BOOK TWO of the GAURDIAN SERIES

A Guardian's Love

By Stein Willard © 2008

Teaser:

Her name is synonymous with death and as the Assassin of the Royal Vampire Clan; Paloma had followed orders without question. But the killing became too much for even her. At the risk of losing the last sliver of humanity she still possessed, the deadly Enforcer went to ground only to resurface five centuries later. But in her absence the world had changed and so would her life.

The daughter of two powerful vampires, twenty year old Inger Marsden was a free spirit who frequented pubs and nightclubs for two reasons. To hunt and destroy renegades hiding amongst humans and to find gorgeous women for no-strings attached liaisons. Life couldn't get any better for the young slayer …or so she thought.

Disclaimer

The characters in the story are a product of my own imagination and hopefully have no resemblance to any living persons or vampires for that matter. But if it does it is entirely coincidental. Some of the places mentioned are either fictitious and or adapted to suit the plot of the story.

Sex: This story contains sexual content of a graphic nature between consenting adult women, thus if you are not 18 years old and not allowed to read content of this nature, please move on to other suitable stories.

Violence: Scenes of violence can be expected.

Feedback: This is my first try and not being a native English speaker, it's so much more challenging. Constructive criticism is greatly appreciated, so feel free to drop a line or two at steinwillard80@gmail.com .

PART ONE

Chapter 1

1530

France

<The smell of blood hung thick in the air. It made even her nauseous. The battle has been raging for almost two hours and within those two hours she had drank her fill of the enemy's blood.

Early on she had taken on two burly men and just before killing them she had drank from both of them. Not too much to make her sluggish, but just enough to take the edge of her hunger and sustain her for the remainder of the battle.

As was her habit, Paloma quickly scanned the battlefield and felt immense relief when she saw the tall dark figure of her friend slicing through a throng of enemy warriors. At least she was using her sword now. At the start of the battle, the Vampire Queen had burst head-on into the first line of enemy warriors without waiting for her army of Undead to follow. The sickening sound of flesh being torn and bones being crushed made her want to clamp her hands over her ears. Tahlia was angry and many people were going to have pay with their lives before her hemorrhaging heart was healed.

Feeling the silver eyes on her, Tahlia swung blood-red eyes in her direction. There was death in the black eyes and for a brief second she almost felt sorry for the waves of enemy soldiers marching towards them, towards Tahlia, towards their deaths.

For centuries they had been hunted and innocent lives had been lost in the process. This time however they've hit too close to home and Tahlia was sending out a bloody message to the Chinese Emperor. A message, they wouldn't forget easily. The battle was nearing its end and once the enemy surrender, the army of Undead would retreat to their camp, care for the injured and then go to ground before dawn came.

As was her prediction, the enemy quickly retreated an hour later and glancing towards where she had spotted Tahlia earlier, she found the dark Vampire warrior standing looking at the broken bodies around her as if in a daze. Walking over to her, she bowed deeply in front of her blood splattered Queen. The broad shoulders were slumped and she felt the pain of the Queen cleave through her.

The battle had been won, but the pain still remained.

Two days ago the Vampire Queen had buried her lover and had gone on a rampage, killing almost two enemy battalions before they got to her. She felt the presence of other vampires behind her and sighed with relief. Jonas and Pierre had arrived. Tahlia was too powerful for her to subdue alone, but the two men were powerful enough to control her if need be.

"Shall we go for a walk, Tahlia? Dawn will break soon and we need to clear our heads before going to ground."

The blood-red eyes were gone now - in their place were two pitch black eyes staring out of a beautiful pale face.

"Yes."

They'd walked in silence for quite a while, before Paloma came to a stop. Tahlia, though still kept walking on, prompting Paloma to quickly follow her. She knew where Tahlia was going. A few minutes later, they entered a clearing amongst a copse of trees. In the middle was a small fresh heap of earth. On top of it a bunch of wildflowers were resting near the foot of the grave.

Tahlia stood there, still, with no sign that she was breathing.

"How am I going to live without her, Paloma?"

The voice sounded so forlorn that Paloma quickly took a step closer. They had been friends since they were children and she knew that at that moment Tahlia needed a friend more than a subordinate. Paloma studied her friend's face for a few seconds and felt her own heart breaking at the sight of the long red tears streaking Tahlia's face. She knew how much Tahlia loved Amelia. Amelia with her beautiful long blonde curls and brilliant sapphire eyes. They were very happy together and had spent most of the time together. Amelia's death was so unfortunate.

"She was still so young and so innocent." This time Tahlia's voice broke and Paloma pulled her into a tight embrace. She knew there were no words that would lessen Tahlia's pain, thus she just held her in her arms.>

Naples, three weeks later…

<She knew of their presence even before they attacked. There were ten of them. No match for a master vampire of her caliber. One was very close. She could smell his body odor mixed with a tinge of fear and excitement.

His excitement was making his blood splash against the walls of his veins, calling to her Hunger. She hated killing humans, but when it comes to self-defense she had no choice. This group had been responsible for the death of many of her warriors. Loyal warriors, who lived by the Creed of the Race, condemning the killing of humans. They all had died undignified deaths. Decapitation, their mouths stuffed with garlic and crude wooden stakes in their hearts. She shuddered, thinking of the deaths her friends.

An oily, evil stench waved up in her nostrils and her eyes hardened. Amongst the slayers was a very deranged human.

"Keep your eyes open. She's very dangerous you shouldn't underestimate her." The man who spoke was obviously the leader, because the other men quickly nodded.

He was dressed in dark leather battle suit with a broadsword hanging from his belt. He would be considered handsome by some, with his shiny black hair which he carried loose and his dark brown eyes. But she sensed the darkness in him. He was dangerous. Cruel and without a conscience.

She was tired of killing, sickened by death, but sometimes there was no option. Her violent past will never leave her be. Just three weeks ago she had stood on a battleground, splattered in blood and her veins pulsing with the thick adrenaline-filled blood of her enemy. She had been doing it for centuries - wiped out whole armies and made widows out of many women. But never before had she been so conscious of her emotions - of life, love, death and pain. She'd feared for her future while tearing through the army of human invaders. It was all brought about by the death of Amelia. Could she and would she ever find someone to love the way Tahlia loved Amelia? Their love was so great that her death had pushed Tahlia over the edge, resulting in the biggest mass murder in history. Not able to stand the almost paralyzing pain of loss that was consuming her friend, she'd stole away soon afterwards needing time and space to clear her head.

But here she was being stalked by overzealous and greedy human vampire slayers. She slowly floated down from where she'd sat high up in a tree looking down at the men. As much as she was deadened by the thought of what she was about to do, she wasn't about to lay her life down yet. The men walked right passed her not aware of the horror hiding in the shadows. The evil man turned around and probed the shadows where she was standing. Takes one monster to sense another, she thought coldly.

"Good heavens, she is behind us," his voice held so much fear that it stunned the other men with him. He turned quickly and grabbed one of the men nearest to him. "Shoot. Shoot, now, before she slaughters us." Frozen by shock and fear, the man only stared at the twin red pools staring at him from the shadows.

