Hunted in Darkness

I felt the gentle brush of his hand against my cheek, his fingers soft and caressing. I pretended to stay asleep a moment longer so I could hold onto him in my mind. When my eyes fluttered open he was gone, as he had been for years. The old emptiness filled my heart like a knife stabbing open old scars, for a moment, in my dream, he was there with me again and now he was gone. Emile, my monster and my saint, was the reason I became what I am today.I pulled my petite frame out of the bed and stretched catlike towards the crisp, white ceiling. Ambling towards the bathroom I took in my reflection in the mirror, my crisp emerald green eyes staring back from a pale face framed with reddish brown hair, passable for pretty. The hot water of the shower caressed my body like a hug and I closed my eyes and imagined him again, crystal blue eyes meeting mine for just a second before I forced myself back into reality and tended to my shower activities. Oh, Emile..you remind me of that poem by Sylvia Plath, only the truth is that you were actually a vampire and you did drink my blood for countless years. I can feel it now if I'm very still, pounding in my ears, on your lips like electrified copper when we kissed. I taste death and sweet eternity on those soft lips. Where are you now, Emile, and why can I taste your blood and feel your fingers in my sleep?I use a soft towel to dry off and dress comfortably in a green cotton shift dress, looking perfectly normal and alive, a little pink lipstick and blush complimenting the illusion. I look normal, sane, and functional to the average person, and working nights for the pathology lab at the hospital helps because people expect me to look pale and tired. A vampire with a medical degree seems like a perfectly rational thing when you consider that time isn't an issue anymore, all those years of medical school hardly touch the endless eternity. I've actually held down many careers over the years, some with stolen identities, and others with my own.Unfortunately I'm not on duty tonight, and I have to entertain myself in ways I take for granted when I'm busy with work. That dream was still haunting me, dragging my mind back over a hundred and fifty years ago to a ballroom full of silk and taffeta. I could waltz with the best of those girls, back and forth, down and around. His eyes bore holes through me that night, and I could feel his hand brush the grass colored silk of my gown, tracing the pink embroidered roses at my bosom, I could feel his desire. I was young and foolish, he courted me like a lady, and hunted me like a stag. I can still feel the pressure and pain, hear my own muffled scream in my ears, and taste iron on my lips. I drank greedily and kissed his soft lips, his tongue mingling the taste of his blood and mine in my mouth. I miss his kisses the most, and the strength of his embrace. I wanted to die as much as I wanted to live, and if living forever meant I could take in his scent every day, then I wanted that eternity.My mind travels to a point thirty years ago, I'm dressed in a purple velvet tank top and a short brown mini skirt, in a room with pounding music and lights. I push him away, the hurt and confusion filling those blue eyes. I can taste the stranger's blood on his lips, my beloved Emile, tasting of a stranger, smelling of someone else when his words had promised only to take what we had to have from the people doing harm, but this blood tasted of innocence. His grip on my arm so tight I felt as if bones would snap. The sharp pain in my hand as I slapped him to make him let go. The feeling of the cool night air, full of smoke and rotten trash as he pushed me against the wall behind the club. The threats and angry words. Her body lying behind the dumpster. A shudder fills me as I try to push these memories down. Tears crest and fall involuntarily, as I remember sneaking out of the hotel room as he slept, starting the car, and escaping. Not a day goes by where I don't feel him looking for me.I shudder and wipe the tears. That night I dropped the car off and walked until I reached the door of Oldenfeild and Immerbach, I felt the magic in the door before I saw it, and I knew from rumors that these were people who could make you disappear if you needed to. Their sign advertised a law firm, and they did handle some human law cases, but they also ran an underground for creatures like me, who shouldn't exists and couldn't get away through normal channels. An old and powerful coven of witches founded it during the European witch trials to help hide those who were actually witches, this practice spread to other mythical creatures, werewolves, vampires, fae folk, until everyone knew where to go if you needed to be hidden. Their magic comes at a steep cost, sometimes it's money, blood, artifacts, or unique spell ingredients.My price was a pint of cursed vampire blood and a decade of being their file clerk. They hid me in plain sight, just behind the hand carved doors brought from a castle in Europe decades ago. I learned much in my time with them, and I even made some friends. I felt safe and free during my time helping to disappear the hiddenfolk. My friend Dorthea ran a metaphysical shop and rented me a room upstairs when I wasn't at the offices of O&I. She had powerful wards embedded in the walls and windows, her magic had come from Africa and Haiti, old and powerful as the earth itself. During that time I learned that the relationship I had with Emile wasn't healthy, Dorthea and I spent hours talking about taking back my power and recovering from the cycles of pain and abuse Emile had taught me, She set me on a path to becoming independent and whole.I parted company with her when one night I caught a glimpse of crystal blue eyes and red lips in a crowd near her shop, I couldn't risk him finding out who had helped me and following me there, I had to protect my friend at all costs, so I ran away that night and every ten years or so, this feeling, the dreams, let me know he's still looking, still hunting me. I know he's closing in on me, but this time I felt something else..I struggled to bring my dream back into focus. This time I realized how hunted his own eyes look, and there is something just beyond him, something awful, something... attached. I shudder again as I feel it there, waiting behind him, its eyes full of malice. I realize that he's not hunting me now to try to bring me back, but because something terrible is chasing him too. I see his full red lips mouthing a word, and deep inside of me I know that it is "Help".I poured a red liquid into a glass from the fridge, a mixture of modern science and the real thing keep me sustained these days, along with the occasional blessing from volunteers among the living, straight from warm, soft, yielding bodies. The nourishment seeps into my body and I silently thank those who provided it. The idea of Emile needing my help runs a track though my brain, ticking off the boxes next to each possibility. It could be a trap, or a ruse to find out where I am, it could be true, and if so, what could have him this frightened and what could I possibly do to help. Maybe he deserves whatever is after him after all the harm he's done. I tried to remember if I ever saw Emile afraid of anything, he was by far older and stronger than I was. I only remember a moment when we were in Rome during the summer, what today feels like ages ago, when he glanced over his shoulder and caught his breath, ushering me along faster. We were on a ship to America the next day. I didn't know what had him worried then, I guess I just thought he was tired of our Grand Tour of Europe and wanted a change. It never crossed my mind that he who held me crushed against him so tightly, could fear anything.I wandered around my apartment doing chores, because not even immortality spares us laundry and dishes, unfortunately. Something is sitting uneasily in my heart, but I can't place what it is. I know if I'm cornered, I can fight, but I'm not sure what or who I should be ready to fight. With the household finally in order, I sit down to read a book, but it's impossible to concentrate on the words with this feeling nagging at me. I finally decide to do something I haven't