Welcome to Allendale: Vampire Central USA

((Closed for Myself and SweetP4U))

IC: Ethan Kingsley

Ethan was in a hurry as he drove to Bob Larson's grocery store. It was nearly sunset, and the few people left in town from the Red River lumberyard and sawmill shutting down on Spotted Owl road (strange that naming the road after the critter that shut down the business that employed the majority of folk in Allendale) were hurrying home to dead bolt the doors or hole up in the Presbyterian church on Washington Street that's pretty much qaudrupled its attendance. (Strange how quick after finding out god damned Dracula's moved next door folk find religion)

He pulled in front of the grocery store to find a crowd of angry people arguing. He climbed out of his police car just as he heard the distinctive sound of a shotgun cocking. The crowd froze even as he reacted instinctively reaching for the revolver on his hip. "Alright, what the hell's going on here." In front of the door's to the store stood Bob Larson holding a Smith and Wesson on old and wide-eyed Joanne Reese. "Bob, put the gun down."

Bob looked at him then back to Joanne. "I got a right to protect my business Sheriff." He glanced over at the rest of the crowd. "They were gonna bust in and rob my stock right in front of me."

"That's rich," Said Joanne with the gravelly voice of a woman that had chain-smoked cigarettes for forty years could have, "He's the god damned theif here Ethan Kingsley. To think I taught him the ten commandments in sunday school only to have him try and swindle me and then hold a gun up to my face."

The crowd roared their agreement to that.

"Settle down right now, folks." Ethan scolded. he held out his hand patiently waiting and staring at Bob Larson. After a long pregnant moment Bob handed him the shotgun. "I better find you got a permit for this Bob."

"But I gotta protect myself and my property, Sheriff."

"What started this?"

Joanne pointed inside the store. "See for yourself."

Ethan looked for a moment over the shelves seen through the front windows then he rounded on Bob. "Two hundred dollars for a head of Garlic?"

"Its supply and demand. There's a shortage in town what with everybody hanging it over their doors and bedroom windows."

"Three fifty for a bunch of sharpened sticks, six hundred for bottles of water, four hundred for kids' squirt guns."

"I'm running a special on the squirt guns," Bob said brightly, "Buy four bottles of the water I got Pastor Wilson to pray over and I'll give a squirt gun free."

"It's highway robbery, Ethan Kingsley," Joanne grated. The crowd agreed.

"Alright, look folks its almost sundown," He said shooing them away, "Go home, lock your doors and don't do anything stupid. Mayor Clark and Judge Nealy are looking into getting an injunction filed on the town's newest residents. That's how we'll settle this, not with squirtguns or pointy sticks. How do we even know any of those work on a Vampire outside of movies anyway?" They were beginning to scatter now. Ethan wondered if that was from his words or the fact that there was only a sliver of sun over the horizon now.

"Can I have my gun back now, Sheriff," Bob asked behind him.

"You lower your prices to something reasonable, and you won't need it, Bob," He said handing the gun back.

"It's not them I got it for."

"She's been good as her word so far. What little crime there was in Allendale is pretty much nonexistant now. I'm more liable to get killed by one of you with a twitchy trigger finger than after the sun sets with them. They all seem pretty much scared shitless at the prospect of crossing her."

Bob's eyes narrowed, "Let me see your neck, Ethan."

"I've gotta go, protect and serve that whole bit now." He turned for his cruiser, "See you in church Bob."

"The neck Ethan?"

He turned and pulled down the collar revealing two red fang marks, "Happy now Bob?"

"Did she..."

"She demonstrated that it could be done without killing even without their synthetic blood diet and they go au natural again they can stop before its too late. I wasn't about to let anyone else be the guinea pig."

"Jesus," Bob staggered backwards into the doors of his shop, "She's got you under her spell now."

"C'mon Bob, we've known eachother since we were kids. I'm still me."

The doors to the shop closed loudly and the dead bolts turned.

