BH Fanfic: And Then What? Ch 21-25 (rated 18+)

[Melissa Kane]

And Then What? Chapter Twenty-One

Annie held onto one of the small boy's hands as they walked along the dirt path beside the road heading back to the car. Aleks trotted along happily, watching Annie with mute fascination. For her part, Annie was just as interested. She could tell the child was a werewolf but he seemed untroubled by the condition. A little way behind, but well within earshot, Mitchell and George walked side by side. “So where were you?”

“It was like a warehouse... it was called, um, Kenyon's or something I think. I'm almost sure that's the name. We, we, we've been running for days so I'm not sure where... I, I don't know exactly where we were being kept.” He looked at Mitchell then at Annie who was looking over her shoulder. His pink tongue licked his lips quickly as he suddenly twitched and looked behind microseconds before a car started up somewhere, unseen. Mitchell put a hand flat on George's back. His friend was seriously on edge and from the little they could guess as to what he and the boy had been through, he wasn't overly surprised.

“Hey, its just a car.”

“I know.” George replied emphatically then let out a frustrated rush of air. “I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Thought it might be... be their car.” His voice faded as he tailed off his sentence.

“Their car?” Annie asked.

“Yellow.” Aleks replied before George could speak, showing that little ears were listening and a clever little mind was understanding what was said, although the child was still watching Annie's every move with a keen curiosity.

“That's right, a yellow car. Its all rusty. They've been hunting for us. We saw Li in it today. He's been hunting us since we escaped.”

Mitchell prompted. “Who had you? Do you know? Who's this Lee guy?”

George had stopped in his tracks. “Annie, would would you mind looking after Aleks for a few minutes? Please?” He asked with a little sideways glance at Mitchell to hint that they had something to discuss that wasn't for Aleks to know. She desperately wanted to be a part of the discussion, wanting answers as much as anyone, but she understood that George was trying to protect the child. When they got home she'd get the boys to fill her in on the details.

Tugging on Aleks' hand, she beamed at the boy. “Now then, how about you an me play a little game.” Aleks looked up at her, his eyes bright and interested but he tore his gaze from the ghost beside him to look over his shoulder. George winked at the child who did his best to wink back, though he managed a prolonged blink instead which made George grin fondly. “Okay Alex, we have to walk without disturbing any stones or stepping on any cracks. Can you do that?” the ghost and the werewolf cub set off, Aleks jumping erratically left and right to avoid the stones of the dirt track nimbly while still holding Annie's hand. She chattered along, encouraging the child. It couldn't fail to strike both Mitchell and George how good a mother she would have made if Owen hadn't put an end to her life.

As the others got out of earshot, and a car drove past with a mechanical whoosh, George regarded Mitchell soberly. “They were vampires...” He held up a hand as Mitchell began to open his mouth to say something. “They, they aren't normal vampires, Mitchell.” He leaned forward and lowered his voice, as if telling a secret. “They smelt different and acted really strangely. And they didn't hurt us – they fed us and stuff. They just... stored us.”

“Stored you?”

There was a slight tremor in George's voice. “Like it was a zoo or something. Werewolves from all over Europe. One, one of the vampires is called Crowley. He's a doctor, he said he's there to look after us and make sure we're in perfect condition.” He shivered as the shake of his voice was accompanied by the tremble of his hands. “Why would vampires do that, Mitchell? What, what reason would they have?”

This chilled Mitchell. He could think of only one reason any vampire would keep a werewolf in peak physical condition. But he wasn't about to tell George about the cruel sport of werewolf baiting right now. “None that I can think of.”

George paused, processing his memories and so missing Mitchell's slight hesitation. In that moment, the two began walking again. “There are other werewolves there. There were about eight of us, but for the things the others said, there used to be more.”

“Eight? And you all escaped?”

George shook his head. “Only Tully, Aleks and I and two others broke out. Three stayed behind.”

“Tully?” This particular name came with some not-so-pleasant memories.

“He never made it out.” George replied softly, kicking at a piece of gravel and looking at the ground. “And I've no idea where the other two are.”

Mitchell, in spite of everything, could understand the remorse George obviously felt. Tully wasn't a nice guy but he had done a couple of good things for George, not least getting him to accept what he was enough to... but he wasn't going there either. “I'm sorry.”

George opted for a falsely hopeful tone. “I don't think they'll kill him.”

“No, possibly not.” Mitchell commented distractedly.

From quite a way ahead, near to the car, a child's giggle drifted back. George watched Annie scooping Aleks up and sitting him on a low wall to tie his shoe laces. A weak smile graced his face. “Puts it in perspective, doesn't it?” At mitchells questioning glance, he continued. “At least most of the rest of us had a life before this but him - its all he's ever known.”

“He's scared of me.” Mitchell observed with a troubled expression. “It might be something to do with those vampires who had you locked up. Bad associations, y'know?”

“Yeah. Maybe.” George was subdued. “Will he...? I mean you don't mind him staying at home until I can find his parents, do you?”

Mitchell smiled. “Of course not. Plus, I think he and Annie will get on like a house on fire.” George returned the smile, feeling a little more hopeful and safe again.

“I can't wait to get back.” He added as they drew level with Annie and Aleks, whose shoelaces were tied up once more. “How's my little soldier?” George asked as Aleks looked and jumped down to the ground. He gave two thumbs up which George mirrored. “Good man. Did you win?”

“He beat me fair and square, didn't you?” Annie chimed in.

Aleks was grinning widely. “Annie's fun.” He said, moving to her side, the one furthest from Mitchell, and taking her hand in his own. He toyed with the large opal ring on her wedding finger with the intensity only a child can master. George let out an amused huff of air as the odd quartet moved on, Annie and Aleks now bringing up the rear as they continued their game.

“He'll get used to you.” George commented, noticing the odd look on Mitchell's face. “He's just, well, he's been through a lot.”

“You both have.” Mitchell added, withdrawing the car keys from his pocket. “But it's behind you now.”

“Yes, it is.” A new voice joined the conversation. “Right behind you.” Li appeared over George's right shoulder and the vampire snaked an arm around George's upper arms in an embrace that was, to all intents and purposes, friendly. But the tight squeeze he gave made George wince while his terrified eyes met Mitchell's. “Its so nice to be able to catch up with you after so long. How clever of you not to run when you could. How... helpful.” Li, resplendent in large black-tinted sunglasses, leaned in closer with his lips close to George's ear. “I know someone who'll be, shall I say 'over the moon' to see you again.” George shuddered, breathing erratically as the hand holding his upper arm gripped that little bit tighter.

“Who are you?” Mitchell demanded, leaving the keys in the unlocked door as he moved closer.

“Nuh ah! You stay where you are.” Li twitched the fingers of the hand around George's arms and revealed a small dart nestling between them against his palm. Mitchell recognised it as being similar to one of the ones he'd found in the hospital. “ Ah, so you know what it is. This one here has a dose of silver aconite large enough to drop an adult male lyco in, oh, about ten seconds. But its far too strong for them to cope with in human form. Could be fatal, in some cases.”