done in forever, I decide to let him speak to me through our internal blood link. I have a stone that I wear at all times, crafted into a silver ring that looks like a dragon, this deep green stone, called Moldavite coupled with a spell crafted into the silver, protect me from psychic links and unwanted energy exchange, a priceless gift from Dorthea, it has protected me from his psychic intrusions for many years now. I take a deep breath and walk outside, down the steps outside of my door and head towards the cemetery a block from my apartment. This place seems appropriate considering who we are and the probably foolish thing I am about to do. The moon is at a full apex and the shadows dance like ghosts. I sit down in front of a large granite obelisk, the soft loam emitting a dank smell of earth and old decay. I cross my legs and lean against the cool stone, solid and reassuring against my back. A deep breath, unneeded but habitual, passes my lips as I slip the ring from my finger and slide it into the pocket of my dress.At first I feel as if nothing has changed, but then I feel the tug, like a radio dial changing stations. Inside my head feels like static as all the feelings of humanity tune in and out of my brain from all around my body. Suddenly though, there is a stillness and silence, immersing me wholly. I'm drowning in it for a moment, and then, a clear voice across a distant wire, "Katinka?" If the rapid beating of my heart still mattered to my dead body, I would have died again, I felt ice filling it and making it too heavy to move inside my chest, but from within myself I willed an answer, "Yes.""Kat?"He's sobbing my name and saying it like a prayer. I wish for a moment I could hold him and calm him, but then I remember with disgust why I'm here and sit quietly, waiting on the rest. "I..I thought I'd lost you forever.."..more sobbing. Is this really the strong vampire who took my life and did those awful things to me as an immortal? "Em, you need to calm down and tell me whats going on." I will myself to say calmly. " Kat, I know what I did, and how I hurt you, I know you'll never forgive me...but can we please meet? I have so much to say..just...please?" I can feel myself sigh, it's not a good idea, and we both know it. " Kat.. please?" hes pleading and there is a desperate edge to his voice. "I need you, Kat, please?" My better judgement is railing against me even as I hear my lips say "Where?"An hour later I'm still cursing myself as I sit huddled over the warmth of unwanted coffee in an all night diner with yellow walls, watching the door with suspicion every time someone crosses the threshold. I feel annoyed with myself as I see him before he sees me, his dark hair has gotten long and he is dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, but those eyes are impossible to forget and they stare into me the way they always have. The yellowed lighting from above makes his skin look sallow and I think I smell old dirt, like the cemetery on his skin. I briefly wonder if he was there too, but dismiss the thought. He sits down almost noiselessly and orders a coffee similar to my own untouched cup from the cheerful and slightly round waitress. I think he's looking at his hands, but it's hard to tell through the shock of hair that hides his normally refined features. When he finally looks back up, I understand why he was looking down, there are tears glistening on the edges of his eyes. Impulsively I reach out and put my hand over his, squeezing gently, before I have a chance to think."Em?" I coax softly, trying to bring him back to reality so he can explain why we're here. The crystalline beacons finally meet mine fully. "Kat, I'm so sorry, about everything...I love you, I really do." I fight my anger and the questions brewing inside of me and instead nod quietly "Kat, I never meant for any of it to happen, I never meant to hurt you, or take that girl, or any of it. I was out of control and I didn't know how to stop. It's not an excuse, I don't have any excuses for what I did to you, I only know that I love you, and I have to keep you safe." his hand now cupped mine, I had forgotten how good it felt to be touched by him. "Emile, safe from what? You?" I pulled my hand back, even as every fiber of my being begged for it to stay wrapped in his. "No, Kat, not from me, from something much worse." his eyes begged for me to believe him, and the pain from not being allowed to keep touching me echoed through our connection. "What could be worse than you, you're the big bad wolf." I looked at him critically while watching my words burn a hole in him. "No, Kat, I'm not even a little pig, this is bad, Kitty Kat, and when it starts huffing and puffing, it's going to blow everything down. I need you to believe me, I need to keep you safe." The tone was forceful though his eyes made me believe more than his words could. "What is this thing that you're so afraid of, Em? We're both monsters, what could be coming for us that we should fear?" I tried to sound sure, but I wasn't, my heart felt an uneasy dread.He paused before giving me his answer "The thing that made us monsters, and the thing that wants to destroy all the monsters like us. There is something out there, something old and dangerous, it brought us into this world and it's been busy taking us out. It's the father of us all, master of my master, and so on, and it's coming for us, for anything like us. It will rip us apart because it has gone mad and thinks that we deserve it. Some of the others are calling it Cain, others The Father, but whatever it is, it's destroying vampires by ripping out their hearts and eating them, it's after me and it's after you. I have to save you, you're all I care about, but I can't do it alone." he was panting with the force of all his words, the heavy information sitting between us. I wanted to call him a liar, but I knew deep in my gut he was telling the truth, I could FEEL it. It explained the two bodies I'd gotten at work that presented as having been dead much longer than the witnesses who found them could account for, they were vampires, and they had been murdered. As Emile paid for our coffees, I walked outside, I felt uneasy and the urge to run away and forget everything he just told me was overwhelming. I felt myself panicking and I just started walking. I looked only at the ground and kept moving forward as quickly as I could, I thought I heard his voice shout my name indistinctly, but my feet kept moving, walking faster and faster before sprinting into a run. I felt so stupid for giving up years of my own peace and safety hidden from him, just to end up in danger again. Tears of confusion and frustration stung my cheeks, but I couldn't stop moving. I'm not sure what I slammed into, but it was hard and knocked the breath out of me. The lights from lamps on the street were spinning around my head and my chest felt so heavy, I felt a coppery substance in my mouth...blood...mine, I think..and the world felt like I was at the bottom of a swimming pool. Suddenly Emile was there, picking me up and cradling me in his arms. I heard his voice talking to someone else, and the other voice faded off. "What happened?" I asked, realizing I was against his chest, being carried. "You decided to run into a parked bus, Kitty Kat, you're always running away from me, and I can't protect you if you keep doing that." I could feel a wave of mortification wash over me "Parked bus?"