Ethan shook his head and climbed back inside his cruiser making his way towards the towns square. Passing the courthouse now vacant and closed down and up Riverside road to the parking lot of the Allendale hotel, purchased through proxies by an out of town investor with pretty much eighty-seven percent of the rest of the real estate in the town. The hotel had pretty much become the town hall atleast for the population of Allendale that was only up after dark.

The TV news vans were there too, but of course they had nothing better to do than camp out day and night just in the hopes of getting a shot of her, a soundbyte anything. It'd been three weeks since the press conference she held and everyone learned vampires were real and the good folk of Allendale learned who their new neighbours were.

Three weeks of late nights starting here at the hotel every night. Ethan didn't know why she had volunteered him to be her liason between the townspeople and her own, he just knew someone had to do it (Strange how that was the way with all unwanted jobs).

Twilight was passing and it was just turning to the dark of night as he came up to the front steps of the hotel and between a man and a woman who were big mountains of muscles.

The man declared in throaty growl, "The Lady will receive you at the Hotel's pool, sheriff Kingsley."

He paused. She seemed to delight in teasing him senseless with skimpy clothes and some suggestive innuendo. He was only a man for christsakes. He about came in his pants as she bit him. How was he supposed to focus on his job(s) with her as a constant distraction?

he nodded and proceeded to the back of the hotel towards the little indoor pool. He pushed through the doorway and said, "Miss," Taking off his hat, remembering that she was a stickler for manners, "The townfolks're getting real paranoid. I'm afraid I'm gonna come across one of your people with a pointy stick in his chest unless we think of something soon."

Queen Bethany Elizabeth Aldred

Beth stood in the far corner of the out door pool, listening to the families just on the other side of the privacy fence scrambling to get back into their homes before the ‘evil’ next door snatched one of their precious children and did the unthinkable and had a few for breakfast. Didn’t they know that vampires do not consume flesh?

Unbelievable And to think that they honestly believe a church, holy water or garlic can do anything to them? She could tell them but she knew they NEEDED those things to feel some sense of safety. Who was she to remove their flimsy hopes of protection from an enemy that just didn’t exist within her clan. Frankly she was tired already of the chaos of the human mind. But then again, when life is short for a mortal, their longevity matters to them enough to face danger defiantly and armed with toothpicks.

How long had they been here amongst them, cohabitating without incident? Months! Yet they freaked out, as did the entire world, but what could they do now in a world of tolerance and politically correct behavior? You play upon their sense of fairness because the world is watching and with those eyes on you, you’re untouchable. She had counted on that PC crap to keep her small coven safe, and her gamble had paid off… but not without expenses. Lorenzo would not stop until he had her, whether it would be dead first or wishing she was dead, she didn’t know but she wasn’t banking on finding out either.

She had invested a huge chunk of what she’d saved for decades into buying an entire town that was destitute and about dead as they were when they had arrived. Almost every structure was owned by her, the federal government or state, with the exception of a few houses. She put money in their pockets and even had a new up to date lab installed here in their small town. She created a few hundred jobs that she didn’t have to, but the second she had to reveal their presence to stay alive, they accused her of trying to create cattle. Mindless zombies to feed and glutton themselves on…

Damn movies! The things these people thought of here in Allendale! Some of the minds in this town were down right morbid, she really hated having to meet new people here as it was growing increasingly worse resisting the urge to tell them their thoughts to shut them up. Many were good, kind and decent people but they weren’t any more educated about vampires in this century than they were a few hundred years ago. And Hollywood had only made matters worse! So between the press wanting interviews, the younger generation wanting seduced, turned or made into food, Lorenzo , Ethan Kingsley and the older generation of cross huggers… This place was a fucking zoo!

Well… except for Ethan Kingsley. Strangely his thoughts were his own as she could not pick them from his head as will. With him, all was silent and calm and right in the world. Perhaps it was because he reminded her of someone from her past, and maybe it was simply because he had an honest handsome face? It was more than that, but be damned before she would admit that to anyone, including the man himself! He couldn’t hide from her, though he could keep his own council. His eyes, those expression filled eyes of his gave him away every time.

