Blueblood

Story: Blueblood

Chapter 26 William and Betty Marry

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

Adult Readers, Sexual Situations, Sex

Freedom of expression is precious. To do Just enjoy it. that Nifty needs help. Your donation is greatly desired. Give to http://donate.nifty.org/ or this story ends and all the others! That would be a crime!

This was a fun chapter. The first-person narrative in my stories is me. Duh. My late husband is the love interest for all my stories, but one. Don't look for any deep meaning other than two characters from different stories meet. I meet me from another story. My husband died March 31, 2017 from cancer. I keep his memory with me as I write. Just enjoy it. I did.

William and Betty Marry

Emily was again looking at the house more. She wasn't feeling that comfortable at the moment. The opulence and grandeur were a bit hard for her to get used to. However, Jeremy was truly relaxing, but only with the animals. The adjustment was not as stressful as Emily feared it would be. That was as long as Jeremy stayed with the animals. He was opening up more and he was beginning to make friends with these "strangers."

It was Wednesday afternoon when the Rolls came to the front door and Stan Martin and Mark Goddard arrived. It had been a few weeks...months...since we saw them live and in person.

Chuck, Shelly, Alex, and Gabriella greeted them when they walked into the Grand Entrance Hall. Edwin and Wayne were there off to the side as friends greeted each other. Mark grinned as he hugged everyone, but Stan was doing as almost everyone else did. Just like at Wentworth Manor, he did that slow spin to try to take in all the grandeur.

"Someone royal lived here," Stan said prayer-like in almost reverent awe.

"They did." Edwin nodded and said from the side. "The original owner was a second son of the king or something. That's why it had so much money to build this place in the first place. The original structure burned; this is the replacement."

Colin grinned, bringing Edwin and Wayne forward and introduced our friends from the United States to our new friends here in England. The introductions of the other people and vampires would take time, but we kept on as we saw them.

"Buddy II is coming tomorrow," Stan said as we walked. "Customs and all that stuff." He smiled. "Like a computer is dangerous."

"I guess that's because of the users and what the computers are intended for," Colin replied.

Mom and Willie were having a discussion with a local Vicar. A preacher with the Church of England and he was also a vampire. He had trouble when he first came to Thornwood. He was having a crisis that had to do with becoming a vampire because of what he was. He was supposed to be spiritual guidance, but he was bitten. His crisis had to do with God and why He allowed him to be bitten by a godless creature. Did that make him evil in God's eyes? Was he not worthy? He had the trouble comprehending that it had nothing to do with his faith or lack of faith. He had blood in his veins. It was a simple as that. It had nothing to do with an alliance with God or anyone else. He had been bitten a decade ago and it took him a few years to come to grips with what he'd become. Let's just say, his doctrinal beliefs and how he thought things would be changed in those ten years. He still wasn't comfortable with Colin, me or Edwin and his new relationship with Matt. He'd thought a certain way a long time and it was taking time to adjust that thinking. Since he was dead, as far as the Church of England was concerned, he wasn't a part of the Church, therefore anyone he performed a marriage for was not married legally. The office of MI5 was pushing the law in giving Mom and Willie a marriage license. You can't marry a man that's legally more than a hundred years old. I was married to such a man, but it was a joining, nonetheless.

Plans were decided on about the housing for future vampires and laboratories. Construction was beginning on Monday.

We moved Jeremy to the room below the barn that had been George's lab and housed Wayne when he first arrived. Lilly was helping to get that room more suitable for habitation, which Jeremy was a little smitten with Lilly, but she kept it light. Contently telling Jeremy they were friends. Jeremy was male, so naturally, he was attracted. He'd only known his mother and sister! Now, there was a woman! She was not a "stranger" according to Jeremy. Emily was still with Jeremy, but we tried to make gaps in his exposure with Emily to ween him off his dependence on her. We were letting Jeremy decide what he wanted to do as far as the serum was concerned. He had not seen much of the vampire that was taking the serum when he arrived.

Wayne was thrilled that his daughter and granddaughter Kelly were coming for the wedding. Sean was too, but he couldn't stay, but one day.

We were leaving the Sunday a week after the wedding. It was our plane, so there was no problem. I did start to see that Willie was getting a little nervous about the approaching day. I wasn't the only one to suffer before the wedding after all. Mom was starting to show signs of stress, too. She had wanted a simple service and wedding and it was mushrooming into a larger production. Everyone wanted to come.

Now things were more like I expected. A little chaos began. People were rushing to get things together for this "small" wedding. Tables were being set and food prepared. Again, with good smells, but they were pulling out all the stops! This was the partial owner's mother! She was marrying a vampire.

It was Friday at last and Katie and Kelly arrived. Kelly was happy to miss a day of school as well as coming to a wedding.

That evening the male members of the family and friends gave Willie his party. No strippers, but movies rated X at this party (all straight, damn it), but a lot of drinking and general carousing. It was fun! It was during the party I noticed Willie occasionally would become quiet and sort of retreat into himself.

I walked over during the party and sat by Willie. "What are you thinking about?"

Willie looked a little startled at first, but he looked up smiling at me. "Just the usual things, future and doing what's right by her." He looked at me with a smile. "I've not been married for a hundred years. My first wife is gone and..." he shrugged. "No disrespect to her, but...your mother is..." he thought. "She's very special. I only remember parts of my first marriage and not always able to remember her face some times." He shook his head. "I'll be a good husband to your mother." He nodded.