...He nodded and clutched me tighter. He approached an abandoned looking house and carried me around back. "Kat, I'm taking you to my place where I can look after you for now, it's nearly morning and we both need to rest. We can figure out what to do later. I nodded, the memory of walking into a stationary object still as fresh in my mind as the bruises it would have left if I was still among the normal living. He rattled some keys and unlocked the door to a dark house, the musty earth smell must have come up from the basement because it reached my nostrils and seemed to cover everything. He laid me down on a bed in a room with boarded windows and then walked out. I could hear him locking the door and checking the security of the dingy little house before popping his head back into the room. "Kat, can I sleep in here with you? I'll sleep on the floor, I just...I just want to be near you..is that okay?" I sighed gently " Em, that probably isn't a good idea." I could feel the disappointment, but he left the room and closed the door. I heard him dragging something in front of the door and the squeak of springs as he laid down. I realized he was sleeping on an old couch and guarding my door from anything that might hurt me. The permafrost in my heart melted a little and I secretly felt safer knowing he was there.At some point sleep overtook me and despite the smells and the strange newness of this place, I dreamed. In my dream there were people sacrificing children to a god, an Aztec god, of anger and blood and feathers. Then the god reached out and ripped my heart out. I stood there gazing at my heart in the god's hand as he turned into a serpent and swallowed it. I screamed, but it only looked down on me with a smile, sharp teeth glinting against an unforgiving sun, as my body and blood blistered and boiled I felt hands shaking me and heard my name.. "Kat...Kat...please wake up." I opened my eyes and looked into two deep blue pools, they cooled me instantly. I tasted copper on my lips. More blood....his blood....Emile's familiar blood...our eternal bond....and felt myself slipping back to sleep, his arms wrapping tightly around me, protecting me from the dark god who demands my heart as tribute. Before the sleep takes me completely, I feel his lips brush my cheek softly. Emile the monster, my monster, who loves me eternally but broke my heart and his promises . Life is complicated sometimes.I wake to the sound of breathing against my ear, groggily I try to recall where I am, the dim surroundings I can make out involve a man's arm around my waist. Panic and realization crowd into my foggy brain. Memories of the night spent with the man I swore I'd never see again, fragments of the nightmare pieced themselves together in my brain. The house with boarded windows, the bus, all of it surreal in the twilight. What about my job? My apartment? The life I'd built? What would become of those things now that he was back in my world? What of him, for that matter? Was he going to hurt me, once everything was settled? Why was this awful thing hunting me anyway, after I'd been off the grid for so long? I had all these questions swirling around my brain as I laid there with his body spooned tightly against mine. My own body betraying me by how comfortably it fit against his, like two halves made whole. I studied his hands, delicate with long fingers. He once knew how to play the piano with those long fingers. Had I imagined tasting his blood last night, after the dream or had I fed on him, after all this time drinking him in? I gently lifted his arm, looking for the telltale mark on the soft underside of his wrist. They hadn't had time to heal and fade, what I had tasted was him, copper, iron, dark chocolate, Emile.He stirred for a moment, his hands pulling my hips against him, nuzzling his face in my hair. I could feel him relax again and drift back to sleep once he realized I was still there, safely next to him. I closed my eyes and centered my mind, imagining his blood coursing through my veins, I tried to isolate it, flowing inside of my body. I wanted it to remember where it came from and to show me what I was facing, what his intentions were, but it was too diluted by my own and kept its secrets from me.I drifted back into sleep and the haunting memory of my dream returned, only this time, the god spoke to me, a voice filled with violence and hate, it hissed out " You will all be destroyed, my children where meant to cleanse the earth of its sins, but you failed, and I shall destroy you. You will offer your heart as tribute to cleanse the land now that I have been awakened." I saw in my dream vision, men in an old temple, removing mummies, stirring up the dead and damned in a distant jungle. The bodies of sacrificed, and the body of a god, who fed for generations on the blood of those who worshiped him, until invaders came and the people who worshiped the dark god hid him in a cave below their temple and as the invaders shed their blood in one last accidental sacrifice, they forgot him there. His children, borne of blood given and taken, fled the temple, and with time, they forgot him too. His rage and bitterness at being forgotten filled me until I thought I would break. Some people think vampires came from Cain, when he sinned and shed the blood of his brother, it created a lust for it within him, others think a demon inhabited the body of a man and became trapped there, lusting for blood and death. I don't know how ancient the thing in my dreams is, but I know it thinks it was the first of us.It once had skin the color of burnished bronze, and rich dark eyes, but now it is a shriveled black hulk, restoring itself with hearts from my kind. I could feel its eyes boring through me from the darkness as it killed the men who woke it, as it ripped the heart from a beautiful Latino vampire girl, and ate it. It was coming, that much was certain, and it made whatever Emile had done seem like a lamb by comparison. Em was right, we stood a better chance in numbers, as much as it would be hard to renew the bond with someone I was so frightened of, it would be harder to face dying alone with that .. thing... sneering down at me as it ate my heart. Emile stirred, a groan escaping his lips. His eyes opened and a look of terror crossed his face. The thing in my dream was in his dream too, and when he leaned up to look at me, he knew. "You've seen it, then?" I nodded and he buried his face against me. "Kat, I'm so tired, and I know it's coming, please let me stay by your side for this." I nodded and whispered "Of course" while smoothing his hair. His lips met mine, and I remembered, as his hands caressed my hips, how much I had missed those kisses. I could never forget the way he tasted.The sun was setting, I could feel it in my bones. I stretched and pried myself from his grasp reluctantly and paced the tiny room, looking around for signs that he was living here and not just existing. I found none. There were bottles of water in the kitchen and bathroom for washing up, and flashlights as lamps, but no signs of anything except squatting. My heart ached a little, the beautiful man, with the velvet jackets and soft hands, was living like a rat in a house with no electricity. I would not live like this, and neither would he, I vowed to myself. As if summoned by this thought, he walked into the room."Em, honey, we can't live this way, lets go to my apartment." I saw the panic in his eyes and reached a soothing hand out to stroke his cheek "Em, I have a life, a job, a world, if I just disappear, people will come looking for me. I know you're used to hiding here, but I have a shower, electricity, civility. It's going to look for us and probably find us wherever we go, so let's not die like rats in this hole, okay?" He nodded reluctantly. "I don't have a choice, do I? Fine, let me go pack." Everything he owned fit in a garbage bag, and I found myself embarrassed for him.I was forming the beginnings of my plan as we climbed into a battered looking German luxury car. It was still very German, but had stopped being luxurious somewhere along the way, when the seats gave forth their cracked leather and the paint on the hood began to peel away. I gave him directions, pretending that he probably hadn't stalked me to my doorstep at some point. First on the agenda was a shower, I could feel the musty dankness of that house clinging to me and I wanted it gone. I wanted him to have a hot shower and start to feel like himself again. I wasn't used to this timid version of Emile, and some part of me hoped that it would wash down the drain with the other filth. If we were going to hold our own, we needed each other, we needed friends and allies, but most importantly, we needed to have strength within ourselves. I also knew that we couldn't be the only ones having the dreams, after all, this monster was coming for all the vampires, and maybe some of the other night creatures too, so I would touch base with my contacts at Oldenfeild and Immerbach. I would call