Blueblood

Story: Blueblood

Chapter 17 Reaching Out

Author: Eric McQueen (mcqueen.richarderic@gmail.com)

Adult Readers, Sexual Situations, Sex

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Reaching Out

Marissa looked terrified, but I saw Colin's face and I would have been terrified if it was me he was looking at that way. I've never seen Colin so quietly...furious. Enraged. I knew he was going to kill her. It was in his eyes. She saw it, too.

Marissa was still fighting the sun gunpointing at her as she scooted back from Colin. "I didn't kill anyone! I don't need to kill. My family gives me blood."

"But you did create him!" Colin pointed at Adrian. "It was your bite that made him, and you even admitted you disciplined your nephew because he was making money by turning people into vampires for money and you knew Brett Marshall. It is because of you that he was turned. It was because of Brett I was turned into a vampire." Each sentence he was getting closer. "You are the reason I am a vampire, why my daughter is a vampire!"

"So, I don't get the serum," Marissa said shakily.

Colin shook his head. "Oh, no. You will get the serum." He smiled and waved his sun gun at Adrian. "He will, too." He chuckled. "I'm going to insist you do. You will no longer be a blood-sucking monster. You won't be able to give..." he snickered. "...your gift to anyone. The drawback with the serum is it doesn't make you human. You'll live a long time, in custody. My custody."

Marissa's eyes widened. "What if I don't want it?"

Colin laughed again. "Oh, you're getting it. If we have to strap you down, you'll get it."

Then I watched as Marissa became less that vampire and became a poor little girl as she looked as if she was crying if she had tears.

I walked to Colin. "This is her talent! It's what she's good at. She becomes this innocent little girl. She disarms people with this act!"

Colin grinned, but it was dark and almost sinister. "It won't work on me."

I came up and just made contact with him. It was more of a way of telling him, he wasn't alone in this.

Colin smiled again, knowing what he was going to do. "This is one time; I like the idea of the pain coming." He said darkly. "And it will hurt a lot." He lowered himself beside her. "You destroyed my life. I lived in Hell for over a hundred years. In two hundred years there were three bright spots; Josiah, while I was alive, my daughter Gabriella and finding Devon after nearly 180 years." He said quietly. "Now, I'm going to give you a choice, which I never was given."

Marissa dropped her little girl act as she glared angrily. "What choice?"

"You accept your reign as First Vampire is over and come with us." He smiled again evilly. "Or at sunrise, you can be outside to witness it." He turned to Adrian. "You have the same choice."

Marissa frowned as she thought. "Where are you taking me?"

"Out of the South," Colin said standing. "For the beginning, you will be given the serum. You will lose the blood hunger and become capable to be in the sun, but you won't be able to make anyone a vampire."

"Where?" Marissa asked again.

"Somewhere the world will be safe from you and Adrian," Colin said and shrugged. "It doesn't matter where, but you'll be alive."

She glared at Colin. "How dare you do this to ME!"

Colin chuckled. "With the same disregard you do with..." he thought a second, "...everyone." He shrugged. "...even your own family!" He shook his head.

"And what will you do with them?" Marissa asked about the others here.

"They will spend time in a secure place," Colin said. "Or run and hide when they hear what happened." He shook his head. "You won't be free again."

Marissa looked furious now. "You can't do this!"

Colin smiled smugly. "Because wrongful imprisonment is against the law?" Then he chuckled. "It amazes me how quickly we go to that about the law. Why?" He shook his head. "Because it's convenient?" He sneered and said through gritted teeth. "Our whole existence is against the law. The laws of nature and of man. We should be dead, but we're not. You should be nothing, but bone now, yet here you are. That is against the law." He rose with a sigh. "This family and the people here are accomplices. They supported both you and Adrian. You're both killers and they will be taken in."

Marissa was fuming.

"Is that moral?" Colin questioned. "If you want, I'll give you a phone and you can call the police." He pulled his phone out. "Here, call them. Even if you did, they will come and they will investigate. Devon and I might be held, but we'll be alive. You will have to go back to this at sunrise or burn." He shrugged. "If you live through that, there would be blood tests and analysis. They would find out about the venom in your blood. You would become a medical wonder; an immortal they can study. They would want to know how and why." He looked at Marissa firmly. "So, what's it to be? You at sunrise in the morning, or do you come with us?"

You could see Marissa's mind working and she knew she had no options. She sighed. "I'm hungry."

Colin grinned. "I'm sure we can find a rat or two for you."

She sneered at that idea. "What changed?"

"I did," Colin said. "I was thinking of you as an equal victim like me and my daughter, but then I was made to see that you are the cause." He nodded at Shelly. "We have the containers?"

Shelly nodded. "We do." She brought out her flexible cuffs. "Hands behind your back, girly." She ordered holding her gun steady.

Marissa hissed at her.

Shelly laughed. "I'm not on the menu." She shook her head. "All I need is the slightest provocation and I put a bullet in your brain and heart. You'll be gone by morning; no evidence will remain."

