The Lurkers' Domain

Rose watched as lights flashed by her, people looking down at her concerned. At last Rose drifted into a peaceful sleep, where there was no pain, or fear from Dominic.

Dressed in a pair of shorts, tank top, and sandles she walked over soft sand, then a wooden plank dock. At the end of the dock, swaying to gentle waves was a beautiful boat named "Doria" Her father waved to her on board, as her mother handed him supplies to load. Nearly jumping out of her shoes waving to them both, she ran as fast as her feet could take her to meet up with her family.

Both her and her mom grabbed onto each other with wonderful tears of joy. She had not looked so wonderful in all her life, Rose thought to herself. A head popped up from the hatch, it was her annoying little brother Thomas, he too made haste to greet her with hugs and kisses. Thomas grabbed her hand and nearly dragged her on board the "Doria" where her dad wrapped her in his huge big strong arms, forever keeping her safe.

"When did you buy the boat? You had always wanted to sail, but always put it off!" Her dad muttered playfully "Your mother made me do it, or else she would deny me her legendary cheesecake."

Hoisting the sail, pulling up the anchor, untieing the boat from the dock, they were off for the open ocean. With a clear day ahead, warm sun, and soft wind. It was a wonderful place to be with family; Father stood proudly behind the steering wheel, Thomas played with his gameboy, mother sat working on her embroidery, while Rose simply sat at the front, with her bare feet dangling watching the boat cut through the water with lazy ease.

She thought about the name, playing in her mind how it is familiar "Doria..........Cory." She smiled at the touch of the name. How he had bowed to her when they met each other at Caesars before she went to the ball. "Cory Bantes, court jester extrordinare." The whole thing, the night at Nocturne, everything seemed like a horrible dream, except for meeting Cory and Rex. Rex took her around and introduced her to everyone, feeling valued, like the way Cory made her feel.

Her mom came up, unfolding a folding chair directly behind Rose, once again working happily on her colorful threaded project.

"So have you met anyone special at Vegas during your stay there?"

She couldn't help but to chuckle, her mom always seemed to know exactly what she was thinking.

"Sort of, yeah, I suppose. He's nice. They all are nice." She shrugged casually.

Just then Rose grabbed her chest and cried out in pain. Immediately her father rushed over to see what was the matter. Trembling from the pain, Rose tried to ease her parents worries.

"I'm fine. It was nothing."

With a giant wave of pain, Rose laid back on the warm white deck looking up at the bright sun, both parents and Thomas looking down upon her.

"Rose, it'll be alright hon. We won't lose you again, stay with us." Her mom soothed her while moving her hair away from eyes.

"Bors! Damn you, get her heart started again!" Vlad cried, his whole body at rigid attention, bone spurs quivering as Rose flatlined on the operating table.

Bors plunged his fingers through Rose's chest wall, using his knowledge of flesh crafting garnered over the last 1,200 years to avoid damaging this poor wretch any further. He massaged her heart, forcing it to pump her life's blood through her veins. "Get another unit of blood going, Vlad. And give the poor dear a bit of relief from the pain, hmm?" He spoke smoothly and softly, as if urging Rose to hold on for the time it would take to make her whole again.

The OR nurse operated the manual respirator until the heart monitor gave a woeful bleep on its own, followed by another, and soon by Bors' happy smile.

That smile was enough of a beatific gift that she loved to see it flit, however briefly, across his face.

"While I'm in here, I'll go ahead and repair her ribs and soft tissues. You start with her legs, Vlad. Ahh, her lung has been speared ..." he trailed off, concentrating on reparing the damage.

When Vladimir Petrovich finished reparing the cruelties wreaked by Dominic on Rose's legs, he began on her hands and arms.

"So, this is the little firey one who beheaded Marco's get, hmm? Bors, do you think she'll need a new face?" Vlad queried, eager to do more than repair. "The police can be so very pesky."

"Pesky. Hmph." Bors Petrovich disliked the police. They seemed to be so narrow minded about a great many things. "We'll ask her when she is awake. The young one under Todd the Turkey's wings ... she brought this one in? I wonder if the one who did this lives. Ah, well, unimportant," he sighed.

Bors finished healing Rose's chest cavity damages and extricated his hands from her, sealing the skin without a marring line or dimple.

"Ah, brother, we did well. Now to her face. You saw the police photograph on the television machine? We'll fix her just like that. Well, yes, we'll leave the freckles. Sun kisses are so very interesting," Bors faded off again, half chuckling to himself, his torso moving sideways as if he'd been tickled.

He remembered waking one eveing to find a spider had set up roost in his left lung. He'd had that self same spider for over three centuries now. It subsisted on bits of Bors, and from the flies he periodically inhaled. It did tend to tickle fiercely at odd moments, however. He sometimes wondered what the now vampire spider would look like. Someday.

"So, Bors, the girl is stable. She is as healed as we can make her, which is very good indeed. Let's get her to recovery so she can come out of it and see only your smiling face," Vlad leered, showing fangs like a wolverines, crowding through his open mouth, wiggling the bone spurs placed where his eyebrows once rested wiggling with fun.

While Bors had decided the route to beauty was perfect symmetry of form, after the human fashion, Vlad had gone quite another route. He used his arts to shape himself into the very monster he felt he and his kind truly were. Bone spurs jutted from forehead, head, chin, knuckles, and joints, and he'd hinged his knees the other way to optimize his jumping. It did make sitting difficult, if he had to use a chair.

