Powers

But – that can only mean there are definitely more vampires around.”

  “Some pretty nasty creatures too.” He chuckled then. “So, you actually gave me credit for all those attacks?”

  Dorian flipped his eyes around. “Yep! I did!”

  “Even Sally and I, together, didn’t kill anyone. We attacked a couple of young women coming out of a bar the other night. But we hypnotized them, drank a little and let them go. They’ll never know what happened.”

  “Go on,” Dorian said. “I’m listening.”

  “And last night…We took on a couple of college jocks. Handled it the same way. We didn’t kill anyone!” He drank more of his coffee and sat his cup aside. “I’ve thought about the way you operate…thought about what you said about not bringing attention to yourself…Makes sense. Besides, there’s no point in killing when it’s not necessary.”

  “Exactly.”

  “ Of course, as you know, sometimes the instinct, the craving, overrides logic and something inside takes over and you just can’t help yourself…Like with the old man that night. It was stupid of me. And I’m glad you did what you did. And I thank you for covering it for me, even if it was more for yourself. But the reasoning, the logic of it all, still applies.”

  “Glad you see where I’m coming from.”

  “Oh I do. Truthfully, there have been a lot of years that I really didn’t care much one way or the other…But I met Sally…and I want to settle down with her…here. Like you want to do with Amber.

  “Can’t do that if we’re going on a freakin’ killing spree! Hell no! We’ve got to stop these crazies! Before they ruin everything for us. Or worse, get us killed.”

  “Oh…I definitely agree. Sorry, Klaus. I really thought it was you. And being a vampire myself, wasn’t about to judge you. Just hoped you wouldn’t get too nuts.”

  Klaus cackled. “Thanks for giving me so much credit.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  Dorian’s attention went to Amber then as she breezed through the door, looking so beautiful it took his breath away.

  Even Klaus commented. “Woe! I’d say changing fully agrees with you! Certainly did with my Sally.”

  She cut him a dry grin. “Thanks, Klaus.” Then she stopped and fronted him. “And thanks for killing me! I’ve never been so scared!”

  “Just did what needed to be done.” He said, smiling at her boldly, showing brilliant white teeth.

  “I realize you did me a huge favor. But it still wasn’t fun.”

  Dorian reached out and took her hand and had her sit in his lap. “You look absolutely delicious!” he remarked, eyeing her up and down. She had on tight black jeans and a dark red turtleneck. He played with her hair ringlets falling over her shoulders.

  “Glad you like.” She snuggled up to him, but focused on Klaus. “What’s going on? You two look… serious?”

  “We have a problem in the community…”

  “What kind of problem?” she asked, reaching over and taking a sip of Dorian’s coffee.

  “Some really nasty vampires slaughtering our friendly neighbors.”

  She sat up straight and put the cup down. “I thought we were the vampires?”

  “We are,” Dorian replied. “But these particular ones don’t give a damn who they kill…or how many. Wasting lives when it’s not necessary! Not good for the folks around…and not good for our security.”

  “We don’t want people finding out about us. And these characters aren’t going to make it easy for us to live here… unnoticed.” Klaus added.

  She looked at Dorian and back to Klaus. “What are we going to do about it?”

  “Not we,” Klaus replied. “Dorian and I. You and Sally are too new. You’d just get yourselves killed…not skilled enough.”

  “So…we’re just supposed to sit back and watch you two get killed?” She jumped out of Dorian’s lap. “No! I didn’t go through hell to lose you! And I’m pretty darn sure Sally feels the same way!”

  “Haven’t told her yet. By their MOs,” he added, “I’d say they’re pretty new at it too. Older vampires usually have learned to be more selective and careful about who and how they kill.”

  “Agreed,” Dorian stood too and took her in his arms. “I’m not going to get myself killed. I want to spend eternity with you. Klaus and I have been around for a long time. We can take on three or four young ones a piece with no problem.”

  She was dubious. “You’re just saying that!”

  “No he’s not, Amber.” Klaus got up and put his cup in the sink and turned back to them. “The older the stronger…and these vampires definitely are young…new to the game.”

  “When you going to tell Sally?”

  “Soon.”

  “How about letting us go along? To observe?”

  The two males exchanged glances. She wasn’t going to take no for an answer.

