---

 

The Guardian was a nice little bar for a college town. Quiet, comfortable, more like a club than a meat market, and the proprietors didn't bring in bands, or start idiot promotions to get the college kids to come in.

The atmosphere in the place was simply comfortable, where students could meet, mix quietly, and talk about things rather than seeming to be constantly on the make.

As a result, the little bar attracted the best of the students of Ravencrest.

And I had become a regular there in the past few years.

In spite of the bloodlust I still tended to be prone to suffering, I liked the surroundings, and the company. If I wished to satisfy my other needs, I went to one of the rowdy bars in town.

Tonight I was comfortable in a pair of jeans, ballet shoes, and a simple white sweater. That the jeans displayed all my lower curves, while the sweater left little to the imagination regarding my upper half didn't matter. I simply looked to be 'one of the girls' as I was dressed at the moment and that suited what I wanted. Modern mores about how a girl could dress were so much easier to deal with than they had been when I became what I am.

Given my life and the places I'd been with the things I'd done up to being more or less stuck in Ravencrest, the ability to go to a nice quiet place was refreshing.

Until I heard what one of the young men in the place was telling his friends.

That got my undivided attention.

“They show up in personal accounts since back in the 15th century.” The fellow, nicely shaped, and really quite good looking — his pheromones nearly drove me crazy when I smelled them — young man told his small audience.

“The first account was in France, During the reign of Louis XIV.” He told his audience. “At first it was nothing really noticeable, just a mention of mysterious dark haired beauty charming the nobility.

“But a lady with the same description shows up in personal accounts of French nobles forty years later.”

“A daughter, or granddaughter?” One the girls in his audience offered.

“That's what I thought at first.” He admitted. “But then the same description of a beautiful, seductive lady appears a hundred years later. Then again in Paris at the time of the French Revolution and this is where things start to get interesting.”

“How so?” A pretty coed with hair nearly as bright as mine asked. “So far you have personal accounts of someone who seems to be the same woman and nothing else.

“And we all know that personal accounts of things tend to be inaccurate at best.”

“Because,” He smiled, “during the French Revolution, another lady joined her. One that is far easier to track because she was a redhead. And that one moved around with the original sister but left an even better trail in history through private accounts of the people who met her.”

“So now there are two of them.” The same girl shrugged. “What is your point here?”

“They stayed in France as the Revolution kept going.” He told them. “Then left when things settled down there and moved into Germany where Prussia was subduing, bullying, and enticing the separate German states into becoming one country. It was a bloody time in the history of Germany, and those two are mentioned in more than one personal account from notables of the day.

“Then the same pair of ladies showed up in Russia. Ten years later but their descriptions hadn't changed. They were still young, still very seductive, and still doing whatever it was they were doing.”

“After that they were in Albania, Serbia, Greece.” He added. “Always the same descriptions of them. Even after years had passed, they didn't change and were in places there was strife and lots of death. Then they went to South America — Bolivia, Columbia, all places where the break from the mother country was violent and bloody.

“Then they moved into the United States during the Civil War.” He told his audience.

“Then the third one in the group appeared.” He went on. “Following the battle at Gettysburg, accounts of the 'sisters' suddenly had a third member.”

“Which means?” The girl who had been questioning up to them asked.

“It means that these ladies are always in places full of strife and bloodshed. And every time a new one shows up is in one of those bloody, violent places. They are following unrest, violence, and death.”

“So what happened next?” The same girl asked.

“They were in Richmond, Atlanta, New Orleans right after the war. All places where people died and no one asked too many questions when that kind of thing happened.

“Then I lost them.”

“So where do you think they went, or did?” The girl asked.

“I think they went to ground.” He responded with a shrug. “They found somewhere to hide and stay out of sight.”

“Why would they do that?” The girl questioned. “They moved all the time and were always people that the locals seemed to accept. So why would they just vanish, and with that question, how do you think they did that and what do you think they were?”

“They are very smart.” He answered. “And they had to know they were leaving a trail if someone was persistent enough to follow it.

“As to what they were — are?” He let out a sigh. “I think they're vampires.”

He was right in a lot of things. Fortunately, no one took him seriously. We had gone to ground but not because of the tenuous trail we had left behind us. Wisteria had done something to anger someone who was more powerful than we were, and we were unable to go more than half a mile from the little town of Ravencrest. But she still wasn't telling what she'd done, and with the rather shaky relationship I had with my Maker at that point in time, I couldn't really press her for details.

But this boy had found us, and followed us through the years. He was dangerous to us even if no one believed what he was saying.

I would have killed him that night, but again, no one believed him and his sudden death would have drawn attention to the things he was saying.

So I did the next best thing.

I introduced myself to him.

I walked up to the table where he had been holding court and gave him a smile. “I'm sorry, I couldn't help but hear what you've been saying here. I'm interested.”

He looked up at me, and I exerted just a bit of the charisma and fascination males had for me and my kind with a little smile.

“Carmilla.” I offered while holding out a hand for him to hold, kiss, or ignore.

“Josh McEntire.” He answered while taking my offered had and smiling so hard I could tell what he was thinking without my ability to read people and their intentions coming into play.

He found me beautiful, and fascinating. Which given who and what I was, didn't surprise me at all. It's the ones who resist that are the real challenge, and yes, there are men who can and do resist the charms my kind have to work with.

But Josh was mine from that introduction.

“Would you like to know where those ladies went after you lost track of them?”

“You know where they went?” He questioned almost sceptically.

“Oh, yes.” I assured him, then gave him tidbits of information from the times we had left Richmond and moved north. “How did you find them? If you don't mind me asking.”

“I'm a history major.” Josh shrugged. “Actually, I'm working on my masters so I had find some obscure thing to impress my professors with.”

“So what led you to start following these women you've been talking about?

“I was digging through personal accounts of the times.” He told me. “And found some very vivid descriptions of first one lady then two, then three, that kept recurring as the years passed. The descriptions were too exact, too close, for me to think the people being described were different people from the previous accounts.”

“Which leads you to believe that they are... what? Vampires?”

“That is a stretch.” Josh admitted with a grin. “But there a few accounts of people seeing these ladies drinking blood from other people.”

“Maybe they just had a kink for blood?”

“I don't think so.” He answered. “The stories about them doing that are way too far apart in years, for it to be a simple fetish. I think I've found at least proof in print that vampires do exist.”

Oh yes, this one was dangerous. Then again, no one believed his theories. Still, I couldn't allow his speculations to get out into the general public. Either he needed to die, or be brought into the fold. With his obvious internet and search skills, getting him into the fold would be the better option. But I couldn't just do that.

Wisteria would simply kill him out of hand.

But I saw potential, and used that.

Because of that, my children were far more talented and capable than Wisteria's.

So I took a path that she would have condemned, and admittedly was dangerous.

“What would you say if I told you I could tell you what happened to those three once they left Richmond?” I asked while briefly touching his cheek with my finger tips.

“You're the redhead in those accounts, aren't you?” He was frighteningly perceptive.

“If I am?” I smiled and leaned forward to kiss him.

He took a bit of time to recover from that because I'd given him, and taken, a good amount of tongue. “Then you are a monster.”

“A monster?” I laughed and did a slow turn in front of him. “Tell me, does THIS look like a monster to you?”

Oh, I'd managed to get out of my jeans and top by the time I asked that, and we were in a back room.

“Is this a monster?” I smiled while taking off my bra and shrugging out of my panties.

All he could do was gasp and shake his head.

Damn but he was GOOD in bed.

And that act put my seal on him. No matter what Wisteria, my maker might wish, Josh was mine to do with as I would. Even she couldn't dispute or preempt that.

“So.” I whispered into his ear once we'd finished fucking like rabbits. “Do you still want to know what happened with those three after Richmond?”

“You know I do.” He told me, trying to be academic. But I'd taken him into myself, and had tasted of his blood, so that demand was nothing I had to acknowledge. But he would be a real asset to our sisterhood, so I smiled at him, and nodded.

“Then I'm going to tell you a story here.” I ran a hand over his naked crotch and smiled. “But you really need to pay attention to the story.”

“You kind of make that,” he gasped, “hard to do, you know.”

“It is what I do, love.” I grinned at him and pulled my hand away from his very sensitive regions. “I make men love me.”

He had no response to that.

“What did you you do to me?” Joshephina, formerly Josheph wailed as she was watching the available food we had in postwar Atlanta.

“You know that, dearest.” I chided. “You've been as you are for months now. You have fed, so you know all too well what you are, and what I did was simply keeping you from dying.”

“So this is not some fevered dream?” She asked in that velvet voice that even got my juices flowing.

“No, dear.” I stroked a hand over her so delicate and beautiful cheek. “This is life for you now. Accept it or die.”

She accepted it. Though her stubborn wish to have female lovers was a bit of a problem for a few years. But I was patient and admittedly manipulated her into a position where she had no choice but take a man as a woman does.

The day after that she found me on a balcony, watching the activies in Postwar Richmond and had a very odd look on her face. “Carmilla?”

“Yes, dear?” I asked as I turned to look at her, in the obvious blush of discovery a young woman shows after her first sexual encounter with a man she likes.

“You were right.”

I simply raised an eyebrow and waited.

“Cyril was wonderful.” She slowly got out. I learned that this body is made to have a man make love to it, to me, and that the feelings — the feelings are as good or better than anything I've experienced before.”

“You are made for that.” I shrugged, then stopped her next question with a slightly raised hand. “No, I didn't do it to you. It's simple biology my dear. Male, female, and you are most assuredly female. It was only a matter of time until you realized that and actually let yourself enjoy time with a decent man.”

“And now that I've found that we're leaving.” She pouted.

“There will be others.” I smiled at her. “Besides, we three have outworn our welcome here. People are beginning to notice some of Wisteria's excesses, and our more careful feedings. It is simply time to move on.”

Then Wisteria led us to the damned backwater town of Ravencrest.

And somehow got us stuck there.

I was ushered into the office and smiled at the man who quickly stood and moved to greet me properly. “Miss DuLac, it is a pleasure to meet you.”