They transferred a now whole, drugged, sleeping Rose onto a gurney, and the OR nurse and an orderly moved her to the recovery room.

Vlad's head perked, like a dog's at hearing a whistle. "Ah! We're to have some very esteemed guests, brother mine. You go greet them. There will be ... squeamish people among them, there always are, and I no longer revel in the shock value of my terrible beauty."

Bors nodded, and went to the sink to wash and change into fresh scrubs. Esteemed guests could be patients or visiting highly placed creatures from any of the many types who used the hospices.

He knew trying to garner more information from his brother would only elicit teasing, and that he would soon enough find out just who was here. The sanctity of the hospice had never been forsworn, and he did not forsee its happening tonight.

He watched Vlad move heavily down the hallway to their protected quarters. If he was needed again he would come running. It saddened Bors that so few indivuals could see behind the monstrous facade to the older brother who did not want to spend an eternity alone, so in turn embraced the younger. What a hellish, beautiful, entirely full 12 centuries it had been.

Lying on the deck of her parents boat, she closed her eyes and felt as if her whole body was being swallowed up into the ocean, deeper and deeper. The sun became a giant blinding white light, no longer the sun but something else strange, without heat. Down and down into the dark waters, she floated her arms out, head back with her red hair swirling around her. The only thing she takes with her is Cory's bow and smile.

Bors walks up to the nurse, greeting him before the waiting room doors.

She had met up with Todd and Marnie confirming to them that Rose is out of surgery and is stable.

Whispering with urgency to Bors before he walks through the double swinging doors "It's the Prince and his Primogen." Her eyes were nearly unbelieving if she had not seen this for herself.

Throughout the lower level of the complex there was obvious tension.

"Who allowed this? Why are THEY here? This is neutral territory!" Whispers floated through the walls. Slight hostility was tempered with absolute curiousity regarding their visit.

As he was driving, Rex was hoping to figure out where he was going. The clue wasn't the most obvious. But if it was the building he was thinking of, there was an old placer mine nearby. Rex wondered if the hospital itself was in fact literally and figuratively underground. That had to be the only way he didn't know about it. But what could be so secret as to need to hide it from him.

Nico and Corey rode behind Rex and Olivia. There wasn't anything that Nico was pleased about with this.

Rex started the conversation with Olivia by offering, "For what it's worth, Marco's death was an accident."

"Sorry to hear that." Olivia chuckled despite everything on her mind. "Where's Charles again and is he really ok?"

"He's at a hospital, but he's OK. Rose, however, is not doing so well. It shouldn't take us long to get there, even though it's outside of city limits."

She looked at him seriously "It was never supposed to had been that way. I hired him, but I never thought for a minute that he would be capable, ok I did, but not to Rose. THAT wasn't in the agreement."

"I'll admit," Rex began, "I've tolerated your family's... eccentricities far too long. Marco's little war against me is something I'll never comprehend. But you. I never, ever expected you were the one to hire that hitman cousin of yours."

She looked down, admiring the pure white coat that Gregory lent to her, for her "decency". That was something she didn't feel, nor deserved the 'white' color either.

She said, "I hired him to 'take care of Rose'. To put her out of her misery for killing one of my family. Plain and simple. An eye for an eye. He wasn't supposed to bring her to me alive like that. For what it's worth, I AM really sorry."

The accelerator needle jumped on the dashboard noticeably, as did the tense grip Rex had on the steering wheel.

Nico noticed the immediate difference. Looking between the both of them, he could clearly see that Rex was not in danger, more like Olivia would be. Only he, Corey and Gregory knew the levels of Rex's temper. Nico gunned the car as well to keep up with him.

"Sorry. You're sorry." Rex mumbled under his breath.

"YES, I'M SORRY! What do you want?"

"An explanation. I'm the Law. You're on trial in this car, Olivia. I'm the judge, jury, and when need be, the executioner. But, I'm a fair man and only ask for the truth. The truth you've given me. And now I fucking want motive." The car sped up again down the one lane highway. The Joshua trees passed by in a dazed blur. Rex was easily driving a 100 MPH now. "Why was she there in the first place where she was put in a position to kill a Giovanni?"

She gave a casual shrug, "Marco went too far with her dog. She came in with a sword, challenged him, I was there. She DID kill one of the boys! I saw it. Ok, maybe a moment before then, Marco had her locked from her house... because he was warning her NOT to go to your club."

She reflected a moment. "May I ask something? Marco was the one to do those awful things to Rose, tormenting and stuff, he was responsible for pushing her too far to go and get the sword. He did deserve it. I hired my cousin to 'dispatch' her. Which, by the way he failed miserably at. So now three members of my family are dead, and I'm the one on trial? Why?"

The car quickly approached the building by the old mine. Rex calmly, but effectively slowed the car down outside the building, near the Delivery parking.

His temper rose but he stifled a roar and calmly answered, "For your part in this. You are innocent until proven guilty. By your own words, you hired your cousin for the hit. Marco was the ringleader in all of this, and for all of his crimes, he paid with his life. I just want to know everything that happened. Trust me, when Rose recovers, she'll have her own due with me. Her killing your other cousin will be answered for." The anger rose again slightly as he added, "But had Marco not done what he did out of jealousy, none of this would have happened." He calmed down again and then said, "And what about Charles?"