The others came to help put them in the containers we had brought that would protect them from sunlight if it rose before we got them to where they were going. They were black boxes that weren't exactly coffins, but pretty close. He gave them two bags of blood each and shut the containers. The other family members would be gathered at a more leisurely pace as they waited for another van to come and bring them in. Adrian and Marissa were taken from the compound to the airport where they would be flown to the VUN.

All this took most of the night and it was nearly dawn when we finally loaded the last of those at the compound into a van that would also take them to the airport. As we were driving out, Tucker and Gavin Darcy came from their hiding place into the road. They had seen the vans and personnel in vests and holding guns and didn't interfere with us. Colin slowed as he looked at Tucker Darcy.

"They're gone now," Colin told the man. "We'll take care of it."

Tucker shook his head. "I don't understand. How is this justice? They're vampires!"

Colin nodded. "Yes, they are. There is no justification for their killing. I can't offer you closure, but they won't hurt anyone else again. That, I can promise."

Tucker was shaking his head again. "Who are you guys?"

I chuckled. "We're the good guys," I assured as Colin drove off.

Back at Wentworth Manor, we met with Stan.

"They might have been somewhat computer savvy, but Buddy copied the whole hard drive," He boasted. "I've got names and addresses for family members and the other two vampires that are related to Marissa." He said proudly.

"Good." Colin smiled. "Were there any problems?"

Stan chuckled. "Well, they had a program designed to cause the whole thing to crash and burn." He waggled his eyebrows. "But my program kept it up long enough to clone the whole thing to Buddy. We have the names, addresses and now..." he said dramatically, "...the name and web addresses for the other vampire groups in England, throughout Europe, Asia, and South America!"

I grinned. "Really?"

Stan nodded. "They tried to encrypt it, but we got through that." He patted the computer's CPU. "Even by remote, Buddy is unstoppable!"

Colin chuckled at Stan. "Wonderful! Now, you and Mark need to pack. We're going back to VUN."

Stan almost pouted. "Yeah, I knew this was too good."

I chuckled again. "You'll be back, believe me."

Colin looked at me. "Shelly and Chuck will remain and get the other vampires in Marissa's family. Then we'll get the other members that were serving them."

"Will we have problems with Customs or other government bodies?" I asked thinking of the crates and people being brought.

Colin shook his head. "We'll have it all documented and escorted by FBI personnel. The planes will land and go to a private area of the airport, and they will be flown to the VUN."

"How many people?" I asked wondering if we had enough room.

"Quite a few," Stan said sadly. "There are a dozen names on Marissa's living family list."

"But the families that are still human can be held at a regular prison or holding area for terrorists or other killers. They can't protest their being held without telling why they are being held. They won't likely do that." Colin explained. "We have enough room for the vampires. They will all be on the serum soon."

We were again leaving for Manhattan, but I noticed something that made me happy, but also a little concerning for me. My mother was packing as well, which didn't bother me. I didn't like leaving her here by herself, but I noticed...well...she was getting closer to Willie. The idea didn't bother me as I knew Willie more now. His mind was clearer, and he seemed to be a very good man, but he was a vampire. She wasn't.

Colin pulled me close to him as he nuzzled my neck from behind. "What are you thinking about?" He looked at my mother laughed at something Willie said to her. "I think I know, but what exactly are you thinking?"

"That this situation is not going to go well," I said quietly.

"Why?" Colin asked turning me around. "Because he's a vampire?"

I shook my head. "No, because she isn't a vampire," I explained. "She will age and die. He won't."

Colin nodded. "And how is that different for her than it was for you when we got together?"

"Because she's my mother," I said simply with a shrug. "I knew when we got together; the only thing needed with us was for me to become a vampire as well. If she doesn't become one, it will be hard for Willie in the future."

"Your concern is for your mother or Willie?" Colin asked.

"Both!" I waved at them. "For her because she knows without becoming a vampire her time is short with Willie. I worry about Willie because he doesn't need to lose someone he may care about."

Colin sighed. "This world I brought you into has its perks, but also heartache. You're married a vampire. You have a stepdaughter who is a vampire. If things work out for Willie and he does become involved with Betty, you'll have a step-father...maybe...that is a vampire."

I threw my hands out. "Let's just turn the whole world into vampires. Problem solved."

Colin chuckled a bit unsure. "Well, that is extreme, but..." He pulled me into a kiss. "They are both adults. Willie is better now. Your mother is walking into this with her eyes wide open." He looked at me seriously. "Will it bother you if she, like you did and choses to become a vampire?"

I rolled my eyes. "I would want her to be happy. The idea that I won't lose her is great, but..."

Colin nodded. "Let's just see what happens."

We flew back to Manhattan. Ruben greeted us when we came down the Control Room from the roof.

"I see things were a success in Charleston," Ruben observed.