“Thank you.” I smiled and let him take my hand, even allowed the delicate little touch of his lips to its back before gently pulling it away from him. “I am honored and pleased that you are willing to take the time to greet me personally in this way.”

“I always try to meet our new teachers before they get embroiled in the curriculum.” Cyrus Edmond Vance gave me an oily smile and gestured to a plush chair situated to the side of his desk. “Classic Literature, is something I'm certain you are well suited to teaching.”

Meaning that he didn't believe that a mere woman could teach anything important, beyond passing along to other younger women and girls how to manage a household and raise the children their husbands got on them. But his attitude wasn't unusual for the times, and he was urbane, well spoken and not at all hard to look at.

He was a toad. With my ability to read people from gestures, facial expressions, scent, and a few other things, I could tell he was already plotting ways to get me into a much more intimate situation with him, then would simply discard me. The slimy bastard.

“Thank you Headmaster.” I smiled and his desires for me worked well enough with what I had planned anyway. Not that having a man, any man, thinking those kinds of things about me was unusual. I'd had princes, bankers, even churchmen taste of my charms and tasted them in return. “I trust my credentials are adequate then?”

“Very much so, Miss DuLac.” He nodded. “The college in Richmond sent a glowing letter of recommendation to my request. Several, in fact.”

“Good.” I gave him a smile calculated to slow down his upper head and get that lower one that can always be the downfall of even a good man thinking for him. “When do you wish for me to start?”

The tight, restrictive skirts of the time, the corset worn under everything, and the lace drowned blouse I was wearing actually helped display some of my physical charms as I negotiated carefully into the offered chair. Once there, I 'negligently' rearranged the lace running down the front of my blouse, pausing just long enough at my breasts to make sure he noticed them. Then I gave him an attentive look and simply sat there with my hands folded demurely in my lap.

“Would next week be a strain?” He asked and I could smell that my little display had done its job.

“Of course, that would be fine.” I almost purred in response. “We are well settled in here now, and I am anxious to get started.”

“Excellent.” Mr. Vance smiled in response and I was very amused at his surreptitious attempts to quell the lower response that I had deliberately incited.

“I am having a dinner for some of the staff here.” He told me. “Perhaps if you would accept my invitation you would have the chance to get better acquainted with other teachers here.”

“I would be delighted to come.” I gave him a smile that was both pleased and grateful.

“Tomorrow evening.” He told me, then gave me the address. “I can send a coach for you if you like.”

“That would be wonderful.” I answered, then stood up. “Until then, sir.”

“It has been a pleasure, miss.”

“All yours.” I thought while offering another winning smile. “But the pleasure will be all mine in times to come.”

“The man is thief.” Josephine told me as she handed me the sheaf of papers our current bank had sent regarding the accounts of Ravencrest Academy. “He has been taking money from not only the fees paid to attend, but from every donation people have made to the school.”

I read through the papers, spotted the tell tale signs, and nodded. “Yes, he's clever about it, but his office was just a bit to opulent for the Headmaster of a school that is obviously struggling.”

The use of banks, and the letters of credit they issued to large depositors had been something that I discovered many years ago. It was absurdly simple once considered. You found a decent firm of solicitors, had them approach the institution on behalf of a client, and deposited whatever sum you had available. One that was done, it was simple matter to move the rest of the monies to a new bank. That it had to be done through male solicitors was a bit annoying, but I made certain the Swiss firm that we used was paid well enough to insure that they would accept any orders from me regarding our finances. Carrying large amounts of cash, gold, or jewels, was not only a pain, it tended to single us out when that was not needed.

I'd decided to do things that way long before Josephine had joined us. Wisteria was far more 'into the moment' about things and refused to worry about finances beyond what she required at the time.

“So what are you going to do about this, since we are heavily invested in the Academy now? Josephine asked.

“I should just ruin the man.” I told her then let out a sigh. “But that would also ruin his family who have no conception of what he is really doing. Our bankers and solicitors could come in, ferret out all of his little schemes, and make them public. But I do not want to do things that way.”

“Exposing his activities so closely with the new, rather large donation, coupled with our appearance in town, could be awkward.” She nodded.

My daughter, I'd taught her well, not that she didn't have the intelligence or ambition to be more than just a pretty face on her own.

“So Headmaster Vance is going to suffer an unfortunate accident.”

“That would be better all around.” Josephine nodded. “But have you found a replacement for him yet?”

“Yes.”

“And who would that be?”

“Me.” I grinned and explained. “I have the credentials thanks to the glowing references I have from schools in Atlanta, New Orleans, and Richmond.

“Given all those, shouldn't you appear to be a bit — umm — older?”

“Easily explained when I tell people my grandmother still had her raven hair and an unlined face at the age of sixty.” I chuckled. We hadn't spent more than a few years in any of those cities, so the reason I still appeared so young would work.

“Well, you certainly don't act like a woman in her early twenties.” Josephina laughed.

“I've been a 'young woman in her twenties' for nearly a hundred years dear.”

“Now.” She launched into another topic, knowing that the difficulty with Cyrus Vance was solved. “I have located some suitable gentlemen for all of us to be seen with.”

My Josephine. Even more pragmatic about things than I was.

“Good.” I patted her shoulder then gave her porcelain cheek a little touch of my fingertips. “I will leave it to you to arrange the proper introductions.”

“Oh, that won't be at all difficult.” She laughed. “Eligible bachelors are falling over each other trying to get our attention. All we need do is host a soiree and we be able to pick and choose.”

The coach that Cyrus sent to fetch me was a bit of a surprise. It was unpretentious, and pulled by a pair of horses. With the proliferation of the new motorcars, I had entertained the idea that he would send one of those for me.

So he was being discrete.

That was not only interesting, but gave me what I needed to get rid of him.

He obviously did not wish for anyone to take undue note of my visit.

The coachman took my little smile as anticipation.

It was, but not in the way he thought.

I was a little sad that I would have to remove his memories of this night, since I did allow him to see a very beautiful woman being not only gracious, but friendly with him. I decided then and there to give him something he would remember, if only vaguely. I don't like stealing people's memories from them. At least not regarding the sexual encounters they had experienced.

The place I was taken was just as nondescript as the coach. A small cottage in the forest well away from town. Men of prominence in any community always seemed to have places like this for their dalliances. So much the better in my estimation.

No one would hear him scream, and this time I fully intended for one of my dalliances to scream. This man had seduced at least half the female teachers he lorded it over, and even some students. Now he was going to discover how one felt when a predator was after him.

And I had no intention of being kind with that lesson.

“Welcome, Miss DuLac.” He gave me a knowing smile as he answered the door himself.

“Oh, call me Carmilla.” I returned his smile and ran a fingernail along his cheek as I smiled while looking inside. No one else was there, and I widened my smile a bit. “I thought there were going to be others here?”

“Did you?” He asked and invited me in.

“Not really.” I shrugged while handing him my wrap. He took the delicate bit of silk and quite frankly gave what I was wearing a long, contemplative look.

I was wearing a dress in the somewhat old southern style. With the petticoats, and the almost shameful — in those times — display of the shadows between my breasts. “So what were your intentions for this meeting?”

“I see you already know that.” Cyrus grinned.

“Oh, indeed I did.” I leaned forward once the door was closed to give him a slow, but fairly chaste kiss. “Did I mistake your intent?

“Not at all, lovely lady.” He touched my breasts, and leaned forward for another kiss.

“Then I do believe we could do without dinner.” I leaned away from his face and gave him the smile that any woman gives a man she wants.

“We can have that later.” He answered while taking my hand and leading me inside.

“Oh, that is good.” I ran one hand over his cheek then down to his throat. “Do you wish to undress me, or have me do it for you?”

“Oh, do it for me.” He grinned.

I had disliked him before. But given the way he was watching me, I actually started to hate him. Not that I hadn't had other men say that to me. But those hadn't bothered to hide their dalliances, or try to show them as something they weren't. I was going make this man hurt. Physically mentally, and emotionally.

I will not describe what we did that night.

But in the end he was begging me to make it stop.

I took one last drink, broke his neck, and made it look as if he had fallen from the loft.

Then spent some time with the coachman, and made certain he would recall things as I wished.

Josh looked at me in disbelief, then fear filled his eyes, not to mention his scent. “That was you in that story. You killed that man just because he was in your way?”

“Oh there was more to it than that.” I assured him. “But you'll see that once you calm down and think about what I just told you. Believe me when I tell you that Cyrus Vance deserved all of what I gave him, and more.”

“But couldn't you have just — sent him away?”

“I could have.” I nodded and finished getting dressed as I watched him through lowered lashes. “But he would have just done the same things somewhere else.”

“So now what?” He couldn't look right at me and his terror was very obvious as he asked. “Are you going to kill me, too?

“Joshua, Joshua,” I shook my head and gave him a smile, “if I had decided you needed to die that would have happened already. I don't kill needlessly regardless of what you think just now.”

“So that only answers part of my question.” He was still terrified.

“Keep your head down, continue going to class, and say nothing of what you've heard or deduced so far.” I told him. “I can protect you, but only so far. If you go around proclaiming that there are vampires in Ravencrest you would constitute a danger that can't be ignored. Do as I ask and you should be fine.”

I didn't bother to tell him that he wouldn't say a word about what he'd learned because he was now firmly in my control. The poor boy was terrified enough and terrified tools tend to become rather useless quickly.

I had more than one option as far his usefulness went, and I would protect him. Wisteria had already killed one of mine and if I could do anything to prevent it, that wouldn't happen again.

Even up to killing the crazy bitch.

Which presented problems of it's own, but those I would work through soon enough.

“What happens if I don't do as you ask?” Josh asked with a trembling voice.

“Just do as I ask.” I told him and planted a sensuous kiss on his mouth. “And there will much more of that. Don't and — well, trust me, you don't really want to know what could happen.”

“No, I d-don't.” He stuttered.

“Poor boy.” I stroked his cheek and even though he flinched other parts of him reacted very positively. “Do as I tell you and you'll be fine. I'll be watching over you.”