Only then did tears well up uncontrollably in Olivia's cold business-as-usual eyes. It was clear as soon as 'Charles' was said she broke down. "He had nothing to do with this. Any of this. It was pure blood Marco wanted from him, nothing more. I helped him get out when there was time. I didn't drug him when he told me to." With that she was inconsolable.

Nico got out of his car, which he parked next to Rex's on the passenger side, and looked over to see Olivia bawling her eyes out. With his eyebrow raised he said, "Women."

Corey got out of the car and waited while Nico walked over to Rex's side of his car. Rex rolled the window down, and Nico asked, "You OK, boss?"

Rex nodded to Nico and then continued talking to Olivia, "You showed more than mercy when it came to Charles. You really do care for him. You do realize how your family not only disregarded the Masquerade tonight, but jeopardized all of our lives?"

Looking up at him she barely could whisper his name "Charles."

Corey walked over to Nico, who whispered to him, "You see that? That's the best performance I've seen all year."

Rex called to Corey, "Go inside, ask for Todd. Tell him I'm here. And find out how everyone is doing. If Charles is OK, I want to see him."

Corey nodded and ran over to the door and was buzzed inside. Nico stayed with Rex, not budging, still not trusting Olivia.

They still had not left the car, even though Rex's window was rolled down now so Nico could hear. Rex turned back to Olivia, "Charles is one of the few humans in Vegas who do know about our kind. Now, tonight, when he sees you are alive, he'll know you are a vampire, too. You are now, also, the head of your clan here in Vegas. What would you have me do tonight?"

Carefully thinking, she replied, "I don't want you to tell him just how much danger he really was in tonight. About how Marco had planned for me to drug him, he doesn't really know. I'll tell him myself. But first I will ask a favor, only just ask if he wants to see me first." Again her eyes started shimmering with tears of regret, shame, and failure. She looked down at what she was wearing and became suddenly alarmed.

Rex nodded to Nico and looked towards Olivia, letting him know he wanted Nico on that side of the car. Nico rolled his eyes and turned to get a second of air as he walked, "Oh brother. This whole world has gone upside down."

Rex added, "I'll be honest with you, Olivia. This hospital does not exist. It probably will not stay here after we leave tonight. I'm not looking forward to going in there, and facing them, knowing how badly hurt the people inside are. The emotions will be sky high. I don't want to see Charles get hurt any worse than he is emotionally or physically. But, whether he wants to see you or not, he will see you. Your moment to deal with him is coming very soon. If he asks me what your part was in all of this, I'll not lie. But, I'll only tell him what he needs to know. You may fill in the details."

With that, Rex nodded to Nico, who opened the door to let Olivia out of the car.

Todd had been notified that Rex and the others had finally arrived. Walking down the hall, he opens the swinging door and shakes Rex's hand. "It's good to see you arrived in one piece, we were wondering what was keeping you." Rex smiled in agreement "It's been too long my friend." then took one step sideways, from behind him Olivia emerged. Todd didn't waver, only paused, processing what this means. "I see." He turned to a nurse waiting by the door as he knew she couldn't resist but to actually see with her own eyes the Prince and Primogen of Vegas. He instructed her to find a place for Olivia to shower and find fresh clothes. The nurse knodding as she ushered Olivia out of the room with her, smiled a girlish grin at Rex. Finally Todd says "So that answers a LOT of questions."

Nico catches Todds angry stare and says roughly "I have someone that needs to have a TALK with you. I suggest STRONGLY that you go through that door and see her.........in private." He stood up and grumbled under his breathe while walking to the other room per Todds instructions. He's been through countless fights, wars, missions, existing in the most inhospitable climates, all this and he's nervous about being yelled at by Marnie. One hundred and fifty years doesn't seem to have him quite prepared for this. In truth, he cared for her, maybe more than he knows how to comprehend. Yes she was going to let him have it, but in truth, he would tolerate NO ONE else scolding him. Someone else would find his fist through their face, now he felt like a young teenage boy misbehaving for something he had really screwed up on. Standing up straight he steeled himself that he wasn't going to take it by anyone. He was going to be firm with her, maybe she may even cry. So what? He'll hear her tiny arguements and then he would finally set things straight and that would be it. Finis.

Rex smiled as his friend walked through the door brimming with male confidence. He knew Todd for years, and heard of Marnie's legendary temper over the years as she grew into a woman. Looks like a night we all learn humility, he thought to himself. The two men smiled at each other when a loud crash of a pan violently hitting a tiled floor announces that Nico and Marnie's conversation had officially begun. Todd chuckles to Rex and Corey asking "Would the two of you like to join me at the bar and figure out what the hell has happened tonight?" Corey placed his hand on Rex's shoulder and asks "Rose?" Rex starts to curse himself for nearly forgetting. Looking at Todd, "Is it alright if Corey visits Rose? Is she stable enough for visitors?" Todd smiles "Of course, please. Go through the doors and Tracy will be happy to bring you to her." Not even finishing the sentence, the door swings as he already past them.

The two old friends head to the bar, and with much to catch up with each other.

"Seems you've been busy."

Rex nurses his Guiness while Todd has a beer

"How so? I haven't noticed" answering with a chuckle.

"First Marnie and Nico, now seems Corey and Rose."

Rex nodded in correction "Don't forget now Olivia and Charles.

"You're kidding. I've seen the man come in with Marnie. He had the look of seeing one too many battles." Then it occured to Todd "Olivia died tonight then, yes?"

Another nod from Rex

"That explains the look then, he and Olivia."

"Poor soul too," Rex added "Olivia was put up by Marcus to kill Charles. She saved his life. Looks like he had saved hers in more than one way."