“What are you doing M’Lady?” Rose exited the hotel, approached on near silent feet and knelt to her knees, lowering her head in a respectful greeting to wait for an answer that might never come. And for awhile it didn’t as Beth stood listening to the life around them, envious of those small voices calling to their mom or dad as they groused about having to go inside so soon.

It reminded her of her own siblings, a twinge of regret and loneliness swiftly stabbing at her but pushed away to turn and greet Rose.

“I am doing as I please, as always.” She motioned for Rose to rise from the ground. “Please bring me a bag, heated this time. I am not in the mood for cold food tonight.” And waved Rose off to do what needed to be done. Soon Ethan would arrive yet again and he would want answers, solutions and sanity restored to his lovely home town. She wished she could give him more than just an amused smile, but she had to protect her kindred. A shame she had to do it here at his expense, but hopefully he would understand in time that they were not monsters… That she was not a monster!

Her meal quickly delivered, she punctured it with her teeth and let them filter the blood into her system. Although she was not hungry, she wished to eat before Ethan arrived, just incase the urge came upon her. She shouldn’t have bit him, she really shouldn’t have fed from him like she had done as it had awoke a beast within her. Now she could not get enough of him and his center of calm. His smile, his wariness and the expressions that played out on his face were all too much addicting, it made her feel for the first time in a very long while.

“The sheriff is here.” A guard announced, burly and grumbling as he stepped aside and let the human in. Schooling her features before turning to the Sheriff, she caught his expression as he tried not to look her up and down. His shock was amusing as she wore something more modest tonight, a cocktail dress instead of that little red bikini he was becoming accustomed to.

“Greetings Ethan Kingsley.” She held out her hand for him to approach her, a gentleman would bow over her hand and place a feather soft kiss upon her knuckles but he seemed perturbed to do so and that amused her as he did it anyway. The use of his given name also seemed to throw him off, or perhaps it was her aloof tone that she used? Either way, she hungrily devoured him as he came towards her, enjoying the pleasure of him standing over her yet again, peering down at her as if she were the most interesting thing in the world.

And perhaps she was?

His heart was beating faster as he came near her, but he was tense as hell. Sure signs of apprehension, but displeasure wasn’t quite on his face but he looked tired tonight.


“Something to eat or drink, Ethan?” She sat into one of those uncomfortable wicker chairs, crossing her ankles and shifting in her seat. She had just given another interview to ABC, and some other network was trying to weasel in as well with some questions but once Ethan arrived, all else was put on hold. This man was the key to the survival of this town, their sanity and all their lives. She might not know how, but she knew he was the key to a happy safe haven here in Allendale. She did her research and his name was respected, his family was founders and he was a good man.

"The townfolks're getting real paranoid. I'm afraid I'm gonna come across one of your people with a pointy stick in his chest unless we think of something soon." He sat down and said nothing more for a minute, merely took her in as she sat staring right back at him.

Too bad those pointy sticks did kill them, as did decapitation; fire and sun could cook them alive. “So what do you suggest Sheriff?” She set about serving the tea and coffee that had just arrived as she had been taught so many centuries before in her momma’s parlor. A lady through and through, perhaps a little jaded but some things you just couldn’t shake, like breeding. She brushed her fingertips knowingly over his as she handed him his coffee, her expression warm and friendly but giving nothing away as their eyes met over the small table.

“Shall I evict the entire town?” She wasn’t giving up what she worked so hard to achieve. No other small town she had come across was so easily defended, nor naturally surrounded by mountainous terrain not easily crossed. She watched him as he watched her, noting the expression on his face as she sipped tea as if she were human as well. “That won’t make for good relations.” Sadness came over her, “There has to be some way to make friends, No?”