I smiled. "I know you will." I put my arm around his shoulder as squeezed him to me. "You've come a long way since I met you. I always liked you, but now I love you. Tomorrow, you become not only Mom's husband, but a father to me. Officially. I'm glad for her, but I'm happy for me, too."

Willie grinned. "I hope I'm good at that, too."

The next day was mayhem, but it got here. The wedding guests arrived and the light music started. I watched my mother come down the stairs where I waited to escort her down the aisle of the Entrance Hall, giving her to Willie. They had a harp played instead of the usual wedding type of music. I was her Man of Honor and Colin was Willie's Best Man. We joined Willie and Colin at a center position and took our places. She wore a simple, light blue gown and held one single red rose. Her hair down the way Willie preferred, but beautiful. Willie was in a suit and wore a simple red rosebud on his lapel. The exchange of vows and promises and the Vicar pronounced them married.

We had a party after the wedding with a lot of dancing and they had a cake made that they cut together and most everything was done. Colin and I presented them with the plans for their two-week honeymoon. Only this time, they were going to be transported by helicopter to the airport.

Colin sat in a chair of our room as he pulled his tie off with a tired sigh. "That was a nice wedding." He smiled.

I grinned coming to Colin and kissing him. "Almost as good as ours," I said as my arms went down his back as we kissed more.

Colin's left eyebrow rose. "Almost?" He shook his head. "I think ours was a whole lot better!" He grinned pulling me down to him. "I got the better end of a deal. I got you."

How could I not love this man!?

On Monday we started really getting things together. Stan oversaw the setting up of Buddy II in a room Edwin determined was the safest place. Stan then showed Edwin and Matt how to use it.

"Basically, there is Buddy," Stan explained. "That's it. This..." he patted the new CPU that was installed with many of the same things Buddy in Manhattan had. The black glass table covering with the keyboard invisible until you touched the surface. It had the 3D scanner and all the whistles. There was even a big screen like we had in New York. "...this baby is merely...an extension of Buddy. It's one system. One brain. The main CPU is in Manhattan, but it's all Buddy. Whatever you need scanned or documented...look up information..." He waved outside where a large satellite dish was being installed. "Is relayed to Buddy. He does what he needs to and displays it here." He leaned in like he was going to tell a secret. "Protect that dish. It's your link to Buddy. Even if you lose power, he will run for several hours by battery backup. A generator is going to be installed in case you need power more, longer. If the dish goes out, landlines will fill in the gap, but not as fast as the satellite."

Edwin looked at all the equipment and shook his head. "All this in the last part of the century."

Matt chuckled. "And I was amazed when phones in a car were first possible!"

Stan smiled. "Just wait until they install the phone in your head!"

Edwin looked startled. "Install a phone...in our heads?"

Stan nodded. "It's coming. No more worries about forgetting your phone or laptop. Make calls, search the Internet, and never use a device. It will be in your head."

"And with that..." Mark said behind Stan. "All the new psychoses because of that," he smiled at Edwin's surprised look. "We all know Internet porn is a major market. We'll have websites dedicated to sex. You will not only see porn but able to touch and even have sex with anyone online because it's in our heads! New obsessions will arise, stalking becomes more dangerous...."

Stan waved his hand at Mark's comments. "Ignore him. He's an alarmist. He'll see the dark side of everything. You can access the pyramids and be there! Standing before them and even walk through them and never leave your home!"

"As long as they have your face, they can undress and have sex with you." Mark continued. "All in their head."

"They couldn't get the bodies dimensions right unless you pose nude for it," Stan argued. This had been an argument between them it seemed.

Mark shrugged. "Or they just guess, using shoe sizes or hands to determine how big you are...and you know where or guess about body hair." He grinned. "If they guess about me, I hope they give me a huge dick!"

Stan's eyebrows came together. "And hairy ass!"

Mark shrugged. "Which they will have to guess at since no one's seen it, but you!"

I chuckled at their banter. "Guys," I said. "We have a few years before they can do that."

Mark smiled. "Are you sure?" He then brightened. "Or we become like it is in the movie Matrix or that one, Surrogates, where everyone has a body they operate from home. Perfect bodies that see, feel, walk and talk for them...everyone's fake and..."

"Mark!!" Stan turned to him. "Stop scaring everyone!"

I shook my head. "Edwin, Matt...get used to this. They do it all the time." I laughed. "They did it the first day I met them."

Edwin nodded still watching as Stan was asking Mark why he insisted on doing what he did.

"But they love each other?" Edwin asked me quietly.

I nodded. "Yes! Endlessly devoted." I told them equally quiet. "They would give each other whatever the other needed even if it cost their own lives. Mark knows Stan's buttons and loves to push them." I grinned as Stan and Mark continued. "We were told it was a sibling rivalry. To me, it was more of...no one can pick on the other but the other...feel."

"And what does Stan do to Mark?" Matt asked.

"Stan's intimacy with Buddy," I said smiling. "Mark is very jealous of Buddy." I shrugged again. "Stan is the best at the computer, so Mark just mouths off occasionally." I turned again as Stan and Mark kept bickering. "Stan!" I said interrupting them making them both look. "If this is by satellite, is our security okay?"

