"They're vampires, I tell you!"

Pudge was beginning to sound more whiney than adamant, Rachel decided, as she watched him run his fingers through his greasy hair and tug on the ends with frustration. She couldn't really blame him. They had been questioning him for hours now. They'd apparently brought him straight here to the police station, booked him, and settled him in the small square room where they were now grilling him. And they had kept him there ever since.

Rachel and the Argeneaus had missed the first two hours of the interrogation. It had taken that long to get her through emergency and out of the hospital. Despite her being an employee at the hospital--not to mention her being something of a celebrity, thanks to the fact that she had been "kidnapped" from work--they'd had to wait quite a while to be seen by a doctor. When Rachel had asked why they simply didn't put the whammy on the nurses and move them to the front of the line, Marguerite had seemed surprised at the very idea. Her case wasn't urgent, she had pointed out, and they could manage the wait.

Rachel had felt a moment's shame that she hadn't thought that herself, but Marguerite had immediately reached into her mind to soothe her with the words that she "would learn." Frankly, Rachel couldn't wait to learn. She had marveled at the family as they escorted her everywhere uncontested. There were definitely benefits to being able to control the thoughts and minds of those around them. She hadn't been examined, but as far as the hospital staff could recall she had been. And as Marguerite had promised, the reports all read what would be expected: She was suffering dehydration and malnutrition. The Argeneaus had been astounding to watch in action, and Rachel was quickly beginning to realize the power Etienne had gifted her with.

"They're vampires, are they?" Officer Carstairs, the blond officer asked. He stood to the side of the table where his partner and Pudge sat facing each other. "You're the one with the coffin and the vampire teeth, Norman. Yet you claim Ms. Garrett and Mr. Argeneau are the vampires?"

"They're fake teeth, I tell you," Pudge muttered, sounding harassed. "If you'd uncuff me, I'd take the damn things out. Mine are fake, but theirs are real."

"Sure they are, Norman," the darked-haired officer, Treebech, agreed soothingly.

"Stop calling me that!" Pudge snapped. "Norman. God, I hate that name. It makes me sound like a geek." He glared at them briefly, then said, "I tell you, Etienne Argeneau is a vampire. So is the woman. Hell, she bit me!"

Rachel grimaced. She hadn't really bit him, but she'd gotten closer than she'd realized, and the man had a scratch where one tooth had caught him. It was a nick really, and not even recognizable as a bite. Still, it was closer than she ever hoped to get to biting someone again. Well, except perhaps for Etienne. She rather enjoyed giving him love bites when they--Love bites? Rachel gave her head a shake. Sex bites, she meant. Not love bites. She didn't love Etienne. Did she? The question ran around and around through her mind, followed by a welling of confusing thoughts and feelings. Warm, gushy feelings that rather alarmed her. Dear God, she couldn't love him.

Rachel was suddenly aware that Lucern was staring at her with interest. Then it occurred to her that any one of the people standing protectively around her could be reading her thoughts. She forced her runaway thoughts and feelings into a dark corner of her mind and turned her attention back to what was taking place beyond the one-way mirror. Pudge was glaring at the officers, closemouthed.

"Okay, so say she did bite you," Carstairs commented. "Do you think you'll be a vampire now too, Norman?"

"Don't call me Norm--" Pudge paused abruptly, his eyes widening. He suddenly looked less harassed. Excitement and wonderment filled his expression. "She did bite me. Do you really think I'll become a vampire?"

"I don't know, Norman. You're the expert. Why don't you tell us?"

Pudge pondered for a minute, then reasoned, "I guess it's possible. But Renfield didn't turn into a vampire after one bite. He..." His expression became horrified. "Oh, man! Renfield became Dracula's servant for life after one bite. He was his slave."

"So, does that make you Ms. Garrett's slave?" Treebech asked.

Pudge wasn't listening. His mind was preoccupied. "Jeez, and he ate bugs and stuff too. Man! I don't know if I can eat bugs."

The officers exchanged glances as Pudge shook his head in despair.

"I think that's enough. I'd like to question him now."

Rachel glanced at the man who had spoken: Dr. Smythe, a psychiatrist from her hospital. He had been called into the police station to assess Pudge's mental state. He'd asked to first be allowed to simply observe Pudge while he was being questioned. He claimed that subjects tended to respond differently to mental health professionals than to lay persons, even police. Now, it appeared he wanted to ask some questions himself.

