Dawn Rising

Janine scanned the narrow path that led to the woods, parallel to the pasture. She spotted a shook of red hair bobbing amongst the green of the trees. Walking with graceful, long, powerful strides so used to blazing trails, not following them, Lucien kept pace beside Alex. Leaping up, the yarn forgotten, Janine jogged up the narrow, uneven strip of trampled ground to meet them. "Oh my GOD! I didn't think you two were EVER coming back!" Janine squealed with delight at the sight of Alex and Lucien's co-joined hands.

Janine bounced around Alex like an overly exuberant puppy excited by the master's return. If the girl had a tail, it would be wagging. Janine's squeals of enthusiasm sent a flock of birds, nesting in the nearby pines, skittering into the sky. The quiet majesty of the woods had never met a force like Janine before. Alex wasn't sure they'd survive her. Somewhere along the way back Alex had picked up a stick to bat back the thick brush that reached out from the borders of the path to grab at her pant's legs. She considered throwing it to see if Janine would play fetch. "What?" she asked at Janine's bubbly giggles.

"You two have been busy," Janine replied, with an emphasis on the word busy. She reached out and straightened the collar of Alex's sweatshirt. With the recent infusion of Lucien's blood, Alex would be able to heal most things. But, that hickey, still dark purple on her neck, so fresh in its newness, stood out like a sore thumb against the paleness of Alex's skin. "My work here is finally done," Janine said with a faked sigh as she elbowed Alex, winking overtly.

Alex's cheeks flushed a bright crimson. She never could bullshit her best friend. Janine was not a master of subtlety. And the knowing looks she shot between Lucien and she, told it all. Janine knew what they'd been doing in the woods. And she fully approved. Alex looked up at Lucien, noticing the glare he threw at Janine's direction. He was not amused.

Janine babbled on and on, bouncing like a ball down the path to the house. Alex began to wish her best friend came with an off switch. Mostly, Janine blathered inane girl talk. Dribble about the latest trends in eye shadow colors. Envy over those cute shoes she'd seen some woman wearing last week. Harmless talk. Safe topics. Nothing too deep. And that was fine with Alex. These conversations were easy. All she had to do was grunt and nod her head.

Lucien rolled his eyes at Janine's endless flow of conversation. The woman did not know how to be quiet. Simply walking, enjoying the beauty of nature, was beyond her. He had to like her, however, if for no other reason than she was Alex's best friend. And what Alex liked; he liked.

Alex and Janine stood on the back porch talking, talking, and talking. An endless flow of vowels and consonants, like a stream tumbling over rocks. Babble. Babble. Babble. Like they hadn't seen each other in decades. Actually, Janine did most of the talking. Alex nodded her head at the appropriate pauses in the one-sided conversation. Her fingers rested on the handle of the screen door in preparation for a hasty escape, just as soon as Janine stopped talking long enough to catch her breath.

Alexander peeked out of the barn window, swatting at a fly with the wrench in his hand. Lucien leaned casually against one of the back porch posts; his eyes fixed solely on Alex as if she were the center of the known universe. Alexander knew that look. When a boy looked at a girl like that; especially if the girl happened to be HIS daughter; it meant trouble.

Alexander's hand felt around the space under his workbench, where he kept the shotgun. Leigh was terrified of guns and wouldn't allow it in the house. The shotgun was loaded with rock salt to scare off the occasional raccoon that invited himself to dine on contents of the garbage cans. But, there was a box of shells around here, somewhere.

Leigh heard the squeals of high-pitched laughter drift in from the kitchen window. Alex had finally made it home. And Janine had her cornered on the back porch. It sounded like the girls were picking up right where they left off. Their friendship was going to be fine. Her daughter had a hard head, so much like her father, and she'd been prepared to intervene to salvage the girl's friendship. Judging by the giggling, it didn't sound like she'd need that speech after all.

It was late afternoon, too early for supper, but too late for lunch. Leigh set her crochet to the side and went to the kitchen. The chicken was prepped in the fridge, waiting to be thrown on the stove. There was still a leftover mound of mashed potatoes from last night in a bowl, shoved toward the back of the fridge. The two would make a salvageable and quick impromptu meal.