She stepped out of the shadows, grabbed the man and threw him against a tree trunk a few meters away. She growled her satisfaction when she heard the heavy thud. He wasn't getting up. This fight had become personal, because she was now avenging the deaths of her friends. She tore through them like a warm knife through butter, trying to get to the evil man.

"You need to get away from here, monsignor. She's more powerful than we eventually thought."

The leader looked around and grabbed a young dark-haired young man by the elbow.

"Borromini is right. We need to get out of here."

The young man tried to pull away from the man, his eyes on the vampire. Spellbound by her.

"She's bleeding, Father. She's not invincible. We can destroy her."

The man balled his fist and slammed it into the face of the younger man.

"We are leaving now, Jonah."

A gunshot rang out and all pandemonium broke out. She ducked, coming up behind the man who'd fired at her, snapping his neck. Another man with a sword came at her and she quickly sidestepped the blade and pierced him with her claw. Jerking it upwards, she sliced him in two.

She heard a carriage speeding away and scanning the area found that the leader had escaped. She contemplated chasing him down, but instead returned to the fight. Their paths will definitely cross again.

But first she needed to put a continent or more between her and the memories of death and Tahlia's pain. The state she'd left Tahlia in three weeks ago, spelled danger. A lot of blood will flow, before Tahlia's broken heart was appeased and she didn't want to be part of that. She will go to ground for a few years and once fully rested she will pick up where she'd left off. She will hunt down the leader and his band of killers.

New York

A slow thud sounded.

Then another and another until the sound caught a rhythm and began beating steadily. A gasp sounded and a rush of air filled the compressed lungs. The earth shifted as an elongated claw shot out. With both hands braced on the sides of the grave, the Vampire hoisted itself towards freedom.

The eyes snapped open, taking in the area. There were tombstones everywhere she looked. Sharp silver eyes flicked over the nearest tombstone. And then it zoomed in on the date of death. 11 January 2005. A new millennium. What had been intended to be short underground restorative rest had turned into a 500 year long slumber.

Tahlia!

Was she still alive? She has to be. Please let her be, the vampire pleaded as she stumbled forward. She had deserted her Queen and needed to find her.

But first things first. She needs to find her way through this crazy millennium. Then she will set off for Romania. Tahlia always went to ground there every time after the burial of her lovers. She came to a sudden stop. Amelia died 500 years ago. Maybe she wasn't even underground. She pulled her cloak tighter around her shrunken body. It will take her at least a couple of days and lots of fresh blood to regain full strength.

A loud sputtering sound pierced the night and confused she jump into the shadows, ready to do battle. What kind of animal could make such a racket? Her eyes widened when she caught sight of the source of the noise. A one light steel horse, judging from the human straddling it. She covered her ears with her hands. Good heavens, the noise it almost unbearable for her sensitive hearing. She stared at it until it disappeared out of sight.

Quickly, she stumbled further, before the steel horse can back again. Leaving the graveyard behind, she kept to the shadows. She was just about to slip into a dark alley when she sensed a group of young men ahead. Their auras broadcasted violence and her fangs pricked her tongue as the thought of the adrenaline rushing through their veins. The perfect snack for a starving vampire.

The closer she got to them the more intense her hunger become, so intense that her stomach was clenching and releasing rapidly. Dressed in a cloak and with a slight unsteady gait, she knew she fit the part of an easy target for them. She was halfway into the dark alley when a muscled young man with a shocking amount of markings on his upper arms stepped in front of her, blocking her way.

"What do we have here?" His voice was gruff as he stepped closer.

"I do not want any trouble. Please let me pass?" she mumbled in a soft voice, playing her part to perfection.

The man laughed and turned towards his friends.

"What do you guys make of this? She must either be very brave or very stupid." Three more young men stepped out of the shadows, all of them brandishing small daggers. At the sight of the daggers, she almost laughed out loud. What damage can such a puny weapon do? She felt the heaviness of her broadsword where it was hidden underneath her cloak and smiled. She'd keep it there. No need to embarrass the youngsters with the size of her power.

"She doesn't look like she has anything of value on her, George. Maybe we should just let her go?" Silver eyes turned to the young man who had just spoken, touching his mind lightly.

The man known as George snorted and started to circle her slowly. His eyes took in her dusty appearance and he grimaced.

"A woman always has something of value with her, Pete, even one that looks like this hag." He reached out and pulled off the hood of the cloak. Paloma had kept her head lowered all the time, but with the hood gone, she lifted her head and turned blood red eyes on George. She saw him stumbling back.

"What the …"

Grabbing him closer until their noses were almost touching, she stared into his eyes until she felt the wet splatter at his feet. Satisfied that she had scared him adequately she dragged him closer and sunk her fangs into his neck. After a few sips she pushed him away and turned her eyes on the other three men who were staring at her, shaking.

"Be gone before I change my mind." They didn't wait to be told again and fell over each other in their haste to get away. With them out of sight, she walked over to where George was lying, still dazed. "You are a bad influence on your friends and a danger to society." She dragged him up towards her again. She was still hungry, but was scared to drink too much from him the first time and kill him in the process. This time however she was planning on taking a little more.

She was just about to sink her fangs in his neck again, when she heard it. It sounded like a heartbeat, but it was very shallow. She turned back to George, but found that her hunger was overshadowed by the urge to go in search of the source of the heartbeat. Looking down at pulsing vein in George's neck, she felt her fangs lengthening. After a few seconds of deliberation she threw George from her and melted into the shadows, following the heartbeat which was calling out at her through the darkness. Like a siren's call of old. Calling her into the unknown.

She found herself in a park and cloaking her presence, glided between the between the lush green trees until she came to stand under a big old tree and looked up. A small tightly bound bundle nestled amongst the branches. She reached out to pull it free, but before she could make contact, two big liquid pools of blue stared back at her.

A baby! A girl of about 15 months. She was stunned at her inability to have been able to decipher the scent? Another shock was the fact that the baby could see her. She was an ancient and not many could detect her presence when cloaked.

She quickly touched the toddler's mind and jerked back violently when she felt the power emanating from the child's mind. She was a powerful psychic, but that wasn't all. She also felt the presence of a master vampire in the child's mind. A very powerful and dangerous presence has left its mark on the child. Whoever is protecting this child would kill to protect it.

Not wanting to get involved without knowing who she was taking on, Paloma took a step back, but not before a chubby little hand reached out and grabbed a strand of her hair. Almost immediately the night stillness was pierced by the baby's gurgling and stunned, the vampire reached out slowly and touched the baby's rosy cheek. It had been crying - possibly in its sleep, because she hadn't heard anything while she was stalking her.

Her body suddenly tensed up. The night had an evil feel to it and she quickly loosened the baby's grip on her hair before stepping back into the shadows. Someone was coming.