IC: Ethan Kingsley

“Greetings Ethan Kingsley.” she said holding out a hand for him to take up.

Ethan paused when he saw her wearing a dress rather than that sinful little red bathing suit she normally wore here at the pool. Though in some ways the black cocktail dress was more revealing than the scant fabric of the bikini. The way the thin material molded to her body, a little on the slim side, but one that wouldn't quit, C-curves and an ass that flared out under the tight dress's hemline in a way that would make even a gay man sport a woody. And the way she used it like a heat seeking missile as she turned to regard him. he might as well pull out the white flag right now.

"Good evening, ma'am," he said taking her hand tenatively and giving it a shake noting how deceptively strong her grip was. He nodded to the other lady kneeling beside, Bethany, "Miss Rose."

Ethan was only a small town lawman. He had simple tastes for a simple life. Beth, Lady Bethany, was so much much more than simple. Hell look up the word 'Complication' in the dictionary and it would have her picture. He wasn't remotely equipped or prepared to dealing with this...woman, and that was what she was-vampire or not-really fucking old compared to his thirty years or not-she was all woman and she somehow churned up so many thoughts and emotions in him that was-confusing-yeah that was the word for it-confusing.

“Something to eat or drink, Ethan,” She asked him as she sat down in one of those uncomfortable chairs lining the little pool like it was a throne.

"Coffee, ma'am." He said pulling out one of the wicker foot stools to sit on and face her. It was all the better at this angle he was finding it much easier to focus on her eyes instead of the tantalising glimpse of cleavage the low neckline of her dress had afforded him at the angle of her sitting and he standing where he was.

Jesus, listen to himself. What was he some hormone-driven teenager again. He was a grown man, damn it. He should be able to look her in the eye without catching his gaze as it moved further south.

what he needed was a lay, a good roll in the sack, to vent some of this-tension-yeah that was a good enough word for it, Bethany was causing in him. He hadn't had a date in-what one-no two years ago-not since Diane Gorton had left town for Portland.

Was it wrong to want, Bethany? Did he a little human hicktown lawman, even have a shot at a woman like her? He didn't know, but by god he was going to do his damnedest to do this job she had maneuvered him into.

He was a simple man, an honest man. He did his job as Sheriff to this dwindling little town as well as he could, and he'd do the liason job for her to the best of his ability too.

"The townfolks're getting real paranoid. I'm afraid I'm gonna come across one of your people with a pointy stick in his chest unless we think of something soon."

“So what do you suggest Sheriff?” Ms. Rose came back bearing a tray of tea and coffee. Bethany poured his mug and handed it to him. Her fingers lingered over his as he took the steaming mug. Her touch was gentle, but there was a firmness there too. He stilled her touch sending unexpected shivers up his arm. He had to be careful not to spill the mug of coffee onto her lap.

He took a cautious sip of the coffee before getting back to business. "Maybe a public community event. A potluck and a dance, where both your people and the townfolk can get to know eachother in a friendly, neighborly setting, but I'm not really sure if that won't blow up in your face either. folk might grow even more suspicious of you if you suggest it."

"Oh," He reached in his pocket pulling out a folded peice of paper. He turned handing it out to Ms. Rose. "In the category of good news for you, Ma'am, Mr. Levinson, the man from the IRS left town this morning. He gave me this note to hand to Ms. Rose for him. He said he'll recommend the special exemption status on the back taxes issue Ms. Rose presented to him to his superiors. That'd be a serious nail in the coffin..." He stopped wincing at the unintended pun before continuing forward, "...It'll be a set back to the Mayor's efforts to file an injunction against you and nullify your real estate purchases in the town if an arm of the federal government the extenuating circumstances with your case."

Ethan wasn't a genius with numbers or money-lord knows not with money-but as he understood it the problem was Bethany had been amassing a fortune for years over several lifetimes. Several seperate lifetimes according to what she dutifully told or lied to the IRS every year for tax time. If they accepted the plan she had Ms. Rose propose to Levinson they'd recognize the special circumstances for Vampires that had assets spanning back centuries. Getting the IRS to recognize that would go a long way to establishing the rights legally and financially for all vampires.