"And what of you?" Todd asks his friend, pouring another beer.

He shrugs his shoulders "I'm not looking. Too busy, not exactly the best position to look for someone." He was so downplaying the fact that he's admittedly been alone for centuries, not finding someone. Too many politics, and the last woman he amoured was murdered, trying to get Rex into another battle. For years he had reason to believe it was Marcus, as it happened shortly after the two of them occupied the same territory. But that's water under the bridge now, and Rex promised himself as long as he's Prince, he will have no mate.

"We can fix that you know. There are LOTS of women that have been all fluttery when they heard of your arrival" Not getting anything back from that off he mercifully changes the subject "This girl Rose, she's all over the tv news. Did she really kill 3 people?"

This brings Rex back to the conversation "I've watched the news a bit, how many? three?"

"Two of Marcos guys at Kitty's Place and a stripper in an alley a few blocks away."

"Olivia says she saw Rose decapitate one of his men. She also muttered something about being prisoned, or locked or something there. I'll find out after Corey has time with Rose."

"What are you going to do with the cops? Never trusted them."

Taking another sip of his Guiness "I've dealt with them quite a few times before. When I tell them that it was involving the Giovanni, and that things are nearly handled they will back off and leave Rose alone. They'll brush this one under the rug."

"Do you know anything about her? Her last name, why she was pushed so hard by Marcus?"

Pondering for a second; "No. Never gave it a second thought."

Corey entered Rose's recovery room. It was only lit by the hallway lights, the sound of a heart monitor broke the silence. IV's trailed about from bottle to arm. Gently sitting on the side of her bed he barely breathed, hoping not to disturb her, wake her, or move her.

Green eyes opened and blinked a few times, trying to focus in the semidark. "Corey?" Her voice was hoarse, throat dry. He couldn't move, how would he explain all this? How could he tell her anything other than truths?

"Rose." He whispered, his voice torn.

"Are you alright?" she asked concerned. With that he broke down in tears. His head next to hers, weeping relief, joy, and anger. Her hand touched his shoulder calming him. He was speaking so quickly, half babbling that she couldn't really make out what he was saying.

"Where am I?" she asks while comforting him. Scanning the room she sees there's no windows, which seemed sort of strange for a hospital room.

He finally sat up wiping his face "You're in a hospital. You almost died. Rex, Marnie, Nico, and everyone helped you."

There was a strange silence for a moment, the horrible nightmare coming back to her. Alarm finally crossing her face "The man, where is he!" Looking around fearful. She stopped and saw something very wrong in Coreys eyes.

"What happened?" she whispered

Again his eyes brimmed with tears "I killed him." A slight shrug was all he could do.

"When?"

"After the truck, I think. I saw crunch from you. Your face straight in ivory. I killed him."

She stared at him, that's all she could do. There was something very not right with him, she just couldn't put her finger on it. Maybe she didn't hear him right, the pain meds probably.

"You killed him? How?"

"I...I killed him. Blood. I drained him."

"I don't understand. He was a vampire. Dominic, he told me his name. Honestly, He bit me. He flew. He brought me to the top of the new hotel being built." She recalled her being brave with him watching her as he laid her down on a beam 13 stories up.

"He bit me" she repeated. Corey was turning colors it seemed. Biting her lip, she decided it would be best not to mention anymore of what happened last night, or tonight.

"Oh good you're awake." Rex said as he stood at the door. Corey turned to him without speaking and Rex's eyes went wide. Walking up to him he put his hand on his shoulder.

"Are you alright Corey?"

Corey only shook his head yes. He was visibly shaken, every part of him seemed to tremble.

"He's really upset. I'm sorry, I think it's because I told him a little of what I remembered, and he started shaking. He says he killed Dominic, the thing that attacked me." Rose leaned back on the pillow, keeping her left hand on his right cheek.

Rex frowned "Yes it's true. He did kill Dominic. I wasn't able to stop him." Pausing "I'm glad to see you are doing much better Rose. We should go and let you rest some more. We could see you tomarrow evening when you are up for more company, is that alright?"

"Yes please." Looking at Corey, "Will you be alright?"

Corey knodded quickly. He looked as though he was going to pop or something. She looked at Rex worried "Will he be ok?"

Rex smiled "I promise, I'll look over him for you and have him back here in one piece tomarrow."

"Thank you. Goodnight" She said as she drifted off to sleep.

"He bit her," Corey said with bloody tears in his wide, bloodshot eyes, as he walked away from her room.

Rex put his hand on his friend's shoulder and sighed, the weight of the night getting heavier. "I heard," was all he offered at first. He then looked to Todd, who was not far behind, talking to Rose's nurse.

"It was a pretty bad bite," Todd added after getting confirmation from the nurse, "but that was the least of her wounds. Amazingly she suffered very little blood loss. I'm glad she was able to get here."

"The doctors here are quite impressive. We need to talk about this place and these people soon, Turkey," Rex said solemnly.

Todd frowned and remarked, "Don't worry, they'll be gone before --", he started before Rex cut him short.

"I'm not mad about them being here," Rex protested. "I mean, it would have been nice to know about it. Now that I do, I've no quarrel with them."

"Ah," Todd added, "but their goal is to leave no trace. It's not my wish that they leave either, but I think they will pack up and leave. They're pretty pissed off at me for telling you about them."