He took the threat and promise as it was meant and simply nodded his head.

“Good.” I smiled and kissed him again. “I'll be seeing you.”

He wasn't all that sure whether to be terrified or anxious for that. I walked out the door and down the short hallway that led back to the Guardian's common room. I had an 'understanding' with the owner of the place. What I did in that back room was never questioned.

Of course, I owned the Guardian. So that was understandable. The visible owner was a front, well paid for the trouble, but he was a face for the public. It wouldn't do to be known as the owner of a bar when people tended to forget all about me every four or five years.

Another thing Wisteria managed that I would need to learn. While she simply absorbed the magic from the gifted ones she fed on, I preferred doing things the old fashioned way. By learning for myself. True, it was harder that way, but I really learned as opposed to Wisteria's tendency to forget things after awhile.

Once I was back in the pub proper, I took in the crowd, but two people in particular caught my attention. One was Wisteria's newest, who should have mine. The other was Charlotte. That one was a real piece of work and no one sane would go up against her without preparation.

So I used one of my abilities and shrouded myself to watch the pair.

Charlotte was doing her usual, trolling for a good fuck and a meal.

But 'Katie' was having problems, speaking with someone who wasn't there, and definitely having a problem with the usual feeding dance of our kind. Interesting. Kyle had thrown off Wisteria's spell once before and it was clear that Kylie, or whatever her name would be eventually, was still fighting the imposed personality of Katie. As she rushed, all right ran in near panic out one of the emergency exits, I stopped the alarm from going off and thoughtfully decided that I would wait for her when she returned to the House.

Whatever I saw then would dictate how the next proceedings would go.

“So how is our newest coming along?” I asked Josephine as I washed myself and got into a comfortable negligee and robe.

“Very well.” My oldest child grinned. “She is already showing a good deal of control over her hunger.”

“Very good.” I nodded. “In spite of her tenuous grasp of reality before her change, I am sure our little Pandora is going to become very important to us in the future. Keep watching her as closely as you have been for now, but otherwise give her the leeway to do as she wishes.”

“You know I will.”

“Still haven't lost that fascination for pretty girls, have you?” I teased.

“Never.” She assured me with a grin.

“If it helps,” I chuckled, “I have that weakness, too. Old habits do die very hard, don't they?”

“Yes they do, Mother.”

“Then protect your newest love as you have been.” I soberly told her. “Things are going to start getting ugly around here soon, I fear.”

“Wisteria never has been the forgiving kind.” Josephine nodded with a sigh. “And her — stability is fading.”

“I know.” I shook my head sadly. “She is close to becoming a danger for all of us.”

“What do you intend to do about that?”

“I don't know as of yet.” I shrugged. “For now, though, there is chink in her so carefully enforced armor.”

“Kyle, Katie, whoever that one is.” She nodded.

“Yes, Kyle has broken through our Queen's spell once already and is still fighting. I'll know more about that later this evening.”

“A weapon in her own circle.” Josephine nodded. “Do you think it will work?”

“Time will tell, but the Katie persona is flimsy, and Kyle is far stronger minded than Wisteria understands.”

“But will she side with us?”

“She should have been ours to start with.” I shrugged. “And if the Kyle part gains ascendency, she will be looking for allies against Wisteria.”

“Indeed.” Josephine shook her head. “This is a very dangerous game you're playing mother.”

“Our survival, her children and ours, depends on my winning that game.” I answered quietly.

I was waiting at the top of the stairs when she returned to the house. And I knew. Kyle had won for the moment. She hid her fear and uncertainty well and for some odd reason I was very proud of her for that.

“So you did it.” I told her as I glided down the stairs.

She first tried to deny that, then to play the ignorant pawn, but I was having none of that.

“Come.” I gestured at her. “We need to talk.”

---

 

I looked her in the eyes and saw Kyle looking back. A frightened, confused, and angry Kyle, but it wasn't Katie watching me so carefully. “Good, you've broken it. Now, come with me. We need to talk.”

“Talk about what?” She asked warily.

“Oh, secrets, deep dark secrets.” I said softly while leading her to the stairs that would take us to my rooms. “Curses, things needing done, and a mutual adversary. Interested?”

She nodded, a bit stiffly, but I could feel her curiosity and drive to be free of the thing Wisteria had replaced her own psyche with.

“Then walk with me, and we'll speak of these things.” I promised.

Once in my rooms I waved her to a chair then quietly thought about a few things for a moment. “You should have been one of mine. Wisteria stole you from me when she killed Degna. Then she stole you from yourself by creating Katie.”

“Are you sure you can trust me right now?” She asked point blank. “You should know that Katie is still in here.”

As she tapped her head I nodded. “Yes, I can feel her, raging, plotting, hating you even now. But Kylie, or whatever name you should decide on, you are far stronger than that construct, and much stronger than your maker suspects. I should be able to teach you a few tricks to help keep Katie at bay during the bad times.”

“That would be much appreciated.” She tilted her head then followed up with a question. “What will that cost me?”

“Qid Pro Quo.” I chuckled and nodded in real pleasure at her perceptiveness. “In return, I want you to do a bit of spying on our eldest for me.”

“She'll know that I'm not Katie.”

“Not if you don't wish her to know that.” I answered simply then waited for her to work it out.

“Point taken.” She nodded. “I know how Katie acts and responds to things, but even acting like that bloody minded bitch isn't a very pleasant thought.”

“Your survival depends on it. That should give you some incentive.” I smiled for a moment then let my expression turn pensive. “Truthfully, more than yours does.”

“How so?”

“I'm old, Kylie, oh not so old as Wisteria, but old enough to know many things.” I shrugged. “One of those is that there are older, more powerful beings in the world than either me or Wisteria.

“Our Mother angered one of those a hundred years ago and since then we've been stuck in this town. Oh, our children are able to leave after ten years or so, or things would have become very uncomfortable in Ravencrest, but the older sisters are chained to this one small town.

“What I need from you is who or what she pissed off, and what exactly that curse is.” I finished.

“If she hasn't even told you, then I would imagine there would be little or no information available.” Kylie thoughtfully answered once her shock had faded. “I couldn't guarantee anything out of something like that.”

“All I'm asking is that you try.” I let out a sigh. “I am not so old that one place appeals to me for more than twenty years or so. Ravencrest palled on me long ago. I want my freedom back, Kylie.

“In return, I'll help you gain yours.”

I sat and thought about things once Kylie had left to return to Katie's room.

Having one of my own, even if that connection was tenuous, in Wisteria's camp would be a lot of help. I really did want to be free of the curse that held me to this town. Everything was so familiar these days, reiterations of things I'd seen before, people just like others I'd seen, and I was worried that I would go insane myself soon if I couldn't break the chains that held us here.

The older ones among us all ran that risk as the years went by. Some had already succumbed and had to be 'taken care of' to preserve the rest of us.

“Penny for them, Mother.” A familiar voice interrupted my rather dark thoughts and I turned to see Josephine standing in my doorway.

“Just thinking of what my role is in this house.” I let out a sigh and waved her to a chair. “I had no wish to become our 'enforcer' to begin with you know.”

“You're more humane than Wisteria would be.” She shrugged. “At least you make it quick and as painless as possible when you are forced to end one of our sisters.”

“The young ones are all afraid of me, you know.” I let out another sigh and gave my own shrug. “And the old ones are thinning out at an alarming rate these days.”

“The young ones all know of your reputation.” Josephine smiled at me. “And know how tightly you control things around here. Of course they would be intimidated in your presence.

“Think of it this way.” She went on thoughtfully. “You are a very successful CEO and the young ones are interns. They know you do the hard things, make the tough decisions to make sure that your company prospers and stays viable. They are mostly afraid that they won't measure up.”

“I never meant to be that way.” I answered softly.

“No, but then I never meant to be this gorgeous female either.” She grinned. “Shit happens mother, and all we can do is deal with it as best we can. You work to keep all of us safe. That's your way of dealing with it.

“And the older ones who have died?” She shrugged. “The only ones really constrained to stay in this town are Wisteria, you, and me. They couldn't bear to leave, but were dulled by the sameness they had come to think of as normal. If any of those had worked up the courage to actually leave, they would not be dead now and you know it. The ones who have left are doing well and you know that as well as I do. They all stay in touch after all.”

“That does help, I'll admit.” I smiled at the thought of all my daughters, and Wisteria's, who had left once they were able. We had quite an extensive clan built up by now. Who all worked to stay in touch with me and Josephine.

“Then stop being so moody about things, mother.” She rested a hand on my shoulder and gave me a little smile. “You keep us alive, safe, and show any who are bright enough to understand how to survive out in the world away from Ravencrest. All those outside talk to you, rather than Wisteria and that should tell you something important right there.”

“I knew I chose right when I picked you for my first.” I rested a hand on hers and gave it a squeeze. “You center me, Josephine, keep me in balance.”

“It's what I do.” She smiled. “Like you keep us safe. I'm balance, you're the Kali of our little group. Creator of life, mother of us all, and destroyer at the same time.”

“I'm not the mother of us all.” I pointed out.

“There is more to being a mother than simply making a child.” She said.

“I suppose you're right.”

“I am, and now...” She had a gleam in her eyes and actually smirked. “Would you like to hear about Pandora's latest antics?”

I was in a considerably lighter mood when Josephine left.

I was dressed simply, in snug jeans, a white silk blouse that showed just enough cleavage to be interesting but wasn't sluttish, and a pair of three inch heeled boots as I walked into The Guardian.

I smirked to myself, which I had been told appeared to make me smile mysteriously as the boys and a lot of the girls present watched my progress. I could clearly feel the desire, admiration, and yes lust that came from the boys along with the envy, admiration, and fear in the girls as they watched me.

One thing I had never gotten tired of in my existence was being beautiful, and — sexy. I smiled at all of them, giving the boys their little fantasies while reassuring the girls that I wasn't after their guys, or even out to score some strange that evening.

I ignored several boyish attempts to attract my attention and moved up to the bar, seating myself on one of the tall stools there and crossing my legs while giving Terrance, the bartender a smile.