Mitchell hesitated then stood still near the bonnet of the car, the wind rising to tousle the ends of his hair. Li smiled slowly, revealing his perfect white teeth. “Oh, your friend catches on quickly, doesn't he?” The Japanese vampire stage-whispered to George who was standing stock still, like a rabbit in the headlights. “Good for him. And for you." Li continued with a broader, sickening smile. "I'll be taking back these two little runaways now.”

Without warning, the car doors sprang open on their own, startling Mitchell but also putting Li off. He let his grip around George loosen. “Oh no you won't. Leave them alone!” Li was dragged away but some invisible force. It felt like he was being picked up by two large hands as he sailed backwards against the rock which shielded the parking spaces here. He landed in an immobile heap on the ground behind the barriers.

“Get in!” Mitchell shouted as he wrenched the keys from the door and got inside the Volvo, fumbling for the ignition. They had to get out of here quickly.

Aleks darted out from behind some overhanging bushes, bypassing Annie to run straight to George who picked him up. As he slung the back seat forward and helped the little boy inside, George began to feel a little light headed. Annie got in the back and pulled the seat into place, getting Aleks all buckled in as George dropped into the front. He had the door barely shut before Mitchell had set off, leaving him to fumble with the seat belt while on the move. Mitchell reversed onto the road just as Li began to groggily stir and get to his feet. He was halfway up when Mitchell slammed the sturdy car into first gear and hit the accelerator. The car park and vampire were left in their dusty wake.

George let his head drop back against the headrest of the seat and closed his eyes. They'd be home, back in Bristol in the pink house on the corner before the sun set and this whole thing would be over. He could hear Annie keeping Aleks entertained in the back, Annie chattering away and Aleks replying with the basic English words he could pronounce. The air in the car was set to warm, the slow rocking motion and hum of the wheels beneath them on tarmac relaxing him, lulling him into a half-drowse.

“George?”

“Hmm?”

“You're bleeding.” Mitchell commented softly. George opened one eye. Mitchell was now back watching the road but kept glancing over.

“Bleeding?” He questioned, liking the floaty sensation he was getting right now and reluctant to give that up for a little bit of blood. “Ugh, it'll be fine.” He flapped a hand dismissively and shut his eye again.

“How do you feel?” Mitchell persisted.

George's head felt heavy, heavier than even his eyelids. Remembering that sensation jerked him awake. “Knackered.” He admitted turning his heavy head toward Mitchell. As he did, he caught sight of the thin line of blood across the upper part of his right arm. He probed his torn sleeve with his fingertips and found a minute scratch that was nonetheless letting out quite a bit of blood. It was tingling, bordering on being itchy. He pressed his fingers to it and yawned widely.

In a vain attempt to stay awake, George looked at the road ahead. The black tarmacadam was tree lined and beautiful but was now becoming more urban. Houses became more frequent along their route. He couldn't read the road signs but the coloured houses were pretty. Everything was looking shiny. After what might have been more than ten minutes, George let go of the scratch on his arm. It was barely oozing now so he left it alone. He rested his head back again.

It wasn't too long after that Mitchell slowed to a stop at a set of lights at one of those small crossroads junctions. Ahead was an ambulance, its lights and sirens – the so-called “blues and twos” - silenced. At some point, both George and Aleks had fallen asleep, heads lolling with the vibration of the engine. Annie turned around to look behind. There was a white car there driven by a woman who was flicking at her hair while looking in the rear view mirror. Turning to the front again, however, Annie jolted with surprise. “Mitchell, what's the number on the back of that ambulance?” She asked in a hushed voice so as not to wake the werewolves.

“356” Mitchell replied. “Why?”

Annie was staring. “That's the ambulance that Clive was in when he died...” She said as the ambulance's rear doors opened.

[Melissa Kane]

And Then What? Chapter Twenty-Two

Two paramedics got out of the rear of the ambulance. That was odd for starters. They were usually a crew of two and when not on a shout, both rode up front. Mitchell gripped the steering wheel, feeling less and less happy with the situation as the seconds ticked by. Behind him, Aleks squeaked as he came awake suddenly. The youngster looked around himself in a panicky fashion until he spotted George dozing in the front seat. The sight seemed to calm him almost instantly and he then looked at Annie with those wide, dark eyes which suddenly grew larger as his gaze flicked past her. “Nyetnyetnyetnyetnyet.” He repeated, clamping his hands over his ears and closing his eyes and shaking his head as he twisted out of his seatbelt and forced himself against the side of the car.

Annie turned and let out a cry of surprise. On the other side of the glass, Li stood with his nose only an inch from the window with the grimmest of smiles. The vampire looked to be livid behind those cracked sunglasses of his. His gaze bypassed the ghost nearest to him and locked coldly on Aleks.

In the drivers seat, Mitchell had problems of his own. Right now, he was holding onto his door as one of the medics, a tall man with short red hair, tried his best to rip it open. As it stood, the door opened a crack under the superior strength of the other man... almost certainly a vampire. The other paramedic, this one a stocky young Asian man who was presumably also a vampire, appeared at the passenger door and pulled at the handle. It wouldn't budge and in amongst his viciously active thoughts, Mitchell was grateful for George being so d**ned nervous that he'd locked the door when he got in the car. Sadly, the gratitude was short lived. Li moved from the back of the car and pulling the sleeve of his jacket down, he shattered the window with his fist before both vampires crowded forward. George jerked awake and peered curiously at the hand which groped around the inside of the door, searching for the handle.

Annie had moved to the centre between the seats and was stretching across, trying to hold Mitchell's door with him. She was being hindered by the young werewolf who in his terror, had moved when she came into range and now clung to her desperately. “Just a minute, Aleks,” She gasped trying to reach around the trembling form which held onto her. “Annie's a little busy right now.”

“Hit him!” Mitchell cried out, dragging his own door back a little way. Beside him, George had not quite caught up with current events and was frowning a little confusedly. He shivered and yawned. “Today, George! Hit him or they'll take you back!”

Some of this information filtered through and George finally reacted. He jerked forward in his seat and gave the paramedic vampire a two handed shove away. The seat belt prevented him from getting enough momentum to push hard, but it was enough to make the vampire back off. But Li, uninjured from his punch, grabbed at George's wrists, managing to secure one in his hand and proceeded in squeezing it tightly. George let out a high scream of pain as Li twisted his own wrist, a cry which was made all the more piercing thanks to the confines of the car.

Annie let go of the drivers door and turned, her eyes momentarily glowing a vivid violet as she flicked her hand and the passenger door flew open. The impact of the metal door frame on his arm made Li let go of George who drew his hand back into the car with lightening speed though not fast enough to prevent catching his forearm on the passing jagged edge of glass from the broken window. The second paramedic vampire was quick to react. He leaned into the open door and grabbed hold of George by his shirt, dragging at him with such sudden force that the seatbelt locked and dug into his skin. By this time, however, the werewolf was fully awake and was fighting back, grasping at the uniform in front of him, George put every ounce of his available bodyweight into pulling backwards, his freshly bleeding shoulder bumping Mitchell solidly as he did so. There wasn't much in the way of space between the seats in the car. The paramedic vampire's forehead hit the frame of the car. It wasn't a particularly hard bump, however. Certainly not hard enough to stop him.