Stan gave a sound as he blew that concern away. "No one could hack into Buddy easily. I have firewalls up no NSA, FBI, CIA or MI whatever could crack." He boasted. "Could it be done? Sure. But it would take someone having my talents to get through."

I grinned. "And we know that isn't happening." I nodded.

"Nope," Stan said and then brightened again. "Mitch McKenzie is coming to Wentworth Manor to install his translator program...and get this, he's bringing the mother of all those programs to download to Buddy!"

"Meaning?" I asked.

"Meaning every known language can be accessed and translated," Stan said happily. "Even hieroglyphics!"

"Hieroglyphics?" Matt asked astonished.

"Devon thinks there will be something in those old writings that tells about those other vampires somewhere," Stan explained. "Buddy will be able to read those and translate them."

I nodded. "Wonderful."

"And!!" Stan said raising his finger. "I have these great earbuds for you all, tied to a handheld device. Put them in your ears and you will understand anything said to you. Now, talking back requires speakers, so once that language program is installed in Buddy, it will be accessed by the devices I give you all. You can talk to anyone."

Mark frowned. "You're having sex with Buddy again, aren't you?"

Stan's eyes grew as he was going to deny it again. "I am not..." he began and stopped. "Maybe I am." He said as he got an evil look but smiling. "Perhaps you need to be jealous."

Mark nodded. "Maybe I am!"

I waved at them. "See?" I asked Edwin and Matt.

"Sex is a lot in the brain," Mark said tapping Stan's head. "I swear you cum on this thing any chance you get."

Stan nodded smiling more. "And whose brain is bigger?"

Mark's eyes widened. "I'm smart!"

"I didn't say you weren't." Stan grinned. "I asked who has the bigger brain?"

Mark smiled with a chuckle. "That would be you."

Stan was a little surprised at Mark's comment. "Thank you, Mark." He said kissing Mark.

Matt shook his head confused. "Hold on." He said holding his hand out to stop the conversation. "One minute we're talking about computers, then it was sex...we have gone to cock size now?"

I shrugged and grinned. "Who knows?" I patted Matt on the arm. "Don't waste a lot of thought about it." I walked over and kissed the tops of Stan's and Mark's head and hugged them both. "I missed having you two here!" I looked again at Edwin and Matt. "They really are great at their jobs." I said looking at their combined faces of confusion. "Really."

We got a reply about Jeremy. A woman, who lived in London, whose sister had been turned to a vampire had extensive training as a teacher for children with Special Needs. She had a background that also included adults. She was willing to come and help with Jeremy if that meant her sister could get the serum. We all said that would be no problem. We would send a vehicle down to pick up her and her sister. If she took the job, she could train others to deal with Jeremy. Emily was feeling a little lost. So much of her life was spent dealing with Jeremy and now...she felt wasn't needed.

I spoke to her. "Jeremy will always need you." I reminded her. "But you brought him here for what reason?" I asked pointedly.

She nodded. "My time is limited on this Earth. I wanted him taken care of."

"And he is getting that," I said. "We haven't shoved you out of his life, but he needs attachments with other people." I chuckled. "Though I think the animals help the most with that." She smiled. "They do indeed. Will he ever get the serum?"

I frowned. "I don't know. Until he knows what he is and understands why the serum is needed, I don't know." I admitted. "George is working on a serum program he can give Jeremy, but the venom in his body fights any drug we give it to ease that pain. He's working on a program that is...longer." I said. "He will try to introduce lower doses, a longer period of time, but it still hurts. George wants to be sure it will work first."

"Jeremy may always be a vampire."

I shook my head. "I don't think so," I said to her. "George really wants to rid us all of the vampire venom and its effects, making us human again. Gabriella can have a family with Alex. We would all be able to have children and be human. I know George will work until he gets it. And he will. I know it."

"But Jeremy will be kept here even if George doesn't?" She asked again.

"He will always have a home here," I assured again. "He now can have friends and others that will care for him. He'll be fine."

She nodded and smiled at me. "Do you have to leave?"

I nodded. "There is a world of us out there. We're needed by them, too. We won't be gone forever, but we have to go out there to help."

She smiled and brought me in to kiss me on the cheek. "Thank you for all you're doing. God will have a special place for all of you, I know it."

The days were drawing to a close on our time with the Thornwood vampires. They were sending a vehicle for the woman in London to work with Jeremy. We were having a great time with the other people. People were now coming from other parts of England. Not all the vampires were just in the areas surrounding Thornwood. The new employees of Thornwood were serving us great meals. They had jobs now. This new chef was amazing. He hadn't cooked in quite a while. He drank blood for so long and what he could cook, he couldn't eat and now he could. His improved senses included the sense of smell and taste. He got even better! Friday came and we were getting ready for our dinner...I thought. We walked in the Dining Room and nothing was set up. No plates put at the table, glass, or silverware. Nothing.

Colin frowned at the lack of any prepping done. "Where is everyone?" He looked at his watch. "It's dinner time."

We looked at the others in our team that were coming down for the meal.

"There's an event, or so I was told," Wayne said looking also. "Maybe they're in the ballroom or gallery with that."

"Someone call in sick?" I grinned knowing that wouldn't happen. "We better go ask," I suggested.