A streak of mist came from between the trees and solidified into a human form. Sniffing the air sharply, the other vampire looked up and reached out to grab the bundle. A sudden hissing sound followed by a sharp cry and the acrid smell of burned flesh filled the air. The vampire pulled away from the child, hissing angrily.

The silver eyes narrowed, if she could touch the baby without being scorched, it meant only one thing. The child was under the protection of a powerful Clan Royal. This one wasn't a Clan Royal. Her sense of duty made her step out of the shadows, dropping her invisibility cloak.

"When have you become so perverted that you are now preying on babies?"

Shocked by the intrusion, the other vampire swung around and Paloma grimaced when she recognized Gillian. Her eyes glowing red in the dim light of the nearby lamppost, Gillian's eyes widened when she recognized the steely grey eyes that peered at her from out of the black cape.

Seven centuries ago she had had a fling with Paloma. The only thing she regretted was that she had trusted her, only to find that Gillian had disclosed the location of her liar to a group of amateur vampire slayers armed with pitchforks, holy water and wooden crosses. Hoping that with her out of the way she could move in to become Tahlia closest confidant and hopefully the Queen's mate. Waking up to find herself surrounded by a gang of Vampire slayers baying for her blood, was not amusing. Afterwards she had searched the globe for Gillian, but she had managed to evade her every time. But tonight she would not stand a chance.

"Paloma! What brings you here?" Gillian carefully took another step back.

"We still have unfinished business, you and I." Lifting her hand she pushed down her cloak and the light shone on her blonde head. "Now is as good a time as any to finish what we have started so long ago."

Feeling the fear trickling down her spine, Gillian shook her head. She was fully convinced that Paloma was destroyed 500 years ago and had never expected to bump into her like this. She had obviously only surfaced now, but even in the state she was in Paloma was still very dangerous. She will have to find a way out of this and fast.

"I have a business proposition for you, Paloma. One, which will make you more powerful than you already are."

A cruel sound, supposedly a laugh, escaped Paloma's lips. "Why would I want to side with a traitor like you? You of all people should know that what you have done is tantamount to the death sentence. You will have to be destroyed and I will do whatever it takes to protect the laws and honor of our race." She cast a quick glance to the where the baby was hidden, looking at them with big blue eyes. "You're intentions towards that baby wasn't noble. I have sensed your hatred. You were going to kill it just to send a message to whoever you are running away from now." Taking a threatening step forward, Paloma's hands transformed into claws. "Let's get this over with."

Rising to the challenge, Gillian went for her sword and took in a battle stance.

"We don't have to do this, Paloma. It is obvious that you've just surfaced and hasn't fed yet. I will cut you down before you have even laid a finger on me."

The master vampire nodded.

"I can not wait to see you try." A deep red glow flared to life in the silver eyes. Using preternatural speed, Paloma dived towards Gillian catching her off guard.

Gillian screamed in anger, when she felt Paloma's claw raked over her face. She quickly reached up to determine the damage and hissed when she encountered deep bloody welts on her left side of her face. Her hand tightened around the hilt of her sword and with an ear-piercing screech attacked.

Paloma sucked in her breath when the blade sliced through her upper arm. She quickly side-stepped another downward slash. The power Gillian had put behind the attack had thrown her off-balance, leaving her back open for and attack. Seizing the opportunity, Paloma raked her claw down Gillian's back, slicing through meat and bone.

Satisfied, Paloma pulled away.

The wound was deep and Gillian was losing a lot of blood. She slowly turned and from her sluggish moves, Paloma knew that the loss of blood was affecting her. Paloma turned away suddenly. Another powerful presence was nearby. Their fighting had pushed them further and further from the tree and probing the darkness she felt sharp eyes resting on her.

Watch out!

The warning rang through her mind and she turned, just in time to ward off being cut down by Gillian. She was mildly surprised that Gillian was still able to fight. Maybe she'd underestimated her. At the age of 900 Gillian wasn't a youngster and she was also a respected fighter having trained under Tahlia before. She was only replaced when her interest in Tahlia became known.

"If you think I will make it easier for you, you must think again. I might not be as powerful as you, but I've trained hard over the centuries."

Suddenly tired of playing with Gillian, Paloma reached out so fast, grabbing a stunned Gillian by the throat, at the same time pushing her claw into Gillian chest. Her hand curled around Gillian's pulsing heart. Gillian stopped struggling, her eyes were wide open and Paloma saw naked fear in her eyes. The world would be a better place without Gillian, but Gillian was a walking encyclopedia. She knew about almost everything that was happening in the Vampire world and she had 500 years to catch up with.

"First I want to see what you were up to in my absence." Her fangs sunk into Gillian neck and she drank deeply. A few minutes later she pushed Gillian away from her, but tightened her hand around the now slow beating heart. When Gillian fell to the ground, Paloma stared down at her hand which was clutching Gillian's severed heart. It stuttered for a few more beats before it stilled. Visualizing a flame, she charred Gillian's body and tossed her heart into the fiery blaze. Already the world felt like a better place without Gillian. Her thick ancient blood had done what George's couldn't. She felt revived again. Her great power surge to the foreground and she flexed her shoulders.

Looking into the flames, she processed the information she'd got from Gillian. Tahlia was here in New York, living with her lover who was a vampire now. There were too many other bits and pieces to work through and she promised herself she would make time for it later. She needed to get back to the baby and take her to a safe place.

She walked over to the tree, but the closer she came to the tree the more worried she became too. She didn't hear the heartbeat anymore and that meant that the baby was gone. Whoever took the baby must've shrouded her presence. She walked around the tree, touching the tree bark to see if she could pick up a scent.

After a more than ten minutes, she stepped back. Nothing. The vampire was very careful not to leave any leads. She looked up towards the moon. She needed to go and look for a temporary liar before the sun came up. She will have to lay low for a while before she seeks out Tahlia. It might take a while to convince her that she was indeed still loyal to the Race and had not strayed in the 500 years of her absence.

_________________________________________________________________

Chapter 2

19 Years later…

The nightclub was bursting - just the way she liked it. Dressed in tight leather pants, that hugged her long legs and a white silk shirt that hung loose, Inger knew she was fitting in with the crowd. She had even left her shoulder-length dark hair loose so she could pass for one of the arty types.

Over the past five years, renegades had been infiltrating the arts and entertainment scene where their odd and erratic behavior weren't frowned upon. More and more youngsters were being recruited by the renegades and she'd even sensed a few at campus, where she was pursuing a Law degree. She usually waited until it was dark and stalked the darkest alleys of the campus and let them find her. Her mother will kill her if she found out she was using this particular tactic. She was trained to ambush and to always know where her enemy was instead of just stumbling upon them.

She was just about to take a sip from her drink, when she felt the hair at the back of her neck raise. It was here. She could sense it strongly. She had been working for the Vampire Slayers Consortium for the past four years, but had never experience such a powerful presence. Except for her mother and two others. When she was old enough and her powers had developed fully, she had confronted her grandfather about the power that her two mothers and uncles transmitted. Instead of answering her, he had looked around the room and the next thing she knew Tahlia and Jemima were standing in the room with them. That night was the beginning of a new life for her. A life, where vampires lurked in the dark and drained corpses littered dark and narrow alleys.