  Dorian sighed heavily. ”Okay, Amber…But first things first. Got to take you hunting a few times…so you can get the hang of it. Teach you not only how to feed, but when necessary …how to kill cleanly and quickly.”

  “I’ll be working on that with Sally,” Klaus said, moving to the door. He turned a warm smile to Amber. “So glad to have you back!”

  “Thank you, Klaus.”

  With a hiked eyebrow and a crooked grin, he bid them a goodbye, transformed into a raven and flew off, cawing like crazy, mocking the local crows. Dorian rolled his eyes.

  Paul hadn’t been able to stop thinking about Amber all morning. He hadn’t seen or heard from her in a couple of days. Though he had worked past his anger, the hurt was sill there. Still he loved her and knew he probably would for a long time. It was just something he had to deal with.

  She had chosen Lodovico and that was all there was to it. He looked up from the ones he’d been counting as two squirrely characters stepped into the store. A young man with cold black, spiked hair and very noticeable yellow eyes, and the young woman with him had short, burgundy hair, spiked as well, eyes black as coals.

  A few seconds behind them was an older man with long salt and pepper hair and yellow eyes, looked like he might be the young male’s father. He had a shifty look about him, too.

  Normally, Paul was pretty cool-headed, but there was something about these characters that troubled him. He was glad Judy wasn’t there, but she would be there soon, as it was time for her bus in just a few minutes. He hoped they’d be out of the store before she arrived. “Can I help you folks with something?” he asked, not wanting to let own that they made him uneasy.

  “Ummm…Just looking around,” the older man said.

  Paul didn’t know whether to let Bebe out or not. If they were just there shopping, there was no reason to get the dog. And if they were up to no good, he wasn’t sure how she’d be up against three people. It was a chance situation.

  Amber and Dorian had been cuddling together since Klaus left. Suddenly, she sat forward, eyes wide.

  “What’s wrong, Amber?” He knew she was picking up vibes from someone or something. But he wasn’t getting anything.

  “Paul’s in danger!”She jumped off his lap.

  “Paul?

  “I’ve got to go help him!”

  “Amber, you just woke up! You don’t have your strength under control…or your powers honed yet!”

  “But he’s in danger! I can feel it!”

  “What kind of danger?”

  “Three thugs! Two men and a woman.”

  He was amazed that she was picking up all that so easily and especially so soon. But she had been intimate with Paul, giving her a strong link to him. “Are they vampires?”

  “No! Don’t think so. Just thugs.”

  “I’d better go with you.”

  “No point in exposing yourself, Dorian. Paul loves me. I’ll worry about the consequences afterwards.”

  “No! Not a good idea!”

  A trace of anger flashed in her eyes. She was determined.

  “Amber it’s
not a good idea!”

  “Would you hesitate to help me?” she asked defiantly.

  “No!”

  “Point made! I love you! I chose you! But he is important to me and I don’t want him hurt.”

  “I still think it unwise, regardless. This is too new to you. But I know that no matter what I say, you’re gonna go. So let me go with you anyway…just in case.”

  “Okay. But you keep out of sight. No reason to expose yourself.”

  “Good thing you took you pill earlier…otherwise you wouldn’t be able to go…its bright out yet.”

  She nodded and was gone in a blur. He was right behind her.

  Paul carefully stuck the extra ones in the cash box under the register, glad he’d already locked up the bigger bills in the safe in the house. He definitely didn’t like the way these three were acting. The young woman stuck something in her pocket. She was definitely stealing from him. The older guy had gradually made his way up near the register, pretending to be looking at canned beans. Paul didn’t see the young man but knew he was in the store.

  These people were bad news. He went to ring the bell under the counter, but just as he reached for it, there was a gun muzzle sticking in the side of his neck. “Wouldn’t do that,” the younger man said.

  Just then, Paul heard Judy’s bus pull away. “No!” he muttered.

  The hoodlum thought Paul was refusing to comply. “Get over against the wall there!” He pointed with his gun to the opposite side of the store from the house.

  Paul moved over, but had his eyes peeled for Judy. Just as she opened the door, someone came in so fast in front of her he couldn’t believe it. If he hadn’t been focusing that way, he would have totally missed her.

  Amber!

  Judy barely had