Mitchell, feeling the impact on his ribs let go of the door and reached around to grab onto George. It was at this point that a newly recovered Li got in on the act, leaning in to deliver a savage punch across George's face. A small amount of lyco blood flew and hit Mitchell in the face as his best friend slumped bonelessly against him. Seconds later, Mitchell doubled up in agony, groaning as his eyes turned black. That was a decisive moment in the confined little skirmish. The paramedic on the passenger side leaned in, released the seat belt and roughly dragged the limp George out. Annie, horrified by the sudden pain Mitchell was experiencing, missed in her desperate grab at George as he slid out of the door, bumping the back of his head on the seat as he dropped.

“Giorgi!!” Without warning, Aleks released his death grip on Annie and dove forward, trying to get to George. He was halfway between the front seats before Annie managed to catch onto him about the waist and drag him back. Aleks was kicking and writhing in her grip but she managed to keep hold of the boy.

Thinking fast, Annie willed the ambulance doors to close as they manhandled her friend toward them. Mitchell, meanwhile, had dimly been aware of what had gone on and now released his seat belt, almost falling out of the open driver's door as he tried to stand amid a savage coughing fit and a sudden weakness in all his muscles. There was fire in his gullet and stomach, every one of his senses had gotten clearer yet somehow dimmer. He had no idea what this meant except that the watery autumn sun was less fierce as he stumbled forward. The paramedic vampire grasped him from behind by the upper arms and shot a glance over at Li. “Do we take him, Mr Li?”

Li was undecided as he wrestled with the doors which Annie had closed. It occurred to him that this daring daylight capture would be considered much less than commendable in the Master's eyes, even if he did manage to bring back the troublesome wolf who caused all these recent problems. They had no time to lose, they had to get out of here. The kid was going to have to be left behind for now. Already the human in the white car was on her mobile phone, no doubt calling in the police and despite their best efforts, they'd have to leave with only one animal instead of both. Li really didn't need the vampire who caused all that trouble with the Bristol Coterie. “Leave him.” He commanded, finally getting the doors to open. The paramedic threw Mitchell onto the bonnet of his own car and grasped one of George's arms, the two vampires propelling him into the back of the ambulance to land in an ungainly heap on the floor. As they dived in the back, Li hastening to the front to sit in the passenger seat and completely abandoning his yellow Toyota which was behind the white car, George began to move.

Annie was still fighting with Aleks but just had time to see this before the doors slammed shut. The ambulance suddenly fired into life, the lights began to flash before being accompanied by a harsh whooping siren as the vehicle pulled forward. The traffic lights were on red but the lanes which crossed this road were clear. It pulled away quickly and without the squeal of tyres which were so common in chase films. This was a professional ambulance driver.

Mitchell recovered himself and half walked, half stumbled back to the car. He got into the driver's side as Aleks slowed his struggles. Annie let go of him and he immediately crawled into the foot well behind the driver's seat and huddled there, scared half to death with his arms wrapped around his legs. Annie stroked a hand over his head then urgently appeared in the passenger seat to slam the door closed. “Are you okay?”

“I feel a bit funny.” Mitchell admitted, slamming his door closed and realising the Volvo had stalled at some point. He twisted the key in the ignition and the engine coughed into life. Without further ado, and not even noticing as the light turned to amber, Mitchell headed off after the ambulance which was already a long way ahead and travelling faster than they could hope to. From the passenger side Annie moved to drape one arm around the back of Mitchell's seat. Her fingertips connected with Alek's knee and she felt small fingers grasp her own. She rubbed the fingers gently, soothingly.

Ahead, the ambulance turned off into a side street and Mitchell, finding himself full of strange and distracting new sensations, tried to make a note of the right one. Around here were several side streets clustered together so it was with relief that he found he had followed the correct one. The ambulance was a long way ahead but the road was straighter than Mitchell could have dreamed. Mitchell tried to concentrate but the drumming he could sense inside his body was driving him crazy. In all his years of death, he'd forgotten the sound and sensation of his own heart beat. Now it rose to meet him and, frankly, it was scaring the hell out of him. And he could feel the fresh, damp autumn air moving in and out of his lungs, the lungs that for so long now had only provided the movement of air needed to speak and smoke. He could feel the world around him in a way he'd not done for over a century.

“Which way?” Mitchell asked, noticing the ambulance had disappeared from view.

“Right at that roundabout.” Annie informed him, casting a concerned glance his way. He didn't seem right somehow. Mitchell followed the directions and ahead, with two cars between them now, was the ambulance. This road, with fields opening out on both sides and a scant few houses, seemed to stretch for miles in a wriggly but fairly straight line. One of the cars between them veered off down toward a lonely looking house. Mitchell, knowing he was speeding but too worried about losing George again to care, put his foot down, pressing the accelerator to the ground. The Volvo grumbled then picked up a little more speed along this mostly deserted road. He gained on the car in front, a dark BMW, and made a bold sideways move to overtake. An oncoming car made him skip back into lane quickly and earned him a vaguely triumphant sneer from the driver of the BMW. “Mitchell!” Annie screamed as all of a sudden the car in front clapped on the brakes, hard. The red lights filled their vision as the vehicle fishtailed momentarily before the driver got it under control. It was all Mitchell could do to stop his own car before they ploughed into the back of the now stationary German one – their car wound up mostly on the narrow grass verge beside the road.

Mitchell was out of the drivers seat in seconds. If they'd hurt George in any way, he'd forget his entire new way of living and hunt down every last one of the b*st*rds! Annie was right beside him, after assuring Aleks they'd be back in a second and he should stay there. As they passed the dark car, Mitchell saw that the man was no longer sneering but instead was a peculiar shade of ash grey as he sat frozen, staring at the road ahead. His wheels had almost touched the prone form on the floor. Ahead of them and pulling away into the distance, the ambulance sped off with one of the rear doors flapping wide open. Unable or unwilling to go closer, Annie stayed with the driver, trying to make sure he was okay. This kind of thing was a terrible shock. Mitchell, meanwhile, found that his new heart beat was thundering as he rounded the side of the car. Please, please don't let them have killed him. Not after everything that had happened. That would be so unfair.

Even though the body was lying face down on the road, Mitchell was certain already that this was not George. Dressed in the uniform of a paramedic, this was the red-haired vampire from the attack. Perversely proud that George had obviously been fighting back, Mitchell stooped near to the dead man turning him over slowly. The vampire's face was scraped and bloody and the uniform he wore was torn in several places. But at the touch, he moved of his own volition and fluttered his eyelashes against the sun. Mitchell glanced back at the BMW and saw that Annie had the human's attention. “Get up, now.” He hissed, dragging the weakened vampire up by the arm. The medic didn't protest. He seemed very much shaken up, in fact.