For weeks she had walked around with the awful truth about her family - her mothers being vampires. Dangerous, nighttime creatures which preyed on humans for their survival. Scared that if anyone at school found out about it she would be ostracized and the ridiculed, Inger had kept the truth hidden behind a surly façade through out high school and never spoke about it with anyone. Until she met Rita MacLauchlan.

There was an instant attraction and soon afterwards, they'd started dating. Even though she had suspected that she was attracted to woman, she had dated many boys, her looks drawing men to her like flies. But she had kept her true sexual preference from her family.

After they'd been dating for three months, Rita took her to work one day. It was there at the Vampire Slayers Consortium offices that she had an epiphany. Not only did she find out that her parents were the good guys, but that she was going to work with them. It took the intervention of her grandparents to sway her parents to allow her to be trained as a slayer. Tahlia and Jemima gave in, but there were a condition though. She was never, ever to get herself killed or bitten. For the past four years she'd managed just that.

About three years ago she'd sensed that she was being stalked. The one thing she was sure of was that her stalker was very powerful, the other, that she didn't pick up any evil vibes coming from it. In a way she had become accustomed to having this thing around her every night. It felt as if she had backup with her all the time. Inger took a sip from her beer and facing the packed dance floor scanned through the crowd. What would her stalker look like? It must be a vampire - that she was sure of, but why would a vampire be stalking her. A vampire who had no ill intentions towards her.

A cute blonde girl with a pixie haircut caught her eye and Inger smiled. The girl smiled back and beckoned her over with a crooked finger. Taking a long swig from her beer, Inger strolled over to where the girl was waiting for her. Close-up she was even more attractive than she initially thought. Dressed in a soft flowing white dress, the girl started swaying her hips slowly, rubbing her pint-sized frame against her tall one. Grabbing her closer, Inger smiled appreciatively when she felt the perky breasts against her body.

She was no stranger to one night stands. Since breaking up with Rita three years ago, she had decided to stick to steamy, no-strings attached sex. After mutual satisfying sex, they each went their separate ways and a month or two would pass before she went in search for a sex partner again. Of late however, some nights after her sex partner had left; she would linger in the hotel room, wondering what it would be like to actually have someone she could go home to after class instead to picking up strangers for sex. Entertaining the thought for a few seconds, she'd rudely pushed it from her mind. Giving herself a mental shake, she focused on the cute woman rubbing herself up and down her tall frame.

"You are way too sexy to be here alone, you know. Where's your missus?"

Inger grinned. The woman was spirited! This was going to be a very, very pleasant evening, indeed.

"Believe it or not, but I'm here all by myself." she said softly and pulled the blonde even closer to her. "Enough talking for now, beautiful. Let's go dance."

*******************

Glittering silver eyes followed the couple as they were dancing closely. A low feral growl started from deep within her, but she managed to keep it down before it spilled over her lips. The blonde girl pushed her hands under Inger shirt and was stroking her taut stomach.

Paloma could see the ill-disguised lust in Inger's eyes, from where she was sitting at a shadowy part of the bar. She had followed Inger to the nightclub until she was safely inside. She didn't enter, but instead melted into the shadows of a dark alley nearby where she had sensed six renegades lying in wait for the vampire slayer. She had picked up their scent a few blocks away already and from the halting way Inger had entered the nightclub, she knew that Inger too was aware of their presence. After she had destroyed the renegades, she had entered the nightclub and from the way she had tensed when she entered the club, she knew that Inger was aware of her presence too.

When the sun went down it was difficult for her to keep her distance from the beautiful raven-haired, blue-eyed siren. She was on her mind every second of every waking hour. She found her breathing becoming labored and her nipples hardening at the though of taking the twenty-year old firebrand to her bed. It had taken all her patience and control to keep herself from going crazy every time Inger left a bar or nightclub with a woman, heading to the nearest hotel in the area. She knew what happened on the starched white sheets of the hotel room, while she waited in the shadows. When Inger left the hotel room after a few hours, satiated and tired, she followed her back home or to her dorm room, seething with anger and jealousy. She'd lost track of how many women Inger had slept with over past few years but it will have to end. Tonight.

The song ended and Inger and her partner walked back to the bar. Paloma's jealousy knew no bounds, when the blond snuggled into Inger's arms and placed a soft kiss in her neck. The slayer obviously liked it, because she gave the girl a hungry kiss in return. Paloma felt her body starting to shake from the effort of keeping herself from walking over and dragging the girl away from Inger.

"If you are trying to get her attention, you are going about it the wrong way," a husky voice said behind her.

Shocked, that anyone could have crept up on her without her sensing their approach, Paloma turned sharply to find calm black eyes resting on her. No wonder, she thought. This was a master at tracking and stalking.

For a few seconds they just stared at each other and the centuries apart fell away as they relived their past. The last time they'd seen each other was in 1530, after which she had went to ground only to resurface twenty years ago.

"Tahlia."

"We all thought you were destroyed in battle."

Paloma gestured to the bartender and ordered a glass of dry red wine for Tahlia.

"I just got tired and decided to rest a while, but I guessed I overslept." Her eyes slowly moved over Tahlia's face. The past twenty odd years she had caught glimpses of Tahlia here and there. She was even more beautiful than she remembered. She had also grown stronger over the past five hundred years if the faint crackling sound in the air around her was anything to go by.

Tahlia took a sip from her wine and nodded her thanks.

"What is your interest in my daughter, old friend?" she asked softly, calmly observing Paloma over the rim of her wine glass.

Paloma turned her head in the direction where she had last seen the couple. "I am just looking out for her. The renegades in town are not very fond of her."

Tahlia looked at her in silence for a few seconds. She nodded and took another sip from her glass. "Thank you for looking out for her." Tahlia said after a while. "I will call her over so that I can introduce you."

At hearing that, Paloma felt her heartbeat went into overdrive. Meeting Inger face to face? The last time she had been in close proximity with Inger was when she was still a baby - in the park. She looked up and found the black eyes resting on her. Tahlia was not a fool and Paloma knew that Tahlia could hear her heartbeat thudding erratically.

"It would be an honor to meet your daughter."

"Good."

Tahlia picked up her glass and took a sip.

******************

<I'm at the other end of the bar, Inger. Would you mind coming over? Alone!>

Nooooooo, Inger groaned inwardly. Just when she thought her entertainment for the night was sorted out and that they would leave for a hotel room, her mother had to come and hang out at the same nightclub as her. She didn't have to look around to locate her mother. The air in the nightclub was practically crackling -a clear sign that a very powerful being was in the vicinity. Only people with strong psychic abilities would pick up on the power surge in the air.

She looked down into the smoldering blue eyes of the blonde and sighed.

"Duty calls. I need to meet with a friend. Will you wait for me?"

"Just make it quick, OK," the blonde said with a sexy pout.