“Good crowd for a Wednesday.” I commented.

“Much better since you showed up.” He grinned. “But yeah, it is a good crowd for the middle of the week.

“The guys who know anything about pick ups all know this is the place to come for that.” He chuckled. “The stories about the great looking girls and the sex are legendary around this town.”

“I suppose they would be.” I laughed. “Have my girls been behaving?”

“Always.” He chuckled. “They zero in on some guy or let themselves get picked up, lead the guy into one of the store rooms or out back, then a while later both of them show up with very sated and happy expressions on their faces. Wish some of the other sorority girls were as well behaved as your girls are.”

“Speaking of store rooms...” I grinned at gave him a look that there was no way of misinterpreting.

“I go on lunch break in ten minutes.” He gave me a similar look and grinned.

“Oh good.” I patted his hand as he gave me my customary wine — real wine, but blood red and very rich bodied. “I'll just wait here and follow you into the back once you've gone for lunch.”

“I have an hour tonight.” He winked.

“You're the boss.” I pointed out. “You could take as long as you like.”

“Nah, that sets a bad example for the help.” He chuckled. “Besides an hour with you...”

“You have some more customers.” I pointed out with a smirk and turned on the bar stool to watch the quiet studying and mating rituals in the large common room.

“Got the hots for the bartender?” A slightly slurred voice questioned as I was doing that. I turned to find myself looking at a nicely built brunette with a very pretty face who was obviously a sorority girl. “Give it up, he doesn't play with the customers.”

“That's because,” I gave her a superior smile, “he's got me.”

“Sure, I've heard that before.” She grimaced. “At least one girl a week tries to claim that.”

“I hope they enjoy their fantasies.” I shrugged then got off the stool as Terrance turned the bar over to to his second and left the area. “Have a good time tonight, just don't get rowdy. See ya.”

I walked behind the bar and through the same door Terrance had used without once turning around to see if the little thing was watching.

But I could feel her shock and envy without looking.

There are times being me has its perks.

* * * *

“You are so beautiful.” He breathed once I'd gotten out of my jeans and top.

I stretched almost languidly and tossed my bra into the pile of clothing already on the floor before slinking up to him and starting to unbutton his shirt, making sure my hand spent a bit of time resting on his bared and well muscled chest. “So are you.”

“Shouldn't that be handsome?” He chuckled as our usual argument got started.

“Handsome can apply to a woman, so beautiful can apply to a man.” I grinned then gave one of his nipples a little lick. “And you, Terrance Locke, are a very beautiful man.”

And that he was. Six feet four inches of lithely muscled male with the classic Vee shape a man should have. Broad shoulders, trim but not narrow waist — with a six pack on his belly that drove women wild, strong legs, and the scent of him... Oh even I had trouble resisting that musk he put out naturally.

Above the shoulders was every bit as good. Strong neck that wasn't too thick, features that looked as they had been chiseled out of marble by some ancient Greek sculptor, and eyes of such a deep blue that they rivaled the Caribbean ocean on one of its better days. Thick dark brown hair that was neatly cut but still held a vivid life of its own...

Oh, yes. Terrance Locke was what was today called one hell of a hunk.

“Want to see the books, boss?” He questioned with a little grin.

“Beast.” I lightly slapped his shoulder and shook my head with a pout. “You know what I'm here for and it sure isn't to have a look at the books tonight.”

“Welll,” he nodded judiciously while giving my own nude form a long, appreciative looking over, “what is it that you do want?”

“You as naked as I am, and us on that couch over there.” I whispered with a seductive little smile and another pose for his enjoyment.

Needless to say that is exactly what happened within the next thirty seconds.

Though he did run over his self imposed lunch hour by a few minutes. Okay by half an hour if you have to know.

Oh, but that was glorious hour and a half.

And no, I didn't drink of him. Agreements made long ago, and I always hold to my agreements and keep my promises, prohibited that.

Accordingly, I'd fed before coming to this place.

“I love you, Milla.” He whispered as we were cleaning ourselves up and getting dressed.

“Terrance, Terrance,” I rested a hand on his cheek and gave him a long slow kiss before going on. “You of all people in this town know how dangerous that could be.”

“I don't care, you know that.”

“Which is why your family disowned you.” I pointed out. “I am not at all a safe person to love, dear. Though I do admit that I have never met another man I could love before you. But that love would involve things that overstep agreements made and held for a century, and a lot of people could die if that happened.”

“Always the mother, aren't you?” He looked at me and I could see the longing in his eyes. “Always concerned for your girls above all else.”

“Not just them, dear.” I touched his cheek and offered a sad smile. “Maybe I've grown soft over the past hundred years, but I'm also concerned about your family, and the true innocents who would be pulled into that kind of mess.”

“You can't be everyone's mother, Milla.”

“Until I can get free of this town,” I let out a little sigh, “I have to be. In time, I hope things will change, but for now things are as they are and neither one of us can change them.”

“Are we starting our usual argument here?” He asked with a lift of one eyebrow.

“No.” I kissed him again and finished buttoning up my blouse. “I want to leave this time feeling good for a change.”

“Me too.” He shrugged. “But this isn't something we can keep dancing around like some pit of fire in the middle of a dance floor.”

“I know, I know.” I kissed him again. “But trust me, I'm not simply dancing around the issue. I will find a solution.”

“I hope so.”

“I will.” I told him with more confidence than I actually felt, but recent developments did give me some hope in that respect.

“Hello Josh.” I greeted my 'historian' as he was poring over some old text in the library.

“Gah!” He bolted upright from the hunched over position he'd had while reading and gave me an accusatory look. “Please don't do that. You scare the Hell out of me every time you do it.”

“That's the point, isn't it?” I giggled, which I found annoying, but fit with what girls did when in the presence of a decent looking guy. “Besides, you look much better sitting up straight than all hunched over like Quasimodo.”

“Thanks, I think.” He shook himself and let out a breath. “So what can I do for you, Carmilla?

“Any luck with your search?” I asked while noting that the heavy leather bound book he had on the table was a local history from nearly a hundred years ago.

“Nothing other than finding that a few people died 'mysteriously' at about the same time you and the others appeared here in town.” He said carefully and watched to see if that observation would anger me.

“Trust me, the ones who died that way were not all because of us.” I told him with a little smile. “But the ones who died all well deserved what they got no matter the cause.

“So anything of interest?” I prodded.

“Well, it seems that was a fairly strong colony of witches here at the time.” He shook his head. “Though getting anything definite on that is tough.”

“I know of them.” I nodded. “Was one of theirs among the dead back then?”

“No idea.” He honestly told me. “That's what I'm trying to research now, but the witches are harder to track or pin down than you and yours are. This is going to take time, I'm afraid.”

“I have faith in you, Joshua.” I used his full name and stroked his cheek with a fingernail.

His reaction was a mix of desire, fear and even revulsion that was quite interesting. Like a wine that had character but was not something you expected at the first sip. But I'd sipped that particular wine more than once so it was no surprise.

“Okay.” He nodded then gave me a look that was combined fear and longing. “Is there anything else?”

“No, dear, I've fed tonight, just keep looking.”

His expression held both relief and disappointment as I gave one of his shoulders a little pat and left him to his research.

Looking at Tobias Locke, the partriarch of the richest and most powerful family in Ravencrest, it was easy enough to see where Terrance had gotten his looks and magnetism.

But unlike Terrance, Tobias was an old school gentleman. Three piece suit with a pocket watch on a chain resting in a vest pocket, thick dark hair carefully brushed back from his forehead to fall around his shoulders, and an overly neat Van Dyke beard. He looked like he should be a professor of some mundane course like humanities instead of the most powerful man in Ravencrest.

And he wasn't happy with me at the moment. Not that such a thing was unusual. But then again, I was late for our appointment.

“You're late.” He made sure I knew that and glared at me as a waiter seated me in one of the restaurants his family owned.

“Tobias, it was only five minutes.” I chided. “I got slowed up with some parade these college kids were having.”

“Homecoming.” He snorted. “You of all people should know when things like that are going to happen. And I prefer to be called Mr. Locke, thank you.”

“Tobias,” I shook my head. “I've known you since you were barely out of diapers, and you expect me to kow-tow to you like everyone else?”

I let him splutter a bit while occupying myself with admiring the wolf's head logo on my napkin before looking up at him with a winning smile. “Come on, don't you think that is just a bit ridiculous?”

“You and yours are here on our sufferance.” He shot back.

“Of course we are.” I agreed with a little shrug. “But my association with your family has been profitable hasn't it?”

He refused to answer that one, but I knew he wanted to bring up his middle son, Terrance. To his credit that didn't happen. Nor did he openly say he didn't trust me. But I read all that in his emotions and expression.

“Tobias,” I shook my head, “When have I ever reneged on a contract, or violated an agreement made with your family?”

“You stole my son.” He whispered. So much for avoiding that topic.

“I did no such thing.” I firmly told him and stared at him while daring him to try and stare me down. “Terrance made his choice on his own, and I'm still trying to discourage him in that regard. I stole nothing and what is being given I haven't completely accepted as of yet.”

“But you laid with him again last night.” Tobias accused.

“Yes, and a most enjoyable time it was.” I smiled then stopped a further outburst from my dinner companion with a raised hand. “But I have not, will not, take of his blood. Go look for yourself and you will see that I am telling you the truth. I will not violate the pact, not even for him.

“But you can no more tell him who to love than your father could with you. I've been dealing with your family for a century, Tobias, at times I think I know you better than you do yourselves.”

“You haven't tasted of him?”

“I gave my word to your grandfather.” I shrugged. “And I keep my word. For one like me, that is a currency that can't be devalued, you know that.”

“Yet you still play with my son.”

Ahh, and there is the WORD, Tobias.” I smiled again. “Playing. But am I simply playing, or is it more? And before you say anything, I'm still working that out, but I assure you that your son is safe from my more sanguine proclivities. As is the rest of your family from any of mine or Wisteria's. If one of ours dares to violate the pact I would end them, and quickly.”

I had done that in the past, even in his lifetime, so he couldn't argue that point.