Dorthea, too. I would also use my contacts in the human world to help.As we trudged up the steps to my door, I sensed someone there. I was right, a man with his back to me, short with mousy brown hair, knocked timidly at the door. "Doc, please be home, I've tried to call your cell at least a million times." My assistant, Nick, named for Nikolai Tesla. He was a thoughtful young man, and he must have gotten worried when he couldn't reach me. I cursed my decision to leave my phone on the charger last night before walking to the cemetery. Who knew I'd be missing a whole day, and I hadn't thought about it once until now. "Hi, Nick, I'm here." the poor boy almost jumped out of his skin. I could feel Emile bristling behind me, trying to look imposing. "Nick, this is Emile, an old friend of mine. I'm so sorry about the phone, I went to go pick him up and I forgot it. I didn't mean to worry you." I could feel Nick studying Emile over my shoulder. My assistant is very protective of me and suspicious of newcomers in general. I smiled, trying to break the tension. "So, what's going on, Nikki?" I fumbled my key into the lock and let them both into my modest apartment. Simple but tasteful decor, and blackout curtains on every window. It wasn't much, but I could call it home, and that's enough for me. We all took seats in the living room, Emile and I on the blue velveteen sofa and Nick in the green overstuffed chair, which seemed to comically swallow him. Light from several table lamps gave the feeling of coziness. "Doc, I know you're off this week, but we've had some strange cases come in, and I thought maybe if you knew about them, you'd want to come take a look. The police have already showed up for two of them, they think some serial killer is ripping hearts out of people with their bare hands. It's bizarre. Doctor Lewis has had his hands full with it, so I told him I'd give you a call and see if you could pitch in on any of his cases, but then I couldn't reach you and I got worried." a sheepish grin spread across Nick's face. "Guess all this talk of killers got me thinking crazy thoughts. I'm glad you're fine Doc." I smiled again reassuringly at Nick, but meanwhile remembering my dream, I wondered if he didn't have a good reason to be worried. "How about I come in for the midnight shift change tonight and I'll pick up any work Lewis needs me to, just ask him to send me an e-mail with a checklist so I don't miss anything, okay?" Relief spread across my assistant's face and he stood to leave. "Thanks, Doc, I'm sure it'll help, you know how grumpy Dr. Lewis gets when he feels like he's got too much on his plate. I'll get back to the office and let him know whats up." Nick let himself out with only a slight glance of suspicion at Emile this time . My colleague, Dr. Abraham Lewis was indeed prone to fits of bad temper, and I could imagine strangers in the Morgue while he was trying to work had made him more irritated than usual. "First dibs on the shower, Em, help yourself to anything in the fridge." He had been quiet until now. "Kat, you're not seriously going into work tonight? Did you hear what he said? Hearts, Kat, ripped out. You can't be planning on going into some silly human job and putting yourself in danger?" I shook my head "I heard exactly what he said, Nick is a bright boy, and if he is right, then going into work and seeing for myself is exactly what I have to do. It's going to be okay, Em, it's in a hospital, they have guards, nothing is going to happen to me." I left him pouting on the sofa as I headed to shower. I love the feeling of hot water, it clears away everything, the dirt, inside and out. I could feel the stress from the night before washing down the drain. I got out in time to leave water for Em and changed into blue scrubs for work. I walked out into the living room and flung a clean towel at Em, who was still sitting where I left him. "Your turn, smelly." I teased. He glared for a moment, but a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth and he rolled those ocean blue eyes at me "Fine, fine." before walking to the bathroom he' d just seen me leave. I waited until I heard the water start before picking up my phone and unplugging it from the charger on the counter. Nick was nearly right, he hadn't called a million times, but the twenty missed calls did seem a bit excessive. I scrolled through my contacts until I found the listing for O&I Assoc. and hit the call button. A very professional recording on the other end informed me that my contact, Marcy Kensington was not at her desk, but if I could leave my name and a short message, that she'd get back to me promptly, so I did what the machine lady asked and hung up. Next I sent a text to Dorthea's number, and prayed it was still good. We hadn't spoken in a few years, understandably, because I bailed on her without really explaining that I was trying to keep her safe, and now here I was, about to ask her to put herself in more danger, I am apparently, a lousy friend. 'Hey, D, it's Kat, I know it's been a minute and I hope you can forgive me, we really need to talk. Thanks hun.' I pictured her rolling her gorgeous eyes, scrunching up her ebony nose and muttering "Vampires." to herself with annoyance. I put the phone on vibrate and slipped it into my pocket, then dug in my dirty laundry for the dragon ring I had taken off last night. I found it and held it for a moment before depositing it on my nightstand. I needed to be available and have my senses on high alert for now, though I already missed the normalcy of wearing it and being sheltered from the chaos around me. I then dug out a black T-shirt and some sweat pants that I hoped would fit Em's tall, but slight frame. He had already deposited his dirty laundry in my basket, some things never change. He emerged from the bathroom wrapped in my fuzzy towel from the waist down, smelling of my shampoo and soap, but also of sandalwood. I admired the sight until he blushed and then I threw the clothes at him. It was my turn to blush and look away as the towel fell from around his hips, some things never do change, I smiled to myself as my insides did a flip." Feel free to use the washer while I'm gone." I teased, "You definitely don't want to go out like that." I met his eyes again and resisted the urge to walk over and kiss him, instead turning back towards the kitchen and pretending to fumble around in the fridge. I felt his eyes on my back, admiring my frame from behind. The clock in the kitchen said it was 10:00 PM and the hospital was only a few minutes walk down the street. What to do with the time? I felt his hands caressing me, sliding under my shirt, the smell of clean, wet skin, against my body, those soft lips kissing my throat. I finally left for work at 11:45, content in ways I'd forgotten I could be, with the taste of his lips still on mine. The night air was brisk and cool against my skin. I glanced around and headed left down the sidewalk. I caught myself glancing over my shoulder until I reached the lit parking area I liked to cut through to get to the entrance. Once inside I breathed a sigh of relief and headed for the elevators. Tom, the security guard looked startled to see me, but I explained about the perpetually overworked Dr. Lewis, and he laughed and buzzed me though. The smell of cold metal and death, mixed with disinfectants and preservatives is something that never leaves your psyche once you smell it. It always surprises and tugs at something in my brain. I sit down at the computer and find Dr. Lewis's email, which I suspect was actually dictated to Nick by Lewis and sent along to me. I scribble down case numbers and locations. It's all basic stuff, most of it being low profile, housekeeping cases. A brain hemorrhage, a heart attack. Normal. I looked in the system to see the case numbers for the unusual occupants, and decided to check them out first, so I could give my full attention to the other cases without the twinge of curiosity distracting me. Sliding open the drawer and unzipping the black plastic bag with my blue gloves on, I learned everything I needed to know at a glance. These were vampires, living as humans, their normal bodily functions either ceased or evolved to fit new purposes, confusing the human doctors and police. Nobody would ever claim these bodies, just as nobody would claim mine someday if this happened to me. They were predators hunting the world and now they were sacks of flesh and meat like the prey they took for granted. I felt pity wash over me as I stored them back away, doomed for cold case files and pauper burials. My brothers and sisters in death. I started the cases listed for me by Lewis, my heart full of dread and numbing calm. As I slid case A-678 into his drawer with findings of Cardiac Arrest due to underlying heart condition, my phone vibrated in my pocket. I peeled off my gloves and answered it. The voice at the other end was female and assured "Hello, Kat, it's Marcy, I got your message. We know what's going on, but we should probably meet to discuss the plan our agency has in place for protecting those of you in ...delicate ...positions. When would be a good time? I know you're only available at night, so shall we say tomorrow evening at 8.00 PM? My office, of course." I told her I'd be there and hung up. Next I read the text from Dorthea, I must have missed her reply earlier when I was busy. 