With a quick kiss on the pouting lips, Inger walked over to where her mother was leaning against the bar. She was a few steps away from her mother, when the other person standing next to her looked up and their eyes met. The electric shock that rushed through her body was so potent and so unexpected it almost made her heart stop. God heavens! What a woman! Her long blond hair was loose and rested on wide leather-encased shoulders. She was still too far away to make out the color of her eyes, but she was sure that it would be something spectacular just like the woman herself. She was tall almost as tall as her mother - maybe just a couple of inches shorter. She also exuded the same dangerous aura as her mother - carrying it just as calm regal as her mother did. How come she'd never seen her with her mother?

<It is rude to stare, child.>

Thoroughly reprimanded, Inger tore her gaze away from the enigmatic woman and looked at her mother. The black eyes were looking at her sternly.

"What was that all about?" Tahlia asked coolly when she came to stand in front of her and flicked a glance at the blonde girl at the bar, "Your mom ordered me to find you, because you haven't been answering your phone for the past two days."

Inger rolled her eyes. As a young child, to avoid confusion between her two mothers, she started to call Tahlia 'mother', because she was the strong quiet one and Jemima was 'mom', because she was the one always nagging her about everything. Her dress code, her studies, everything. She was sure that her Jemima will have a fit when she finds out that she was actually dating women.

"Please, don't tell Mom. I will never hear the end of it."

Tahlia pushed away from the bar, her face set in a stern scowl.

"You will tell your mother. I think I have put myself in the firing line way too often of late."

Tahlia turned and Inger felt her mouth go dry at the sight of the other woman looking at them. Her eyes were such a light grey, it shone like two deep pools of quicksilver under the flashing lights of the nearby dance floor. She was even more breathtaking up close. Sexy. Alluring. She imagined the touch of those soft lips against hers and felt her legs becoming rubbery.

"Let me introduce you to a friend of mine." Tahlia continued. "This is Paloma Soleil."

The beautiful vampire extended her hand and Inger folded it gently in hers. The unexpected jolt made them both pull away quickly and when they both sneaked a quick look at Tahlia and found her looking calmly at them with her bottomless black eyes.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Paloma." Knowing that she would stare again if she turned to look at Paloma, Inger turned to Tahlia. "How do you know each other?" Not able to refrain from looking at the blonde vampire, her blue eyes slowly turned towards the tall woman. The silver eyes seemed as if they were staring right through her, gleaning her mind for deep unspoken thoughts. Luckily she was trained at a very young age to block any mind probing, to protect her family as well as to keep her alive when fighting renegades.

Tahlia took a sip from her wine and smiled faintly. "We are childhood friends."

Inger's eyes widened. Impossible. She could never understand how her mother could be more than 2 000 years old and still looked so well, but now this woman is living - no existing - proof that her mother is really as old as she said she is.

"That makes you over 2 000 years old, Paloma." What a gorgeous cougar!

Paloma nodded.

"Yes. I was born in 55 BC." Paloma said with a slow smile.

"No kidding. I have never met a vampire who was older than my mother."

Looking at Tahlia, Paloma suddenly smiled, a teasing smile, which made her silver eyes twinkle. It made Inger's mouth go even drier.

"I can tell you a lot about your mother when we were growing up."

Inger laughed softly and walked into Tahlia's arms.

"My mother is the strongest, coolest person alive. I doubt she was a goofy girl growing up." Inger felt the arms tighten around her and she purred softly. As a small girl, Tahlia would take her in her arms and held her tightly until whatever was troubling her disappeared like mist before the sun. When she looked up, the black eyes were so tender and Inger rose onto her toes to plant a soft gentle kiss on Tahlia's cheek. Whenever Tahlia was near she always felt loved and protected. "I love you?" The words spill over her lips and she felt the deep calm heat that spread from Tahlia to her.

"I love you too, my Angel."

For a long second they shared a deep loving look before Inger gently stepped out of the embrace.

"Tell Mom I will come by later tonight and that she doesn't have to worry about me. I'm taking good care of myself."

^^^^^^^

While mother and daughter were talking, Paloma couldn't take her eyes off the beautiful tall girl. Her blue eyes were filled with so much love for Tahlia and suddenly she too was aching for someone to look at her like that. If that someone happened to be Inger - even better. The way Tahlia was holding the girl to her was very possessive and Paloma knew that if she was to try and get to know the girl better, she'd have to get past Tahlia first.

<You got that right. I will kill anyone who tries to hurt my child. So be warned.>

Tahlia was still staring at her daughter with infinite tenderness, but her voice echoing in Paloma's mind was cold and steely. She meant what she was saying. Inger was just as off limits to her just as Jemima was off limits to anyone else.

She took a sip from her wine and studied Inger over the rim of her wineglass. It was very distracting being around her. Their first touch was so intense. It made little light bulbs burst behind her eyes and her heart stopped beating for a few seconds.

"Jemima is having an exhibition. I'm on my way there now, but feel free to drop in if you can. I would like to introduce you to her."

Not waiting for her reply, Tahlia turned and disappeared into the crowd.

"It's very stuffy in here."

The pleasure that coursed through Paloma at hearing Inger's voice spiked her blood with desire and she had to blink a few times before she could turn to look at Inger. She didn't want to scare her off by looking at her with unbridled lust in her eyes.

"Yes. It is getting crowded now." Would she want to go somewhere quiet, perhaps? Maybe somewhere where they could explore this instant attraction between them?

There was a commotion at the door and an entourage headed by burly bodyguards pushed a way through the dancing throng. In their wake a beautiful brunette in a killer red dress followed, causing a number of the club patrons to reach for their mobile phones and pushed closer to take pictures of her.

Paloma shook her head slowly. "Who is she?" she asked with mild curiosity.

"Verna Gregg. She's a famous movie star."

Shaking her head again, Paloma turned back to bar to pick up her glass. The one thing about this century that baffled her was the hero-worship people had for so-called celebrities. Popular culture was something she still had to get use to.

"She's coming over to us." Inger's awe-filled voice sounded close to her ear and Paloma stiffened when Inger's breath brushed her neck. When she turned she found Inger standing very close to her, her blue eyes staring straight into hers. There was a strange expression in her eyes. But before she could decipher the look in Inger's eyes or react to her closeness, the tiny brunette pushed between them, her green eyes devouring Paloma.

Since Paloma was a head taller that the woman, she had a clear view of the woman's bosom. Her dress was cut so low that her breasts were almost bulging out in the front. Her blood red lips open up exposing brilliant white teeth. The tip of her tongue slowly ran over her teeth, while her eyes were moving dreamily over Paloma's tall frame.

"Would you like to join me at my table?"

Before she could form a reply, Inger took a step closer and wiggled herself in between the two of them. With a tight smile she looked at the brunette as if to tell her to back off. Paloma felt her blood heating up further at the feel of Inger's body so close to hers and she turned smoldering eyes on Inger.

Sensing the silent aggression coming from Inger, the movie star smiled and nodded.