Mr. Levinson had arrived in Allendale to audit Bethany, and he left town as perhaps her best ambassador.

Ms. Rose snickered handing Bethany the note Levinson had left for her assistant.

Rose
You're the best opponent I've ever faced, but you're not quite good enough.
Bishop to E6. I'm taking your Rook, and it will be Checkmate in six moves.

Awaiting your capitulation of the match.
Saul​

"Smart move on his part, but he left his Queen exposed moving his Rook like that. I'll have to look at the chessboard to be sure but I think I can capture it and prove his declaration of checkmate to be a little premature." Her smile widened, "I haven't had as challenging an opponent as Saul in over a century."

Ethan nodded to her, "The big problem is Pastor Wilson in the Presbyterian church. His daughter has latched onto your people as her new way to piss him off. One in particular. One named Dorian. They've been spotted together at the abandoned lumber yard where the teens like to go to make out nowadays. Sarah may be using him as a way to rebel against her father or she may actually have feelings towards him. I don't want to step between two kids in love, but Pastor Wilson's really overprotective of her. If he doesn't think I'm taking care of it he'll do something stupid on his own, and most of the town listens to him. If we're not careful this could be the straw that winds up breaking the camel's back." He sighed, "What makes it worse is I think this Dorian kid of yours may have more serious intentions for him and Sarah. I'm hoping you can have some words with him and explain the situation to him. He's been avoiding me."

Bethany

Bethany let her eyes go to his mark on his throat and let him see where she was looking at him, staring, until he became aware of it himself. Tell tale signs happened when he caught on, his pulse speeding up was merely one of many. She knew pride and dignity well, and looked away to meet his eyes once more as to not embarrass him or stir anger. She felt pleasure at witnessing his need of her, she had almost forgotten what desire felt like. That need to touch and be touched in return, a lover's embrace.

“She is safe with Dorian.” She answered the question lingering in Ethan’s eyes and knew he doubted… they all doubted, even she had some of her own in this.
“She is anemic, her blood is barely supporting her own life force, we will not touch her.. Well, other than to mark her.” Beth shifted in her chair, leaning back and tried to enjoy the sounds of night and the peace it normally brought to her.

“We do not carry disease nor imperfections. We live by strict code and no vampire will sink a fang, raise a nail or harm a hair on the head of another’s … “ her eyes found his again, “property.” A lazy satisfied smile softened her features and again her eyes went to her marks on his throat. If he had known just how safe he was, would he turn slayer and force her hand?

“He has marked her, she is safe. Whether it’s a phase or something tangible between them, he can not force her to accept him. To do so, is death. He can not get her pregnant, he can not give her any illnesses but he would die to protect her. What father could say another, more suitable mate, could or even would do all that?” She hadn’t explained to him their centuries of life and how long and lonely it was. She couldn’t explain to him something he did not grasp, but their lives were of code and honor.. or they were dead.

“He is over one hundred and twenty, I do not think he would risk his life for … “ She turned to Rose seeking the phrase she needed.

“A piece of ass, my Queen?” Rose offered then went back to scribbling something for Mr. Levinson.

“Yes, crudely put..” She turned back to Ethan again and wondered had he caught her meaning? Did he know she had marked him? That he was hers until she died…. Well he was safe from vampire kind, not man kind. Should she tell him crossed her mind but at the same token, she felt it best to keep it quiet.. for now.

“I am weary of living in the ground, as if dead. As are all of us.” Sewers and caves, middle of no where and war riddled lands, icy mountains, anywhere but civilization! She hadn’t read news, watched T.V. before and she had no idea how to drive the automobiles. She hadn’t seen but one movie in her life time, and it was one of those silent black and white things. She had gone to civilization and ended up in a war zone all over again, and now she had more than just her own life to take care of.