"We're still gathering the others, but yes." Colin nodded. "Is Marissa behaving? Adrian, is he behaving?"

"They are both locked up here." He pointed down to the cells below. "The VUN guards are watching them."

"And the other family members?" I asked.

"They are being held at another location the FBI uses to hold people for questioning," Ruben replied. "They know why they're being held." He sighed as he scratched the back of his head. "We will probably need to expand. Marissa's nephew or niece...whatever...the one was in Atlanta and the other in Dallas." He went to Buddy and pulled up the files Stan had sent. "There are more vampires that are serving them and other family they have serving this group." He frowned. "Stan discovered a failsafe that he tried to stop. There was a warning that was to go out if the system was compromised." He chuckled. "And it was...but he's not sure if it had time to send it out. Rounding them up will take some time and manpower."

Colin nodded. "We can hire more guards if needed."

Ruben nodded. "We will have to. This is going to take time."

"Then that's what we need to do," I said. "Take the time and do it."

After we showered and cleaned up we enjoyed a leisurely meal. That evening we went to the floor where Marissa and Adrian were being held in separate cells. It was the same rooms we had brought Willie when we first brought him to the VUN. This time, I wasn't worried that there was only a bed and a chair. Going to the observation window, we saw Adrian looking somewhat uncertain as he quit looking around for a way out, realizing it was pointless. Marissa was pacing in a circle, her arms folded as she fumed. I watched as the little safety door was slid open and the drawer was turned to give her two bags of blood which she turned instantly to see. She rushed at the blood, grabbed it and began drinking hungrily.

Colin hit the button on the wall to talk to her. "Enjoy it." He said softly, making her turn instantly to see where the voice came from. "This will be the last meal of blood you will get. In a few hours, you will receive the serum."

"Where are you?" Marissa shouted angrily. "Where did you bring me?"

"You're in Manhattan; in a place safe for everyone else," Colin said. "We flew you from Charleston here. This is where we deal with creatures like you."

"Impossible!" Marissa said as her eyes widened. "It hasn't been but a day!"

Colin sighed. "The world has changed since you came here all those centuries ago, don't you know that? You haven't changed. I've changed since I was turned. You will change soon."

I frowned. "Did she not pay attention?" I asked Colin. "Didn't she realize how things are different?"

"Limitedly," Colin said. "Her world was pretty much all about her and her needs. She was isolated and probably didn't venture out much."

"How could anyone be happy with that?" I asked shaking my head.

Colin shrugged. "Everything was brought to her. She was a queen. Now, she isn't."

George came into the room where Marissa was held. Colin, Burke, Alex, Willie, and I were escorting him in the room.

"Thank god I don't have to make those placebo discs." George motioned for us to get Marissa who was cowering against the far wall. "We can strap you down if needed." He said to Marissa. "You will be taking this."

"No!" Marissa shouted. "You can't do this! I am First Vampire!" She tried to pull away.

George shook his head. "No you aren't and you never were."

We each took an arm or leg each and brought her to the bed as she fought us and we held her down. George pulled the gown's top down, cleaned her chest and inserted the serum. I watched as the plunger pushed the serum into her and she began to scream as the pain came.

Colin wasn't happy, but he was smiling as he watched her writhe in agony. "This is the first time I've seen the serum work where I liked what it was doing."

I put my arm around him. "We're doing what's best."

Colin nodded. "I know."

After that had begun, Colin and I went into Adrian's cell. Adrian rose, shaking his head. "No. I don't want it."

Colin looked at me crossing his arms over his chest. "He doesn't want it."

Walking up behind Colin, I shrugged. "Well, you did offer him the choice of taking the serum or facing the sun without it." I shrugged. "I saw the man you knew as Brett burn, that was pretty gruesome. That man literally clawed his own face off."

Colin nodded. "Yes, he did." He scratched behind an ear. "It was sort of a..." he looked at Adrian, "...a warm up for Hell." He chuckled. "That wasn't a pun or anything like that. It just was." He leaned in closer to Adrian. "Of course, you may not believe in a God at all. You might view death as the means you can escape punishment." He frowned. "Well, maybe you're right."

"But are you willing to risk burning in Hell for eternity?" I asked. "That's a long time to risk your soul."

Then George came in the room followed by Alex, Burke, and Willie.

I turned to George. "He wants to burn," I told them.

George shrugged. "Fine, but first..." he brought out another syringe and good old mild-mannered George grinned the almost evil smile, "...you need to be de-fanged. We're up high enough. If this isn't what you like, I can take you somewhere there is no safety net. You can jump. It will be quick." He thought, "Or I could bring a gun with one bullet and you could shoot yourself." He shook his head. "But aim right. You might miss."

Colin grimaced at Adrian. "There was a time when I thought there was no God." He frowned. "For over a century I lived in Hell, and I wondered how He could allow someone to do this to me, but I never dared challenge God by wanting to kill myself. I'm not as brave as you to risk my soul."

