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"All I want now is to be left alone," Sabastian said to Mina.

"It seems that's been your desire for a long time. But is that possible when you take in a little girl?" asked Mina.

"I will do what I must to make it possible, even if it means killing you."

"Which I have no doubt would be easy for you to accomplish.

"At the risk of my own life, though, I have no choice but to confront you. I can't have humans missing and odd deaths destroying my clan's cover.

"I don't want to fight. I'll leave you alone, but you must not feed here. Or, if you need to feed, come to me and I'll arrange for it."

"You want Sol and I to become prostitutes?" Mary asked.

"No. Either I can teach you my clan's techniques or simply have one of my girls cover for you. My men in your case, Sol."

"This is an agreement that does not involve me," Sabastian said.

"Oh, but as the coven leader it does," Mina said.

"I lead no coven, they are free to do as they wish so long as they do not endanger Susan."

"Well, with that guideline, it seems we have no choice," Mary said. "Besides, your trick sounds interesting. I always hate it when you find a good victim but have to kill them. It would be wonderful to play with them again and again."

"And you Sol?" Mina asked.

"I will not feed in this area. New York City is more to my taste, anyway."

"Sabastian, I would like get to know you better and, perhaps, to meet Susan under better circumstances. I hope we can still be civil after tonight."

"That remains to be seen."

"Yes, well, I guess we'll be going," Mina said to Sabastian after a long and stagnant pause. "Collect our dead," she said to her two companions.

After they left, Sol said, "Sabastian, I'm sorry I didn't tell you about Mina. So much has been going on that she slipped my mind."

"It is fine. I felt their presence. I knew that this confrontation would come. I am only glad that the situation was so easily resolved."

"I don't know about you two, but I kind of like the idea of taking blood from someone I'm sleeping with, and then doing it again the next night," Mary said.

"I'm not sure they even have sex with their victims," said Sol. "From what I know, Mina's clan has strong mental sway over humans. I think the victims simply think they have had sex.

"Although I thought it was a gift of her clan's blood, her comments about teaching make it sound more like a technique. I may actually attempt to learn it if she will teach me."

"Good, we can go visit her tomorrow," Mary said. "Won't you join us Sabastian?"

"I will not," he said coldly. "I am going to put Susan to bed and assure her everything is fine. Good night."


[Copyright Reuben Gregg Brewer, 2005. All rights reserved.]
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