“Right now many things are happening. All at once too, I might add. As I am sure you’re aware Ethan.” Fencing around the boundaries of the entire town was being constructed; houses were being built on the furthest reaches of town for the vampires as well as complexes for refugees. Her sanctuary was going to happen, whether they liked it or not.
“I have offered to relocate every one to somewhere more acceptable to them but they refused. The government is ruled by cold hard cash, we all know this.” She paused as Rose stood up from the patio chair, her writing finished.

“I am going to get started on tonight’s agenda.” Rose smiled, her face radiating her excitement over a silly chess game, “I have to email Saul and then I will see to your tasks Beth…” Her eyes shifted to Ethan as she forgot to properly address Bethany.

“Just go.” Beth waved her off, uncaring over traditional nonsense right then.

“Be well, Sheriff Kingsley.” And Rose was off, moving as quickly as possible given the cluttered area of the pool, racing off to email her new boyfriend. Bethany smiled, chuckling a little as she stood up from the lounge chair, watching Rose’s haste to reach her new found partner.

“What do you suggest I do to put the locals at ease, Ethan?” She moved like any predator did, only her gait was sultry and inviting tonight instead of lithe and lethal as she approached where he sat. “Go to church?” She moved around him, her fingertips brushing the back of his hand and up his arm. Swinging around, her hands came down to both shoulders, her thumbs pressing gently at the back of his neck as she began to knead the muscle and cutting off his words.

“I will warn Dorian, I will deny him if it really comes down to it. We all make sacrifices to survive..” Her hands left him then, as she stepped away. “We have lived here five times your human life times, some even longer.. And yet we are the ones who have given all up, adjusted to your fragile needs in order for life to be calm and balanced.” She shook her head, “No more hiding. It’s time we had some rights as well as protection and laws in our favor.” Her hands came back to him then, drawn against her will to keep touching him, to feel the life in him and that heat. “You’re a good man Ethan, tell me how to make this transition go smoothly?”

IC: Ethan Kingsley

Bethany was staring at him, his neck in particular where she had bitten him. he could feel her gaze almost like a ghost of the caress of her lips, He could almost smell that perfume she had worn that night again (why had she stopped wearing it), The wetness of her tongue against the side of his neck, the feel of her long hair slipping against his jaw, the wash of her breath over his skin causing goosebumps to form, the sharp pain causing him to stiffen as she had sunk her fangs in, the feel of her hands tightening on his shoulder as his knees had nearly buckled and she had to support him to keep him on his feet, the subtle draw as she drank from him, the little sounds she had made to let him know she enjoyed the way he tasted, the seemingly accidental brush of her thigh against the tent that had rapidly risen in his pants, and the glint in her sparkling eyes as she applied the band-aid pad he had worn until it had healed up the other day.

Ethan swallowed to wet his suddenly parched throat. His pulse had shot up as that simple lingering gaze had returned him to that moment from a week ago again. His palms were sweaty, and the circular puncture scars seemed to throb wanting to be reopened and drank from by her again.

Jesus Christ, what was she doing to him?

Her eyes raised back up to his eyes. There was a glimmer of knowledge, of humor there. She knew what she had just put him through, and Ethan was pretty sure she had relished it. “She is safe with Dorian.” She told him simply.

Ethan was surprised to find he believed her, was reassured by her statement. Of all of her Vampire clansmen he had met as Beth's liason that Dorian kid had seemed the most-immature. It was strange calling a guy that was actually old enough to be Ethan's great great grandpa immature, but that Dorian kid had struck him as kinda reckless and had a devil may care attitude about trying to be nice with his clan's new neighbors. It was what really worried him about the situation. He could keep Pastor Dennis Wilson under control only if that Dorian kid didn't do something exceedingly stupid like biting sarah or worse getting her pregnant. Yet if Beth told him not to worry he was finding it difficult not to be reassured about it.