I spoke with Colin but did it so Adrian could hear as well. "There is a chance that Adrian is right." I looked at Adrian. "The problem I have with that because you committed a crime. There should be a price."

George smiled. "Whether he dies on his own or not, we need to reduce the threat. Hold him down." He waved toward Adrian.

Adrian now was backing away, which was not really possible as the room was restricted by the size of the room. He could not bite any of us as we were all vampires already. Like most bullies, he wasn't that brave to fight us. Colin met the challenge by throwing his shoulder into Adrian's gut and tackling him. I grabbed an arm as he tried to fight us off. Alex took the other arm; Burke grabbed a leg and Willie had the other leg and we held Adrian down on the floor. George opened Adrian's shirt, cleaned the area over his heart and plunged the needle into the heart and released the serum. The reward was Adrian's scream as the pain came. As Adrian was now in agony, we stood up.

"I guess we can leave him now." Colin smiled as he reached down and gave Adrian's face a light slap. "See you tomorrow."

Colin and I retreated to our apartment. Colin was very quiet. I let him deal with whatever he was feeling a while, but finally I looked at him and asked. "What are you feeling?" He wasn't depressed, but his mind was occupied with some thoughts.

I came to him wrapping my arms around him. "You don't regret what we did, do you?"

Colin looked shocked. "What? No!" He sighed as he brought me close and embraced me. "In many ways, I do feel a sense of completion." He grinned as he shook his head. "You'll think it's stupid."

I gave him a surprised look. "Wow, your abilities have really grown if you know what I'll think before I even know what it is and what I'll think about it."

Colin chuckled. "Alright, I think it's stupid, so I assume you will think so, too." He hugged me and then walked us back to the couch where we sat. "I just..." he thought of how to say it, "...my life was incomplete. Before 1851, I wanted to find someone that I liked and loved to spend my life with." He smiled. "Grow old with them and have a good life." He grinned at me and kissed me lightly. "Now I have that. You. Then after I was turned, all I wanted was to get things back the way it was. Wentworth Manor had been destroyed and my goal was to get it back." He shrugged with a grin. "I've done that. I wanted whoever is responsible to pay the price. Brett was taken care of. He's dead. Marissa is being treated and will no longer be a threat. Adrian, as well." He shrugged. "It's sort of..." he looked at me with a smile, "...this is the silly part. I feel...let down." He saw my face and nodded. "For over a century I worked to get these things done and now that it is been done. I feel like...what else is there for me?"

I smiled. "You're right, that is stupid." I grinned pulling his face to mine. "It's stupid that you would think I would see that as stupid. It's not stupid at all." I smiled as I ran my fingers in his hair. "The thing is..." I smiled, "...I can only share a part of that. I didn't endure the centuries as you have. I wasn't turned in an attempt to destroy me. You are a good man, Colin, but you are hardly done. There is a whole new drama about to open up. Together, you and I are going to be attempting to bring others like us together. We're not going to be done for a long time. I know there will be new challenges."

"I love you, Devon." He said softly as he pushed me into the couch.

I smiled as I pulled him even closer to me, my hands running over his back as I did. "I love you, Colin. You're an amazing person. We have a long time to spend together. We can only make our lives better for both of us."

To my delight, Colin was now unbelievably more passionate! He had gotten some closure to what had happened and now was even more energetic...he was free! We took it to our room as we didn't live alone. We could be interrupted if we hadn't. He touched everything as I did with him, too. We didn't really get a lot of sleep that evening, but who needed it? I woke and realized I was being stared at.

I looked over at his happy emerald, green eyes. I chuckled. "Good morning."

Colin nodded. "It is!" He was now in motion coming closer bringing me to him. "It is a very good morning and will be a great day!"

I chuckled as he kissed me deeply. "Okay, who are you?"

Colin smiled as he shrugged. "I'm just very happy."

I nodded as my arms went around him. "I see that." I kissed him back. "I'm glad you are." My fingers went into his sleep tossed hair. "Even this early, you are one sexy man."

Colin grinned back. "No, you are, but thank you." He scooted so he was lying on top of me. "You are my mate, Devon. The perfect person for me. I love you."

I grinned. "As you are for me. I love you."

We made love again! It was almost an hour later when hunger drove us from the bed, forcing us to clean up and go to Vamps. We were enjoying our time when Gabriella and Alex came in.

Colin looked up and smiled brightly at them. "Gabby! Alex! Good morning."

Gabriella froze, she was startled as was Alex, but Gabriella smiled at her father. "Good morning, Daddy." She came closer. "I take it things are good."

Colin nodded. "Very good." We stood up as Colin waved them to the two seats at our table. "Sit, have a good breakfast."

Alex chuckled as he sat beside Gabriella. "You're in a good mood."

Colin nodded. "A very good mood."

"Not that I want details about anything between you two," Gabriella smiled and chuckled a little, "but does it have to do with Marissa and that other horrible thing we have here?" Gabriella asked putting her napkin in her lap.