"Well, then perhaps I shall have to talk with them and see if they can't be pursuaded," Rex resigned. "In the meantime, I have to contact Morgan, Scarlett, and the rest of the Primogen and give them an update on tonight's unfortunate escapades. I have no idea what I'm going to tell them. But one thing at a time. Rose is my primary concern at the moment. More than just her life, she's the only one who knows what happened tonight. I also need to know if she has the Giovanni blood in her. She only said he bit her, but she may not remember immediately if she tasted his blood. I need to know her condition throughout the day."

Todd frowned as he heard all of this, but understood. He added, "The sun will be up soon, so I suggest you all stick around for the day. There's plenty room for you here, and you'll be able to keep closer tabs on her."

"I would like that, Turkey. Corey, I imagine you'd stay here irregardless," Rex asked.

Corey smiled a reproachful half-hearted grin and asked, "Do crayons taste like purple?"

Todd looked at Rex for explanantion, though he knew the answer but body language alone.

"Yes, I thought as much," Rex added. "She's got a lot to deal with, but she needs rest more than answers right now.'

The clattering of an argument ahead and around the corner caught their attention and reminded the trio of the next crisis.

Olivia stepped out of the shower. Reaching for a bathtowel she dried herself, going over and over again what she will say to Charles when she sees him again. Years under the Giovanni guidance, preparing her to take over situations to their ultimate advantage. Schemes, money, contacts, everything a Giovanni would possibly need; and she was at a loss as to how to start a conversation with a mortal. Dear Gods not just any mortal, but Charles.

Not more than 2 days ago maybe, they were sitting down at a table in Kitty's Place sharing a quick bite to eat and their conversation was a quick "What if?" about them. Yeah right, as if that would ever happen; she thought to herself. Oh don't forget that she had a hand in having him possibly killed right after the meal. The more she thought the more she slowly freaked out.

Her platinum long straight hair and blue eyes seemed absolutely different now. Leaning closer to the mirror, she used to be at one point in her life a model. Then a stripper, and then meeting Marco. She studied her hair, skin, eyes, teeth. She was the same Olivia, only enhanced in a sick way. Now she was hauntingly beautiful. Before she could get nearly anything she wanted with her looks and 'on occasion' charm, 'even Charles if she wanted bad enough.' Softly she cursed herself once again.

Her eyes were soft almost aquamarine jewel blue, now they were darker, translucent like a blue opal. Getting dressed she put green scrubs on, the typical uniform of the hospital and walked out with bare feet.

The floor felt wonderfully cold, she was surprisingly hungry, and exhaustion was creeping into her limbs slowly. She had been told so little about her first day or so after being changed, one day, by Marco that in truth she didn't really have any idea what she was getting into.

For more than a decade she had the Giovanni blood in her veins, and unfortunately under Marco's wing. For so long she had doubts that he would finish turning her, he had said on a regular basis "I can change my mind you know. Just do as I tell you, and MAYBE you will be with us. MAYBE. Now do as you are told."

Charles was dozing on the couch exactly where Todd had instructed him to stay put. Something in his head told him to open his eyes. "JESUS!!!!" Nearly slamming his head against the wall. Olivias nose nearly touched his, she was that close smiling.

Putting his hand over his heart "Jesus you nearly scared me to death!!"
"Hi. How are you feeling? Are you hurt? Ok?" she asked sitting next to him on the same couch.

Trying to neaten his appearance "No, no, I'm alright. Aside from you scaring me. How are y............." His gaze looked up at her face, then her eyes. The room seemed to freeze, he was nearly falling inside them.

"Well this is awkward" she tried to lighten the moment. Holding his chin with one hand he was completely frozen in the moment. "No I didn't get an instruction manual for THIS yet." Very gently she closed his eyes, and slowly he came back to himself. She made it a point of looking down at his hands, the couch, the floor.

Shaking his head he finally came back to reality. He did the same, trying to avoid her eye contact. "You look nice." was pretty much all he could think to say.

"Thank you. May I ask you a question?" she whispered softly

"Sure. Anything."

"You've been around a lot of vampires, or at least you know stuff. Right?"

His eyebrow raised despite his own discipline to hide his curiousity, especially around Olivia. "Yeees, why?"

Blushing, "This is my first night, or dawn. I'm scar...nerv....I don't know. What have you heard the sleep is like?"

That warmed him in a way he didn't expect. He leaned back against the wall, stretched out, and offered for her to lean against him. For reassurance but also so they won't have accidental eye contact.

"I have heard enough to know that your limbs get heavy first, then it is definately time to find a safe place to sleep. Then you get so heavy that you are maybe paralyzed, that is if you are not asleep by then. Then your breathe stops and you.............sleep. Until the sun goes down." Looking at his wrist watch, he knew exactly when the sun comes over the horizon at all times "Can you feel it setting in?"

Softly she nodded her head yes.

"Do you want to find a room to sleep in or do you want to stay here?"

Olivias skin was growing steadily colder. At first he thought it was his imagination, but then realized it was the sleep coming on.

He laid down, as so did she. His arm around her, breathing in her wet hair.

"I'm so sorry for everything. Everything that I have done with you was so wrong, its like I can't do anything right when I'm with you." She started to sob a little against his hand.

"It's alright. You know, with this new life you have you can make things right. This is your new beginning, without Marco. You're free to make your own decisions. Start fresh, in every way."

"I don't know how. There's so much I messed up on, I don't even know where to begin."

"We'll figure it out together don't worry." He finished with a gentle kiss on her shoulder. She fell quiet for a long while.