We walked through the house toward the gallery and found no one. There were no voices heard, but we went to the ballroom. It was after sunset, so it was surprising it was dark. There was a limited amount of light, but we could see the tables were set here, but no one around. Colin frowned and reached over to the wall and pressed the switch for lights. The room lit up and suddenly we could see everyone that lined the room! I mean every vampire we knew of and some we hadn't met and family of the vampires was here. Hundreds of people! There was a banner hung that read. "Thank You." At that moment, all of them began clapping and smiling at us. Edwin walked over to us.

"My dearest, dearest friends," Edwin said, but he was very serious. "For what you have done...George, Colin...all of you..." he looked at the others around the room. "Everyone here wanted to tell you how grateful we are to you." He looked at the others in our team with us. "Every one of you has done so much for us here. We had a miserable existence until you came. We were lost, but you showed us the way. We have a life because of you." He smiled. "This isn't a good-bye party. You'll be back, but we thought..." he smiled as the others were nodding at what he said, "we needed to tell you how much you've done for us means to us. For that alone...words aren't enough." He looked back at the tables. "We thought this might say a little about how much that's meant to us." He smiled. "And to say...thank you." He bowed slightly.

Colin reached and touched my hand, which I took his hand and once again, we were linked. I reached out for Alex's hand, who took Gabriella's who took George's and that continued until we all were standing together.

The ballroom was filled with lights now, multicolored strobes and filled with music ready for dancing.

Edwin grinned and shouted. "Let's party!" He said raising a fist to the others there who all cheered and it was pandemonium from that moment on.

Mark came up beside Colin. "Yeah! This is more like it! This is great!!" He said loud because otherwise he wouldn't be heard. He pulled Stan to him and swung the both of them on the large dance floor.

Then someone rushed up and body slammed Wayne. The blur of dark hair turned out to be Kelly. Then we looked up and saw Katie, Sean, Scott, and Karen were there.

Colin smiled but looked uncertain as to what to do. "This is great!" He said equally loud to be heard. "There's one problem."

I looked at Colin. "What?"

"I'm hungry!" Colin said annoyed.

I laughed at him kissing him quickly and pulled him to the dance floor. "I'm sure they will serve food. One dance and we'll see what they've got."

We did dance and then another one. Finally, we got to eat. Colin was eating with his usual gusto. It seemed everyone was there; Sarah and her grandchildren, Matt and Edwin, of course; even Emily Proctor. Jeremy was not, but Emily didn't think he could handle the crowd here even if they were vampires or the noise. Lilly was there, telling us she was staying in England a while longer. Going back to school was still her goal, but right now, she liked what she was doing now. She might even stay! Soon, Kelly and Scott came to our table.

"Remember, Devon, Colin," Kelly said. "You promised to take us to Disneyworld and Universal Studios."

Scott nodded. "I wouldn't mind a baseball game or something like that; say the New York Mets?"

Colin chuckled. "I think we can do that. We also live in New York."

Scott smiled. "Brilliant!"

Even Director Mattingly and Dr. Hathaway were there. Director Mattingly was doing the look thing, trying to figure out if he could see whether anyone was, or wasn't a vampire and frustrated that he couldn't tell.

Being night creatures because of what we are and just...because. We partied all night! And let's be honest, everyone knows about the reputation about stuffy Brits. True or not, I can tell you, these Brits weren't stuffy that night! It was also good we were all on serum because it was well past sunrise when most of us left the party.

Colin and I walked through the corridor back to our room. Colin was leaning on me as we walked. "That was a nice party."

I grinned. "And they meant it. It makes it harder to leave."

"Yes, but tomorrow our stuff will be taken to the airport..."

I laughed. "You mean later today."

Colin chuckled he said bumping his forehead against mine. "Yes...today. Tomorrow we head home."

We were awakened at three in the afternoon. Going to the door in just his pajama bottoms, Colin waved the men in and told them everything was in the closet. Our luggage was taken and would be packed on the plane that evening.

Sunday came at last and we stood at the door of this grand manor. There was only Edwin and Matt to see us off. We'd seen everyone else at the party.

"Well, good hunting. I know you'll find them." Edwin said sticking his hand out to Colin. "We'll be talking by computer often, but it won't be the same."

Colin bypassed his handshake and grabbed him in a hug. "Thank you for your hospitality." Colin smiled. "And your friendship."

"You guys have to come back," Matt said to me.

It was the usual thing. Hugs, tears and then we boarded the many SUVs and rode to the airport.

The flight back to Charleston was uneventful. Landing in Charleston...the day was lasting a few more hours because we flew west, but it was getting dark when we landed, so it was really late for us.

It was dark when we got home and Wentworth Manor was a sight for sore eyes. I could see that Colin missed it while we were gone. There wasn't a lot of conversation as everyone went to the rooms and went to bed.

Colin flopped across the bed. "I am exhausted."

I came over and stretched out beside him. "I hope you know this is necessary; traveling as we do."

He turned over slightly bringing me closer. "I know it, but I almost feel like I did when I first came back to Charleston. It's a part of me." He said kissing me, "just like you are a part of me."

"And it always will be that way. I'll always be a part of you."

He looked at our room. "Our room here is bigger."

I chuckled at him.

Nothing happened that night, we didn't even undress for several hours as we both drifted off to sleep.