Colin nodded. "Yes..." he gave a shrugging nod. "Like I told Devon yesterday, this ends a terrible chapter for me." He leaned toward me and touched his forehead to mine. "Now we can concentrate on the next chapter."

Gabriella nodded. "Which is what?"

Colin looked at me as he thought. "We need to contact the other vampires...I mean in Europe and the others in the world. We need to contact them soon. I thought having the web address would be the best way. We have their email connections, and I could address them at one time."

Gabriella looked questioningly at her father. "And say what?"

Colin thought a moment and spoke hesitantly, waving his fork as he spoke. "I'm not sure." He looked at me. "I don't like hiding things, so..." he shrugged. "I'll say who I am and what our intentions are."

I reached out and took his hand. "An announcement like that...on the Internet? Anyone could pick that up. It's not that secure."

Colin shrugged. "I won't say right out, I'm a vampire just like you, contact me. Let's get together and chat." He snickered. "I'm sure there are worse messages out there on the web."

I nodded chuckling. "I'm sure, but we don't need that sort of attention." I shrugged. "But someone could figure out what we are. They could let the world know we exist and what we are."

Colin looked a little uncertain. "Maybe." He frowned. "It's a risk. I'll be careful, but...perhaps we should plan for that possibility."

Alex shook his head. "That's dangerous."

Colin nodded. "It is, but we don't know." He put his fork down. "We need to do it now. It could be very dangerous, but what are we gaining by hiding?" He propped on his elbows as he spoke softer. "Every group out there faces dangers. They are the wrong race or religion. They have the wrong government and face death. People are killed for petty reasons." He smiled at me. "Even for being gay." He took my hand and squeezed it.

I nodded. "We might become experimental animals," I said quietly.

Colin nodded. "We could." He looked at Gabriella and Alex. "There are people that aren't vampires that know about us, and they are fine with it. The only difference is they know us and even trust us. If the time comes when we are discovered, hopefully, we can assure them we mean no harm to anyone, but first, we need to contact the others."

I sighed. This would be a drastic step forward. "We'll talk with Stan. He may know a way to ensure safety."

We went to the cells where Marissa and Adrian were being held. She was not the woman we'd met. Now she looked more like the young teenage girl she was when she was bitten all those centuries ago. No longer a vampire, as in she didn't need blood. She was not done with treatments, but she would be soon. Adrian was also no longer that blood-sucking monster. Both looked defeated and depressed. They should be. They were responsible for many deaths. Marissa for giving her "gift" to some that were not as discriminating or careful as she claimed to be. Both were now in simple clothing, almost like an inmate, which they were. Contact with them by personnel here was limited with our caution to them that Marissa was good at manipulating people to do what she wanted. The gathering of other family members for Marissa was ongoing. Ruben assured that they were being held at a secure location. One did demand a lawyer. Ruben told him. "Sure. You can have a lawyer. Be sure to tell him you were aiding a couple of terrorists, that we have in custody. Your Great Auntie Marissa and your cousin Adrian will love being exposed. I'm sure that lawyer can come up with some defense for you in spite of our proof of evidence."

We spoke with Stan who assured us that he could create a program that could be sent with the address Colin would give and go to all those the others had contact with and they would not be able to stop it from happening and we could track who they were being sent to and received. All the vampires they had contact with would know and hopefully, if they weren't on the Web, the message would spread by word of mouth. George was not pleased with the idea, but even he admitted something needed to be done. We couldn't go any further without the input from the rest of us.

Colin's image was arranged as he faced the screen. He was on our balcony terrace in our apartment. What was very important was the sun in the background which could be seen shining and Colin was exposed to the sun. He was munching on a steak! He was a natural! He swallowed and took a drink. He took a napkin and wiped his mouth and smiled. "First, hear me out. I love steak. There's only one thing I like more, that's a good steak in the great outdoors. It's a beautiful day." He looked back at the sun which was a yellowish orb in the background. "It's a nice sunny day and I intend to enjoy it, but if you are receiving this message..." he looked now at the camera, "...know this. I was just the same as you are." He said with the unsaid knowing they would get the unsaid meaning. "I'm being treated for it. For a long time, I missed the world's wonders. Now, I can really be a part of it." He waved at the sky beyond our balcony. "This isn't a stage; this is my home." Then he looked very serious. "I'm contacting you because the person you knew as Marissa is no long First anything. And we don't refer to it as the New World now. This is the United States of America. Home of the free. No longer is Marissa in power. She is alive and she also lives in the day like everyone else." He smiled again. "I'm speaking to you through contacts she had, and I will tell you honestly, I am not wanting to be the one to take her place. The world is always changing. She did not change. The old ways only kept things secret and did nothing to make things better for anyone. Things are not all resolved with me, but it is much better for me than it was in the past." He waved at his steak and the sun. "You can do this, too, if you want it." He got up and walked closer to the camera. "The old ways are obsolete. We are here. We want a life. We deserve a life. I have that now. If you're interested, let me know. You don't have to be isolated anymore. We can move toward a brighter future. I'd like to do it with all of you and we can do this side by side. Embrace a new life. Please, contact me. I'll explain everything."