"Are you still awake?" she only hummed an acknowledgement. It was obvious that she was also whimpering and crying a little.

He sat up and realized her body had seized up on her while she was still awake. This obviously frightened her to no end. Moving around her, he reached down and picked up her limp body. He whispered soft reassurances to her while he carried her to a dark empty hospital room.

"You have a whole future ahead of you, with new opportunities. I won't leave you while you are still awake, I promise." Kissing her forehead. Tiny blood tears ran down her cheeks marring her perfect unblemished white skin. "Don't be afraid. Look at you, my big bad vampire." He teased her, easing it with her own uncanny sense of humour.

Laying her down and covering her up, he laid next to her soothing her until her breathing stopped altogether. Her body became hard as a corpse, leaving the only thing to move on her body is the tiny tear still finding its way down her cheek.

Charles realized how eerily quiet the room was without her breathing. Such a strange silence. Softly he kissed her forehead one more time, then reached for a tissue wiped her tear with great care not to come into contact with her blood.

Moving off the bed, one more kiss to her forehead, he sat in the guest chair watching her. She was even paling to grey as the minutes past. Pulling out his cell phone he began his routine of phone calls as a favour for Rex.

Rex and Cory walked the hallway of the hospital casually chatting with one another.

"I'm going to settle down for the day. There were a few extra empty rooms on the lower level, east wing." Teasing Cory pointing to his torn and bloody clothes "You may want to get cleaned up and looked at before dawn. Someone is expecting you first thing tomarrow evening. Sleep well." with that Rex winked and knudged his friend.

Cory sat on one of the examining tables, having his thigh looked at. An angry looking slice across it was being dressed with a large bandage.

"That should hold you until you heal on your own." A doc suggested to him that he try not to put too much weight on it, check it tomarrow, if it doesn't heal on its own by then definately feed. "We have bags of blood that we keep in a refridgerator in the employee lounge. You can also extend this to all of your friends, in case someone gets hungry." He thanked him, and slid off the table, ready for a shower.

Getting out of the shower Cory had realized that he was still going to wear the dirty clothes from the fight, just then did he miss his suite at the Excalibur. "Miss my bed. Miss Mr. Bigglesworth. Miss home." he muttered to himself.

With that he laid on the bed and let sleep overtake him.

It was an normal day at the Hospice. Nurses and Doctors going about their daily chores as usual. There were two meetings held with Todd in attendance regarding what should be done now that the Prince not only knows of them, but was residing there clearly for at least a few more days while the human girl recovers.

"Why don't we just deliver her to Valley Hospital? It would be best for everyone involved." One doctor stood while protesting.

Todd stood up "What is the problem with them here for a few days? Rex says himself he has no problem with us being here, He says he wants to speak with all of you about this."

The doctor remained standing stubbornly not being swayed "It's not that we have a problem with having a guest, it is that it is the Prince himself! He has brought with him nearly all of his Primogen. This puts us all in grave danger, and you know this, why don't you acknowledge this?" Several other doctors of various species applauded in agreement.

Todd could only knod in understanding their fear. This place is more than a refuge for different species, being gifted in every way in terms of healing, but also creating. These creatures have lived in fear of all other beings because together they are certified genius', especially with medical science. For years they have been discovering and creating 'secret' projects in their private labs ever since science equipment has been available.

Having one wayward guest was ever slightly tolerated, but now they considered this an outright breech of security. Yes he was invited by Todd, and yes they were going to stay for a few days, but what next? they worried.

The chairman stood asking members at the table "Is the committee in agreement with sending the girl out to a nearby hospital?" Knods were in agreement. "Is there a concensus as to when we should send her away?" Bors stood up "She is stable enough for ONE move. Majority of her wounds have been healed, as well as bones. She will need rest for a while, but she should be fine for travel. If not the hospital, then she would be fine with bedrest at home with one of our house call doctors following up with her once a week at least." Bors took his seat again while the others mumbled amongst each other.

Todd shook his head. When the committee has made up their minds like this there is no way of swaying it, even for him. "I'll notify Tracy to tell Charles of the move. I'm sure he can think of something. Our esteemed guests WILL be here after sunset, that is MY final word on that matter." Tracy was called to the door as Todd gave his instructions to her, quickly leaving for her errand he turns back to the committee "Now for the next order of business, what to do to secure the area. We have received alarming amount of communications static very close to our parimeters."

With that the door closes behind Tracy. She had overheard security buzzing about that very thing earlier that morning. Something was camping in the dessert VERY close to their base and all their communications have been deliberately scrambled in military style. It shaken her enough to know something was going on that the committee doesn't want everyone else to know....more than usual.

Tracy found Charles dozing on the guest chair in the spare hospital room. In bed was a corpse she recognized as the one they call Olivia, the new vampire. Curiously she entered the room standing next to Charles, not moving to wake him just yet, she couldn't take her eyes off the corpse. Just to think that after sunset she will sit up and walk and talk as if nothing is wrong with her.

With a gentle touch on his arm and an even softer whisper "Charles, Charles please wake up." He stirred looking up at her. Blinking he smiles at the head nurse "Good morning Tracy." "I wish it were, I have some bad news for you today I'm afraid." "What is it?" "The committee has agreed to send the hum...Ms. Sullivan away from here. It is left to you to decide where she should be brought to." "What? Is she well enough to travel?" "The doctor that operated on her believes she should be for one move, do you know where her home is?"