Captain Rogers--Carstairs' and Treebech's superior--nodded and stood. "Certainly, Doctor. Come with me."

Rachel watched them leave the viewing room. A moment later the door of the interrogation room opened and Dr. Smythe and Captain Rogers entered. The police captain gestured Carstairs and Treebech to his side, held a brief whispered consultation and then left the room. The moment he was gone, Dr. Smythe introduced himself and took possession of the chair Treebech had vacated. He smiled at Pudge and asked, "Norman, do you understand the difference between fantasy and reality?"

Rachel smiled slightly at the question. It was the same one Etienne had asked at the house. Her gaze darted to the viewing room door as it opened to admit Captain Rogers but quickly shifted back to Pudge, who was staring at the doctor as if he were an alien. "Huh?"

"Do you understand the difference between fantasy and reality?" Dr. Smythe repeated patiently.

"Sure." Pudge scowled. "I'm not crazy, you know."

"No, of course you aren't," Dr. Smythe said soothingly. "Could you explain the difference between fantasy and reality for me?"

"Sure. Fantasy is... well it's like that wizards and warriors game. Magic and stuff. It's not real."

"Ah. Huh." Dr Smythe pursed his lips and nodded his head. "And could you give me an example of reality?"

"Blood Lust," Pudge said firmly.

"Blood Lust?" Dr. Smythe asked in confusion.

"That's the game Mr. Argeneau created," Carstairs explained. "Vampires and stuff."

"Ah." Dr. Smythe glanced back at Pudge. "And that would be reality?"

"Oh, yeah," Pudge assured him. "Magic, well, that's a bunch of nonsense--but there really are vampires. Chicks dig them, and they're super strong and super fast and live forever."

"And which is most important?" Dr. Smythe asked.

Pudge didn't have to think long. "Living forever... and the chicks," he decided.

"Women and immortality are most important, you say?" Dr. Smythe nodded, then added, "It seems to me you mentioned at some point that your mother died recently--didn't she, Norman?"

"Yeah." He nodded, then his attention drifted from the doctor and followed the table as if trailing something. Rachel gave a start when he suddenly raised his arm and slammed it down on the tabletop, apparently squashing a bug. She wasn't the only one to jump. The doctor and police officers did too.

"Excuse me a moment." Dr. Smythe stood and left the room. Rachel wasn't terribly surprised when he stepped back into the viewing room. He didn't say anything at first, but simply stood beside the captain to view Pudge through the window. They all watched in silence as Pudge picked up the bug he had squashed and examined it with seeming fascination. Rachel grimaced with distaste when he suddenly popped the squashed creature into his mouth and chewed experimentally. After a moment, he shrugged mildly and muttered, "Not bad. A bit nutty."

"We have a very confused young man here," Dr. Smythe said. "I've already talked to his brother, and he claims Norman has become obsessive and strange of late. He thinks he should be locked up for his own safety. I'll need to do extensive testing, of course, but Norman has already proven himself a threat not only to himself but to the public at large; specifically anyone he decides is a threat."

The psychiatrist's gaze slid meaningfully to herself and Etienne before he continued. "That's enough to commit him for seventy-two hours of testing."

"Thank you for coming, Doctor," the captain said. "We'll have to process the paperwork, but I think you can expect to have Mr. Renberger in your custody rather quickly."

"I'll have a bed ready when he is," Dr. Smythe assured him solemnly. They shook hands, then the gentleman left them alone. The captain glanced toward the viewing room and shook his head as Pudge slammed his hand on the table again, then picked up whatever he had killed to examine.

"Nutty as a fruitcake," the cop muttered as Pudge popped the bug into his mouth and chewed. Pushing one hand across the top of his balding scalp, the captain shook his head, then sighed and moved to the door when a soft knock sounded. He spoke briefly with someone Rachel couldn't see, then turned back to them.

"Your statements are ready to sign. If you'd like to follow Officer Janscom, she'll take you to do that."

"Fine. Thank you." Etienne took Rachel's arm and urged her toward the door. She went silently, aware that the rest of the Argeneau clan were following.