Stan touched the laptop he was using and went to the camera he set up to use. "Okay." He grinned. "That was great. Unless you want to edit it or do it again. I think it's ready."

Once that was done, Colin walked back to Stan. "Is it ready? Just like that?"

Stan smiled and nodded. "It's ready." He pointed at the keyboard. "All that's needed is to hit enter. You'll send it out."

Colin looked at me a little nervous. "Here we go." He said as he pressed enter.

Stan had entered a monitoring program that came up. An image of the Earth rotated on the screen and was there with the other places that had vampires with computer access that were lighted. Each time a goal received the message, a breakdown of other places that each group that received the message and showed it was sending messages out to others that were contacts and a number telling who was receiving the message had arrived. The numbers were changing as the number of others went up higher. Literally, there were hundreds getting the message.

Stan smiled with a sigh. "That did it."

Colin nodded reaching for me and bringing me closer. "Now. We wait."

The message to the other vampires out there went out and I knew there would be resistance saying this was bunk and impossible, but I had not expected so many would be welcoming. It just took a day or so before we were getting messages from around the world. There were a lot more vampires out there than any of us realized. George, Colin, Ruben, Mark, and I were looking at the number of replies we'd gotten and were watching as the number grew. These groups were isolated, but the program Stan used was bringing them all here at once. I guess they didn't really talk much with each other.

Stan was beginning to panic. "I can't do this by myself!" He almost wailed as he waved at the computer. "There are hundreds of replies. I can't even begin to determine if they want help or not..." he looked at us with wide eyes, "...and this is just day two!"

Mark was patting Stan's back and nodding. "I'll help you."

Stan shook his head. "You won't be enough! You can barely type!"

Ruben looked as more were coming in and his eyes widened, too. "Jesus, look at them." He looked at us. "Are there that many vampires out there? I only knew of Uncle Alex! There was the man that turned him, but that was in Europe! There are hundreds, if not thousands!"

Colin nodded as he was thinking. "These were people that were in the other..." he waved out of the building, "...whatever they call the vampire centers call themselves...they were contacts with these groups."

"They are grasping at a voice of hope," I nodded with a smile. "We're offering a way out."

Ruben pulled up a message. "What is this? Russian!?"

"I'm not concerned about the languages, Mr. Chance. Buddy can translate that." Stan moaned. "I'm talking about the number of them."

Mark pulled Stan close. "Deep breaths. Take deep breaths." He grinned because even though Stan was having a minor panic attack, he was also thrilled. "It will be alright."

George shook his head as Burke came in. "John, did you know about all these vampires?"

Burke came over and saw the computer screen. "No, I only had those few on file." He shrugged. "But it's possible. Vampires are used to being resourceful. Hiding isn't the hard part because it's natural. We knew there were others. I had no idea there that many."

George nodded and touched Stan's shoulder. "I'll ask some of the other staff here that are doing other jobs to help you. We have secretaries, file clerks and many others that know about us that work here. They can help." He chuckled. "Relax." He looked at Ruben. "I know the family members of Marissa are being held somewhere and I don't want to know where. We're just not breaking too many laws, are we?"

Ruben shook his head. "No." He frowned. "They were breaking laws by aiding Marissa. Who are they going to complain to about their rights being violated? They knew it was a crime against nature but did it anyway. I don't know a legal defense for that or a lawyer that can deal with that."

"We know vampires who are lawyers." Colin grinned. "With their help they can ensure their rights are being protected." Colin gave a shrugging nod. "Of course, the lawyers might be bias as they are vampires because of Marisa. I'm sure someone can be objective." Colin nodded and raised his hands to stop everyone. "Okay. The people replying obviously want what we have." He began to pace again in his circle. "We're going to have to sort these by country and whatever group they're with." He looked at George. "I know you want every vampire out there to have the serum. Will we have enough?"

George shrugged as he thought. "The chemicals are a little complicated, but not hard to make. It will take some time, but we should be able to make enough. We wouldn't be able to give all them as soon as they may like, but we can do it." He looked at Colin. "The serum you gave Devon was your serum tailored for you, but it worked. The serum is basic at first for the venom. It's the vampire that changes it. I can make plenty of the standard serum."

I nodded. "I know that Holms Laboratories is making money, but all this is going to cost. Can we handle all these people?"

Colin gave a frown. "We shouldn't handle it all by ourselves. If the other...whatever...want it, they need to pay." He said logically. "If they become one of the VUN, it will be covered."

"Are we giving the serum free?" I asked. "I gave the serum to Colin when I first met him but never inserted the disc. I could learn, but can't they give it to their own people? Doesn't the serum have to be made with each vampire's own blood?"