Alex probably hadn't eaten since yesterday evening. And she hadn't eaten much then. She'd pushed her food from one side of the plate to the other, pretending to be interested in the meal. Leigh heated a bit of cooking oil in a skillet on the stove. Supper was going to be a little early today. Besides, she knew her husband. Good food made for a good mood. Given the way Alex and Lucien were holding hands and exchanging those secret glances meant for lovers, Alexander needed something to divert his attention from that shotgun, probably cleaned and loaded at this point, in the barn.

After a delicious meal of sautéed chicken and leftover mashed potatoes Alex retreated to the shower. Lucien had been conspicuously absent during supper. That was probably for the best given the way her dad kept his stare fixed on the food, refusing to meet her eyes.

Janine's ceaseless babble about nothing at all filled the huge gaps in the conversation. Her mother compensated for her dad's behavior. Alex was grateful to the two of them. No one could handle her dad the way her mom could. She kept the potatoes piled high on his plate and fed him the last scrap of chicken. The poor man had no choice but to succumb to his full stomach and the subsequent carbohydrate coma that followed. He snored like a bear, stretched out in his recliner with the weekly newspaper draped across his lap. Thanks to her mom, the crisis of his little girl becoming a woman, was averted for the moment.

Chapter 35

Alex scowled when she saw her Honda loaded to the hilt with Janine's bags. A guy, the same one she'd spoken to the day she'd fallen asleep on the train, leaned casually against the car, jangling the keys idly between his index and middle fingers. "You're going?" she said, tuning to Janine. "Is it safe now?" She thought she'd be stuck here long past her vacation. She'd never imagined she could go back to the city so soon.

Janine snickered at the question. Neither Alex nor she would be returning to the city anytime soon. Her boss had already threatened to fire her over her sudden absence from work. She was sure the pink slip and her last paycheck were already in the mail. Oh well, jobs were like men. There was always another one just around the corner. It sucked though; she actually liked this job. Not her boss, obviously. But, the job was prime. As for the men she'd been going out with recently. Not much of a loss there. "Silly, I'm not going to go home, just yet. Patrick is driving me to the airport. I'm on my way to visit some friends in L.A. till this blows over."

Janine waved her arm dramatically for emphasis. "I'm a city girl, not a country bumpkin like you," Alex's expression reminded Janine of a puppy she'd had as a kid. The poor thing had looked so forlorn and abandoned, gazing up at her with those sad, round, brown, puppy eyes that her mom had instantly caved and adopted the mutt. That puppy grew up to be a faithful and loyal companion, her best friend well into her teen years. She cried for weeks when the dog got sick beyond the capabilities of the vet and had to be put to sleep. Occasionally, it ate a shoe or two, no appreciation for fashion. But, Janine never minded, too much.

She grabbed Alex in a brief and awkward embrace. "We'll be shopping before you know it." Janine sniffled back a tear. Her veneer back into place, she said with forced exuberance she didn't feel, " Don't worry about me. Mister Young and Tender will keep me safe till I'm in the air." She winked in Patrick's direction, twiddling her fingers in a flirtatious wave. Bending close to Alex's ear she whispered, "Isn't he adorable?"

Janine glanced at her watch. When it counted, really counted, time went too fast. "Ooh, got a plane to catch. Call me." She gave Alex a light peck on the cheek as she trotted off, landing lightly in the passenger side.

Patrick shot Lucien, who had appeared from the woods and was making his way to the front porch, a glare that said, you owe me big time for this, as he climbed behind the wheel. Almost three hours stuck in this death trap of a car with Janine. Hell, yeah, Lucien would owe him... big time.

When Lucien had asked him for a favor. He'd readily volunteered. At least, dumping Janine off at the airport gave him an excuse to snoop around the city before he had to head back. Now, with her adjusting her lipstick, her eyes fixed on her reflection in the compact, babbling about...something, he had no idea what, he doubted his wisdom. Patrick eyed the speedometer. The fastest reading on the gauge was one hundred and ten miles per: hour-one hundred seventy-five kilometers per hour to the rest of the world. Not nearly fast enough. He doubted this duct taped and rusted contraption that was loosely defined as a car, would get to that speed before the engine blew out.

Alex and Lucien waved goodbye to Janine. Her decrepit car rolled down the gravel lane out of sight. Alex turned to Lucien staring at him intently, "Just how much danger are we in?" Janine would never leave her side without a good reason. Her exaggerated boredom with the country life was just a convenient excuse intended to throw her off the scent.