That left Charles to think very carefully. He knew the police would still be looking for her until Rex speaks with them, so her home and a hospital would be out of the question for now. He couldn't bring her to his own home because Olivia would either kill her for being jealous or from needing to feed.

Standing up to pace he asked "Tracy, how much time did the committee give us?" She shifted her weight uncomfortably "They didn't. Todd had to push hard for the Prince to be allowed to stay here until sunset. I'm afraid the welcome has worn out, I'm so very sorry Charles. This is not in Todds hands any longer." "Would you give me an hour to make some phone calls so I can arrange something please." He asked while pulling out his cell phone. She turned politely exiting the room.

Venessa answers the phone "Good morning, Moulin Rouge."

"Venessa, it's Charles. Do you have a minute?"

"For you always. What's up hon?"

"I could really use a huge favour right now." Charles explained as much as he could about what was going on without giving much info about the Hospice Panacea.

"Of course we'll take her in, you know we will, especially for you hon, you're family. Vanya has been going on worried sick about Rose anyways ever since the other night she came here hoping to see Rose behind her. When she didn't show up Vanya absolutely thought the worst."

"She was right. If it wasn't for Rex, Cory, Gregori and the others being there we both would've been dead. We'll see you soon."

"We'll have a room ready for her arrival, don't you worry hon."

"Thank you Venessa." With that he hung up. Charles found Tracy just outside the room pacing, waiting for his decision."How will the hospital transport Rose?" he asked.

"Probably with an ambulance, and gurny."

Charles shook his head, "That'll bring attention to Rose, we want to keep this as low a profile as possible. We'll take her by car."

Heading to Rose's room to prepare her for the trip, Tracy stopped him in mid stride "How is she supposed to get to bed from the car."

"I'll carry her.." With that he continued to her room.

"We're going where? Why?" Rose asked absolutely surprised by the suddenness of this. It was only last night she was pulled out of the recovery room from emergency surgery.

"Please trust me on this. The hospital hasn't given me any choice in this matter and it's the safest place I can think of to bring you. Do you know Vanya?" As soon as the name left his lips her eyes met his in attention

"Yes she was the woman that found me in the alley right after escaping from the club. She told me to run to a hotel, I forgot what it was called, but I didn't know where it was to begin with so ..........." with that she trailed off trying her best not to relive the memory of being hunted down.

"The Moulin Rouge, and Vanya has been worried sick about you from what I've been told. Will you come with me please?"

"Yes of course. Definately for Vanya, and you. Where is Cory and Rex, do they know about the move?"

"No they don't know yet, but I've already left messages with them both explaining everything that is going on. They'll meet us at the hotel tonight the first chance they get."

Rose thought quietly for a minute. She trusted Charles, completely, so it wouldn't hurt maybe to bring this up. "Cory and Rex are both vampires aren't they? That's why they can't be with us right now, right?" Her expression was neutral, not judging, not hoping, only wanting confirmation. Charles was seriously taken aback by this. Sitting down on the bed next to her, he held her hand when she gave it to him.

"That's not for me to tell you. But one way or another, would it change the fact that they are both good people who care about you?"

She smiled despite herself "No, it really doesn't. You're right. That must've been a silly question."

"No it wasn't, only unexpected. Now let's get you to your new home before someone changes their minds."

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After taking care of the normal morning office duties of the Moulin Rouge, Vanessa chose a suite on the second floor, where it was much quieter. Out of the 105 rooms, that one was her favourite. She knew Rex and Cory would be coming and going a bit so it would be large enough to accomodate her guests as well. Grabbing the key ring, she left Rebecca, her assistant, to watch the front desk as she went to see that the room was ready for Rose's arrival.

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At the hospices docking doors, Charles held Rose in his arms gently placing her into the car. He sat in the rear with her as Tracy started up the engine. "Do you know how to get there?" Charles asked her.

Tracy shook her head "No idea, I'll leave it to you to give directions once we get closer to the hotel."

Within about a half hour once getting out of the dessert and back into civilization, Charles was helping her to get them their. It didn't seem very long at all when they pulled into the small parking lot of the Moulin Rouge. It still held its 50's flair with its original sign and white plaster exterior. Charles went in to check Rose in, where Venessa greeted him with a warm hug.

"Which room is it, and where do we park?"

Giving him the keys and pointing to her left "It's down towards the very end, second floor. It's a quiet room, no neighbors. It's a larger room, I think she'll like it." With a huge grateful smile Charles took the keys and hugged her one more time. "I owe you so much for this." "What are you keeping count" I lost count years ago."

Charles returned to the car, where Tracy drove them to the end of the building. Pulling up, he runs up the stairs, opening the door, pulling the blinds open a bit to let fresh air and light in with that he finally returns to the car for Rose. Instantly her pride kicks in where she begins to argue with him.

"I can walk up the stairs myself for heavens sakes. It's only one flight."

Even before she finished her protest she was already held in Charles' arms walking up the stairs. Carefully placing her onto one of the queen beds closer to the door and window, he instructs

"Now stay put young lady." Rose wrinkled her nose to him in silent protest as he walked out back to the car to see Tracy off, with a thank you. Despite her insistings that she was perfectly alright, she was sound asleep as soon as he returned back to her room. Closing the blinds a bit more, he laid down onto the other bed and dozed off as well.

No one warned him that Rose snored though.

Sun was setting, casting a golden glow throughout the dessert sky. Brown mountains danced with a surreal red and golden glow, as the dark blue of dusk slowly descended upon them.