“Now,” I pleasantly went on, “I'm anxious to sample the new addition to this wonderful establishment's menu, if you don't mind.”

Eating solid, human food was difficult, but I covered that by tasting, moving things around on my plate, and effusively complimenting the chef, and staff.

And we finally finished the real business that had made this meeting necessary.

Keeping the peace in Ravencrest was nowhere near as easy as one would think just from looking at the town and its inhabitants.

In fact, it was far harder than it would have been in most small towns.

But it was something I, Tobias Locke, his father and grandfather, had worked to maintain for many years.

I had just finished making Cyrus' death look like an accident when I sensed another presence in the room. Turning slowly, I saw a distinguished older man looking first to the body then to me.

Theodore Herman Locke stood there simply taking in the tableau without saying a word for a few moments. “Who are you and what happened here?”

“I am Carmilla DuLac.” I introduced myself, ready to kill the man to preserve the secret of what really had happened that evening. “I know who you are, Mr. Locke, but why are you here now? Was that one important to you for some reason?”

At my gesture towards Cyrus' cooling and mostly drained body he snorted. “Only that I came to do to him what you already seem to have accomplished Vampire.”

“Oh?”

“He violated one of mine.” Theodore answered. “I was coming to make certain he didn't do that to anyone else and I should have intervened long ago.”

“Well, that seems to have been taken care of, sir.” I smirked to see what his response was. While noting that his presence literally filled that large room even when he was quiet.

He returned my smirk with a wry grin and nod. “That it has. What happened here?”

“He became overcome with his lust and tripped on the stairs.” I answered simply.

“While following you, I would imagine.”

“Of course, sir.” I nodded then put on a contrite expression. “I was so shocked and horrified when he managed to miss the stairs and fall over the banister. I should actually be screaming in my distress now.”

“Feel free to avoid that.” He said with a chuckle. “My old ears are fading but your anguished screams in this place would probably hurt them in spite of that fact.”

“Then of course I will refrain from disturbing your tranquility.” I smiled. For some reason I actually liked this man.

“I would appreciate that.” He gave me a faint smile in return then asked quite bluntly. “What is it you are doing here in Ravencrest?”

“Making a home.” I shrugged. “Since you know what I am, my maker angered someone, Someone powerful, who cursed us to stay in this town. Believe me when I say I want no conflict with anyone here, and will work to blend us into the usual society as painlessly as possible.”

“Touch one of mine and that will be impossible.” He told me as his bright blue eyes bored into me as if trying to penetrate my soul, or what I had left of one.

“I had already noted how 'protective' you and the elders in your family are of your own.” I answered. “I swear to you that they will be safe from me, mine, and any others that come after, though before you demand it, I do intend to severely limit our numbers and prohibit needless killing. To keep the peace, you understand.”

“And what would you do if one of yours did try taking one of mine?”

I gave him a direct look, which was something women in that time rarely did with a man, and answered simply. “I will kill them for you.”

“I'll hold you to that promise Vampire.” He told me.

“I always keep my promises, sir.” I responded.

“Come see me Monday, Ten O'clock.” He nodded. “We should firm up this pledge and I need to ascertain just what you plan doing in this town.”

“I will be there, sir.” I lowered my eyes in a proper feminine acknowledgment. “I look forward to it.”

“For some reason, so do I, lady.” He answered, then was gone as quickly as he'd appeared.

Now that was an interesting man. I actually was looking forward to our meeting.

So The Pact between Wisteria's and mine was made with the most powerful family in the area.

---

 

The next morning a messenger arrived at our house informing me that I would be provided with a ride to my meeting with Theodore Locke.

Thus telling me that he had been entirely serious about our meeting, though I hadn't doubted that the previous night at all. I had gotten the impression during our short meeting the night before that Theodore Locke was a man who was well used to his 'suggestions' being taken as commands.

In response, I was very careful about preparing myself for this meeting.

I had put on a simple blouse, with a high lace collar and set a cameo brooch at my throat, as was the fashion in these times, then struggled into the rather confining skirt that social mores demanded of a woman in this era. It hugged my hips tightly, and widened only slightly before it reached my ankles. It was of course, violet silk so wasn't all that uncomfortable to wear. And contrasted quite nicely with the pristine white of my rather plain blouse, though that did nothing at all to discount the feminine charms it contained. Amusing. One can appear to be completely proper and still give hints of the wanton beneath the image.

My maid buttoned up my shoes, since with the required corset, bustle, and tight skirt doing it myself was pretty well out of the question. And such pretty little shoes they were. Leather dyed a violet that matched the skirt, with the delicate pointed toes and little heel that was in fashion, they also implied that even though feminine that I was a woman to take seriously. None of those ridiculous high heels that some women wore, just practical and still pretty.

Add a tight silk jacket that matched the skirt, and cute little hat with a veil that fell to just below my nose, a violet silk purse that was attached to my wrist with a bit of gold colored cord, and I was fit to meet royalty.

However, I knew that this meeting with Theodore Locke would be far more important than a meeting with simple royalty. Survival depended on it. Mine, Josephine's, and Wisteria's.

So of course I was going to look my best for that meeting.

Imagine my delight when the 'ride' turned out to be one of the new motorcars.

The thing was noisy, smelly, and to be honest, a good team of horses could have outpaced it.

But it was a motorcar! The first I'd ever ridden in.

Riding in a conveyance that had no horses pulling it was a thing that amazed and delighted me.

I spent the ride looking forward to see the horses that weren't there, and starting in shock at the bangs the vehicle made off and on. But the ride was the most fun I'd had in years, and I still recall it fondly.

I was almost giddy when the coachman — driver he was called when managing this belching, stinky monster — helped me down from the marvelous machine.

Many of my kind abhor the new, but I embraced it. Not only embraced, but gloried it it. That simple ride in a primitive automobile shaped me for a lot of things in the future. Since that day I have never feared new things, and most of the time enjoy them a great deal.

Ahh, what a grand ride that was.

“Did you enjoy your ride, Miss Du Lac?” Theodore Locke asked once I had been ushered into his private study.

“Very much, so.” I gave him a smile and took the seat he had gestured me to. “How do those wondrous machines move without being pulled?”

“They burn cleaning fluid, believe it or not.” He chuckled. “Gasoline it is called, but the mechanics of how that is done is well beyond me. I am happy that you found your transport enjoyable.”

“I have seen many things, experienced as many,” I smiled at him, “but I will be forever be fond of you for allowing me to have that one. It was exhilarating in a way that lacks description.”

“Yes it is.” He nodded with a boyish grin.

I knew I liked this man the first time I'd seen him, and now was even more sure of it.

“Sherry?” He watched me closely as he poured two drinks into delicately blown little goblets.

“Thank you.” I answered while accepting the drink he had offered, sniffing the bouquet, then taking a delicate sip. “This is very good.”

He noted that I really had swallowed some of his offering and gave me a slightly thin smile. “It is good to know that you can appear to be human.”

“I was human once.” I returned his regard with a direct look, and sighed. “I can even eat mortal food, if in small quantities. Have I passed your test?”

“That one.” He nodded and gave me a genuine smile. “I'll know more once we've had lunch, Miss du Lac.”

“My name is Carmilla.” I nodded at his ploy and gave him a smile I hoped was winning. “Please feel free to use it. You have shown me a hospitality that I've rarely seen when someone actually knows what I am.”

“Thus far, you have done nothing to warrant less, Miss DuLac.” He answered me while looking straight into my eyes. Once again I had the feeling that those eyes were reading my soul, if I even had one left. I hadn't really thought about that for over eighty years by then. “You told me last night that you and your 'sisters' are stuck here. How did that come about?”

“Truthfully.” I let out a sigh. “I haven't the slightest idea. Other than my 'older sister' managed to finally anger someone powerful enough to curse her, and us, then make that curse work.”

“I'll look into that, if you like.” He nodded, still watching me carefully.

“Anything you could find would be most appreciated, sir.” I answered quite honestly. “To tell the truth, being caught in one place, no matter the size, for who knows how long is a very daunting prospect for me.”

“I imagine it would be.” He said with a thin smile. “So if this 'curse' can't be broken, what are your intentions here in Ravencrest?”

“To blend in.” I answered simply. “To not draw undue attention to me or my sisters, to not upset the people in power here if that is possible, and foremost, to help the town prosper as much as it is within my ability to do so.”

“Why would you do that last one?”

“Oh, please.” I actually laughed. “Like you, I have no wish to be surrounded by poverty and misery in the place I live. Believe me, I've seen far too much of that already.”

“So I might be right in thinking that the sudden rather large endowment to our local college is something you would be responsible for?” He questioned, though it was clear it wasn't much of a question on his part.

“A good school would benefit the whole town.” I shrugged, acknowledging that without actually saying I had been responsible. “It would draw in business from the students, their families at times, and only enhance the reputation of the town as a whole.”

“And what if people around here would not wish for that kind of reputation, or a flood of students coming in every year?”

“Oh, come now, sir.” I gave him a direct look, again something that more or less took him by surprise given the way things were in those times. “The Academy is a very small school, and truthfully, I don't see it becoming a really large institution. Oh, I'm sure it will expand with time and proper guidance, but it will never come close to rivaling the universities in New York city, or the other large towns.”

“Quality rather than quantity.” He nodded thoughtfully then actually smiled. “I can see that well enough, but are you up to managing that kind of thing, given your nature?”

“You and yours deal with your own natures.” I shrugged, letting him know that I knew what he and his family were. “We would be poor residents if we couldn't maintain that same kind of restraint, would you not think?”

“True enough.” He gave a small nod then again let his eyes, those magnificent eyes, bore into me again. “But will your elder agree with the constraints that we are likely to work out regarding this?”

“My mother,” I let out an annoyed sigh, “got us into this mess and she will agree. Besides, I have been handling our 'family' business and negotiations with others for nearly a century, sir. Any agreement I make will be honored by the other two and any subsequent — children.”

“Yes, regarding that.”

Then came the real bargaining. I happily agreed to limiting our numbers, and to refrain from killing townsfolk or students unless absolutely necessary.