As they passed by the BMW, the medic limping, Annie whispered to the driver that everything was alright now and they'd get the man to a hospital. That said, she turned from the human, who was already recovering his wits, and helped get the vampire back to their own car. They manhandled the red head into the passenger seat. Behind the drivers seat, Aleks shuddered and cringed away. Annie kept watch while murmuring gentle, soothing words to the little boy as Mitchell popped the boot of the car open and went to extract the tow rope from inside. He and Annie passed the rope back and forth and bound the medic vampire tightly to the seat by both arms and legs. Annie then pulled the seatbelt snugly around his bound body and arms for good measure.

“Where are they taking him?” Mitchell asked, settling himself into the driver's seat and forgoing any kind of niceties. The red head stared at Mitchell in mute defiance. There was almost a thingyiness to his attitude which was distinctly out of proportion to the situation he found himself in. Mitchell repeated his question a little louder.

“I'm not scared. Your kind won't touch our kind.”

“My kind?” This was a new one on Mitchell.

“You're both vampires.” Annie observed sagely as she locked the passenger door, slammed it and then appeared in the back seat.

“We're not like your kind. We're better then you are.” Mitchell looked at Annie. “I know who you are. You're Mitchell. Herrick's man. You did all that stuff we heard about. The twins. The student in the fifties. Those girls. Everything. And all those werewolves. We know all about you. And then you turned on the Coterie and betrayed all the other vampires. Traitor! At least we don't betray our own.” He spat.

“Neither do I. And my own includes that particular werewolf so I'm only going to ask you once more before you find out just what I'm willing to do for my own.” Mitchell replied softly but with a dark and dangerous edge to the tone. The look on his face scared even Annie. “Where are they taking George?”

Red seemed to finally understand the depth of the trouble he was in. “S-South of Clevedon. There's a place, an old building works. They'll take him back there.”

Mitchell nodded. “Well done. Next question. How do we get there?”

Red's eyes were wide. “I don't know. I'm usually in the back.” He whined.

Annie made a tutting sound and leaned close to Red's ear. “Don't lie. Or I might have to turn you inside out with a thought.”

“And she would. She's been dying to try that move out for weeks.” Mitchell agreed wholeheartedly with only the barest hint of irony.

“Look, if I take you there, they'll kill me.” Red was panicking.

“And what is it you think we're going to do.” Annie added, rather enjoying the bad cop-bad cop routine. She was imagining saying this to Owen which gave conviction to her words. Her act would have been ruined, however, if the captive vampire had noticed her holding the hand of the little child behind the seat. But he didn't and so the illusion held and the scared vampire agreed to guide them.

[Melissa Kane]

And Then What? Chapter Twenty-Three

The building really didn't look much. It was a large, red brick construction, probably twenty years old spanning quite a substantial area. The building itself was encased on two sides by walls of chipboard sealing off a building site, with the other two sides being sealed by wire mesh fences. Even parked about quarter of a mile away, under some overhanging trees which made up part of a lonely little copse that ended quite close to the fence, the sheer size of the place was impressive. They could see that part of the mesh fence, the only part which passed within twenty feet if the end of the building, was flattened to the ground by some kind of collapse of the building materials in the yard which now lay in a tangled heap.

“This is the place. Kenyon's.” Mitchell was standing in front of the car, leaning against the bonnet. Annie was beside him, constantly glancing over her shoulder at their captive navigator. They were trying to not be overheard by their prisoner.

“How do you know?” Annie asked, squinting.

Mitchell lowered his sunglasses to the tip of his nose as he looked over at her. “I can see the writing on the wall.” He intoned with a half-smile. The two foot high letters, once painted in a vivid shade of orange but now faded to a vaguely dusty pink, were obvious to his keen eyesight.

“So, um, what do we do?” She asked, looking toward their destination and frowning.

It was Mitchell's turn to look over his shoulder at their captive. “We take a closer look.” He said, nodding in Red's direction. “You stay here with Aleks, okay?”

“No way! I'm coming with you.” Annie protested.

Mitchell shook his head as he passed her to go to the passenger side door with his keys. “Annie, someone needs to look after the kid and he's scared of me. If we're not back in half an hour, drive him back to Bristol.”

“I can't drive.” She pointed out in what should have been a reasonable tone but which just sounded desperate. As Mitchell got the door open he sighed and rooted in his pockets, pulling out his mobile phone. He threw it to Annie who caught it.

“There, if we're not back, phone a taxi and go back to the House.”

Annie folded her arms. “Mitchell, I'm not leaving you to face them alone. I care about George too. You're not going to be a martyr now just because you didn't get to be one before.” She was sounding a little angry.

“Its not about that.” He replied. “But George wouldn't have gone to the trouble of looking after this kid just to let him be taken back, would he?”

Red, whose actual name was Gareth - this had been ascertained during the ride here, was sitting bound in the passenger seat of the car, watching and listening with interest. At Mitchell's mention of the 'kid', he turned, following the pointing finger of the base vampire and was surprised to see a child huddling in the foot well behind the drivers seat. The ghost and the vampire were arguing over what they should do now and hadn't noticed the glance. Aaron faced front once more and smiled to himself, formulating a plan. Maybe he could turn this bad situation around after all.

Gareth remained docile and compliant as Mitchell unwrapped him then rebound him around the upper body tightly before removing the seat belt and dragging him out of the car on the end of his 'lead'.

*****

As he led the now gagged Gareth to the abandoned builders merchants, Mitchell mulled over what had happened. Eventually he and Annie came to an agreement to follow Mitchell's suggestion. If anything went wrong or they didn't come back before nightfall, Annie was to take Aleks, call a cab and get the hell out of there. Mitchell left some money on the dashboard of the car for just that purpose. But Annie made it perfectly clear that she'd get Aleks to a safe place – probably Nina's place perhaps - then come straight back. Mitchell hated that part of the plan but since he knew she would do it anyway, he acquiesced and fervently hoped it was an event which would never need to take place.

They'd traversed the quarter of a mile in no time and had circled the building to peer through a makeshift gate cut out of the chipboard walls. Peering through the crack near the hinges, Mitchell could see the ambulance parked up. “Is there another way in?” Mitchell asked. Gareth nodded and jerked his head indicating over Mitchell's shoulder.

All things considered, Mitchell really didn't like having to trust a man he'd practically abducted but that was just how things had worked out. So far all seemed quiet, though. He urged the red-headed vampire to lead the way with a well placed shove to the shoulder. They rounded the side of the wooden wall and followed another one. To their left was a wide stretch of rough, muddy ground which led into a grass verge, up through a fence and on into a flat green field. Cows meandered aimlessly with their heads down at the far end of the enclosure. A lone, plaintive lowing drifted through the air.

Gareth stopped abruptly and half turned as Mitchell drew alongside him. “In there?” Mitchell asked, pointing at the gap between the chipboard wall and the wire mesh fence which would have belonged to the builders merchants originally. Gareth nodded then raised his thick red eyebrows. Still holding the rope in one fist, Mitchell peered suspiciously through the space. All he could see was the corner of the building and an expanse of featureless wall. He turned back. “Is this some kind of joke?”

Realising he was unlikely to receive an answer as things stood, Mitchell hooked a finger through the gag and pulled it down. Gareth licked his lips and exercised his jaw for a second. “So where's this way in?” Mitchell asked, low and menacing as he snatched the rope toward him and bringing them face to face.