Jetlag. It is a monster. No, we hadn't crossed the dateline and it was only a few hours difference, but I felt it. Colin felt it. It was almost dinner time when we came down to get something to eat. Our house person had prepared and made a lot of Colin's favorites. Wayne came in and I had not seen him...this disheveled.

"I'm not going to make it." He grunted sitting in a chair at the table.

I grinned at him. "We'll miss you when you go."

Colin nodded. "It's not really the time change...it's the travel."

"It only lasts a day or so," I said. "The best thing is just to stay awake to reset your biological clock."

Bertie came in. "And is there something I can get you?" She asked Wayne.

"Coffee," Wayne said. "Please."

Bertie chuckled. "Mr. Colin loves it, too. I've got some really strong coffee."

Colin grinned. "Do you have my Death Wish Coffee?"

Bertie looked startled. "If I didn't, you'd probably fire me! Of course, I do."

"Death Wish?" Wayne's eyes widened.

I nodded. "Very, very strong coffee." I chuckled. "It would wake a man near death."

Wayne grinned. "Can I have some?"

Colin nodded. "It's not for the faint of heart."

I chuckled. "Me, too, but..."

Bertie nodded she waved me off. "I know, I know...cold. You've only been gone a few months. I remember." She looked at Wayne. "Hot or cold?"

"Hot." Wayne smiled. "Please."

Colin watched Bertie go back in the kitchen and grinned. "She's really very nice." He assured.

When we got our coffees, Wayne tasted his and his eyes flew open. "Okay!" He grinned. "Now, I know why it's called Death Wish." He chuckled reaching for the cream and sugar to take some of the bite off.

Stan really didn't need coffee. He was up with his second favorite thing. Buddy. This time, he had a smaller computer before him I had never seen. It was no laptop, but it wasn't like Buddy in New York or our part of Buddy at Thornwood. One screen. Colin and I came into the room we used for the computers. We looked at what he was working with, as he seemed to be working with some portable devices.

"Is this what you wanted to show us?" Colin asked.

Stan beamed. "Yes!" He waved at the CPU. "This is Buddy." He grinned. "Just like your portion of Buddy here at the house and the one in England...this is just an extension of Buddy of New York!"

It was a smaller, but still needed the room.

"It has all the ability of Buddy because it is Buddy!" Stan told us. "We program something to this; it's programmed on Buddy and can be accessed here on your portion of Buddy or England. Anywhere we have the extensions of Buddy." He smiled as he held a small device. It was bigger that one of those cell phones and fatter but could be held in the hand. "This is the translator." He picked up another small device. One of those things you sometimes see people wear to answer their phones without taking the phone out of their pocket. Bluetooth. "There's a microphone here." He pointed to an end. "The earpiece fits in the ear." He put the earbud in his own ear. "Now, any language spoke is picked up and translated to English which you hear." He pointed to the handheld device. "This can clip on whatever you have on," he touched a dial, "you have to choose the language. Speak in English." He said into his earbud and we heard. Parler en anglais. "That's French. It can be programmed for Arabic." He said into the earpiece and it came out! Thadth ballga alinglizia. In Arabic. He turned to us. "Now, Mitch is coming on Thursday and installing his program. It has a more...a complete program for languages. Including hieroglyphics! I asked!"

"How is that possible? No one speaks hieroglyphics." I said.

Stan nodded. "No, but it is a language. Mitch was using the databases from several places...universities and even the Museum of Egyptology in London and Cairo. Using the database, it can decipher the languages and hieroglyphics. Hieroglyphics is written over sometimes massive walls." He spread his arms wide. He picked up another device. "This is a scanner." It was bigger than a fountain pen but could be easily held. "Hold the scanner up and move slowly over a section of that wall." He did it in the computer room. There was a light on the end. He then sat down and typed quickly. An image of the room appeared unmoving. "This isn't a projector showing you what's there. It's a scan showing what you saw there." He grinned. "You get the difference?"

I nodded. "Sure." I sat by this computer. "If the wall is in bad shape and has deteriorated? Crumbling?"

Stan nodded. "That's a problem, but even if that's true...the computer will be able to extrapolate the probable missing parts based on what it knows of the language. You can read billboards or plaques...pages from a book or even scrolls...anything. You can focus it to what you want to be scanned through this eyepiece. It's like a camera." He brightened. "It is a camera, but it's scanned to the database of Buddy and Buddy goes to work..." he opened the handheld device. "There's a screen here where you can read it." He was enjoying this.

"You're not getting an erection from this, are you?" Colin chuckled.

Stan grinned and said softly. "Maybe." He shook his head. "This is exciting!"

I chuckled. "Yes, it is."

"We won't tell Mark." Colin smiled.

"Please don't." Stan said happily.

I patted Stan on the shoulder. "I think he knows, but we won't say a word."

"What about the trouble you had going through records?" Colin asked.

Stan held that finger up again. "Well, that's not because of the language problem, because that isn't a problem even now." He went to the other computer. "There is always human error involved. Corruption and wars...faction trouble...people that don't want us to know what's going on." He grimaced. "Computer records there are not as thorough as in some other countries. Not that those in Egypt are lazy, but it's just now starting to catch up." He grinned. "But the work you guys did in England has hit the Internet. The people you helped in England don't have the secure networks we do." He smiled. "Other countries are reading what has been posted and now there are more requests for serum. People that have had good results...which is everyone that's gotten the serum...has posted these results and they want in."