George nodded. "It does That's why what Colin gave you that first time was Colin's. It was made by his blood...you two have the same blood type, thank god. I don't know what would happen if you didn't."

"And there is manufacturing and distribution..." I pointed out.

George nodded again. "Yes, but each...whatever..."

I rolled my eyes. "Just call them Vampire Capitals." I shook my head. "George, you and Colin are geniuses in what you do, but naming things is a problem for you two."

George grinned. "Your husband wasn't much better than I was."

Ruben had been staring at the screen and turned and looked...amazed. "There are so many of them!"

Colin smiled at Ruben. "On a world that numbers in the billions, you're upset by a few thousand vampires?"

"Or..." I said. "They could be like you, Ruben. They are regular humans that have members of the family or a friend that is a vampire."

"We'll need to go through these and find out." Colin nodded and turned away and sighed. "We'll need to find out about their past. Are they still human?"

I took his hand. "I'd say they are a little. They replied to the message on a computer. That means they're thinking." I looked at George. "But you still want to keep the serum secure, don't you?"

George thought a minute nodding. "It's our leverage." He scratched his red head as he thought. "We can make the serum here. We'll send the serum to the..." he was working it out in his own head. "Vampire Capitols and instruct them how do make the disc for each vampire and insert them."

"And they can't just study the serum to make their own?" I asked again.

"It's a complicated formula," George said shaking his head sighing. "It won't work right if not done correctly. This will be a venture that will take some time."

Colin smiled. "Well, we know we're not alone now." He patted George on the back. "We'll just have to visit these Vampire Capitals. They really can't come to us."

"If it proves to be a good thing..." I added. "We will have additional personnel."

"And we have the others that are not human still to deal with." Colin pointed out. "Wild ones here and over there." He looked at George cautiously. "This is what we wanted, isn't it?"

George wasn't happy, but then he rarely was when dealing with the whole vampire world. "What we want; is to get rid of this mess and become human again." He looked at Burke who smiled at George. "And until I do that, we'll just have to deal with it."

Colin smiled as he turned to me. "I wanted to take you to these places on a honeymoon." He said sadly.

I put my arm around him. "Who says we can't do both?" I looked at the monitor screen as the world turned. "Where will we start first?"

Colin brought me into him as he rested his lips against my forehead. "I guess England. That's where Marissa came from according to her."

"Are we doing this alone?" I asked.

Colin thought. "I don't think we should. We can take Gabriella, Alex, and Willie with us." Then he smiled, "...and your mother." He added with a shrug. "Your mother can be there to show that humans and vampires can get along." He looked at Ruben. "We should discuss this with the others.

Mark nodded. "I'll let everyone know." He patted Stan. "You'll have help, baby." He assured kissing Stan quickly.

Colin and I went to the holding cells with Marissa and Adrian. Neither of them were a threat to anyone now. When we met Marissa, she was so confident in her position as First Vampire. Now she seemed like a lost child. She sat on the bed she used, looking without interest at anything. We were not so cruel to give her nothing to do. We had given her some books to read. We looked at her from behind the observation window.

I shook my head. "She could have done so much."

Colin cocked his head as he looked. "So much of her life was about being First Vampire. That was who she was. Now, that's gone." He smiled at me. "To think, all the vampires in the United States and Canada came from her." He grimaced. "That thing that looks like an innocent little girl rewarded her nephew that brought her over. How many did he make? Then as the humans expanded in the United States, vampires did, too. She made almost all of them."

I shook my head. "But where did it originate?" I asked knowing there would be no answer. "Books, movies, and television came up with some pretty good theories, but did it start in Eastern Europe? We know there was a man they called Dracula based on a real man. Did it start over there? Did it start in Egypt as another story said?"

Colin hugged me. "We may never know. We can ask if the others know, but really, we may never find out."

We did the same with Adrian. He was more unsettled than Marissa as he paced. The books he had been given were strung around his room. Both of them had begun eating and there were empty dishes around Adrian's room. Seeing him was like watching a caged lion or tiger.

"He will be trouble," Colin said. "We need to find a place to house these creatures to keep them secure....and to keep everyone else secure."

I hated that I thought so, but I looked at Colin. "Maybe we should have let him burn."

"Or maybe just ended him." Colin nodded. "There is hardly anything left that's human in him, but he isn't a full vampire now. He can't make others."

We met with everyone on the task force. Vampire and humans had their say. My mother was also included as she would be with us as the human side of our visiting team.

"...I think you need to be there." George said to Colin. "It was you they saw in that message."

Ruben nodded. "Agreed, they will know you are a vampire because they can sense you are. That will be your proof. If you and Devon are there, along with Gabriella, Uncle Alex, Willie, and your mother; they will know it's real."

Stan nodded. "That was the general quest of most of the messages back, wanting to be assured it was true."

Mark sat forward. "And Colin's ability to sense people will help big time to determine if they have things to hide." Then he sat back again. "I think there should be an escort by us, as well."