“The staff entrance is around that corner.” Gareth whispered, inches from Mitchell. Green eyes met Mitchell's dark ones. He opened his mouth to speak some more but Mitchell dragged the gag back into place.

“You first, Gary.” He whispered as he turned the other vampire toward the split in the barrier.

*****

George winced as he stumbled forward across the garage area of the warehouse, propelled by the Indian-looking man who was dressed like a paramedic. The ambulance had rumbled away some time ago and George remembered hearing the squeal of a metal-slatted door rolling down behind them. Then he had been just made to stand still as the world swayed around him and Li had disappeared somewhere. If he'd had any energy left, he would have tried to run for it again. But right now his feet were leaden and his head, though aching, was immensely light making the act of even thinking akin to plaiting smoke. Li reappeared. “Bring him, Amrit.”

As Amrit placed both hands on George's shoulders and guided him forward into a darker part of the garage at the back, the werewolf recalled fighting and kicking out. He knew that was where his got the ache in his jaw from at any rate. He glanced down as his feet connected with each other. He noticed the blood on his knuckles, though at this point his wrists were tied together with insulated wire so he'd not be fighting any more. The Indian vampire changed his grip and roughly grabbed his upper arm at which George scowled. His arms hurt. For that matter, so did his back and neck. The vampire steered him toward a small door in a twisty little corner which was so well camouflaged that you'd miss it unless you knew about it. He was led up a flight of stairs and along a corridor past another series of nondescript doors similar to those he had encountered during their escape. Li stopped before one then knocked twice and opened it. The inside was mercifully dark and so nice and warm that George shivered violently. Li closed the door as Amrit, keeping a tight hold of George's arm, led him to the centre of the room. George, even in his disorientation, he noticed the darkened windows which filled one entire wall.

“And here he is.” An older man, white haired and strong featured, sat behind a desk from which he rose and approached swiftly. The almost plummy English accent suited the face and posture well. “Mr... Sands, is it not?” He imparted the barest trace of a Scottish twang. George nodded slowly, transfixed by this man. “May I call you George?”

“Probably best, since its my name.” George replied drolly.

The man smiled. “Indeed. Well, George, I am Richard.” He glanced down. “I would shake your hand but... Mr Li. Release him.” Li bowed and moved forward, untwisting the wire from around George's wrists then retiring immediately back to his original spot. Richard drew closer and got hold of George's jaw in one deceptively strong hand. He tilted the werewolf's face to one side and unable to help himself, George let out a whimper. Richard's expression darkened. “Li, fetch Crowley. Right now!”

“Of course, Master.” Li bowed once then left the room, leaving the door slightly ajar and allowing a shaft of light inside. No-one saw the narrowing of his eyes or the barest trace of resentment on his face.

Richard indicated with one finger and no verbal commands for Amrit to fetch a chair then retire to the side of the room. “Please. Sit. You and I need to talk.” He indicated the plastic chair that had materialised and seeing no alternative, George sat down.

“I've sent for our doctor. He'll take care of these wounds of yours. You have nothing to be afraid of.” Richard began, running a hand over George's shoulder as he circled the chair. “You sustained a good many injuries while you were away from us.” He observed gently.

George couldn't help his stressed reply. “I'd have had a lot less if it weren't for him.”

“Him?” This was as the man stopped in front of him once more.

George looked up. “Li.”

“I see.” Richard was quiet for a moment. When he resumed, it was with a change of tone. “Now then. I've been made aware that this escape was your doing. Is this true?” He asked as he loomed over George.

“Yes.” Only now did he manage to break eye contact. “It didn't help, though, did it?”

Richard raised the werewolf's chin with a hand. “No. Thought I don't see what is so bad here that you should want to be out there among all that danger.” He replied.

George looked up and frowned but his reply never made it to the air. In the corridor outside there was a sudden rise of noise. Unintelligible shouts and rushing footsteps echoed and above all the cries came a voice which simultaneously raised George's spirits and scared him. Things quietened down gradually and George strained to hear something. Anything.

The door was thrown open and Li manhandled a figure inside. “I'm sorry to interrupt Master, but I just discovered an intruder.”

Mitchell was thrown forward and stumbled forward several large strides before coming to a kneeling stop beside the chair in which George sat. In the doorway, Crowley was unwinding the rope from around Gareth and Mitchell, relieved to find his friend safe, squeezed George's hand. It felt deathly cold in his own chilly grip.

Far from angry with this interruption, Richard was smiling benignly. “Thankyou Mr Li. Come inside everyone. Mr Crowley, close the door, would you please?”

“Yes, Mr Turner.”

“Turner?” Mitchell repeated as he reached out and

“Richard Turner.” He smiled a little more widely. “I see you've heard of me.”

Mitchell remained on his knees and seemed awestruck. “Who hasn't?”

“Me, apparently.” George interjected as he looked between the two.

Richard laughed, a rich and somehow soothing sound. “Of course you haven't.” The laugh died on his lips as he now regarded Mitchell and his attention and demeanour altered. “But you have been making quite a name for yourself too, child. Stand up.” Mitchell did so with the stunned expression remaining on his face. “We know all about you and your... acts.” He was obviously not pleased.

[Melissa Kane]

And Then What? Chapter Twenty-Four

In a word, Mitchell was dumbfounded. Awestruck. This wasn't something he had ever expected to be again after a century of living, but here he was, staring, open-mouthed and nigh on speechless. It was really him, Richard Turner, the vampire who had begun the trend of living as a human to blend in was standing there, standing as large as life before him. It was rumoured that he had died years ago but now... well, here he was. He knew of him and was displeased. Given the extreme age that he could sense from this man, Mitchell was a little nervous. His left hand was tingling with his apprehension.

“What acts?” George questioned.

“Mr Sands, are you not aware of the bloody swath your friend has cut through supernatural-history?” Turner gave a sly look across at Mitchell. “If you have not been told then perhaps that is wisdom he should impart himself. Maybe then you will see the kind of man he really is.”

George raised his chin, blue eyes drawn to Mitchell as he spoke. “I know the kind of man he is now and that's all that matters to me.” Mitchell looked down at his seated friend gratefully and they almost smiled at each other. The next words from the ancient vampire, however, chilled Mitchell to his newly warmed core.

Turner seemed almost impressed. “Mr Mitchell, such devotion from a werewolf to a vampire is rare. However, that devotion has him blinkered. Perhaps we will allow him to see the full story very soon. See how loyal he remains.” Not waiting for a reply, Turner spoke over his shoulder, all the while staring at Mitchell fixedly. “Mr Jackson, would you care to explain why this notorious traitor and murderer is on my territory?”

“They had the little one, sir. I led them here so we could more easily apprehend the child.” Gareth reported with several nervous coughs. George shot an urgent, surprised look at Mitchell, but the other man was far too distracted, now, to notice.

Still without a glance in the younger vampire's direction, Turner spoke again. “I see.” He raised an eyebrow and only then deigned to regard Gareth. “And now let us have the truth. For a vampire of your age, you are an appalling liar. Begin at the beginning. Always a good place, don't you agree?” He added with a half smile on George's direction.