"Including those in Egypt?" I asked.

Stan nodded. "They read about it. They want it, too."

Colin frowned. "There's a First Vampire in Egypt?"

"Amasis," Stan said nodding. He looked at us. "Amasis is the name of a Pharaoh back in five hundred or more B.C. Twenty-sixth dynasty, I read." He shrugged. "He could just be using the name...or it could be him."

"A vampire over two thousand years old!?" Colin asked in shock.

Stan shrugged. "You're two hundred years old? He just hadn't died."

"Or he's using that name," I suggested a more probable explanation.

Stan shrugged. "He's wanting to meet you."

Colin's eyes widened. "He is?"

Stan nodded. "He's is."

Colin looked at me. "I don't know whether to be relieved or more worried."

We did adjust to the time zone and things weren't as stressed trying to wake up. There was a little shakeup that Thursday. The gate called. Yes, we had one of those gates with a security officer manning the gate.

I activated the response on our tablet. "Yes?"

"Sorry, Mr. Wentworth." The man said. "A Mr. McKenzie is here?"

I frowned. "We know that. Does he look untrustworthy or something?"

"No, it's just..." he started to say. "I'll send him up. You can see for yourself. He's cleared."

It was a few minutes more and I heard the doorbell. I had called Colin on the tablet and he was coming down from our room upstairs. One of the housemen we hired to help keep the place neat answered the door and I heard a gasp from Robert, the houseman. I came around from the library as Colin was coming down the stairs. Colin looked at our guest and froze. He looked at me and then back to our guest. He slowly began to descend the stairs.

Our guest was standing at the open door looking confused at Robert, our houseman's expression of shock. Robert was also looking at the guest and back at me. Robert had graduated from college wanting to work in hotels. He was blonde and had blue eyes which were now wide open. He pointed at the man and then to me with his mouth open unresponsive.

"What's the matter? Has everyone forgotten their manners?" I asked walking over to our new guest, who was not bad looking. He was in his late forties...maybe early fifties. Dark hair that had grey at the temples and salting his dark hair. He took care of himself and was trim. I extended my hand to him. "Welcome to Wentworth Manor. I'm Devon Wentworth." I greeted.

The man smiled and nodded. "Mitch McKenzie." He said taking my hand and shaking it.

Robert swallowed and was still looking at Mitch McKenzie and me. "He's you!" He said to me about our guest.

I frowned. "No, I'm me, this is Mitch McKenzie. A whole other person."

Colin, at last, got to the bottom of the stairs from his slow walk and he came over. "I agree with Robert. It is you."

Now Mitch was staring, not at me, but Colin.

I smiled at Mitch. "Sorry, there must be something in the air."

Mitch shook his head. "I don't know, but..." he pointed at Colin. "That's my Tony!" He said in shock.

Was everyone crazy? "This is my husband, Colin Wentworth."

Mitch looked closer at Colin. "He's the spitting image of Tony." He swore. "Only Tony was darker, but the same build, the same face!" He looked at me. "Tony was my husband."

I looked at Colin. "Okay." This was awkward. "But he's Colin."

Mitch blinked and then smiled as he shook his head. "Of course, he is." He stuck his hand out to Colin. "It's nice to meet you, Mr. Wentworth."

Colin shook Mitch's hand. "It's nice to meet you, Mitch. Can we call you Mitch?"

Mitch nodded. "Absolutely. Can I call you Devon and Colin? If I say Mr. Wentworth...that's both of you." He chuckled.

I looked at Mitch closer. "Sorry, but I don't see it."

Mitch looked at me and smiled. "Neither do I." He looked at Colin. "I see Tony in him, but not you and me."

I smiled. "That proves one thing."

Mitch nodded. "We all have good taste in husbands. I got Tony, you got Colin, they got us!" He chuckled.

I waved back toward the library. "We can sit in the library or go into the computer room. Do you have time for coffee?"

Mitch smiled with another chuckle. "Coffee. That was my husband's passion." He looked at Colin. "Is it yours?"

I put my arm around Colin's waist. "Oh, yes. He loves it. Craves it. Has to have it."

Mitch laughed out loud. "So did Tony! I like coffee. I don't love it, but it has to be cold."

I grinned. "Me, too!!" I waved back at the kitchen. "I'll get you some of Colin's Death Wish."

"Death Wish!?" Mitch repeated surprised. "Never heard of it. Does it live up to its name?"

I nodded. "It sure does."

Mitch chuckled. "Then I'll pass. I wanta sleep tonight."

"But it's morning yet!" Colin said not understanding.

"If it's as strong as you say it is, I will still be feeling it tonight," Mitch said as we walked in the library.

"How about a nice Latte?" I asked. "My favorite is Vanilla Latte."

Mitch grinned. "Mine, too." He shrugged. "Maybe I am you."

I grinned. "Maybe I'm you."

Colin growled. "Maybe I'm going crazy."

Mitch looked at me. "Did he just growl?"

I nodded. "He does that."

"So, did Tony! We are men of good taste."

I did the song from the Twilight Zone. Yes, we would get along fine.

I went to get Mitch's latte...and mine. Bertie quickly shooed me out of her kitchen and promised to bring us coffees. I went back to the library where Colin and Mitch were getting more acquainted. They were sitting apart as if Colin didn't quite trust this new guest. I frowned at Colin as I sat beside him on the sofa.