'Kat! Yes girl, you need to get your butt over to my shop, soon, rumors are flying and it sounds like your kind are in danger. Call me soon!' I shot back a quick 'Thank you' text and assured her that I would call when I was free. I knew getting Em to take help or organize was going to be like pulling teeth, but I also realized that our survival depended on it. I finished my cases and checked everything off Lewis's list by 4AM, and was eager to go home and start negotiations with Em. I waved goodbye to Tom on my way out and used the staircase instead of the elevator. Once I hit ground floor the uneasy feeling slipped back into my gut, I tried looking everywhere at once to figure out what was off, but I didn't register anything strange. I was halfway to the apartment when I felt someone shove me into the brick wall, dragging me into the alleyway between two buildings. Their hand was clamped tightly around my throat and their eyes filled with fear and desperation. "Bitch, I hear you know something about what's happening to us, about the dreams. If you know anything, you better talk." the hand loosened a bit "I don't know anything, I've had them too, I only know it's coming for us." The pain flared in my face before I realized that he'd struck me, my nose trickled blood. "You need to tell us the truth, what did you see in there? Everybody knows it's only killing our kind." he hit me again before I could answer. "Hearts, it's taking hearts, to live again..." I choked against the hand holding my throat. I tried to remain calm. Inside my head I could feel myself screaming. I pushed back against him and raked my nails across his cheek. " It's coming for all of us." I panted. Something crashed behind me and my assailants took off running. Dread filled me as I struggled to turn, but a familiar scent met my nostrils. Sandalwood, Em. His eyes were full of rage as he looked me over, ready to rip out their hearts himself, but they were gone. I smiled weakly "We have to stop meeting like this, first a bus and now frightened vampires, I'm always running into something." He pressed me against his chest tightly "Why can't I seem to protect you? Oh, Kat, your nose looks awful." He scooped me up in his arms, the second time in as many nights, and I let him, yielding to his embrace. Maybe now he wouldn't fight me on getting help, we definitely needed it.We sat on my bed, him trying to render first aid to cuts that were already healing and me trying to explain why we needed the help from O&I and Dorthea. His agreement was begrudging, but as we laid down to rest, I was grateful we had help to turn to. Those desperate faces tonight told me what it looked like to not have help, and it scared me. He laid next to me and rubbed my back, pausing only to caress my hair or gently kiss my cheek. Poor Em, even he feels helpless against the coming storm. I closed my eyes and drifted into uneasy dreams. The monster was there again, looking healthier, and more dangerous, his movements were lithe and catlike. At his feet were the bodies of those he'd destroyed, twisted in pain, he stepped upon them in an ever growing pile. I recognized some of their faces, the bodies from work, the thugs from the alleyway. His eyes studying me, intelligent and cold. I felt it then, he didn't only want to destroy us, he wanted to own us, to use our blood, our spirit, and to use everything we were to rule the night. Nothing would be safe from him. There would be no balance, only rivers of blood, mountains of bodies, like when he ruled before. First the night creatures, and then the creatures of the day would feed him their children, and he would sit on a throne of their bones. It smirked at me, sharp, glinting teeth covered in blood. We taste better when we are full of dread, I felt it tell me, as it reached out talons as sharp as any bird. I felt myself shove hard against the hand, screaming and fighting as hard as I could. A talon raked my skin and felt like burning fire. I shot up in bed screaming, a red cut was across my chest, welted and bleeding. Emile held me tightly and sobbed, curling his body around me, and I laid there angry and full of pain. I was tired of running.We arrived at Dorthea's shop around 7:30, she had agreed to go with us to O&I, but first wanted to see the wound the monster had made. It hadn't healed at all, and felt as if a red hot poker was stabbed into it. She pulled a salve from a shelf and muttered under her breath before applying it. The pain doubled and the wound smoked, but then suddenly it eased and started to mend. "That thing has the power of the devil about it, there is holy water in this salve, not enough to kill the likes of you, but enough to repel the devil's magic." Her voice sounded so strong and reassuring. I realized how terribly I had missed her. She wrapped her arms around me and hugged me tightly. "Don't you worry, we're going to fight this thing. Normally I wouldn't take Vampire's sides on things, but if this devil gets its way, the rest of us are gonna have all of hell to contend with. I'd rather deal with ya'll vampires, if it's all the same." she smiled warmly and I understood that some of what she said was a joke, but most of it she meant. Her eyes appraised Emile carefully. "You're the tiger that's lost his teeth, aren't ya?" confusion knitted his brow "No..I just can't fight what I don't know how to fight.." he said defensively. Her smile widened " You're missing the point, but that's okay, all the same." she pulled a pile of books off the shelf and asked "We ready?" All of us nodded and started our short walk to the offices of O&I to keep our appointment with Marcy.Marcy was a prim looking woman with bleach blonde hair and eyes the color of leaves in autumn. She was beautiful by human standards and her voice could make or break a case in court, which I suppose must be one of the perks of being half banshee. "Yes, we've been aware for several months now that something was bothering our vampire clients. We believe it's an ancient Aztec deity that started out life as a demon. It seems to believe that vampires are its spawn and wants to murder all of you to regain its rightful place on the throne of bones where it believes humans will sacrifice their children to it. It has killed other night beings as well, but the major toll seems to be on the vampire population. Everything that hunts in darkness has felt it, and the dreams experienced by our vampire clients tell us that it has indeed made it to our shores. We've received records of several unusual vampire deaths, and it especially seems to be hunting old linage families, probably because their blood is stronger and because their deaths leave the weaker strains unprotected. We don't know much else. Our current plan has been to place vampires in hiding at werewolf clan houses. Normally that wouldn't work out very well, but many clans have signed treaties with old vampire families because they understand that an enemy like this will wipe out all otherkin, indiscriminately if it is left to roam free. The clans of wolves and the vampires in hiding with them agree