Gareth swallowed and despite his state of death, his cheeks actually had the grace to flush, growing slightly less pale as he stammered his way through to the truth. “The wolf... it, um he assaulted me. Threw me from the ambulance, Sir, and, and M-mister Mitchell took me to his car, told me he would kill me and threatened to have his ghost turn me inside out if I didn't lead them here.”

“Hey!” Mitchell protested, finding his voice. “She came up with that all on her own. And we weren't going to just leave him.” George was looking up, regarding his friend slightly open mouthed. As he looked away, he allowed himself a shy smile. They'd done that just for him? He was touched.

“And how did you get him into the ambulance, Mr Jackson?” Turner asked this deliberately slowly.

“Mr Li almost got them in the village but they escaped. That ghost, Sir, she-she threw Li against the wall. S'right Mr Li sir, isn't it?” He petitioned Li to speak up for him but the other man remained stonily silent. Perturbed, Gareth carried on. “Duncan, Amrit and I trapped them at the traffic lights, Sir. Mr Li was behind, in-in his car and between us we snatched him from their car.” Gareth pointed at George who was nodding.

“So, George was defending himself against his perceived attackers. Do continue. This child and his dead friend threatened to kill you. And what of the boy?”

“H-he was in the back seat, Master. We left the ghost and the, the b-boy parked on the road to town, about half a mile from here Sir.” Gareth was still nervous but was getting his confidence back, though always keeping his eyes slightly averted. Having been under that scrutiny for only a few seconds, Mitchell found himself sympathising, in a manner of speaking.

Turner actually now turned his body to face the vampire. “Now, put me straight if I have this wrong but you are admitting to me that you led a well known sociopathic, cheating, disgusting murderer here, to our refuge where he might well pose a danger to us all in order to save your own skin. Would that be a fair assessment?” Mitchell was seething at the description of himself but bit his tongue and actually considered feeling sorry for Gareth, whose unnatural colour drained in seconds.

The convulsive swallowing from Gareth was quite satisfying to witness. “Uh... Sir... but, but, the child. I, I brought, I brought you the child... you, you, you wanted him, right?”

Turner sighed. “But not at the possible expense of losing the entire colony, you mindless buffoon!” He snapped. It was the first time of hearing him lose his cool. “Mr Hussain, take Jackson to room seven and place him under guard until I get there.”

Amrit, who had thus far been standing in innocuous silence by the wall gave a barely audible “Yes Sir” and took a firm grip on Gareth's upper arm. He bowed his head as he passed Turner, opening the door and thrusting Gareth out into the bright corridor beyond.

“Room... seven? Sir, please... Amrit, don't do this. Ple-” The begging was cut off as Li hastily closed the door behind them leaving a vacuum of tense, uncomfortable silence behind.

“What are you going to do to him?” The meek voice which spoke was George's. Mitchell closed his eyes, willing his friend to be quiet.

Turner, glanced at Li expressionlessly then turned, altogether more animated, to give George another indulgent smile. It sort of made him feel like he was being kept sweet for some reason – like the fussing a turkey might get right before Yuletide. And that analogy wasn't making him feel much better. “Its an internal matter. Nothing for you to have to worry about. I'm just sorry you had to see that.” Somehow, this thoroughly respectful reply didn't sit well at all. But he sensed that now was not the time to ask any more questions like that. “Now then, Crowley will see to those wounds of yours. You're bleeding.”

Everyone in the room except George had been well aware of the bleeding . The air was almost ringing with the scent. But George raised his arms and looked himself over curiously. His left forearm was dripping languidly. His pants leg and some of the floor were red spotted. “Oh...” He murmured. Crowley was crouched in front of him in an instant, moving with the speed of an old and practiced vampire so that even Mitchell had a hard time keeping him in view. So to have Crowley practically materialise in front of him with a battered leather doctors bag was startling for George who leaned back in his chair with a cry. The vampire uttered a low apology.

Beside him, Mitchell flexed the fingers of his left hand as Turner chided his physician for his over-attentiveness. “Problem, Mr Mitchell?”

Mitchell stopped. “No problem. Uh, Sir.”

“Don't touch me!” George squealed, pulling his arm from Crowley's grasp as the vampire tried to turn it over to look at the injury.

“I'm trying to help. You need to come to my office so I can clean all these up.” Crowley explained in his strong Irish dialect. “Maybe get you a shower.”

“Leave me alone! I'd never, I-I'd rather bleed to death than come to you for any help. I remember last time I was in your office.”

At this, Mitchell tensed and moved closer. What had they done to George? Crowley cast a “what should I do?” look at his Master. “George, Crowley will tend to you here if that will make you feel safer.”

George said nothing, but did not protest when Crowley examined and cleaned the wounds – the quite deep but short cut to his forearm, the bruising peeking put from beneath the left side of his beard, the various and numerous shallow scrapes from thorn bushes. It hurt, though not because Crowley was anything less than gentle. The truth was, after spending weeks constantly feeling cold, now spending a prolonged amount of time in a warm place – being in the car earlier didn't count because the heater took an age to get warm – meant that the feeling was coming back and every nerve ending was screaming as it came back to life. The doctor vampire got out that nifty little penlight and shone the beam into George's eyes. He recoiled. “Mild dose of Silver aconitum. Are you feeling headachy or nauseous, tired maybe?”

“And the rest.” George conceded shortly. Mitchell watched the examination, ready to jump in and defend George is he had to, even though he wasn't feeling too good himself.

Crowley touched the bruise on the side of George's face making the werewolf yelp softly. “Who did that to you?” He asked tenderly.

Before George could answer, Li stepped in. “This one did it, Master.” The oriental man pointed at Mitchell. “I saw it, sir.”

“You saw sh*t. You hit him trying to get him out of the car. He was fighting you off so you resorted to knocking him unconscious.” Turner looked from one to the other. Mitchell was breathing hard, angry though realising that he wasn't helping offset the reputation he obviously had garnered.

“George? Is this true?”

“Li got frustrated and punched me. He's also the one who cut my arm – broke the window to get at me. And he injected me with something.”

“The punch was payback for you dropping a tree on me.” Li snapped before pausing, realising he'd showed himself to be a liar too. Given the intolerant mood Turner appeared to be in this evening, that had clearly been a bad move.

Surprisingly, George laughed. It wasn't a particularly forceful laugh, however. “Lightening hits a tree, breaks off a branch that hits you and that's my fault?”

“You did it – I don't know how but it was too much of a coincidence.”

“God was protecting us.” The entire population of the room, barring Mitchell who was rendered immune thanks to George's protection, flinched as he spoke. Crowley fell back onto his bottom from his crouching position. George quirked an eyebrow and filed that information away under “useful things to know” in his mental library. His earlier idea was showing potential.

“That's enough! Mr Li, kindly take three of your men and do a thorough sweep of the perimeter. See if young Jackson's story is true. If the child is there, bring him back. The girl will not be able to do anything against three of you. Even if she is a poltergeist as she appears, she can still only concentrate on a single attack at once.”