At his skeptical look I laughed again and shook my head. “Oh, Theodore Tobias Locke, surely you know that even though we require blood to survive, we are not rapacious demons who drain everyone around us. A bit here, a bit there will suffice nicely, and I assure you that our 'victims' will not only survive, but have some very 'interesting' memories of the encounters even if they are vague.”

“But your new ones are precisely that. I mean rapacious demons.” He answered while giving me a pointed look.

“Yes, but that can be controlled.” I answered. “All we need do is have a suitable supply of blood available that doesn't involve attacking any person they might encounter. The initial blood lust fades after a few weeks in most cases.”

“If it doesn't?” He questioned.

“Then we will eliminate the ones who are unable to adjust.”

He stared at me for a few moments, then nodded. “I do believe you, Miss DuLac.”

“I always honor my promises and agreements, sir.” I said softly. “I can afford to do nothing less given what I am. If people I am working with can't trust my word, then I would truly deserve to die, do you not think? I was a noble in my first life, and even then I honored my agreements, though that was not at all expected or required in the times I was born to.”

“I can see that in you.” He nodded. “I can clearly see the honor, the sense of ethics in you. I saw that last night. French?”

“Originally.” I nodded with a faint smile. “Though the times I grew up in were not pleasant for a lot of titled people.”

“You have a mix of accents, dear lady.” Jeremy nodded. “But French is the one that underlies all of them. And you are giving me a lot of information you really should be careful with right now.”

“If I am to live peaceably in this town,” I shrugged, “That is the best way I can show you that I am sincere about everything else, sir. You and yours could kill us, we both know that. But a lot of innocents could die in the doing. That is something I would really prefer to avoid if at all possible.”

“I would prefer to avoid that as well.” He nodded, then gave me a genuine smile. “And my name is Theodore.”

“ As I have told you already, Mine is Carmilla.” I smiled back.

Odd, the reason for why I'd killed the former headmaster of the school never came up in that conversation. Nor that I was now the Headmistress.

And Ravencrest Academy also received a rather large endowment from the Lockes shortly after that conversation. Though the rough patches in that relationships were far from over.

“You do understand my caution regarding you and your 'sisters'.” Theodore told me while raising a beautiful goblet filled with an exquisite port once we had finished our meal. I raised my own and gently touched his with it.

“My kind are uncomfortable neighbors, I know.” I took a delicate sip of the wine then nodded. “Many of us have no discipline, and do tend to get — overwhelmed with the blood. And the lust for it.

“I was guilty of such things for my first fifty years.” I told him then smiled with a delicate shrug that gave a very enticing hint of my breasts beneath my blouse. “But I have learned control, sir. As has my own daughter Josephine.”

“And the other?”

I gave him a direct look again, in response to his direct question. “My mother will abide so long as she is able to feed. She will not kill, I promise you, and those she uses will not remember they were so used.”

“Can you guarantee that?”

“I have, in no uncertain terms informed her that we are far from the top of the food chain here.” I let out a sigh. “And that any number of people here could destroy us with what amounts to a wave of a hand. She does understand survival.”

“Would you,” he paused while sipping at his wine, “be able to — eliminate the problem that she could be if things come to that?”

That question made what I had left of a heart go cold and skip a few beats. But again survival was paramount, and I knew that, and that yes, I would do my best to stop my maker if her actions endangered that even though she was older and definitely stronger than I was.

“I want to live, Theodore.” I answered quietly. “I want my children to live.”

“Is that your answer?” He asked.

“Yes.” I nodded with a heavy heart once I realized that I would even try to kill my maker and likely die in that attempt to preserve myself and my children.

He looked at me, for more than a few breaths, then nodded. “You aren't like the Vampires I've heard of.”

“I wouldn't know.” I shrugged. “I have not met any others of my kind. Other than my Mother and the daughter that I made.”

“You are looking forward.” He nodded. “Not simply working in what is now.”

“Is that wrong?”

“No,” he shrugged, “Just unusual for your kind.”

“I never fit the rules when I was human.” I had to chuckle. “So why would I be different now?”

“Indeed, dear lady.” He smiled. “You are most unconventional for your kind.”

“I just want to live in peace, sir.” I answered then added. “But I would much prefer to do that well and in comfort.'

His answer was a laugh.

Theodore and I were friends from then till his untimely death. Which I mourned, but wasn't able to let his family know beyond the usual condolences from a business associate. In the few years I knew him, the patriarch of the Lockes and I became very good friends.

His death hit me as hard as it did his family.

As a result, I have always had a soft spot for the Lockes, and for some reason most of them not only tolerated me, but considered me a friend and ally.

And even if I was outclassed in power, I was still strong enough to be someone who could influence the direction the town of Ravencrest took. And the other invisibles knew that I had allies who would defend me and mine if there was no reason to attack us.

So the balance was struck.

And my kind became an accepted part of the puzzle that Ravencrest is.

My cell phone woke me from a restful sleep I'd just really gotten into.

Grumbling, I sat up, checked the number that was calling, and answered it. My personal phone number wasn't something that many people had, and a call at this time of day meant it was important. Or it had better be.

“Hello?” I answered.

“We need to talk.” Tobias Locke's voice answered.

“Now?” I asked.

“Now.” He affirmed. “Meet me at the country club in an hour.”

The connection closed and I sat there fuming for a few seconds. I hadn't had a call like that from him since his son Terrance decided I was the love of his life. Something that was awkward enough for me in any case, but was compounded by the hidden politics in Ravencrest.

Even then the current patriarch of the Locke family had been polite,inviting me to dinner. This time he was abrupt, and there was no doubt the invitation was a command.

Tobias may not like me much, for reasons the he finds valid even if they are wrong, but he was always carefully polite with me, observing the accepted social mores. But not this time.

Something was wrong, badly wrong, and I knew it had something to do with the girls in the house.

“Damn.” I breathed then started getting myself presentable.

I did a quick check on the girls, to see if one of them had done something to violate the pact, but found nothing there. Even Pandora gave me a shocked and honestly innocent look when I asked her if she had tried taking a were.

Then I checked the local news.

Oh, shit.

Two very drained bodies had turned up in town over the past few days, and it was clear to anyone who knew about how things really were in town that a vampire had been responsible. Though that wasn't mentioned in the mundane news. The Invisible news was a different matter and speculation was rife, and not all that favorable for us.

The one thing in our favor was that the victims were female. I knew none of my girls went after other girls that way. So I left the house, and drove to the country club with as much curiosity as trepidation.

“You've seen the news?” Tobias asked me once we had taken the obligatory sip of wine in the private room we were meeting in.

“Yes.” I nodded. “It's been so quiet lately I hadn't checked for a few days. I won't let that happen again, I promise you.”

“One of yours is out of control.” He actually glared at me.

“No they aren't.” I glared back. “My girls don't kill girls. Or even drink from them. It's hard to explain if you don't feel it, but females just don't taste right to us and are nowhere near as satisfying as a male. Besides, none of my girls has killed anyone in sixty years. And that one was insane, and met her end at my hand.”

“You're sure of that?” He favored me with another gimlet stare.

“Yes.” I answered shortly, working to hold my temper in as hard as he obviously was. “I canvased all the girls after your call. No one of mine did this.”

“It's one of your kind.”

“Obviously.” I nodded. “But not one of mine.”

“Fortunately, the witches agree with you.” He sighed. “My family is out on a very thin limb here because of our alliance with you and yours. If you go down because of this, we would suffer.”

“I don't want that to happen any more than you do, Tobias.” I honestly told him. “I''m very fond of your family and have considered you all as friends for a long time. I would never do, or condone anything that would harm you and yours. You know that.”

“Then find the one who is doing this.”

“Oh, I will.” I said without a shred of doubt in my voice. “And he will either leave or die once I find him.”

“Can you do that with one like you who isn't in your family?”

“If not, I will die trying.” I answered with a shrug. “I value the alliances, and friendships I've forged in this town. Someone, something, threatening that is a thing that I won't tolerate if I'm able to stop it, or at least find it and point the more powerful to the problem.”

“How will you find him?”

“My girls and I have appearing human, even to other supernatural beings, down to an art, Tobias.” I shrugged. “The few vampires who have passed through here never even knew we were here. We'll find him.”

“Do that.” He nodded and actually gave me a rare smile. “More than your own will suffer if you don't. But I'm sure that you will manage.”

“It's what I do, dear.” I nodded with a smile when he flinched at my form of address.

“Then make sure you do.” He nodded then picked up a menu. “The Parisian chicken is quite good.”

The meeting was over. The two of us exchanged pleasantries and thinly veiled barbs through the meal, which was normal. And the chicken was exquisite. I found myself wishing I could actually do more justice to it than just taste and move things around on my plate.

“What exactly should we be looking for again?” Josephine asked while she and I seemed to aimlessly wander through some of the less well lit, okay darkest, parts of the town. At my roll of the eyes, she shook her head and raised a placating hand. “Okay, okay, I know it's a male of our kind, but hasn't anyone given out even a vague description of the guy? You know, tall, short, light, dark, anything at all?”

“No.” I grimaced then took another look around the dingy little area we were in. It held some old warehouses and storage facilities, and a lot of poorly lit open ground interspersed with sagging fences, the odd piece of junk that hadn't been cleaned up by the town fathers and not much else. “Just that someone, something, is killing humans — females — and it looks like one of our kind is doing it.”

“Does that mean you think it isn't one of our kind?” She questioned.

“Maybe.” I shrugged. “I've felt someone out here, but it's pretty vague as to what exactly it is other than it is undeniably male and undisciplined for the most part. Other than being able to hide himself, which is a puzzle itself.”

“Some of us are just naturals with certain things, you know.” Josephine shrugged. “Maybe that's this one's particular talent. Obscuring himself.”

“I was kind of hoping that wasn't the case.” I grimaced then let out a sigh. “But it makes sense given the situation and how hard he is to track down.”

Aaaak! The mental yell of shock reached us both at the same time. We had almost all the girls out searching and that one sounded distressingly familiar.