to fight equally for each other, so far this has proved useful, however, a few nights ago, one of our smaller clan allies was wiped out and the vampires they were protecting were wiped out with them. Everyone's heart was taken. We are at a loss on how to fight against it." I felt as if she had punched me in the gut, if they couldn't fight it, how could we?"I can find you a safehouse with werewolves, if you would like, but I don't know in reality how much it's actually going to help. I'm so sorry to have this kind of news, especially for someone who worked with us and is one of us." I felt Dorthea's hand on my shoulder. "I think I can help."You could hear a pin drop in the room as we all waited to hear something that might help. "As you know, I've been in the business of magick for a long time, and I've seen many things. When all of this started happening, it reminded me of a story I heard from an old African rootworker. His tale said roughly that the Devil himself sent a demon to Africa, to rule the land, and when the demon got there, it dried up all the rivers and made the people sacrifice themselves at its feet, until everything ran red with blood. Now, the old gods didn't like that much and decided to trick the demon into going back to hell, and stop meddling with their people. They sent one of them in disguise to say that it was the demon's baby, born of blood, dirt and sweat. The demon believed the story and let the supposed son sit next to him. He soon started complaining about how hot and wicked the land was, about how boring it was serving on earth, how all the demon's brothers and sisters in hell must be laughing at him. The demon got so mad it decided to go back to hell and see. To get there, the old gods cooked it a root, blessed by shamans and prayed over by virgins until it was as holy as could be. That bad old demon ate every bite of that root, and it killed him, too holy with the prayers and beliefs of mankind. Vampires suffer the same kinds of allergies to things believed sacred by mankind, and yet, salve mixed with holy water, burned the devil's infection from Kat and allowed the wound to start healing. I think it's time we trick this devil into eating the wrong heart, blessed with sacred roots and anointed with holy water. See if that doesn't send him back to hell."The room was quiet as everyone considered her idea, but the trouble was, who's heart would they be able to use to trick the demon, and what if it didn't work? "I know, you guys are thinking that nobody wants to give up their heart for this, and I agree, which is why we make a heart, and place it in a golum. Golums are wads of clay, brought to life by Jewish magic. We could make our own, I have the correct text and instructions, it's just going to take time and trickery. I want this golum to look like Kat, because she and the monster know each other through dreams." I nodded my consent, but Em's voice broke the silence behind me "No.If this goes wrong, it'll take Kat's heart, her real heart. You'll use me, I've seen it too and after everything I did before to Kat, I need to do something to keep her safe now, so if you're using anyone as bait, you'll use me." Dorthea considered a moment and sighed." Fine, I'll use you. I need blood and hair, and while I'm crafting it, you have to disappear somewhere safe, both of you. The wards on my shop aren't powerful enough to protect both of you." Marcy cleared her throat "I can handle that part, we'll put them with the Krystal Moon pack of werewolves. They're vicious fighters, and their pack house was once a church building."Em slept on the drive to meet the wolves, once Dorthea had taken what she needed from him to mold her own monster, he seemed to be wiped out. His head lay on my lap as I watched the landscape change. Marcy had given us a quick primer on wolves, their pack habits, the hierarchy. She stressed that mutual respect was key. I had never met a werewolf before, at least not one who ever told me he was one, though I did occasionally have things cross my table at work that I suspected might be a product of their violence. I had called Nick to tell him I was going out of town for an emergency and to schedule more vacation days to cover it. He had tried to ask questions, and the worry was evident in his voice, but he did as I asked. I was terrified of what the coming days might hold. I ran my fingers absentmindedly through Em's hair, realizing that after everything, I still loved him.I worried silently for the people I cared about, for Nick, unknowingly wound in a plot with creatures he didn't believe in, for Dorthea who did believe and was risking so much to save something as awful as vampires, for Marcy, who is calling to negotiate agreements between creatures that shouldn't exist and who usually dislike each other. All these threads tying together to form bonds strong enough to save us.I must have nodded off too, because I was awakened by the black SUV coming to a stop in front of a large stone building with a steeple. Three handsome men stood outside, impeccably dressed. I knew one would be what they called an Alpha and probably one of the others was a Beta. I was still rusty on the terminology and just silently hoped that they'd be nice to us, refugees at their doorstep. A beautiful woman glided out and stood next to the one I thought must be their Alpha. I remembered Marcy telling me that this woman was called a Luna and was mated to the Alpha for life. This particular Luna had a sad history and it was only with help from Marcy and the O&I team, she was able to escape her own abusive pack and find her mate. She looked ethereal, and moved gracefully. I couldn't imagine any harm coming to something that looked like that.A man pulled my door open and helped me out of the car, as Em stretched and tried to wake up, someone held his door open too. "Thank you" I told the man who handed me down from the car, I was reminded of when I used to ride in a carriage and gentlemen would lend me their hand to help me out of the vehicle. Chivalry isn't dead, it's just being kept alive by werewolves. I bowed slightly as if meeting royalty and looked up at my hosts. "I cannot thank you enough for allowing us sanctuary in your home. We will try to be good guests, but forgive us if our manners betray us, we are new to your world, and hope you will forgive our mistakes. I am Katinka, or Kat for short, and my companion is Emile." I tried to give a disarming smile."We are pleased to have the chance to meet you and have you as guests in our home. I am Maxim, or Max for short, and am the Alpha of this pack. This is Krysten, my beloved Luna. The gentleman to my right is my Beta, Marius and the other gentlemen is my guard, Alexander." I nodded politely at each of them, trying not to make eye contact with anyone so as not to be seen as disrespectful. Krysten floated, for there wasn't another word for it, forward and embraced me tightly. "You are among friends, have no fear." she smiled warmly at Emile. "We will get you settled in a room, if you don't mind being in the same one, it will be no problem at all, and I've got some things for you, so you can dress for dinner and everyone else in the pack can meet you. You wouldn't believe how curious they all are about you. Please don't consider us too rude if you hear rumors about vampires smelling of grave dirt or whatever other nonsense they've cooked up in the kitchens, they don't mean any harm, this is a learning experience for us all." her voice sounded like birds singing and brought a warmth to the situation. "Thank you, you are very gracious. Emile and I would be happy to share a room if it makes matters easier for everyone." I said demurely "I'd practically insist on it anyway, she may not be my Luna, but Kat is mine and I must be near her to keep her safe." announced Em from behind me. He placed a protective hand on my shoulder while meeting the gaze of the men. Some customs cross all barriers, I suppose. The gesture was understood by everyone.We walked up the steps and Krysten took my arm while Emile walked ahead to chat with Max. "You poor dear, to have all this happening, it must be stressful. I certainly hope you can feel safe and rest with us. We would protect you with our lives