"I hope you like a big coffee, I got us both large ones," I said smiling.

"I do!" Mitch nodded. "At Starbucks, I get a venti every time."

I smiled. "Wish they had venti, ventis."

"So, you live in Charleston?" Colin asked.

"I was born in Asheville but was living here a few years before I met and married Tony." Mitch grinned. "Tony's from New York. He grew up on Long Island."

I nodded. "We spend half our time in Manhattan!"

Mitch looked surprised. "Really?" He looked at the house. "Well, I can see you're pretty wealthy, so I guess the cost of living there is not a problem."

"I have a lucrative business there," Colin said smiling. "Pharmaceuticals."

"Drugs?" Mitch grinned.

"More like treatments and yes...drugs. All prescribed and used to help." Colin said carefully.

Mitch nodded. "I see it's paid off."

I noticed Mitch was still wearing a wedding ring. He was twisting it almost without thought as he sat there. "This program you have that translate..."

Mitch appreciated the subject change. Even though he'd lost Tony so long ago, he was still married to the man in his heart. "Yes, it's very good. It is also a learning program." He smiled.

"Learning?" Colin asked.

Mitch nodded. "Every language has dialects. There are words people will use uniquely for an area. That influences language and changes it. The program hears the accent and learns what words should be used."

"Like truck and lorry. Loo and bathroom." I chuckled. "We just experienced that."

Mitch nodded. "And there are other words like the word can."

"Can?" Colin asked.

Mitch nodded. "Am I using the word to say I can do something? Or am I referring to the metal container? Or am I referring to a bathroom or loo?"

I nodded. "Where's the can? What's in the can or...I get it."

Mitch smiled. "So, as good as my program is...there will be times it will stumble."

Stan came rushing in the room. "He's here?" He asked and then stopped looking at Mitch and his eyes grew. He looked at Mitch and then me.

"Yes, he's here," I said rising and nodded. "We know we look alike." I pointed to Stan. "Mitch, this Stan, our computer genius."

Mitch nodded and stood up. "Yes, we texted and emailed each other." He said shaking Stan's hand.

Robert came in carrying a tray of the lattes. "Two vanilla lattes and one Death Wish."

I took the lattes. "I could have gotten it," I said to Robert.

"And what would I do? You hired me to do a job and I'm doing it. Don't get me fired." Robert smiled. He jabbed Stan in the side. "Wild, isn't it?" He jutted his head toward Mitch and me.

I chuckled shaking my head again. "Thanks."

Mitch took his latte, sat down, and sipped enjoying the taste. "Now, hieroglyphics? That's a first."

Colin smiled at the question. "We're...investigating some areas..."

"Which has a lot written in hieroglyphics." I finished.

"So, why not get someone that can read hieroglyphics?" Mitch asked.

"We won't have to. That's why we're getting your program." I said. "Can your program do that?"

Mitch nodded. "It can. It's a language. The algorithms can decipher anything. A lot of them have crumbled and faded, but it can understand and write it in English." He smiled. "Depending on how bad, it can read it. If your scanning equipment is any good..."

"Buddy can read anything." Stan boasting proudly, "even things that have faded." He sat in a nearby chair. "The scanner we use can pick up anything. Latin, any language, living or dead languages."

"Well, the program can translate." Mitch smiled. "I suppose having something that can read anything would be better than hiring a bunch of people to read for you. And there is always human error. I had to include resources outside the program like the translated already done in the various museums and other resources. It may take a little while, but it will be translated." He reached down beside his chair and lifted a black case. "It's all right here."

"He has it working at the United Nations and other government and private agencies or companies that need translators." Stan nodded.

Colin grinned. "It has a proven track record."

"It does." Mitch smiled. He rose from his chair and looked at Stan. "So, it takes a few hours to install. Stan says memory isn't a problem."

I shook my head. "It isn't."

Mitch gave a quick nod. "Let's get started then."

After the two went to the computer room, Mitch taking his latte with him, Colin looked at me.

"You didn't see any resemblance?" He asked.

"Between Mitch and me? I really didn't." I shook my head. "But he saw his husband in you."

Colin nodded. "That is a shame that he lost Tony."

I nodded. "But he's still married to him," I said sadly. "He still wears a wedding ring. He still loves Tony very much."

"I guess we don't need to talk about him much," Colin said.

"Let him bring up Tony," I suggested.

The programming was done pretty quickly. Buddy seemed to slurp it up. Even Mitch was surprised.

"Wow." Mitch grinned as the download was taking less time than he thought it would. "This computer is fast."

Stan nodded. "The fastest."

Mitch gave a nod. "Well, the program is working to reconfigure the computer's language..."

"Buddy." Stan grinned.

Mitch shook his head chuckling, "...to reconfigure Buddy's language protocols."

I watched as Buddy was running the program to set things up.

"I won't deceive you," Mitch said. "This isn't like on..." he thought, "...Star Trek where every alien language is heard in English and the alien hearing whatever language they speak. There will be a lag as the program works."

Colin nodded. "This is great. If it works...and I don't see why it won't...that's a big help."

"How about staying for lunch?" I asked.

Mitch smiled. "I'd love to."

