Lissa, I beg you, don't ever do anything like that again. I was almost ill when I saw you, he wrote. I never got the chance to thank you for my Christmas gift. I hardly ever get something like that and it was a breath of fresh air. The game is fun. I do that one and a few others when I have a spare minute. They teach me to slow down a little.
So. He'd seen me. I wondered what I'd looked like. Something like Gavin had when he'd been hit with the flamethrower in Florida, most likely. I had to think for a while before I sent a reply. Charles, I finally wrote, I appreciate your note. As for doing something like that again, I don't know that I'd have the courage a second time. I hope you are well—Lissa.
I had an answer from Winkler when I was done. He was asking why it took so long to write back.
Dad grounded me and I just got my computer back, I replied. Man, having a parent at forty-eight sucked. Yes, I was a year older now. My birthday had come and gone without any fanfare, last year in May. In two more months, I'd be forty-nine. My driver's license said twenty-three. I wondered if the Council issued new ones now and then, so we wouldn't be questioned about our ages. I also wondered what Merrill's looked like and how old his license said he was.
* * *
"I got a reply to my email," Charles picked up the stack of papers Wlodek had signed.
Wlodek focused dark eyes on his assistant. "What did she say?" He was very curious but didn't want Charles to know.
"She said she didn't think she'd have the courage to try it a second time."
Wlodek rubbed his temples as if he had a headache. Lissa would be a Queen if she weren't susceptible to compulsion. If she weren't, he didn't know what they could do. She might want to go after every rogue herself and there wasn't any way they could control her. He sighed, grateful for small favors.
* * *
Gavin came back two nights after the Council meeting. I hadn't tried to call and neither had he. He had some issues to work out; I understood that. And my toes and fingers were better but still not whole. No sign of stubble on my head, though. I wasn't an old vampire, like Gavin. His hair had grown back in record time.
"Honey, are you all right?" I asked him. He'd come into the room where the pool and hot tub were as I was reading. I'd wrapped myself in a long, fluffy white robe after soaking in the hot tub for a while.
"I am well," he sighed and lifted me up to sit on his lap.
Dropping my book on the floor beside us, I pulled his head down for a kiss. He pushed the hat off my head, stroked my face with gentle fingers and kept kissing me. I had no idea if the pool might need cleaning after Gavin and I got into it that night. Thankfully, we weren't interrupted.
Gavin was sent on assignment two days later and Lena came back the day after that. She brought a batch of fresh strawberries with her so she, Franklin, Greg and I made my version of a special strawberry dessert. "They sell this every year at the Arts Festival in Oklahoma City," I said. I just wished I could still taste it. Greg was in heaven, I think; he loved it.
"This is quite good," Lena was smiling as she ate her portion.
* * *
My fingers and toes were almost back to normal. I was only waiting for my nails to grow back. I hadn't tried to extend my claws as yet and since I didn't really need them, I didn't make the attempt. Merrill and I covered Vampire Law number eight later in his study. It involved what he called the Companion Vote.
"If a vampire wishes to take a human as a permanent companion and does not choose to turn them or the human does not wished to be turned, then they must petition the Council for approval," Merrill said. My legs were tucked under me in my chair. I only had socks on and Merrill didn't seem to mind.
"The Council has to approve it?" I asked. "How often does that happen?"
"Those women you saw at the annual meeting last year?" I nodded at his question. "At least a fourth of them are approved companions," Merrill informed me. "The vampires normally do not choose to attempt a turn on a female because the odds are very high that the turn will not be successful, as you know."
"Yeah. Lucky me," I grumped.
"As you say," he nodded. "Therefore, the records on the human, both female and male as the situation dictates, must be submitted to the Council by the requesting vampire. The Council has a subcommittee that reviews the records and makes a decision most often from those. If the Council approves, the vampire places compulsion on his companion not to reveal the race and for any other pertinent thing that might crop up."
"And if the Council does not approve?"
"As you may realize, requests are denied immediately should the human be famous or engaged in a high-profile position such as politician or film star. Those situations are only asking for trouble. There are other circumstances, which if present, will also result in a rejection. If the human has a criminal record, has too deep an involvement with close family who might discover the truth or is generally unsavory in character, those situations often require extensive investigation before a decision may be made. The full Council must vote on those."
"Wow," I said. "How often do these requests come in?"
"Wlodek says he gets an average of three per month. You must realize that some vampires change their companions often. Others keep companions for their entire life span and even provide for them if they become ill or disabled. It depends upon the vampire, just as it depends upon the human."
"And if the companion is not approved? I'm assuming that in some cases the human already knows what the vampire is?"
"In most instances," Merrill nodded. "Therefore, the human's memory must be altered with compulsion and the vampire is forced to let them go."
"Sounds like trouble brewing if the vampire truly cares about the human." I was watching Merrill's face and wondered yet again about the photograph I'd seen on his bedside table. I wasn't going to ask. Uh-uh. No way.
"Yes. Definite trouble at times. If the vampire refuses to give the human up, then they are both declared rogue and someone is sent to eliminate them."
"Oh, good grief," I muttered. "They're killed just because they love somebody?"
"The race must be protected. That is a higher law and much more important as a whole. Now, Wlodek and I have been wondering for a while just how it is that you know Anthony Hancock. We decided only two years ago that we would participate in his little experiment when he wished to form a special division within the FBI. Wlodek also monitors this closely and receives regular reports from the vampires who are employed there. I'm sure Mr. Hancock is aware that this happens and has not discouraged it. Weldon Harper also receives reports, I'm sure. In fact, Hancock notified Wlodek through channels of the attempt in New Mexico. We received certain information from him that was quite helpful. Weldon Harper was also notified and had people on standby as well. Then there you were, Lissa. You were kept ignorant purposely because of your youth and the potential volatility of the situation, yet there you came, leaping right in the middle of things."