**********

Lucien avoided Alex's question, grabbing her hand and leading her inside the house. Alex saw a pile of luggage packed and sitting by the door. "Lucien?" She pulled her hand away from his and crossed her arms, demanding an explanation.

Alexander tromped through the kitchen at the sound of his daughter's voice. Their flight was scheduled for midnight, the last flight out of the airport for the day. He didn't like leaving his little girl in Lucien's clutches. But, orders were orders. Both he and his wife knew that when they joined up. He took a deep breath, preparing to explain. Leigh gave him a light pat on the shoulder as she hung up the phone, finishing up the final travel arrangements. "Alex, your mother and I are going to go and stay with your aunt for a while."

Alex's jaw dropped in disbelief. "What are you talking about? I just got here and now everyone is leaving." She stood silently, adjusting her stance to one of determination. She needed answers. If it was her life and the lives of those closest to her in danger, because she had a craving for a post-coital bagel, she had a right to know. Her aunt lived in D.C. and Janine was flying to L.A., both destinations definitely not within driving distance.

Lucien lowered his head in shame at his failure. While Alex and her family had been gathered around the kitchen table, he'd been catching up on everything he'd missed while sequestered with Alex in the woods. The news wasn't good. While Alex showered, plans were made to move Janine to a safe location. While Alex said goodbye to Janine, Leigh was busy on the phone making plans for herself and Alexander. Alex would be the only one left behind. And the reason why was painfully obvious. She was bait.

"Patrick discovered a scent trail, not far from here. The Rogue is close. And he is not alone. Anyone who has been near you isn't safe. He'll follow your scent if he catches it and it'll lead him here, to your parents. He won't stop to ask questions. He'll simply kill anyone in his path. You understand what I'm saying, don't you?"

Alex trembled as she digested Lucien's words. She got it. There were only two suitcases sitting by the front door. With out her, the Rogue had nothing to chase. She was the bait the Sons planned to use to reel him in. "Dad, you' and Mom, you're really leaving too?"

Alexander smiled at his daughter woefully, "I'm sorry Baby Girl. But, your mom and I, we have to. Once this is over with, we will have lots of time to spend together." Gravel crunched under the tires of a vehicle rolling up the lane. With a grunt, Alexander bent to pick up the suitcases. "I'm so sorry I didn't warn you. I was trying so hard to protect you."

"Leigh," Alexander called to his wife. Awkwardly, with the handles of the suitcases clutched in his fists, he reached to hug Alex. Her lips were cool, trembling on his weathered cheek. "Love you, Baby Girl."

Leigh emerged from the kitchen. After their plans had announced and the flight booked, she had nothing to do but busy herself with some last minute tidying. There were enough leftovers in the fridge to keep Alex fed. But, just to be sure she had a pork roast with all the trimmings baking in the oven. Directions for how long to let it cook conspicuously taped to the oven's handle, right next to a potholder and a roll of aluminum foil.

Sadly, Leigh smiled to herself as she watched Alex and her father locked together in an awkward embrace. Alex had always been her daddy's little girl. "Alexander, Dane is in the driveway, waiting on us. Our plane leaves in four hours. We have just enough time to make it to the city and get through security, if we leave now." With a huff, she yanked her suitcase out of Alexander's hand. "You'll strain your back with that."

Leigh had been hounding Alexander to let go of some of the mad money he had stashed away in his sock drawer and take her on a vacation. The circumstances were horrible. She didn't like leaving Alex all alone. Always the ray of sunshine, just like she was supposed to be, she grabbed onto the bright side of this situation with both hands. She looked forward to the trip and seeing her sister-in-law, her niece, Erica, and Erica's little girl, her great-niece, Fallon.

Alex flung herself into the comfort of her mother's arms and held on tightly, reluctant to let go. "Take care of Dad," she whispered into her mother's ear. Her dad had selective hearing. When he wanted to, he couldn't hear thunder. But, he'd be listening to every word she whispered to her mom. Lucien's grip settled lightly on her arm, gently guiding her out of the hug. "Tell Erica and Fallon I said hello."