Li opened his mouth to protest then obviously thought better of it. He left without another word, without even a deferential bow.

“Now then. Until your friends get here, I feel its time we had a small talk about the past.”

“I know what you're doing here.” Mitchell interrupted with an air of desperation. “George told me you were keeping them in good health.”

“Trying to. They've not got the first idea.” George added coldly.

“I only know of one reason why you'd do that.” Mitchell continued, wiping a thin glaze of sweat from his brow. “You're baiting, aren't you? Get the maximum pleasure out of it by keeping them in good shape?”

George squealed but was not unduly alarmed by Mitchell's words, mainly because he didn't understand the implications. Mostly he was too distracted by Crowley who was back in business. He had his famous iodine solution out and, using a roll of cotton wool, rubbed it into the various cuts and scrapes he could find. “Its not dat.” Crowley murmured with a hint of annoyance strengthening his accent. “Never dat!”

“No, Mr Mitchell, you are quite wrong.” Turner intoned, placing a hand on Mitchell's shoulder, almost companionably, before drawing it off slowly. Mitchell was breathing heavily, almost gasping, as Turner turned away.

“Are you alright?” George asked between squeaks and hisses of pain. “Will you stop?!” He suddenly demanded of Crowley.

“I'm fine.” This was said through gritted teeth.

“No, you are quite wrong. This is nothing to do with that barbaric trend with which you are so familiar. The werewolves here are to be protected from such a monstrous fate.” The ancient vampire still had his back turned.

Mitchell closed his eyes, sweating more profusely now. Abruptly, he clutched both hands to his chest and groaned. “Mitchell!” George cried, nearly kicking Crowley from in front of him as he got to his feet, catching Mitchell about the body as he began to sink to the ground. A sudden dizziness caused both of them to land on the floor, Mitchell half supported by George whose legs were curled uncomfortably beneath him. Mitchell was alternately gasping and groaning as George repeated his name over and over. The vampire could literally feel his heart and lungs shuddering to a halt, he could feel the life draining out of him. He was dying all over again, and not descending into the pleasant darkness as he had in 1917 when he first met Herrick. It hurt so much! He was so scared and clutched a weak fist at the already torn shirt George wore. “What have you done to him?!” George screamed, clutching Mitchell tighter to him and shakily trying to soothe back his by now wet hair.

“Not me, son. You.” Mitchell heard Turner reply before that welcome darkness and painlessness finally stole over him.

[Melissa Kane]

And Then What? Chapter Twenty-Five

Annie tilted her head to one side. The sun was dipping low in the sky now and a cool breeze was wafting the trees above the car. She couldn't really feel any of this, but she was engaged in imagining that she could. Mitchell was long overdue in coming back. She didn't know exactly how much time had passed but it had to be more than half an hour. Everything seemed quiet on the building site front and that was unnerving her more than if the place was in uproar and a hive of activity right now. “I knew I shouldn't have let him go alone.” She felt a tug on her cardigan sleeve which broke her fretting. Looking down, she found Aleks, last seen dozing behind the driver's seat, gazing up at her imploringly and holding himself, bouncing on his toes. He said something in Russian, the last word sounded like “tyanet” or something.

“Ohhh, you need a wee, eh?” She enquired in the fond, cooing tone of a parent. Aleks actually stopped to consider this, probably not quite sure what she meant. “Toilet?” She tried again, realising there was going to be a problem with this language barrier and instead holding out her hand which Aleks took. “Come on. Its not something we do in public.” She led him far enough into the copse so as not to be seen from the road should someone pass. “There we go, that should be far enough.” She was about to accompany him when Aleks made an odd negative noise, shook his head and scampered off behind a tree. “Oh, of course. You can do that all by yourself, can't you?” Annie grinned, peeping around it.

“Yep.” He chirped and shooed her away with a flap of his small hands. Annie giggled and turned her back. He really was a sweet and bright kid. She was looking around, listening to the birds twittering in the trees when a new sound came to her. Rapid footsteps on the road.

She dived behind the same tree as Aleks who squeaked in alarm and hurriedly finished off. He began to protest verbally when Annie crouched and shushed him. The change from relaxed, almost happy child to an alert, hunted being was instant and that in itself was terrifying for Annie to witness. What had he and George had to go through that could make a kid so... well, so like this? He huddled close to Annie who put an arm around his shoulders. She leaned to look around the tree. From here, she could see the car and the figure, a woman, standing beside it, peering in through the window while shading her already sunglasses-clad eyes from the light.

The woman, a comely looking Jamaican lady with ribbons in her hair, gave a fang-filled grin as she stood up, looking left and right, up and down the road. Subtly, she tried the handle of the passenger door. It opened and Annie cursed herself for not locking up – then again, the window was smashed so locking wouldn't do a whole lot of good. But she wasn't about to let someone steal the car! “Aleks, stay here. Okay? And be quiet.” The little boy kept a tight hold of her cardigan as she moved, arresting her escape. “Aleks...” He shook his head and pulled her back down. She frowned and crouched back down. She looked around the tree again. The woman was half in and half out of the car. She withdrew after a few moments and looked down the road, toward the works. She raised an arm, looking like she was signalling to someone then two more people appeared, a large man she didn't recognise and a smaller one that she did. This second man was the one who tried to kidnap George back in the village. The three gathered around the car and the large man, the one Annie didn't recognise, ducked inside the car again. The kidnapper was shaking his head and made a broad, expansive gesture with his arms before pointing back at the building. He cast both hands at the car dismissively and the three moved away with a determined and purposeful step.

Annie waited for several minutes, making sure they had really gone, before she and Aleks moved forward. Slowly they came to the edge of the small stand of trees in which they'd hidden and Annie looked out. The road was clear in both directions. “If they were looking for us, they didn;t try very hard, did they?” She asked, swinging Aleks' hand in her own. Even so, he seemed reluctant to move out completely out into the open and given what had happened, she couldn't blame the poor little tyke. She was feeling a little shaken herself at their near discovery. From here Annie could see the interior of the car, lit a little more thanks to the open passenger door. She pressed her lips together then let out a frustrated sigh. Both the car keys and the taxi money were gone from the dashboard.

The light was disappearing fast as Annie wavered between working out how to do as Mitchell wanted and setting out to do the right thing. “Well then, we can't get home with no money so we'll have to try something else, won't we, eh? Any ideas?” Looking down, she saw that Aleks was no longer paying her any attention. Instead he was craning his neck to stare around her toward the horizon. Turning, she could see what had him transfixed - a pure white sliver of moon was creeping up from behind the flatness of the farmland which stretched out before them up to the edge of the road. The moon was getting quite big, Annie noted. Not full, not yet, but there couldn't be too many days left before it was. Aleks shivered with a worried expression and turned his bright gaze to her. She could have sworn she saw the moon reflected in those big eyes.