Charles stirred to his side. Nearly automatically he moved his left wrist to read his watch it said 4:45pm. Slowly did it dawn on him that he'll have a hungry newborn vampire wanting to know where he was when she woke up. "Olivia." he whispered to himself. Passing a hand over his face, he reached for his cell to call Tracy for his ride back to Hospice Panacea.

"Hi stranger, was waiting for you." Tracy said answering his call.

"Can I ask for that ride back?" Walking to the bathroom shutting the door as not to disturb Rose.

"Not only can you ask for it back but you can open the door to meet me."

There was an audible sigh of relief from Charles as he peered through the curtains to see Tracy pulling up.

"You have no idea how much I owe you for this."

"No thanks needed. I don't want to be the one to meet your Oliva when she wakes up without you. I hear she has quite the temper." She chuckled at the end of that and hung up.

Charles walks down the stairs to meet Tracy, Leaning in the window he says "I just want to let Vanessa, or someone know that I'm leaving Rose alone in the room, and that I'll be back soon."

After telling Vanessa they were off again to the Hospice Panacea to meet up with everyone again, and to let them know that their welcome was now officially over. He couldn't help but wonder how Rex was going to take this. From the outside he would be calm, cordial, patiant and understanding. Gods only knew how he functioned on the inside though, but he'll be certain to remind him that this was no longer in Todds control.

In the car while driving there, Charles was anxiously watching the sun disappear behind the mountains with its last rays. He had no idea when Olivia would be up, but could only hope that he would be there in time before she woke up.

"So what was Olivia like before she became an animated corpse?" Tracy asked trying to lighten his obviously worried mood. Unfortunately the question didn't come out quite the way she wanted. She was shooting for playful, not sarcastic.

He thought a bit about his answer while watching dusk sweep over the sands. "Umm,....alive." Truly that was the only answer he could give her off the top of his head. Rethinking his answer "Clever. Determined. Very determined."

Finally giving in Charles admitted candidly "I see a very interesting relationship ahead of us. One that probably neither thought we'd have only a few days ago." With that they both smiled a bit, especially as the hospice was coming into view.

Olivias ridged grey body lay still on the bed exactly as Charles had left her. Laying next to her, he held her exactly as he did when she fell into her death sleep. A soft color of pink visibly softened the grey, nearly all but driving it away. Her cold body slowly began to feel a bit warmer, not warm, just not as cold as the grave. Her skin began to feel softer under his fingers, more pliable, softer. Slowly she let out a soft exhale, then a ragged inhale, soon her breathing continued softly and quietly as it always had when she was alive.

Blackness disolved to grey before her. Opening her eyes the room was exactly as it had before. Moving her fingers they cracked a bit, as if she slept for a few days. Limbs still feeling heavy. She smelt blood, not just in the room but in contact with her, she realized it was Charles she was smelling. His body hot, not feverish, but as if he were a super heated hot water bottle, incredibly warm to her cold skin. She smelt something else, another woman. Releasing a yawn, her fangs burst out unexpectedly, surprising even her. Hunger bit and knawed at her as she had never known any hunger before.

"Charles?" she asked holding her breathe to see if he were awake.

"Yes?" A wave of relief past through her.

"I'm really hungry. I'm afraid if you hold me much longer I'm going to lose control." she admitted it, flat out truth. She was a little scared for the first time of herself, and not for herself, but for him.

"Look on the floor next to you. I brought something that might help a lot."

Moving away from him a little to look down, she sees a hospital bag full of blood. 'That's what I was smelling.' she thought to herself happily.

Picking it up, her fangs burst out again on their own. Without thinking before she freaks out or loses her nerve she punctures the bag with her teeth and begins to nurse the bag. Laying into Charles' arms as she drinks he brushes her hair back whispering wonderful promises that she is slowly beginning to like to hear. After she was done, dropping the bag onto the floor, she turns around and curls into his chest, snuggling into his arms. She wept a little feeling grateful beyond words that he was there to take care of her.

"I have a present for you." He whispers to her with a smile in his voice

Lifting her head with surprise, "Really? What is it?" Charles pulled from behind his back a pair of lovely sun glasses. They were black framed, medium black tint to them with ruby jewels along the sides of them. "This is until you find the owners manual for your eyes. Deal?" With a chuckle she took the glasses agreeing "Deal!"

"I've got to speak with Rex and Cory as soon as possible. There's been a lot going on today I'm afraid." Charles moved to get up, but found Olivia heavier than an iron block.

"Charles, I have a question for you." This was unusual, she was a LOT stronger than he was, and he knew this. This time she was showing him passively by holding him down without even seeming to make any effort. This is going to be quite a strange relationship, he thought to himself. "Yes Olivia" Plainly showing that struggling to get up would not be possible

"Why do you smell like another woman? Who is she? She smells familiar." He thought carefully with all the people he came into contact with then he realized..........

"Rose. I carried Rose up the stairs of the Moulin Rouge. I carried her twice actually. From here into the car and then from the car to her room."

Slowly the weight released and he was able to move once again. Out of the bed he looked at Olivia "We are going to have a talk about we can and cannot do with Charles later, okay?"

"Okay." as she put on the sunglasses "Is she okay?"

"Yes she made the trip alright. It took a lot out of her, more than I thought it would, but she'll be ok." He took her hand as they both walked to the elevator downstairs to catch up with Rex and Cory. Cory would no doubt want an immediate explanation.