“Why did it have to be Pandora?” I groaned as her shock turned to outrage and incredulity then laughter.

My eldest daughter and I didn't waste time with more words, just moved as fast as we could, and our kind can rival weres in the speed we can maintain, to where our senses told us Pandora was.

The tableau we found once we arrived was surreal enough that I could understand why Pandora was nearly in hysterics she was laughing so hard.

She was still on the ground, but sitting up and holding her stomach from all the laughter she couldn't contain. That she was in danger probably never entered her mind at all. We all knew that particular daughter wasn't really wrapped too tight, as they say, but she was usually cute about it. And generally aware of potential danger even at her worst.

The figure who was currently the object of my daughter's amusement stood in front of her still wearing a partially outraged and totally perplexed expression on his face. Drawing the long, flowing cloak around his shoulders then flinging it back dramatically he glared at Pandora and showed his fangs. Which only got the girl laughing even harder.

“You DARE laugh at ME?” He shouted and started to move forward threateningly.

Pandora shook her head and waved him off, still laughing and completely ignoring the facts that the object of her amusement was over six feet tall, well muscled, and was a male vampire who wasn't happy at all with her reaction to his self proclaimed magnificence, or whatever.

I found myself really wishing that something simple like aspirin would work on my kind at that moment because I really felt a headache coming on. “Why me?”

But... Business first, then I could find a wall to bang my head against. Josephine and I glided out of the darkness to confront the guy, who had the obligatory bad horror movie slicked back hair and widow's peak and stood to either side of Pandora, who was still giggling.

He swirled his cloak and hissed at us. Actually hissed like a snake then glared at all of us. “This isn't over.”

Then did what he thought was a vanishing act into the deeper shadows.

“Follow that dufus and make sure he doesn't kill anyone else.” I sighed and waved Jo on. See if you can find his 'lair' while you're at it.”

“What do you want me to do when I catch him?” She asked.

“I dunno, throw some garlic at him or something.” I grumbled. “Just either find where he goes to ground at daylight, or get him to the house somehow.”

“And keep him from killing anyone else.”

“Right.” I answered while dreading the reactions the calls I needed to make would generate.

And I had thought Pandora was bad.

---

 

“Tobias, I said into the phone, feeling a bit better about things because I'd made him get up when he usually slept. “We've found the problem.”

He sounded a bit more awake. “And you couldn't wait till morning to tell me this?

“You woke me up when I usually sleep to complain about the problem.” I reminded him. “And I told you that I'd find out what it was and get back to you once I had.”

Revenge can be so sweet, especially when how one gets it is justified by circumstances.

“And?” He asked, still annoyed, which amused me for some reason.

“It's a male of our kind who just wandered into town.” I answered, carefully keeping the amusement out of my voice. “My daughters are chasing him down now. I don't think he'll have time to feed tonight even if we don't catch him.”

“And if you don't?” Tobias questioned irratably. “Catch him tonight, I mean.”

“Then there will be tomorrow night.” I answered with a smirk he couldn't see. Fortunate because that would have enraged the man. “He won't feed tonight, he tried it on one of my daughters and she was in hysterics by the time we got there.”

“If one of yours was hysterical after meeting this one, that doesn't bode well, Carmilla.”

“Oh, I did forget to mention that she was laughing so hard she couldn't do anything, didn't I?” I sweetly put in. “The fellow is, in modern terms, a dork. We'll find him, and keep him too busy to feed until we do.”

“See that you do.” He told me.

“Yes, dear.” I answered then closed the connection, knowing that last answer would infuriate him but unable to resist saying it anyway.

My phone started buzzing within a few seconds of my closing the connection. I looked at the number calling and didn't answer it. That was a dangerous game with a family as powerful as the Lockes, but then again that family and I have enjoyed a very amicable and profitable relationship for many years. It would survive a temper tantrum from their patriarch, since others in the family would hold him back.

Especially since his dislike of me was based on false assumptions that the rest of his family were aware of.

“It's your fault!” A furious teenager screamed at me while I was attending a Locke family function on the Fourth of July.

“What is my fault?” I asked a red faced Tobias Locke, though I thought I knew what he was going to say.

“My mother left because of you!” He screamed. “You were messing around with Dad and she left because of that!”

I had never done a thing but do business with his father, tempting as that might have been. Emotional attachments like that were detrimental to the well being of the delicately balanced agreements I'd managed to forge since we had come to Ravencrest. “I did no such thing.”

“Yes you did!” He shouted, making a scene that people were having a hard time ignoring. “I've seen how he looks at you, and how you look at him! I'm not stupid!”

The truth was that his mother couldn't deal with who and what the Lockes were. I had heard rumors for the reason but was still wondering why a clan of Weres would take human women as mates, but Tobias' father and I had never coupled. His mother just was unable to handle the realities of the family she had married into.

But Tobias wasn't sixteen yet, and from tradition, and biology, the boy didn't yet know what his family truly was and I couldn't tell him.

For one thing, it wasn't my place, and for another, he wasn't old enough to know that kind of thing.

Even after he came of age, Tobias still quite stubbornly insisted that I was the reason his mother had left him.

Hard headed and reluctant to give up on a long held idea, like all his family, that man.

Still, I was as fond of him as I had been of his father and grand fathers. Even if he did get annoying at times.

Shaking myself out of that memory, I started going over some paperwork and online information regarding my investments outside of Ravencrest. After all, that money kept the sorority funded, still endowed the college, and was available to make getting out on their own much easier for my daughters, and Wisteria's, who left to see the wider world.

A knock on my door pulled my attention away from that and I called out. “Come in!”

“We caught him, mother.” Josephine told me once she'd entered.

“Give you much trouble?” I asked.

“He's good at dodging and hiding, but not good enough.” My oldest daughter smirked. “He also seemed shocked then outraged at the idea of 'mere' females running him down. His words, not mine.”

“Why doesn't that surprise me?” I shook my head and stood up after saving my work and shutting down the computer. “May as well get this over with, I think. Take me to him.”

Less than a minute later I was led into one of our 'interview' rooms to see a rather disheveled male seated in a chair with Dani and another of my children flanking him.

“Another woman.” He sighed then actually sneered. Honestly I'd never seen anyone do that before. It was a twist of his lip, a combination of raising one side of his mouth like with a grin and lowering the other like in a frown. “Where is the one in charge here?”

“I'm in charge.” I looked at him and shook my head. My name is Carmilla Dulac. Yours is?”

“Drago Tepes.” He told me with a completely straight face.

“Your real name.” I shrugged and gave him a cold smile. “The one you were born with?”

“I told you my name, girl.” He shot back with an arrogance that was at best offensive and at worst almost deriding.

“Suit yourself.” I shrugged and gave him a nasty little smile. “But you will keep a civil respectful tongue in your mouth if you want to keep it.”

With I that I moved forward with the speed my kind was known for and had said part of his body between fingers and thumb while watching his eyes widen in shock and fear.

“Now that we have that part out in the open,” I tilted my head and looked at him. “Do you think you can do that now?”

He nodded which was about all he could do since had a nice firm grip on his tongue.

“Good.” I let him go and walked a few paces away before turning to look at him again and shaking my head. “You could have gotten away with this in just about any other town or city, you know. But not here.”

“What makes this town different than any other?” He asked and the arrogance was coming back.

“Because in Ravencrest,” I looked at him and shrugged, “people will kill you for doing what you've been doing.

“Not that I care about that.” I again used my speed to move forward and tightly gripped his chin while giving it a little squeeze. “There are forces in this town that you have no conception of. Draining and leaving dead bodies behind you has made things a bit troublesome for me.

“There are some very delicate agreements in place here, and you have violated every one of them that I made, with people who could end you without even working hard to do it.

“Worse.” I ran a fingernail down his cheek, drawing blood and watching how quickly, or slowly, it healed. “You've managed to get me in trouble with those people. You have no idea what you're dealing with here, Drago.”

“I am untouchable.” He responded, which earned him a nice hard slap to the cheek.

“No one is untouchable.” I looked at him and shook my head. “Even a well prepared mortal could kill you, or any one of us under the right conditions. I, on the other hand, don't need to prepare, or wait for favorable conditions. Give me any more blustering and trouble and I'll kill you. Right here, right now.”

“You wouldn't dare.” He growled trying to stand up, but restrained by Dani and Josephine, which seemed to surprise him.

“When it comes to the welfare of my children,” I picked up a wooden tent peg, ran a hand over it and looked at him, “I would dare a lot. Killing you would be nothing to some of things I've had to do. Get that through your thick skull right now, child. Posturing, threatening, blustering, don't impress me at all.

“So.” I still held the sharpened stake of oak and gave him a smile. “Which would you prefer? Talking, with a chance at survival, or this?”

“You females are out of your proper place.” He grimaced as I lifted the stake, then held out his hands. “I'm a male, every female I made has deferred to me.”

“That,” I shrugged, “is not because of you being male, but because you are their maker. You have children? Like us?”

“Yes.” He nodded.

“Where are they?” I asked, worried that even more 'rogue' vampires were loose in town.

“I don't know, I left them behind when I moved on.”

My hand was around his throat before I even realized I'd moved. “You made children then abandoned them? Did your own maker not teach you better?”

He was uncomfortable with my grip and I could tell it hurt him. He tried knocking my hand away, then twisting to get out of the grip, but I just held on, staring at him with more contempt than I'd felt for anything, anyone in my life.

“They were useless to me.” He answered.

My grip on his throat tightened and I actually lifted him out of the chair for a moment and enjoyed watching his legs kick and him trying to pry my hand loose from his throat.

“You don't, you never ever Make another of us and just leave them.” I snarled and threw him against the wall. “If you want them dead, just drain them, don't give them your blood.

“Don't move, don't twitch, don't even lift an eyebrow.” I told him then held two fingers up like I was holding something very small. “I'm this close to killing you now so you would do well to sit there and keep that mouth of yours shut unless you need to answer a question. Clear?”

He nodded, still a bit dazed from hitting a stone wall.