Signing the papers was a relatively quick ordeal, at least for Rachel. She had been separated from the Argeneaus and led to a different room from Etienne and his family to sign papers in front of a witness. Rachel felt a bit lost when she finished and stepped out into the hall to find it empty. The Argeneaus had stuck protectively close to her since retrieving her from Pudge's house. She felt a bit disconcerted to suddenly be alone.

She paused in the hallway briefly, considering what she should do. Should she wait? Should she go? The officer had said she was free to leave now that her statement was signed. Rachel was debating her next move when it suddenly occurred to her that there might not be anyone to wait for. Etienne may have already finished with his paperwork. He might have already left. After all, there was really no need for them to hover over her now. She had learned to feed herself and to control her teeth, and working in a hospital, it wasn't as if she would have trouble getting her hands on blood. It wouldn't be easy, but she could manage it, and they probably realized that. Perhaps they were relieved to be free of the responsibility for her.

That thought was distressing. Rachel was almost gasping under the impact it had on her. It was surprisingly hurtful.

"Rachel?"

She turned abruptly at the sound of her name. Relief coursed through her when she recognized Lissianna hurrying up the hall toward her, Gregory Hewitt on her heels.

"Are you all right?" Lissianna asked with concern. The message Mother left on my answering machine was rather garbled. All I understood was that you had been kidnapped."

"I'm fine." Rachel forced a smile.

"Oh, good." Lissianna smiled, but the worry didn't completely leave her eyes. "Where is everyone? Is Etienne all right too?"

"Yes. He's fine. I'm not sure where they are though."

Rachel admitted. "For all I know, they may have finished with their paperwork and left all ready."

Lissianna frowned at this news, then glanced around. "I'll go ask someone."

She was gone as quickly as that, hurrying up the hall in search of someone who could answer her questions.

"I'm sure Etienne wouldn't leave without you," Gregory said in a solemn voice.

Rachel turned and forced a smile for his benefit. "Well, there isn't any real reason for him not to. I've gained control of my teeth and can feed myself now. He doesn't need to baby-sit me anymore."

Gregory frowned at her words, his handsome face troubled. "Rachel, has anyone told you about the life mate rule?"

Rachel blinked in confusion at the question. It seemed to her to be completely unrelated to anything going on at the moment. "I--No. I'm sorry. No one has mentioned this rule."

He nodded slowly. "I didn't think so. But I feel it's important you understand. It will help you to comprehend where you stand with Etienne."

Rachel's eyebrows rose. It would be a relief to have some idea of where she stood. She was starting to realize that her feelings for Etienne went deep and could be potentially painful.

"Because our people feed on the general population," he began, "it's important--of course--that our numbers be kept small, so as not to outgrow the potential of our food source."

Rachel nodded. That made perfect sense to her.

"So there are certain rules. For instance, each couple can only have one child every hundred years."

"Marguerite mentioned that," Rachel said with a nod.

"I'm not surprised. But what she might not have mentioned is that each vampire is allowed to turn only one human."

Rachel shook her head. "Excuse me? They're allowed only one mate?"

"Oh, no. Divorces do happen. We are speaking of hundreds of years of life here, so of course divorce happens, although I understand it's much less frequent than in the general population," he informed her. "I mean they are literally allowed to turn only one person. This person is usually a life mate, though it can be something else altogether, and then that vampire can't turn anyone else. They can't turn a life mate if they should find one."

"But Etienne turned me," Rachel said.

"Yes." Greg nodded solemnly.

"Rachel!"

This time Rachel was slower to turn toward the voice calling her name in strident tones. Her head was spinning, and it took several moments for her to recognize the older woman rushing toward her. It was the sight of the gray-haired man hurrying along behind her who made her realize that these were her parents hurrying up the hall. Then her mother's arms closed around her, and Rachel found herself enveloped in Poison, the perfume her mother favored.

"Thank God, baby. I was so worried. I couldn't believe it when Officer Janscom called to say that you had been found and were safe. Oh, honey, we were so scared we'd never see you again. Thank God." She paused to clasp Rachel's face in her hands and kiss her on each cheek. Then she studied her and frowned. "You look different. And terribly pale. You need a nice home-cooked meal and a nap."

"Yes, we'll take you home," her father said gruffly, putting his arm around her in a half hug as he turned her back the way they'd come.