"You can both come. It's my birthday and I'm just looking for someone to share the evening with me." Her eyes once again roved slowly over her and this time, Paloma could smell the woman's arousal. She turned to look at Inger and found her staring at her with flashing blue eyes.

Inger couldn't explain the irritation that was coursing through her upon seeing the lustful look that the brunette gave Paloma and without thoroughly thinking her next action through, she unexpectedly pulled Paloma against her and slanted her lips over the beautifully sculptured mouth of the Vampire. What started off as a stunt to repulse the advances of the brunette on Paloma, turned into the most erotic experience she had ever experienced.

Paloma's arms snaked around her middle and she felt the Vampire opened her mouth and went in search of her tongue. She found it easily and expertly sucked it deep into her own mouth. The kiss lasted a full six seconds, but those were the most devastating erotic six seconds she'd ever experienced. When they pulled away, blue eyes clashed with sliver ones. A soft cough broke the heated moment and they both turned quickly.

The brunette was gone and instead another set of flashing blue eyes were glaring at them.

________________________________________________________________________

Chapter 3

"Mom!"

This spelt trouble.

Behind Jemima stood a stoic Tahlia, her unflinching black eyes resting on Paloma, who was pushing a visibly shaking hand through her hair. Jemima's blazing eyes stared coolly at her and Inger sighed deeply.

"Don't Mom me, Inger Charlotte Marsden." When her Jemima used her full name, she was really angry. "What do you thing you're doing?" She swung around to look at Tahlia with flashing blue eyes. "This is your fault. We should've been stricter with her, but you were always the one who said I was too tough on her. Now look what happened. Not only is she placing her life in danger everyday as a slayer, she also hangs out at rowdy nightclubs, kissing …" Jemima's eyes shifted to Paloma and they narrowed slightly "… dangerous-looking women."

Paloma threw an amused smile at Tahlia and received a cold feral smile which exposed her fangs. Looking around worriedly to see if anyone had seen Tahlia's fangs, Inger quickly stepped closer.

"Maybe we should have this conversation later at home."

"No, we will have it out here and now." Jemima said through clenched teeth, her eyes resting coldly on Paloma.

"But people are staring, Mom."

"No they are not. We are not visible to the human eye anymore."

There goes that excuse. Tahlia must have cloaked their presence with a spell. To the human eye they weren't there, but no one came near to where they stood because Tahlia's spell instilled an ominous and repulsive feeling of dread in any human who dared to cross into the spell barrier.

Everyone was walking long circles around the section of the bar where they stood. She saw the cute blonde she was dancing with earlier, being escorted by one of Verna Gregg's bodyguards to the VIP section of the nightclub. There goes her entertainment for the evening. She turned back to Jemima, but the flashing blue eyes made her quickly look towards Tahlia.

"Can't we go somewhere else where we can talk calmly?"

Tahlia placed her hand on Jemima's shoulder.

"Maybe she's right. Let's go to the art gallery."

^^^^^^^^^

Once they were at the gallery, Jemima bundled them into the office.

"What do you have to say for yourself, Inger?" she asked in a low threatening voice. When Tahlia stepped closer, Jemima held up a shaky hand. "She will have to come clean tonight, my love. No more breaks for her. If she can take on renegades, I'm sure she's capable of defending herself tonight - here - to us."

Inger grimaced and walked over to the big oak desk, leaning against it. Jemima was standing there, her arms folded behind her back. It was actually a relief to be able to get this off her chest tonight.

"I like women."

There was a dead silence for a while and when she looked up, she found Jemima's eyes slowly beginning to smolder again. "What do you mean, you like women?" The words were uttered softly, but Inger knew that Jemima was trying very hard to reign in her anger. No matter how angry her parents were with her, she'd never had reason to fear them. Tahlia was the calm and practical one whereas Jemima was the total opposite. Jemima was also the strictest of both parents

Inger was sitting on the edge of the table now. Her leather clad pants leg swinging back and forth as she rolled her eyes at her Jemima.

"Just what I said, Mom. I am attracted to women and I have been dating women since I was sixteen years old."

Jemima turned slowly to look at Tahlia who was quietly standing in the centre of the office.

"No, Jemi, before you blame me. I didn't know. I might have suspected it, but I didn't know."

Inger came to her feet. "What's the big deal anyway? I thought you would be happy for me?"

"No, you didn't, otherwise you would've told us a long time ago that you are a lesbian." Jemima snapped.

Tahlia came to her feet and walked over to where a trembling Jemima was trying hard to keep her temper in check. She gently lifted Jemima's chin and stared into the flashing blue eyes. Her black eyes began to smolder the longer she looked into Jemima's eyes.

<You will have to calm down now, my love, because you are really starting to turn me on now.>

She smiled when she saw a tiny ember of heat spring to life in the cold blue eyes. After twenty years together they were still madly in love and still struggled to keep their hands off each other. Jemima burrowed into Tahlia's arms and lifted her face for a kiss, but before their lips could meet, Inger rudely interrupted them.

"Hello, I'm still here. Your impressionable daughter, remember."

Smiling intimately, they moved away from each other. Their eyes holding a promise of what will come later - in the quiet, intimate darkness of their bedroom. Her senses picked up the presence of someone coming down the hallway towards the office where they were.

"The gallery owner and your guests are looking for you. I will take things from here and I promise that I will be tough on her." Tahlia said and turned to Inger.

The blue eyes which were smoky with desire a second ago were once again staring daggers at her and Inger sighed heavily.

"Next time you don't answer your phone, I will come look for you myself, Inger. And don't think this is over."

She turned to leave the room, but before she turned the knob she turned back and walked over to where Inger stood. She pulled her into a bone-crushing hug.

"Be careful out there. I love you." With a quick kiss on the cheek, she was gone.

"Let's go for a walk in the park." Tahlia said as she grabbed her jacket.

"Yes, let's. I can do with a bit of fresh air." At least it's all in the open now. What a relief!

****************

Paloma lifted a shaky hand to her lips. She could still feel Inger's lips on hers. Oh, heavens, how she craved more. Sighing, she went to the sit in the armchair and picked up the book she was reading. But after reading the same line for more than half and hour, she put the book aside and closed her eyes. As much as she was attracted to Inger, nothing would come of it. Tahlia will not condone a relationship between the two of them. After all Inger was human, albeit a very strong psychic, and Tahlia might be scared that her daughter wasn't ready for an intense relationship with a vampire.

Since she was made a vampire, she had a few flings with humans here and there, but nothing serious enough to make her want to stay with one person forever. Nor was she ready to follow Tahlia's example of waiting her whole life for a lover to be reincarnated only to bury her at the end of a short human life. She knew that she wasn't strong enough to go through that every time.

She closed her eyes briefly and gave in to the paralyzing feeling that had been her companion for so long. Loneliness. She was so desperately lonely, that the place in her chest where her heart's suppose to be felt so hollow. She raised a hand to her cheek and groaned when it came back stained with blood. She quickly came to her feet. There's no use sitting here, feeling sorry for herself. She'll go out and take a long brisk walk.