if it came down to it. I just hope you know that." Her words were surprisingly comforting. I noticed she had scars on her arms and faint outlines of old wounds on her throat. I believed she knew the meaning of suffering and didn't intend for it to happen again to anyone under her watch. I had lost track of the menfolk, which was just as well , Krysten pulled me into her room and handed me several dresses. Then she showed me to our room where some kind soul had drawn a hot bath already for me. "Dinner is at eight, we've done our best to accommodate your needs as Marcy told us they were, she helped me pick out the dresses too, I hope you don't mind." I shook my head "No, you've been so very kind, you don't know how much all of this means to us." she smiled again and left the room. I settled into the bath and closed my eyes. The water was perfectly warm and comfortable. I soaked until I started to turn into a prune. By then Emile was back, carrying his own clothes. "Sorry I took so long, they were kind enough to show me all the security measures they've taken for our visit, so I could be sure of our safety." I nodded, toweling off as he refilled the tub for his own bath.I picked out a dark green velvet dress and put my hair up. I wanted to look presentable to the pack who was kind enough to take us in and treat us like family. Emile was wearing a velvet dinner jacket, and it reminded me of an enchanted evening over a hundred years ago. He leaned down and kissed me deeply. "You're beautiful." he whispered in my ear. My smile was involuntary.At 7:50 we approached the doorway to the dining room, and Krysten was there to seat us. At promptly 8:00 Maxim stood in front of his pack, as their Alpha, and announced " As you all know, today we have been lucky to gain two new members of our pack, and though they are not exactly like us in every way, they are family now and to be protected as we protect all our brothers and sisters. I'm pleased to introduce Katinka, and Emile. They are to be treated as though they are under my direct protection at all times. Now, let us eat and enjoy each other's company." I could feel the curious stares of those around me, but everyone was impeccably polite, Maxim was respected as a father to his pack, and they loved him being their Alpha because he was fair and kind. Nobody would dream of being rude to anyone he protected. They piled food generously onto plates, and we were served some kind of pudding, made from the blood of rabbit. It was surprisingly good, and very nourishing. I ate heartily, I hadn't realized before now how hungry I had become. Em seemed to be enjoying himself thoroughly, and was talking to the Beta he was seated next to. I was seated next to a younger girl, who made small talk with me while sniffing the air discreetly, I presume she was looking for the smell of grave dirt.I smiled to myself and enjoyed the company. I would have to remember to tell Marcy "Thanks" for placing us with the perfect pack.When we returned to our room, several hours later, I checked my phone and read the text from Dorthea 'Only a little left before it's ready, don't start howling at the moon. Luv ya.' Witches got jokes. I was relieved to think she might be ready soon, the pack was wonderful, but I didn't want to spend the rest of my days playing in the woods behind the building, and a nagging fear for my new friends filled me. What if it came and these wonderful people had to put their lives in danger for us. The thought filled me with terror. I looked out the window and watched two wolves playing in the moonlight. I wasn't sure if they were wild wolves, or wolves from this pack, but the moonlight glinted off their coats and for a moment I envied their freedom.A text from Nick came in with more worrying news. 'Doc, someone broke into your apartment, police couldn't reach you, but your lawyer is here, says you're safe but out of town. Just checking on you, doesn't look like anything was taken.' I showed the text to Em who immediately looked worried, but tried to reassure me. "It was probably just those thugs, but still, I'm going to go talk to Maxim and let him know." I replied to Nick ' I'm fine, please don't worry' and finally to Marcy ' Heard about the apartment, is everything okay?' she quickly returned my text, assuring me that nothing was taken or harmed, it looked like they were after me only. Emile left to find Max, between the two of them, I was starting to feel like I was under protective custody. I flung myself across the bed with a sigh and closed my eyes. So much had happened, so quickly, and I was exhausted. I felt myself drifting off to sleep, and try as hard as I might, I couldn't stop from slipping into a dream state.The monster had become more human looking, healthier. His copper skin shone with tone and definition, his face would have been handsome if not for deep glittering pits serving for eyes. He smiled and extended a hand. " Come be my queen, we will rule the darkness together." he beckoned me with talon tipped fingers. Terror filled me, I could not become this thing's bride. "You don't have a choice." It whispered and stepped towards me. "No, no,no" I chanted louder and louder until it was a scream. The beast laughed at me and wrapped his hand around my throat. "You will do as I command, or you will die." he flung me and I felt myself hitting something solid. I could hear yelling somewhere, but the darkness enveloped me and I folded over into it.Max lifted Kat's twisted body from the corner and laid her on the bed, Emile covered her, sobbing her name like a mantra. Max tried to sooth the other man, but knew how his wolf would feel if anyone, especially an unseen hand, had done this to his Luna. Rage welled up inside of him, his wolf pacing fiercely within. He examined the bruises on her neck from unseen fingers. Soon the pack doctor and Krysten were in the room too, and despite the fact Kat looked dead, she wasn't, but she was injured gravely. He had seen her dangling there in mid air, screaming the word "No" when he came to Emile's calls, and suddenly she had been flung, crashing into the wall with an awful cracking sound. Krysten sat next to the silent form, stroking Kat's hair, a fierceness about her, as if someone had harmed her sister, angry tears streaming down her face. "I don't know what I can do for this one, honestly, her heartbeat and breathing aren't normal, but what is normal for a vampire? I think she has a cracked rib or two and a pretty good knock on the head. Everything I've read says she'll mend, with time, or with blood."The pack doctor looked apologetically from face to face before leaving the room. Emile had calmed down slightly from the brink of madness, but he still felt as if someone had gutted him. He extended his arm out and started to bite open his wrist, but a pale hand stopped him, he was exhausted too, and with bloodloss he would be less able to protect Kat than before. The Krysten's soft lavender eyes probed her beloved's, and though it made his wolf howl within him, he nodded. Krysten nipped open a spot on her scarred arms and pressed the blood against Kat's lips. Max flinched at the sight of his beloved's wound, and Emile collapsed helplessly, sobbing from exhaustion.In the darkness, Kat lay curled up within herself, it hurt to move or think, but suddenly there was a soft glow and a silvery wolf appeared, with violet eyes. It pushed at her with its nose and licked her face, insisting she move, she must not stay in the darkness, it told her. She touched its soft fur and let it lead her back into the light. Her eyes fluttered open and were met by the lavender ones of Krysten, who stroked her hair lovingly. The coppery taste in her mouth was blood, but it tasted of lavender and wild honey, too. Krysten's blood. She could never repay the kindness. Her hand reached feebely out and moved the arm at her lips, kissing it softly before releasing it. She felt the words form and escape her lips feebly "Thank you, sister." Blood and night magic made them sisters now, bound by an apparition of a silver wolf, with violet eyes. Krysten smiled and curled up against Kat. Maxim settled in a chair watching them, all, protecting his Luna, from any harm, while Emile finally slept on the floor next to the bed, praying quietly to any gods that would listen to let the woman he loved and gave immortality to, have safety and peace. As night turned into day, the heavy drapes were drawn tightly and the vampires left alone to recover in darkness. Max held his Luna a little tighter, realizing how brave and kind she really was, and how lucky he was that she was not the one being hunted by a monster while he fought for his sanity. He feared for his pack, because he wasn't sure he could protect them any better than he'd been able to protect Kat, but he would never turn away those who needed his protection, either.Kat reached out for Emile in the darkness, and slid onto the floor, wrapping her arms around him. She could feel that although her body was broken, something inside his spirit was shattered too. She reached out with her thoughts and called his name silently in her mind. "Em, are you there?" ...the reply was groggy "Kat?" "Yes, Em, it's me. I'm just checking on you." ..."I should be checking on you...I love you , Kitty Kat, I was so scared."