Rachel remained silent as her parents herded her from the building. She shouldn't be pale; she had ingested more than enough blood in the van on the way to the hospital. Her pallor was no doubt due to the news Greg had given her, and the impact it had made. Etienne had given up his chance to turn a life mate by saving her, she thought faintly. Dear God, he had turned her, taken the time and care to train her to feed and to control her teeth, yet he could never have a life mate. He had given up any chance at a life partner for her.

All she could think was that he must hate her. And if he didn't, it was only because he hadn't yet had the chance to think about the sacrifice he'd made. The moment he realized all he had given up, he would definitely hate her. A lifetime without someone to love him, the equivalent of several lifetimes really. He'd lived hundreds of years and would live hundreds more without love. Or he would find that love, only to be forced to watch her age and die while he stayed young forever.

Etienne signed the last copy of the statement set before him and pushed it impatiently across the desk to be witnessed. He was eager to get this done and get out of there. No one had gone with Rachel. It had all happened so fast, they hadn't been given the opportunity. They'd all been led into this room and then Officer Janscorn had asked Rachel to follow her and had taken her away. He didn't like the idea of her being alone. It wasn't that he was concerned that anything might happen to her; Pudge was no longer a threat so she was safe enough. But what if someone asked her an uncomfortable question and no one was there to erase the mind of the asker? Rachel was a lousy liar. Besides, he had the nagging fear that she was going to disappear on him. She could feed on her own now. She'd even fed straight from the bag in the van. She could control her teeth as well. And with Pudge removed, the final excuse for keeping her in his home was gone. What if she decided to leave, or refused to return to his home with him? He didn't want her to leave. Etienne had grown far too used to her presence. He enjoyed her. He wanted to spend his life.

"There we are then, sir," Officer Janscom said as she stacked the copies of the statement in a neat pile. "All done. Someone will contact you if we need anything else, but you're free to go now."

Etienne was out the door almost before she'd finished speaking. He had to find Rachel. They needed to talk. He needed to know how she felt about him. If she thought she might someday come to love him as he was quickly coming to love her.

"Etienne!"

He whirled at that exclamation as he came out into the hall, but it was only his sister. Etienne nodded at her, then turned to glance expectantly around. Unfortunately, there was no sign of Rachel anywhere.

"Have you seen Rachel?" Etienne asked his sister as she reached his side and enveloped him in a hug.

"Yes. She was here with Gregory when I left to ask about your whereabouts." Lissianna pulled back and glanced toward her husband in a silent question as he slowly approached. "Where did she go, honey?"

"Her parents arrived. She left with them," he explained, but there was a look on his face that made Etienne wary.

"What is it?" he asked.

Gregory hesitated briefly, then admitted, "I think I might have made a mistake."

"What kind of mistake?" Lissianna asked, slipping her hand reassuringly into his.

"I explained the rule about only being allowed to turn one person in a lifetime and that it was usually a life mate," he admitted.

"You explained the sacrifice Etienne made for her and she still left without a word to him?" Lissianna asked with disbelief. "Knowing that, she couldn't even take the time to say good-bye? Or even offer a thank-you?"

Etienne heard Lissianna's words, but in truth he couldn't comprehend them. He would later. In the meantime, he was simply standing there feeling lost and abandoned. She'd done exactly what he'd feared. Rachel had left him.

His mother was speaking to him now, but Etienne wasn't listening. He felt as if he had cotton wool in his ears. Actually, it felt rather as if his entire brain were stuffed with cotton wool. He nodded his head absently every once in a while as they were walking out of the police station. Etienne doubted he was fooling anyone; they all were probably reading his mind, though he couldn't seem to read his own thoughts. But he must have nodded at the appropriate places because no one called him on it. They all simply talked away as they walked out to Bastien's van and got in for the ride home.

Someone suggested they come in with him when they reached his house, but Etienne muttered something about work and quickly hopped out of the van, slamming the door behind himself. He didn't want company right then. He didn't want to talk or even think. He just wanted to crawl into a hole and escape his life, however briefly. To him that meant working.

Etienne entered his house, suddenly aware of how large and empty it was. Too large for one person, if you got right down to it. He should sell it and get an apartment. He didn't need much space; an office, a bedroom, a fridge... It wasn't like he entertained much.