In the past three years the other times when she'd felt like this she went to the campus where Inger was studying and sat on the balcony outside her bedroom, listening to her moving around in her room. Other nights she would just follow her around town, admiring her extraordinary fighting skills as she worked diligently at ridding the city of renegades.

Tonight Inger was with her parents and she wasn't going to tempt Tahlia's wrath by seeking her out.

****************

The park was quiet except for the occasional hooting of an owl. Sipping on her takeaway coffee, Inger turned to look at Tahlia who was silently sitting next to her on the bench.

"Why don't you want me to date women?"

Sitting up straight, Tahlia shook her head, her black eyes tender.

"It has nothing to do with your sexual orientation, my baby. Your mother is just upset because you didn't confide in her - in us." Tahlia leant over and pulled Inger closer to her when she saw Inger shivering slightly. "I've known about you and Rita, but I wanted you to come and tell us yourself."

Shocked, she looked up into Tahlia's black eyes.

"You did?"

Tahlia couldn't hide the smirk. "Yes, I did. And if you ever tell your mother I knew, I will deny it."

Laughing softly, Inger nestled deeper into Tahlia's warm body sipping her coffee.

"Tell me more about Paloma. Why haven't I heard you talking about her until now?"

Tahlia looked down into Inger's blue eyes.

"You like her, don't you?"

Inger shrugged. "Who wouldn't? She is incredibly beautiful and very sexy."

"Don't forget dangerous." Tahlia added calmly.

"I didn't sense any malice coming from her. If you are childhood friends, you would surely know if she was evil?" Inger set the empty styrofoam cup aside.

"No. Paloma is not evil." Tahlia gently pushed a lock dark hair behind Inger's ear. "About 500 years ago, Paloma just disappeared and we all thought she was killed in battle. I have looked everywhere for her, because somehow I knew she wasn't dead. It was only that night nineteen years ago that I saw her again. While we were fighting Gillian and the renegades, I left to hide you not very far from here. After the battle, I came back to get you and that was when I saw Paloma again, fighting off Gillian, to protect you. That was how I'd known that she was alive and that she still was my friend."

"Why did you doubt her in the first place?"

Sighing deeply, Tahlia rubbed over her eyes.

"The lifespan of a vampire is very long and after a while it becomes a bland and bleak existence. I know of many good friends who grew tired of living that they simply chose to walk into the dawn, destroying themselves." At Inger soft gasp of shock, Tahlia pulled her tighter against her. "Some have become so corrupt by the power they wield and the fortunes they've amassed over the centuries that they'd become evil, craving more power. Murdering innocents and the weak later became the order of the day for them if it meant they could garner more power. Those ones we had to hunt and kill. That was what Paloma's been doing for centuries. All that killing does have an effect on a vampire later and I wasn't sure if Paloma was able to hold on to her soul in the end."

"How did you manage to stay sane?"

Laughing softly, Tahlia rubbed Inger's hands between hers, her eyes were infinitely tender. "Your mom saved me. My love for Jemima kept me alive." Bringing her daughter's chilled hands to her lips, Tahlia gently brushed her lips over the cool knuckles. "I first met her a year before I was made a vampire in 32 BC. Her name was Aurora then and we fell in love. Since then I had waited every century for her to be reincarnated. Twenty years ago, I had to convert her to vampire to save her from Drake." Tahlia's eyes glowed with love as she whispered. "She saved me."

They sat in silence for a while, listening to an owl hooting nearby.

"The attraction between us is mutual. Would it bother you if I try to see if things can work between Paloma and me?"

"You are a grown woman, Inger, but I'm not sure if you are ready for a relationship with a vampire - not to speak of a master vampire. Paloma has many enemies who will by way of association become your enemies too. It might become too much for you later. All I ask of you is to think about it carefully. The only person who can give you first hand experience about the kind of life you are letting yourself into, is your mom. Talk to her first."

After Inger's nod, Tahlia came to her feet and in a fluid movement swung Inger in her arms.

She grinned down into Inger's glowing eyes. As a kid Inger loved it when she picked her up in her arms and raced through the streets with her.

"I'm taking you to your room and then I need to go get my beautiful wife and take her home."

Using preternatural speed Tahlia streaked off in the direction of the campus.

******************

The next day after class, Inger rushed over to the Melton Hotel and down to the safe house. Tahlia and Jemima were sleeping and would only rise in another four hours or so, but meeting her parents wasn't what brought her here. She opened the door to the library and smiled.

Good. Joan was here. If there was anybody who knows almost everything about Vampire folklore, it was Joan. Except for few grey hairs here and there Joan still looked very beautiful and young for a woman pushing sixty. Soon after she found out the truth about why her parents could never attend her extramural activities during the day, she had spent a lot of time in the library with Joan. Thanks to Joan, she was eventually able to process the hurt and fear and saw through the fact that her mothers were scary vampires to the love they held for her.

As always, a bespectacled Joan was deeply engrossed in a book.

"Hi, Joan, how're you doing? I haven't seen you around for quite some time."

Joan looked up and smiled, putting down the thick leather-bound volume she was reading.

"I had a lot of research to do." She took off her glasses and gently folded them. "Our Europe branch needs some info on a group of medieval vampire slayers. It seems like some kind of an underground slayer organization if operating in Europe and are killing and maiming vampires indiscriminately. But enough about that. What brings you here?"

Closing the door behind her, she came to sit next to Joan. But before she could say anything, Joan held up her hand.

"Before you drag me into anything illegal, I would like to warn you that your parents are asleep downstairs and that they will be able to hear everything you say."

"They know already. I just needed some info on a certain Paloma Soleil."

Joan picked up reading glasses and with a frown studied the young girl intently.

"What a strange request. Paloma Soleil was last seen alive in 1530. Many believe that she was killed in battle. Why the sudden interest in her?"

If Paloma wanted to stay undetected she wouldn't have blown her cover. Strange that both her mothers knew about Paloma, but the Consortium was still left in the dark. She will have to ask her mother why that was the case.

"I'm just fascinated by her. The other day Bryan Collepsi, from the Consortium rumbled off a list of vampire warriors and her name just stuck. What else do you know about her?"

Putting on her glasses, Joan walked over to a shelf and pulled out a book.

"Tahlia will actually be able to tell you more about her, seen as they grew up together and was made vampires around the same time. They were both Royal Vampires. Tahlia was crowned as a Royal Vampire and Paloma was made the official Protector of the Vampire Race. After the three Royal Vampires, she was the most powerful and feared warrior. Her fighting skills were legendary and it is rumored that she had killed more rogue vampires and overzealous slayers than any other vampire in existence." Joan paged through the book for a few minutes before speaking again.

"It is said here that she was ambushed by a group of vampire slayers near Naples and was decapitated. Nobody could really authenticate the event, but the slayers belonged to a group who called themselves the Servants of Redemption…."