Alex and Lucien walked her parents to the edge of the gravel where a powerful, chrome covered and black, diesel, truck idled in the drive. Her mother always dressed as if she were going to meet the president when she left the house. The black pumps and charcoal gray, knee length pencil skirt were not very practical, especially for scrambling into the passenger side of a monster truck. Her dad wore a faded flannel shirt over an equally faded cotton t-shirt and battered jeans that were frayed worn at the seams. Badly abused work boots poked out from the tattered bottoms of his jeans. Much to her mother's chagrin, her dad didn't care what he wore.

Alex couldn't help chuckling as her parent's escort to the airport, a member of The Sons; the one with the short, blunt, bristly, military style, hair cut boosted her mother up onto the seat. And took the bags her dad had been struggling to heft over the side panel, into the truck's bed. She pasted a smile on her face and waved to her parents as the truck backed out of the drive. Once the headlights disappeared from view, she sagged wearily into Lucien's arms. "Now what?"

"We wait," Lucien replied. As hard as this was on Alex to see her best friend and her parents leave. He didn't like her out in the open. Exposed. Gently, taking her arm, he ushered her back into the house.

"Now hold up just a minute!" Alex screeched, pulling against Lucien's grip. He practically dragged her up the porch steps and into the living room. Once she was inside, he closed the front door and bolted it shut. She'd lived in this house her whole life and could count the number of times the front door had been locked on one hand. As if a Stanley dead bolt that was older than she was going to keep anyone out.

She blinked incredulously at Lucien in disbelief. "We do NOTHING?" Alex could not stand the thought of being stuck in this house doing nothing when there was a killer on the loose. That thing could suck the entire town dry while she sat on her ass and played house with Lucien. "Hey!" Alex wriggled in protest Lucien gently wrapped his arm around her waist, lifting her. Unceremoniously, he plopped down on the couch with her secured tightly on his lap.

"That's not what I said. I said we wait," Lucien insisted, wrapping Alex tightly in his arms. The wriggling gyrations of her butt against his groin as she struggled in his grip did nothing for her cause, except result in a raging hard on. He'd get to that later. Right now, he needed her to calm down and listen to him.

"For what?" Alex questioned, slapping at his hands like a girl. "It wasn't bad enough that I thought you were dead. It wasn't enough that I had to accept the fact that you are a vampire. It isn't bad enough that I have been snacked on by count them... two ...vampires." She waggled two fingers in front of Lucien's face since he happened to be one of the two that had dined at Chez Alex.

She smacked at Lucien's chest. The beast wouldn't let her go. That was ok. She wasn't done with her tirade, yet. "And one of them wants more than a snack. He wants me to be the main course. Boy, some vacation this is turning out to be. Frigging Zombie Land or Night of the Living Dead, maybe." Out of steam, she muttered to herself, crossing her arms in a dejected pout.

Eager for a different topic than her apparent lack of options, she shifted on Lucien's lap, pointing her index finger in his face. Her anger subdued but not quite ready to fizzle out, she was spoiling for a fight. And there was one subject that got her blood boiling more than any other. "And what is the story with Janine?"

"Janine?" Lucien asked. Where in the hell did Alex come up with this stuff? He bit his lip, stifling a laugh. She was jealous. "I already explained it to you. There is nothing going on with Janine. She is simply a donor. Nothing more."

"I know what it feels like when you ah.." Alex rubbed her neck self consciously as she blushed. The sensation of his bite had gone straight to that happy place between her thighs. And he'd seemed to enjoy it too. A lot. If Lucien and Janine...she didn't want to think about it. "You don't feel the same way when you and she?"

Lucien slid Alex closer against his body, resting her head against his chest. "No. I make sure she doesn't feel any pain. But, that's all. What happens between you and me is sacred. Special. We're bonded."

But oh, didn't his words add fuel to the fire of her frustration instead of extinguishing them. "What are you talking about? Bonded. You mean, like we're married or something?" The news was shocker of the week number ten million and one. She was married because they'd? Alex stiffened in his arms, more than ready to do what it took to get an annulment. Hell, rogue or no rogue, she'd stake Lucien where he sat if he actually believed they were married. She hadn't planned for any of this. She had a life to go back to. This conversation brought her back to original question. Just exactly how did Lucien fit into her life?

"No," Lucien's chest rumbled with a chuckle, "I'd like it very much if you would consider being my wife, someday. But I am content to wait until you're ready." He gently rubbed his lips against hers, mouthing words teased by the softness of her mouth. "We are bound together through blood. Locked together in spirit and in heart. Joined as one in body. I love you. I always have and I always will."