He winced as memories of Rachel flooded his mind; playing video games, reading quietly together by the fireside in the library, laughing over her trying to consume the reject blood he had fed her, their moonlight picnic... He closed the door on those memories as loss and fear crowded in behind them. But he didn't manage to do so before questions assailed him. Had he lost her forever? Did she feel anything for him at all? Or had it all just been a fun way to pass the time?

Not bothering to lock the door behind himself, Etienne strode straight down the hall, through the kitchen and jogged downstairs to his office. The mess they had made trying to get him out of it confronted him as soon as he reached the bottom of the stairs. He ignored it, stepping over the debris on the floor and striding on into his office. He would have to see to it that the door was replaced eventually. There was a deadline on finishing Blood Lust II and he really wanted to meet it. Life had been so chaotic lately that, between the trouble with Pudge and the advent of Rachel in his life, Etienne had fallen behind on finishing the project. He'd concentrate on that now. Work had always been his refuge, and it would be again now.

Etienne settled in at his desk and stared at the mess that used to be his computers. Pudge had truly ruined them when he'd shot up the room. Fortunately, Etienne had learned long ago that making backups of everything was a smart thing to do. He hadn't lost any of the work he'd done so far, but he couldn't continue on these computers.

His gaze slid to the phone, but he already knew it too had been destroyed. Turning away from the mess, he strode back out of his office and out of his house to get into his car. He'd have to buy new computers--four of them to replace those he'd lost--and then he'd work like a demon to meet his deadline. Once that was done he would consider what to do about Rachel. If there was anything to do.

"What are you going to do about Rachel?"

Etienne scowled at that question from his mother. It was one he had asked himself repeatedly over the week and a half since Rachel had walked out of the police station and out of his life. It was a question he didn't have an answer to. It seemed obvious she didn't want him. She'd walked away without a backward glance and hadn't tried to contact him since then.

"Have you tried to contact her?" Marguerite asked, obviously reading his thoughts.

Etienne didn't bother getting upset at her intrusion into his mind. What was the use? Besides, he didn't seem to have a lot of energy lately. Certainly not enough to bother with a battle he had been losing all his life. His mother had read his mind despite his protests and would no doubt continue to until one or the other of them died.

"Of course you don't have energy; you haven't been feeding right. You're dehydrated right this minute," Marguerite snapped. "And look at you: You haven't bathed or changed your clothes since leaving the police station. You should be grateful that Rachel hasn't tried to contact you. She'd take one look at your sorry state and turn around and walk away, glad to make her escape."

"I've been busy," Etienne snarled. He wasn't the sort to snarl as a rule; that was more Lucern and Bastien's bag. They were the grumpy ones in the family. But he had been feeling rather snarly of late.

"Hmm." Marguerite stared at him, and at first he felt sure she was going to let the subject drop. Then he became aware of her sifting through his mind. He tried to close his thoughts to her, but he had never been able to do that. Besides, she had already found what she was looking for. "You never told her that you loved her."

Etienne winced at that accusation, then scowled. "I didn't know I loved her. I knew I cared for her, though, and wanted to keep her with me, and she no doubt knew that. Obviously she didn't care to."

"How did she know that?" she asked dryly. "Did you tell her?"

"No."

"How did I raise such stupid children?" Marguerite asked the room at large with disgust.

"We could read each other's thoughts when we were... intimate. She knew I cared and wanted a relationship with her."

"What?" The expression on her face suggested he was an idiot, Etienne noted, feeling uncomfortable. "How could she read your thoughts? She was no expert. Dear Lord, the poor girl couldn't even control her teeth until the last day or so that she was here. Reading thoughts is an advanced skill that takes years to learn." She frowned at him. "Did you read her thoughts while you were intimate and her mind was open to you?"

"No. Of course not. I didn't want to intrude."

"But you think she was somehow able and willing to intrude on your thoughts?" she asked, then snorted with derision. "Of course she didn't. You're going to have to gather your courage and tell her, son."

Etienne remained silent, but Marguerite could read the fear in his mind and heart. He wanted to go after Rachel but feared rejection. She knew her son and was positive that he would go after the girl eventually. Marguerite just feared it might be too late by the time he did. It seemed to her that if she didn't want to watch her son mess up his chance at happiness, she would have to utilize a little motherly interference.

Good Lord, she thought with exasperation. The boy was over three hundred years old. A mother's job never ended.

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