Joan quickly sat up straighter. "I've got it. This is the same group that the European branch is investigating." She looked at Inger. "They have a link with Paloma Soleil. Something is not adding up. I need to get to the office and run this by Michael and the others."

Alarmed, Inger quickly came to her feet. "What could this mean?"

Joan held the book against her breast, her green eyes glittering with barely contained excitement.

"It could mean that one of the most dangerous Vampire assassins in history has resurfaced, which could explain why the organization was re-activated." She grabbed her purse and car keys. "I need to be off. See you later"

Once the door was closed behind Joan, Inger walked over to the computer, opened a search engine and typed in her search. PALOMA SOLEIL. She didn't mind reading but since they have a computer why should see exhaust herself going through all the books looking for any reference to Paloma. Not many results came up, but they were very informative. Many of the facts corroborate with what Joan had told her. For all her sexy looks and gorgeous body, Paloma should actually be handled with care, it seems. She was very dangerous indeed. The Vampire version of the Grim Reaper. A shiver ran down her spine as she recalled the silvery gaze of the Assassin.

***********

Tahlia was already dressed and sitting on the bed in their underground chamber when Jemima rose from the rich patch of ground that serves as their daylight resting place. With a flick of the hand she cleaned herself and got dressed before turning to look at Tahlia.

"You are up early. What is bothering you, my love?" She came to sit next to Tahlia.

The black eyes turned to look at her.

"I need to speak with Paloma."

For twenty years she had known that the vampire warrior was in town, but not once had Tahlia spoken about her until now. She hadn't pressured Tahlia about her, but many thoughts ran through her mind, when the woman's name comes up. Tahlia was very secretive about her. Even Pierre and Jonas refused to talk about her after she'd fished about her a few times. But since Tahlia had brooked the topic first, she might just as well ask the one question she'd been carrying around with her for two decades.

"Why don't you want to talk about her?" The blue eyes became clouded. "Were you lovers?"

Tahlia's black eyes bore into hers.

"No." Tahlia reached out and took Jemima's hand in hers. "You were the only woman I have ever been with since becoming a vampire." The black eyes melted. "There will never be another woman for me."

"But why all the secrecy? Nobody seems to want to talk about her."

Tahlia nodded. "With good reason, because we are childhood friends."

"What? You mean to tell me that she's as old as you are?" The shock in the blue eyes made Tahlia smile.

"Actually she's older than me. We grew up together and our mothers were best friends. During the 1st Century, there was no real future for young women, except for getting married and eventually die during child birth. Both our mothers wanted us to survive beyond the births of our first children - since we were also dirt poor that proved an almost impossible task." Tahlia voice trailed off for a few seconds. "When my mother heard of Lecrac, recruiting young men and women, our mothers took us to be converted. Lecrac took care of the families of those whom he had made vampire. That was the only way we could take care of our parents. We were trained as warriors and soon thereafter I was converted to a Royal Vampire and she became a Royal Guard and Protector of the Race. We fought alongside each other during battles until five centuries ago when she just disappeared."

Jemima rested her head on Tahlia's shoulder.

"What is really bothering you then, my love?"

"Seeing her just brought back a lot of memories that I've buried deep down when she went missing. Also with her resurfacing, I am sure many of her enemies will be lured here in their quest for revenge."

Jemima's blue eyes sharpened.

"Does it mean that Inger might be placed in more danger than she already is?"

Tahlia nodded.

"She is attracted to Paloma and I have seen how Paloma reacts around Inger. I have never seen her so smitten before." Tahlia rubbed over her eyes. "They will become lovers and I'm afraid there's nothing we can do about it."

"There should be something. If Paloma is as dangerous as it is rumored, I don't want my child near her."

Tahlia came to her feet slowly and stood with her back to Jemima.

"Paloma is a very honorable person and I can assure you that she will not hurt Inger intentionally." She turned back to look at Jemima. "I am in a very difficult situation, Jemima. I have my loyalty towards Paloma on the one hand and the love and protection towards my daughter. I'm not sure how and if they will work out, but I feel that they need a chance. Paloma is lonely. I've been sensing her loneliness for the past twenty years. Did you know that she had been dogging Inger for the past three years, looking out for her? I have even seen her countless times, sitting on the balcony outside Inger's room."

Jemima came to stand behind Tahlia and gently turned her to face her.

"What are you saying?" she asked softly.

"It is obvious that Paloma loves our daughter. Anyone trying to hurt her while under Paloma's protection must have a death wish. I think she is safer being with Paloma than being apart from her."

Jemima nodded. It made sense, but still.

"I love my child very much and I do not want to see her get hurt, Tahlia, but I will try not to interfere."

Tahlia nodded and took Jemima's hand. "She's in the library. Let's go greet her."

***************

After leaving her parents, Inger made a quick stop at her grandparents' house, before getting onto her motorbike and roaming the streets for renegades. She stopped at Joe's, a bar notorious for being one of the gathering spots for renegades. After parking her motorbike, she took off her helmet and shook her hair to detangle them. Almost immediately she felt the vampire's presence. Strange, but it always made her feel safe and protected, having the vampire around.

"I'm going in for a drink. I promise not to be too long." she spoke into the darkness and sauntered into the club.

************

Once she was out of sight Paloma stepped out of the darkness with a wide smile. The girl's got spunk, taunting her like that with her last remark. For the past week she had sensed a vaguely familiar presence in town, but couldn't put her finger on it. That feeling was stronger here. Whoever it was must be in the bar and Inger was also in there. Using the shadows as cover she slipped into the bar.

************

Inger knew she was in trouble the minute she entered the bar. There was a very disturbing presence in the bar. As if something evil and full of hatred was ready to pounce on her. Walking over to the bar she quickly scanned the interior of the bar. Yip, this will be a good harvest since the club was packed with renegades. The stench of blood was also hanging in the air. They must have blood cows in the back room. The latest craze in vampire social trends was that, instead of going out hunting, bars and nightclubs, served blood to their non-human clientele. For this purpose young men and woman are recruited and paid handsomely to serves as human cows to be sucked on by vampires. This practice was not only cruel, but it was also very dangerous because more often than not human cows are drained completely leaving the police force baffled with the number of drained corpses piling up in the city morgue.

She ordered a beer and with every movement she made, she was aware of the renegades staring at her. She was hard to miss; she guessed Being human and a female entering a notorious bar alone. When her beer arrived, she took a long swig and turned to face the renegades.

That was when she saw her.

The Assassin. Death incarnate.

Her tall athletic body clad in black leather, Paloma came walking towards her. The silver eyes were on her, staring at her with so much intensity that Inger felt her stomach do a summersault.

Paloma gave her a slow smile and all Inger could do was to stare at the extremely gorgeous woman, her mind blank except for the mental image of her golden sweat-slicked body undulating beneath hers, urging her on.

The silver eyes flashed and Inger wondered if she'd read her mind. It wasn't possible of course. Paloma had not taken her blood. Nevertheless, she will have to be careful around the woman.

To be continued

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