..." Don't be scared, Emmy, I'm okay, I've just been fighting monsters and playing with wolves. I love you too." Her arms pulled tighter and held him, even though her rib cage throbbed an angry protest. A silver wolf played at the edge of her sleep, keeping the nightmares away. She would never tell Emile what the monster had asked of her.The looks that met them at the dinner table ranged from confusion to anger. Everyone had heard something, and most knew it involved their beloved Luna and this stranger. Krysten hugged Kat and seated her by her side with Emile facing them, sitting between Max and his Beta. The pack was doubling down on protecting the two vampires, and everyone took notice. Nobody knew exactly what happened, but these people were family now, like it or not.Kat sipped beef blood from a goblet, they hoped the blood would give her strength to heal quicker, the shadows of bruises on her throat and the occasional sharp gasp of air when she moved too quickly told the story of her body being broken. Emile enjoyed a repeat of the rabbit from last night and recovered part of himself just being able to watch Kat across the table and see that she was safe. After dinner the text from Dorthea came in. It was time.They bundled into the black SUV together, Krysten hugging Kat tightly and making her promise to come back someday soon before letting her climb into the big car. Max asked for the hundredth time if the pack was needed , but both Emile and Kat knew that having their friends in danger would just distract them from the mission. Dorthea needed Em there to finish her spells, and with the information Kat had given her in confidence about the beasts request, they had a plan on how to lure it out. Now to hope it would work.Dorthea hugged them both, and Kat only winced a little, she was on the mend. Dorthea led them to a workroom in the back of the shop and took the sheet off a massive clay statue. It had rough features resembling Emile and a shock of his hair on its head. The clay smelled of blood and of something else they couldn't place. "Do you think it'll work?" Kat asked, eyeing it quizzically. "I think so, but I need a few things from both of you, first we need to join hands and chant together. Then I need for Em to touch it and give it permission to use his form, then, and here is the weird part, Kat, I need you to kiss it, pretending it is Emile. It has to feel like you love it the way you love him." I nodded and she began chanting in Yiddish, grasping my hand while I grasped Em's. We chanted along to the best of our abilities. When the chanting finished Em squared up with it as if addressing a man and gave it permission to use his form. The clay started to define itself and harden into a shape, and it began to look like Emile. Dorthea nodded at me, and I gazed for a moment at Em, fixing his face in my mind, then turning and kissing the lips of the clay man. When I opened my eyes, a very convincing copy of my beloved stood before us in clay. I looked at Dorthea and realized that her plan might actually work.The clay man moved slowly, but it did move of its own accord. We loaded it into a borrowed van and drove to an empty warehouse in town. By now at least a hundred vampires had turned up in sundry places, with their hearts ripped out, some werewolf clans had lost their lives protecting vampires, even some witches had ended up dead because they tried to help an undead friend or colleague by trying to banish the demon. Empty husks. It was time to end this.I sat in the chair placed for me in the middle of the room, and closed my eyes. My friends hid themselves out of my sight, and I let myself slip into sleep. The silver wolf whined as I approached the threshold of the dream, but I hugged her and whispered "It's time" she silently backed away as I crossed into the dream world. Bodies littered the ground and the smell of death stung my nostrils. The monster lounged on a throne built from rotting bodies, his skin a perfect coppery tan, teeth white and glistening. He had grown beautiful on the blood and flesh of my kindred. He looked bored with his stinking cesspool world, but otherwise, rather pleased with himself. "You" he hissed, moving from his throne and sauntering towards me. "Come to give me your heart?" "No, someone else already has that, as long as they live I will never be your queen and you will never have my heart. Come and take it, bastard." I ran headlong out of the dreamworld, feeling him on my heels, I forced my eyes open. The portal was blinding and he fell out of it. I jumped from the chair and hid behind the clay man. "So, is this the one who gets your heart when I cannot have it?" the evil thing sneered "Yes, he is the being I love most in this world." "Then I shall have his heart, and then yours." He strode towards the clay man, and his fingers became talons, ripping into the flesh, they pulled out a pulsating heart, covered in blood, and swallowed it. Then he stepped towards me. I could see in the shadows Dorthea holding Em back.I took measured steps, like waltzing, back, back, side, back. The leering face changed and a snarl crept across it. I smiled. The clay man turned and hugged the beast, miring him in quicksand. The beast man screamed, showing his serpent fangs, he bit the clay, but found himself choking as it coated his mouth. The golum was swallowing him ,and at the center of the flailing clay was a burning red heart. I saw it pulsing beneath the clay, and ducked behind the chair. I felt strong hands puling me backwards, Emile holding me against him. The shriek sounded like a train and suddenly a brilliant white light exploded in the middle of the room. The creature and the clay man exploded into a million pieces. Our nightmares were over.I hugged Dorthea tightly. "What the heck did you put in that heart?" her smile was a little sad "I didn't put anything in it, it was the heart of a saint, soaked in communion wine and holy water, prayed over by believers for decades. Just don't ask how I got it. I'll never tell. That sure did the trick, though.""I guess we have some calls to make. Don't you dare be a stranger anymore, girl." I nodded emphatically. "I won't be, promise." I held Em's hand tightly and he squeezed back " So, maybe we have a chance to be happy again?" He asked, his eyes hopeful. "Let's sleep for a month and talk about it then, but...maybe..." I kissed him deeply.Marcy was overjoyed to be able to start telling vampires they could go home, apparently not every clan had been as welcoming as Maxim's and it took daily negotiations to keep the peace. The werewolves were very glad to be rid of their house guests with but few exceptions.Nick never trusts me to go on vacation again, and I think he half suspects I got abducted by the mafia.Krysten sends her wolf now and again to remind me of our connection, and I send her purple violets to thank her when she does, Maxim calls Emile regularly, they have become friends. I have not seen another demon in my dreams, and hope never to again. Emile has moved into my apartment, we're giving it a trial run as long as he keeps doing the laundry. I spend time with my dear friend Dorthea every chance I get.