"Us, being the FBI?" I asked.

Mark nodded. "If for no other reason than to show the support of some branch of the government."

Colin nodded. "But we'll need Stan here to handle the Control Room."

Stan grinned. "Well, that's what those little devices you carry will do. I can be reached that way."

I turned to George. "You should go, too, George. You have the medical expertise to explain more about the serum and how it works."

George nodded and he looked at Burke. "Have you been to England?" Then he looked more puzzled. "Do you even have a passport?"

Burke shook his head. "How could I? I don't exist."

Ruben waved that off. "Don't worry about that. All of you will have passports. Uncle Alex and Willie included. I'm having that done now." He thought. "I need to speak with my cousin, Congresswoman Chance, and Senator Cook. We will need more backing."

"And personnel," George said.

Mom frowned. "I hate to be the one to conduct those interviews." She muttered. "What sort of background is needed to work here? How will we know they can be trusted?"

"There will be mistakes," I said. "We may hire someone that will prove dangerous."

Ruben nodded. "But we've done this before. We'll be as thorough as possible."

I turned to Shelly. "And I think you should be the one to go with us." I grinned.

Shelly looked surprised. "Me? Why?"

Colin chuckled. "Well, I can count on you to tell me when I say something that is bullshit." He reminded her of her comment when we were going after Marissa.

Shelly grinned. "It was bullshit." She shook her head.

"But you see things very clearly," I said. "You're very pragmatic and smart."

She waved her hands a little helplessly. "That's what you hired me for, but you know my jurisdiction is only here?"

"But your talents will help there." Colin pointed out.

Stan grinned as he took Mark's hand. "I guess you stay with me."

Mark grinned back. "Yeah." He squeezed Stan's hand. "There will be other trips other places. Your being an egghead is needed here."

Colin smiled. "We'll make the arrangements. We'll be extending trust by telling them when we'll be there and where. I'll let them know if they want to be included that they will have to come to us."

George nodded. "They are vampires, so trust will be touchy with them."

"That's why we're extending trust first," Colin explained. "They will have regular humans that work for them like we do that can bring us to them." He looked at Stan. "We don't have names to go by, do we?"

Stan shook his head. "They all have screen names."

"We'll just let them all know when and where." Colin sighed. "They will have to come to us."

"England," I said quietly. "I've passed through there. The only thing I know about England is they drive on the left, have a monarch and talk funny."

"People say we Southerners talk funny." Colin chuckled. "It will be a good trip."

I nodded. "I hope so."

"Well! Let's get cracking!" Colin said standing. "But first, I'm hungry."

I got up patting him on the back. "I know what we're doing next."

After a nice dinner in Vamps, we retired to our apartment. Having finished my evening routines, I came out of the bathroom as Colin was pulling the covers down for us to go to bed. I don't need to tell you I love the man; you know that already but seeing him...occasionally it just hits me how much I did love that man. We had done many forms of love and sex; there was nothing taboo or not tried by us, but I walked over to him, turned him around and kissed him deeply, hungrily, which he immediately returned. Leaning in I lowered us both to the bed as I continued to explore his mouth as my hands traveled over his bare chest and sides. It was a few minutes before I stopped leaving both Colin and me a little breathless.

"I'm not complaining," Colin smiled as he pulled me to a more comfortable place on the bed. "But what was that for?"

I smiled. "That was just me feeling that sudden urge to love you, Colin," I explained as I scooted to the side of him, but not letting go. "I never knew I could love someone so much. It just builds until I can't hold it in anymore." I kissed him again. "I needed a job when I met you. That's all."

Colin's eyebrows rose when I said that. "And I hired you."

"And what a job I got!" I grinned as my hand went down his chest and stomach and into his pajama bottoms and caressed what I knew was now stiff there. "The fringe benefits were out of this world. If someone had told me what I'd be doing now...back then...I would have known they were crazy."

Colin chuckled. "And now?"

"We're like pioneers," I said. "Going into uncharted territory. Let's face it. You and I are ambassadors going to a foreign country to start talks about a global community. I never would have dreamed this up." I kissed him again. "But know this," I said seriously. "I love you, Colin. You may have seen your life as cursed, but in a way..." I thought, "...it was almost like something brought us together, the only way it could. You were given a long life and waited for us to meet. I believe we were meant to be together, Colin. This task we've taken on; to bring other like us together is almost too important to be chance."

Colin nodded as his lips traveled over my jaw to my neck. "I agree." He looked at me again with those emerald eyes. "I wasn't kidding when I said before; my life truly began when we met. After meeting you, I got Wentworth Manor back. I got my daughter back...and that one thing I dreamed of but didn't think I could get. Someone to love me and be with me that loves me. I love you, Devon."

I felt his hand go down and remove my pajama bottoms and he made love to me, slowly, but saying often as I invited his body into mine, that he loved me. I never doubted he did.