*****

George cradled Mitchell's head on his lap, sitting with his back against the wall with one arm resting on Mitchell's uppermost shoulder. They'd been here for ages, an hour or more at least. He was regularly checking for signs of movement and any signs of, well, life. Though, honestly, he had no idea what he was actually looking for. Vampires were just naturally dead so it wasn't like he could feel for a pulse or anything. He had an idea that there might be some pupillary reaction to light but George couldn't see any change when he tried opening Mitchell's eyes. He rested his head back against the wall. He really wasn't feeling well at all and this wasn't helped by a crushing guilt.

Back in Turner's office, the vampires had moved in as George laid Mitchell down and without thinking he'd gotten energy from somewhere and lashed out, punching Crowley in the face. It was a solid connection though he did no real damage at all to the vampire. His own hand, however, was throbbing dully. After that, Turner had diplomatically decided George needed a cooling off period as he called it before reintroducing the werewolf to the rest of the population, though George didn't realise at the time he'd actually meant the term literally. Crowley had attempted to make their captive werewolf come with him but no way was he going to leave Mitchell behind so he prepared to stand and fight. At this, Turner relented and suggested, reasonably, that the two could be left together if it made him feel better but just not in here. The old vampire said he was afraid George would hurt himself otherwise. George had supported Mitchell's dead weight all by himself, refusing to let anyone so much as touch either of them, and half dragged, half carried his friend to the room which Crowley opened the door to down the corridor. He heard the key rattle in the lock and then nothing further.

The thing was, when vampires other than Mitchell started being reasonable toward him, George got seriously worried. But here they were, left alone together in another room on this floor, locked in and with no heating this was rapidly getting to be a freezer. George had left Mitchell lying down for a time while he paced the room, trying to door – of course it was locked, he knew it would be, but there was no harm in trying, right? - and generally looking for some way out. It was eight feet long and six feet wide, so not a huge space by any stretch of the imagination and it was dusty. The bare brick walls were featureless but had the high, small windows with really old latches. They were, like the ones in the corridors below, blacked out with paint. He'd tried out that old plan of his using his fingernails and the paint but after that his second wind gave out and he settled on the floor to tend to his friend.

“I'm sorry. I – I don't know what I'm supposed to have done but I'm sorry, Mitchell.” He paused, taking a breath before coughing softly. “Come on, please wake up. Whatever it was that I did, I didn't mean to do it.” The vampire just lay there, to all intents and purposes dead. Neither breathing nor moving. He was terrified that he'd really hurt his friend and he was scared, too, for Annie and Aleks' safety. Obviously, based on Mitchell's earlier reaction, what the other vampire had said was true and in that case, they were also in danger because of him. “Mitchell, I know you're not dead. You, you're not dead. If you were, you'd, you, you, you – well you wouldn't still be here.” He coughed lightly but a little more chestily before taking a couple of deeper breaths to compensate. “And Annie's tough and smart. She, she'll be fine looking after Aleks.” He shivered then glanced down at Mitchell before once more resting his head back. “God, it so cold. Its even colder than that time the neighbours broke our windows and we had to sit in the front room with our coats on. Remember?” He paused, thinking. “It hasn't been the best of years, has it? For any of us.”

“Not really” Mitchell murmured. “And you really need a shower.”

The werewolf just about jumped out of his skin. “Mitchell!! Jesus, you're awake! Are, are you okay?” George began fussing like a mother hen as Mitchell sat up slowly.

He frowned and looked around the room. “Where are we? What... happened?”

George slowly shrugged his shoulders and shook his head. “You collapsed... they, they said I did something to you. I swear I didn't do anything. Honestly...”

Mitchell put a hand at the back of George's neck and pulled him forward. “Shush. Its alright. I know you didn't hurt me. I know you wouldn't do that.” They were almost forehead to forehead. George was trembling as he pulled back a little.

“Are you sure you're okay?” He asked, drawing a shuddering breath as his relief bubbled over.

“As good as old.” Mitchell smiled and winked before looking around himself. That was the truth – he felt like his old self again, though the memory of being technically alive was a little disturbing. “Right then, how do we get out of here?”

George shook his head. He was somewhat subdued. “There's just the door... and, and the window.” Mitchell got to his feet and went to the door, rattling and twisting the handle. “Its locked.” George informed him helpfully.

“Yeah, I did notice.” He looked up at the window and frowned. He looked at George then back at the window again. “Did you do that?” He asked, pointing.

George nodded. “An experiment. It made me feel better.”

“Fair enough. But you'll feel loads better soon, when we get all this sorted out and you're back home.”

A smile of longing graced the werewolf's lips. “I can't wait for it to be you, me and Annie again.”

At this Mitchell frowned. “What about Nina?”

The smile disappeared immediately and George swallowed hard. “There's not much I can say about her, is there?” He mumbled, shaking his head before coughing hard, holding his chest as he did. His breathing was noisy and he sniffed a little. Mitchell set aside his curiosity at George's reluctance to talk about Nina for the moment. He was there, by his friend's side in a second. Despite the cold air, George had a high colour in his cheeks and his ears and fingers practically glowed. He put a hand on one of George's arms but the werewolf brushed it off. “Its okay, I've probably got a bit of a cold coming on. Or some... dust, up my nose or something. I-I'll be fine, I think.” George replied to Mitchell's questioning look before closing his eyes. Mitchell pressed his lips together and wriggled out of his jacket.

“Here, sit up.” George was momentarily bemused by Mitchell's order but as he made him put on the leather jacket, he understood and began protesting. “Oh, shut up. You need this more than I do right now.” He added. George struggled to zip up the front, his frozen hands no longer gripping well so Mitchell moved his friend's hands gently aside and did the jacket up as he would for a child. He then removed his fingerless gloves and slid them onto George's hands. The gloves didn't really fit, the half-fingers parts flapping a little since Mitchell's hands were slightly larger, but the small groan of pure relief George uttered was worth it. Mitchell rubbed his own hands together and sat down beside his friend. He wasn't going to try the window as a way of escaping because it was obviously far too small for an adult to crawl out of. “So, how long are we stuck in here for?”

“I don't know. They do have a habit for leaving us to our own devices for days at a time.” George commented dully as he huddled deeper into the jacket. “At least its dry in here, even is it is sub-Arctic.” He sighed, coughing lightly again before sneezing suddenly and violently. He looked so comically stunned by this that Mitchell chuckled.

“Speaking of being dry, you do know I'll never get the smell of wet dog out of that coat now.” Mitchell joked when he'd sufficiently recovered. George slid him a serious sideways look that was just so utterly like the old George that Mitchell burst out laughing again. Seconds later, the werewolf relented and joined in weakly.

Outside the door, they heard footsteps and their laughter ceased. “I don't suppose they like the prisoners sounding happy.” Mitchell murmured as the door opened, a comment to which George grunted agreement. But it wasn't Turner or Crowley at the door but a female vampire, her hair all done up in ribbons and a large, square vampire George had gotten up close and personal with. Behind them stood Li, looking remarkably more confident than he had earlier. “Danica, Jonas. Throw them in with the colony. Lets see how they react to another vampire down there.” He commanded. Mitchell and George exchanged a glance but did not stand. Something felt wrong here, more wrong than it had been previously, as the two vampires obeyed Li's command.