“Better.” I told him, then gestured to the chair. “Get up and sit down, only that and no tries at tricks. I would much prefer to keep this discussion at least half way civilized if possible.”

He got the message and gingerly got to his feet then made a shaky progress back to the chair he'd been seated in without so much as a word.

“Better.” I watched him for a moment, noticing that he was very nervous about more than simply having been caught by other vampires who didn't seem all that friendly towards him.

“Is something bothering you?” I asked. “Besides the obvious, I mean.”

“My coffin.” He weakly answered. “I have to get back to my coffin.”

“Coffin.” I drew in a breath and shook my head wondering just where the guy had gotten his knowledge about being one of our kind. “Why?”

“I need to lie on my native earth.” He answered as if I should have understood that from the start.

“Native earth, coffins...” I closed my eyes for a moment then looked at him again. “Did your Maker teach you anything about being one of us? We sleep in beds, not coffins, and sleeping on dirt is not something most of us like to do at the worst of times. What did your Maker teach you?”

“Nothing.” He spat out then began to look a bit forlorn. “She was killed several days after she changed me. I've been on my own since then.”

'Well then.” I was actually starting to feel sorry for the guy. “I can see that you need to learn some of the basics at least, if you'll let us teach you. Trust me, Bram Stoker was an idiot who simply made things up and used them because they sounded good, and all those vampire movies? Pure foolishness.

“You might just survive your visit to Ravencrest, if you listen to us and pay attention to the things we tell you. If not, you'll die. If not here, then somewhere else because there are humans who know about us and are dedicated to killing us. Your choice, but no one other than you can make that decision.” I told him a much gentler voice than I'd used up to then. A tyro, days old, left on his own. It was a wonder that he had survived at all.

“You're serious?” He asked, forgetting what I'd told him about speaking without being asked, but given what I'd just learned, I was a bit more inclined to show some mercy.

Dani patted his shoulder gently and grimaced. “Oh yeah. Believe me, the idea of sleeping in a coffin is creepy enough, but on dirt? Eww. I've never slept in anything but a bed in either of my lives and no one else here has either. Except for you. Okay maybe I've slept on a floor when I had a really bad day. Things happen, you know.”

“You're serious, aren't you?” He looked at Dani, Josephine, then me with a puzzled look on his face.

“I have been a vampire since the 1790's.” I answered then kind of smirked. “And never once have even sat in a coffin, though I have slept on the ground a few times. But I've never had a need to carry around dirt from where I was born, and neither have any others here, or elsewhere. That would be awkward, expensive, and very annoying, actually.”

“It is kind of a bitch.” He gave a small nod. “But you really expect me to believe all this? Just on your word?”

I looked at the time and gave him a look. “Have you seen a sunrise since you were Made?”

“No.” He answered and horror started to show in his expression as he thought about what I'd said.

“Get the sunscreen, Josie, and let's show him.” I stood up while gesturing at the door.

“That will kill me!” He gasped out, clearly terrified.

“Well, if it kills you, it'll kill us too.” Dani cheerfully told him, then confided. “I really like watching the sun come up.”

“We'll be right there with you.” I told him with some amusement. Okay, he didn't know anything at all about being one of us other than the blood drinking, but he had caused me more than a little trouble, so making him squirm wasn't something that bothered me all that much. And yes, I know I'm a bitch, so don't say it. “So if the sun kills you, it will kill us, too.”

It took Dani, Josephine, and me to drag him outside, then tie him to a bench that faced the east. As the sky lightened, Josie winked at him and Dani got out a pair of sunglasses. Before she put them on, she offered them to him. “Kind of girly, I know, but they'll help if you haven't been out in daylight for awhile.”

He refused them and it took all three of us to hold him down on the bench as the sun started to show on the horizon. He started to scream, but Dani, with her speed, clamped a hand over his mouth as the sun slowly rose over the mountains to bathe us all in warm, yellow/red light.

Once it was fully up I lifted an eyebrow and grinned at him. “Hmm. You didn't burn to ash and neither did we. How about that? Looks like it's going to be a beautiful day, too.”

He was shaking, then incredulous, then just watched us and other things for a few minutes through squinted eyes before turning to Dani and asking. “Umm, could I borrow those sunglasses now?”

We sat there watching the day start and the stirrings of life that daylight brought with it. Oh, the night has its own share of life and a rich one, but the creatures of the day were different.

“Five years.” He sighed. “It's been five years since I've seen this.”

“Then I take it you're at least willing to listen to us about the other things?” I questioned.

“Yeah.” He nodded, then said. “Lewis Donovan.”

“Who is that?” I asked.

“Me.” He gave an embarrassed little shrug and a sheepish smile. “I thought vampires had to have impressive, scary names.”

“We can.” I nodded then shrugged myself. “It's just easier to use the names we already had, or to simply change them to fit the area and situation.

“Hello, Lewis Donovan.” I gave him a smile and gestured to the house. “Are you ready to go back in yet?”

He wasn't, so we just sat on that bench for another half an hour as he soaked in the sunlight, and the activities of a kind of life he hadn't seen for years.

Lewis stayed with us for a bit more than two weeks. In that time he actually learned restraint in his feedings, and that bottled, or bagged blood would sustain him, too. Though that lesson was more than a little amusing all by itself.

“It tastes like plastic!” He grimaced after biting into the bag of blood I'd given him.

“That's because you just bit into a plastic bag.” I pointed out. “Drink the blood, it does taste a bit odd, but it will sustain you in a pinch.”

“It's cold.” He complained once he had emptied the bag.

“That's what microwave ovens are for.” I grinned at him. “With a good one you can even set what temperature you prefer for your food.”

He put the next bag I gave him into the microwave and was much happier with the results.

“All this?” He looked at the cash, and the cash card I had given him. It amounted to around five thousand dollars and really wasn't all that much but I nodded.

“Everyone deserves a chance to start over.” I shrugged. “That really won't last long, but bright as you are, I'm sure you'll be able to get more when you need it.”

“Yeah, I supposed I could.” He answered thoughtfully.

“That business major you were doing doesn't seem like such a waste now, does it?”

“No.”

“Now go find your daughters, Lewis.” I told him. “Teach them the right way, the safe way, to do things and survive.”

“What if they don't want to learn?” He asked, appearing a little worried about that. “I just left them and to be honest, they were the more headstrong girls I'd run into.”

“Show them.” I grinned. “Like we showed you.”

“If that doesn't work?”

“Children don't always work out well.” I sighed and gave him a sad look.

“I hope mine are smarter than that.” He told me, knowing what I was implying without saying it. He'd seen me end a daughter who couldn't get past her blood lust. “If any of them are still alive, that is.”

“You have told me that your daughters were stubborn, and smart.” I smiled at him. “I'm sure they have managed to survive. After all, you did for five years even laboring under those ridiculous beliefs about what you were and had to do.”

I'd prefer to forget about that.” He grinned back. “But point taken. I'll find them, then do what needs to be done.”

“Good.” I stood up and gave him a hug. “Your bus is ready to leave now. You have my number, and address, so stay in touch. I almost feel as if you are one my own, Lewis.”

“You were the second mother I never had.” He hugged back. “Thanks.”

“Go on, you'll miss your bus.” I frowned at him then gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Be well, Lewis Donovan and be careful.”

“I will, Mother.” He kissed my cheek, picked up his backpack and boarded the bus without another look back. Until the bus started pulling out of the station.

All in all, I thought he was going to do well out in the world, now that he really understood how things worked.

And I felt like he was one of my children.

“You just let him go?!!” Tobias looked outraged at the luncheon we had arranged to finish the affair. “I'm not sure I like that, and the witches won't either.”

“The witches like or dislike whatever they chose.” I shrugged. They were dangerous, yes, but these days I was not without allies. Two Were families, my own and Wisteria's daughters, and a pair of others that were most disturbing though I never mentioned them in any conversation. Trust me, it is much safer that way. “I'll deal with their displeasure if I have to.”

“What about mine?” He glared at me.

“Tobias.” I gave him a gentle smile. “What would happen if one of your own, or any other kind of were came into their heritage alone? Without family and friends to guide them, show them the way, and support them?”

“It has happened in the past.” He stopped his own tirade and answered my question with a thoughtful nod. “I never has come out well.”

“Well, this one,” I took a delicate bite of the smoked salmon on my plate and savored the flavor before going on, “was like a sponge with what we taught him. It wasn't his fault that the one who would have taught him died within days of his making. He had no path other than his own fantasies and a bunch of ridiculous stories to follow. He has learned, and accepted that learning. He deserves a chance, like everyone else does, though I will admit that I came very close to killing him at first.”

“You should have.” Tobias shot back. “Things would be much simpler if you had.”

“Do you kill children just because they don't know any better?” I glared back at him, and he let out a sigh and shook his head. To his credit. Tobias didn't like me at all, for several reasons, but he wasn't a person to kill indiscriminately or to just make life easier.

“You know I don't.”

“Neither do I.” I told him then took a sip of the very fine white Zinfandel I was having with my salmon.

“But he is gone?” Tobias gave me a severe look.

“Of course he is.” I laughed, which got my table mate angry again, but he quelled that. “I don't lie to people, Tobias, you know that. He is gone and if he ever does come back, he will be much more circumspect about it.”

“So you say.” He snorted.

“Exactly.” I agreed.

He wanted to argue, to lash out about that. But he also knew that I kept my word, always. And that in truly serious situations I never lied. Misdirect a bit, yes, but I couldn't do outright bald faced lies about anything.

“I guess I can accept that.” He nodded. “The council probably will, too.”

“Good.” I gave him a dazzling smile. “Thank you for the wonderful luncheon, but I have other things to take care of now. If you have any other questions or doubts, or problems with the council, I know you'll tell me about them.”

“Never doubt it.” He answered with another glare, though this one wasn't as forceful as the others I'd gotten so far in this meeting.

“Oh, no.” I kissed his cheek and left before he could react or say anything.

On the no lying thing. I wasn't about to tell him that I had a dinner date with his son Terrance.

That would just have caused another fight and recently, I'd had enough of those to last me for a while.