Shelly and Chuck had flown back to...wherever they lived to see family and friends there. We had security here, so, no problem. George and Burke had flown back to New York. Shelly and Chuck also needed to talk with Ruben Chance and update him. Gabriella, Alex, and Wayne were the only others there. We had the same reactions from all of them about Mitch's and my similarities. It was going toward evening when Mitch said he needed to go home. Colin and I walked him to the door.

Mitch smiled at me and Colin. "When Tony and I married, it wasn't legal in the United States yet, but we were married. I wanted to take his name, but..." he frowned. "I see that you two are very much married and in love. That devotion is so important." He looked at Colin. "You look a whole lot like my Tony." He gave a smile that was really sad. "But you aren't Tony. He is one of a kind. Enjoy your time together. There is love here, I see that. Just don't let go of each other. Cherish your time together." He shook our hands. "Now, I have a crazy Russian coming to make dinner tonight. He and his husband are coming like they do every week." He chuckled. "They worry about me, but they're family. I better go."

We began reading some of the emails and posts from others around the world. The problem was the trust factor again. No one was too willing to tell about Amasis. He was wanting to meet us...under his conditions. He did say we would be welcomed but didn't say much about himself. We didn't tell this person what we were looking for except to bring us all together and give the serum to them. He told us we would be treated warmly. We met with Wayne, Stan, and Mark as we tried to make sure it was all covered. We were pretty relaxed right now. In fact, Mark was comfortable now with us and was tossing a tennis ball in the air and catching as he was listening.

I frowned. "I am not really sure about this," I said to Colin and the others.

Colin frowned. "Not sure about what?"

"Egypt is not gay-friendly," I said.

"I'm sure they aren't vampire friendly either," Colin said.

"We aren't going in there showing we're vampires, but we are a gay couple," I argued. "We face more danger being a couple of fags than being vampires."

Colin nodded. "Well, Amasis knows we're married." He waved at the many postings. "It's written about us in the posts. He promises us we'll be safe." He looked seriously at me. "It is a Muslim country. They aren't going to harm us if they want what we have, the serum. Gay people are discriminated there, but not really criminalized."

"But will we see what we want to? We may not be free to look?"

Colin gave a shrug and a nod. "We have to get there first. We'll deal with the other problems then." He pointed to his own chest. "We have those data location things in us. Chuck, Shelly, Stan and Mark will know where we are."

I grunted. "Well, we may need help getting out." I blew a frustrated breath. "We may have to call on some more men and women here and in New York to come get us. George, Burke, Stan, Mark, you and I are in danger because we're in same-gender relationships." I felt uneasy. "But I just know we'll find answers there. I can't explain it."

"What you said makes sense. It is an ancient population with a long history. There are vampires there." Colin sighed. "I was startled at the number in England. I can't imagine what we'll find in Egypt."

Mark let out a grunt. "You're so missing the obvious!"

Stan reached out to take the tennis ball, but Mark snatched it away and instead tossed the ball against Stan's head and caught it to which Stan frowned but was unhurt. "You're so smart, all of you...but you're missing one key thing." He grinned.

"And what's that?" Stan asked annoyed.

"What are we doing when we're there?" Mark asked leaning across the table, the ball in his hand.

"You know what we're doing, Numbnuts! We're looking for the vampires!" Stan said exasperatedly.

Mark grinned and made the sound of a game show buzzer when you get the answer wrong. "Wrong!" He said and tossed the ball against Stan's head again. "Error, does not compute." Mark smiled as this time Stan grabbed the ball and took it away from Mark who wasn't bothered about losing the ball. "What we're doing is using a previously unused program on your computer!" He looked at us asking in his eyes why we didn't see it. "It's an untested program, reading those mummy writings for the first time! You..." he pointed to Colin, "...are a potential investor trying to make the program for public use and application. You'll show it can work on hard to read mummy writings and will give the museums and universities a reason to buy! Those handheld devices also are untested. Take the fag factor out! We all here are fags!" He grinned a little evilly. "Take the vampire stuff out. Put the money in!" He waved at Colin. "You have a track record of proven investing. Not just with pharmaceuticals! You invest in hardware, now you may be investing in software." He looked at Stan. "He has the money to back that up, right?" He looked again to Colin. "You just bought into that Thornwood place. I assume you have the money."

Colin chuckled and nodded. "Yes. We do."

"And!" Mark said like Stan did when he has a good idea he was excited about. "This guy from Delkenzie has a track record with the United Nations and other agencies! That's proven!" He laughed. "You've got enough money to kiss Devon in the mouth in the middle of a major thoroughfare in Cairo!" He was getting louder and more excited. "Hell! Those eggheads at the museum would love to have access to that program and the computers! A cash register in every country sounds the same. Money! It's selling, buy, sell!"

I was grinning.

"Don't sneak in." Mark continued. "Land on the runway wearing all your fancy duds and make them see the green! They won't give a shit who you're having sex with!"

Stan chuckled grabbing Mark's head and brought him in for a kiss. "You're brilliant!"

Mark smiled kissing back. "So, I'm more than a pretty face, huh?"

I laughed. "I guess George isn't the only one that can't see the forest for all the trees."

Colin kissed me. "When we go to Manhattan, you and I are going shopping!" He held a finger at me. "No arguments. You are looking GQ!"

Mark shook his head. "Forbes, Colin. Anyone can look GQ, you want Forbes magazine, baby. Mister Big Bucks is going to arrive!"