard rotations and the like. Is there any certain time these men seem to attack?”

Clarisse nodded. “Yes, they often come at dawn. Sometimes as late as mid-morning, but usually within that time frame. The Kidnappers have come at night, a few times. But the Killers seem to prefer dawn, mostly.”

“Excellent. I’ll take that under consideration, then. If you will excuse me, I will go meet with your head of security and make our plans. I’ll see you both soon?”

“That is well, Sergeant. But, there is one a last thing. I would like to meet you and all of your men, shortly, before we begin this operation?”

“Most certainly, my Lady! We could meet you here in, shall we say, an hour?” Clarisse nodded her approval.

He bowed to her and to Rachel, then snapped to attention, and headed to meet her head of security, who also happened to be her limo driver.

Almost exactly an hour later Atkins escorted his men into the room, where Clarisse and Rachel were waiting. They were all dressed in simple camouflage uniforms, with no Foreign Legion insignia to be seen. They were, after all, in England and were there very unofficially.

He introduced each man and each man bowed to the lovely ladies that they were here to defend, to the death. After the introductions, Clarisse stepped back and caught each man’s gaze and held it, briefly.

Once she had done this to them all, she explained to them that she and Rachel were vampires, that this was not a bad thing, and that they were not to speak of this amongst themselves or to anyone, ever. She also explained about the Kidnappers and the Killers, and each groups apparent goals and methods.

Clarisse ended the trance for her soldiers and smiled at them all. “I appreciate your being here, my friends, and your dedication to your duty. I have high hopes that you shall help end this constant war against me and my friend here.”

Atkins yelled, “Dis-missed!” and the men all filed out of the room. He then handed each woman a small device, which he said was a communicator. “It is like a walkie-talkie, but is scrambled and quite small and unobtrusive, as you can see. If there is trouble one of us will call you on them. And if you spot trouble before we do, heaven forbid, all you need do is press this button and yell for help.”

He said that they would be taking their appointed stations now, bowed, and left the room as well.
Maria remarked, “He seems to be a good one. I think that we are in good hands, girls.”

They spent some time with the piano, and then watched a movie in Clarisse’s movie theater. Rachel was beginning to become inured to the extravagance, and she honestly enjoyed the ambiance in the theater. Clarisse had chosen the movie, in the spirit of the situation they found themselves in. She had a vast collection, and she played The Magnificent Seven as their movie.

After the movie, Maria spoke up and suggested some fun upstairs, and Clarisse’s instant grin was all the acceptance they needed to see. Maria told Rachel that she thought that Rachel was getting addicted to all the sex with Clarisse. Rachel felt that it was absolutely true.

After quite a bit of “fun time” Clarisse suggested a bubble bath to relax. This sounded excellent to them all and she led Rachel to her bathroom. She had just thought she was becoming used to the extravagance, however.

She gasped at the opulence when she first entered the room. Marble floors, marble tub, gold-plated faucets, and recessed lighting with dimmers made the place look incredible. A servant filled the massive marble tub, a tub with room for six, easily. She left and they both disrobed and walked down into the hot water and bubbles. Rachel found a seat at one end and she and Clarisse sat beside each other and relaxed.

“This is magnificent, Clarisse. I know I felt a little put off by all of the opulence here. But it is growing on me!”

Clarisse’s beautiful laughed echoed throughout the bathroom and she replied. “After the rough childhood and bad times in my life, I promised myself that I would spare no expense to totally spoil myself in every way that I could. After two hundred years of accumulating wealth and building it with investments, that is something that I can easily afford to do!”

They scrubbed each other’s back and other body parts, which set Maria to giggling inside Rachel’s head. Remember the last time we discussed this, Rachel? It seems we have solved our back-scrubbing problem, yes?

You are right, Maria! This is wonderful, isn’t it?

She shared their thoughts with Clarisse, who giggled and said “I wish that I could talk to you both in my head as you do with each other. But, yes, it is so wonderful having you here with me. I have been so lonely for so many years! I love humans and their companionship, but you are special. You know what my life is like, and we share a special bond.”

A short time later they got out of the tub, Rachel a bit regretfully. They dried each other off with huge terrycloth towels and went on into Clarisse’s boudoir to get dressed. They brushed out each other’s hair and spent some time deciding which nightgowns they’d prefer. Dawn was not far away.

About the time they were finished dressing the communicators that Sergeant Atkins had given them both chirped.

Rachel ran over to the dresser where they lay and picked one up, and heard Atkin’s voice come out of it. “My ladies? We have nine intruders in two SUVs that rammed through the gate and are disembarking in the driveway right now. My Commandant said that you would wish to be involved in the defense. If you would care to join me downstairs, we will deal with this?”

Rachel pressed the button and told him that they would be right down. They switched clothing plans and Clarisse pulled out black denim jeans and a pair of black cotton blouses she’d already put aside for this moment. Rachel mentioned that they both looked like ninjas now.

Maria snorted, and said out loud, “What is with you and these ninjas, Rachel? We must discuss this when we have more time!” Clarisse just giggled. Rachel recalled asking Maria the same question once about Russians, and laughed in appreciation of the joke.

They both tied their hair back in a pony-tail and grabbed their communicators. Rachel turned to Clarisse with a grim look and nodded, ready to go.

It was on!