“She is anemic, her blood is barely supporting her own life force, we will not touch her.. Well, other than to mark her.”

"Really," Ethan blinked, "I didn't know that about Sarah. I know she's had some health problems before, but I guess she kept her condition a secret. Though that kinda explains why Pastor Wilson is so overprotective of her ever since her mother died giving birth to her." He looked back to her. "Wait. Are you saying you can tell about that kinda thing in people by just looking at us or smelling us or something? What about you? Do you Vampires have health issues we should know about?"

“We do not carry disease nor imperfections. We live by strict code and no vampire will sink a fang, raise a nail or harm a hair on the head of another’s … “ her eyes found his again, “property.”

Her eyes drifted back down to the bite marks she had left there. He nervously adjusted the collar of his uniform under that gaze again reliving the moment once more.

“He has marked her, she is safe. Whether it’s a phase or something tangible between them, he can not force her to accept him. To do so, is death. He can not get her pregnant, he can not give her any illnesses but he would die to protect her. What father could say another, more suitable mate, could or even would do all that?” She told him, “He is over one hundred and twenty, I do not think he would risk his life for … “

“A piece of ass, my Queen?” Rose offered then went back to scribbling something for Mr. Levinson.

“Yes, crudely put..” She nodded to Ms. Rose then turned back to him. There was meaning in that gaze, Ethan realized. The way this Dorian kid had marked poor sickly overprotected little Sarah Wilson was the same way he had been marked him.

"I agree, ma'am," He nodded glad to talking on business again rather than-not business, "Like I said before I don't want to get between two kids if they're in love."

“I am weary of living in the ground, as if dead. As are all of us.” She continued, “Right now many things are happening. All at once too, I might add. As I am sure you’re aware Ethan.”

Ethan nodded, "This town isn't used to things changing as much as they have, not this fast anyway. For years the population's been dwindling, and the economy of Allendale was dying. Then you come in doubling the population and single-handedly revitalising the economic life of the town. Take Ray Goble, ever-since he made his diner on the corner of Third and State street open 24 hours added raw or bloody food to the menu to serve your people he's made enough to be considering whether or not to offer a lease to you so he could expand into the closed down building you bought next door to him. Otherwise he'll have to keep turning people away." He turned to face Ms. Rose. "You should expect an offer from him on it by the end of the week."

He looked back to Bethany now. "He's not the only one whom you've saved from bankruptcy. Ever since the sawmill shut down, alot of sawdust jockeys were out of work until you came and needed daylight gaurds for your lab and warehouses for your synthetic blood packs. Whether they like you or your people or not no one can say you didn't swoop in and save this town from a slow death." He shrugged, "Still there's always going to be some that are scared by so much changing so fast."

“I have offered to relocate every one to somewhere more acceptable to them but they refused. The government is ruled by cold hard cash, we all know this.”

Ethan shook his head at that. "Most of us were born and raised here in Allendale, Ma'am. You folk have been on the move for centuries so I don't expect you to understand the attachment to one place, but the thought of leaving our home..." He shook his head adamantly. "...My great, great, great, great grandpa helped found this town. He's buried in the cemetary on the hill outside of town and every Kingsley since was born, raised, and buried beside him here in Allendale, and god willing I won't break that streak. This town is my home, I won't go anywhere else. I've never even been on vacation outside of Allendale."

Miss Rose left then off to E-mail Mr. Levinson. Ethan wasn't exactly sure what had transpired in the two and a half weeks she and Saul Levinson had poured over books and figures and tax laws, but he was willing to bet it was no longer strictly professional between them.

"Have a good evening, Ms. Rose," He told her as she left.

He looked back to Beth to be surprised how she had gotten up out of the chair so quickly and quetly. She stalked towards him-stalked was the word-like a lioness would stalk up to an unsuspecting zebra on those nature documentaries on TV. Only there was something about that movement in her hips that subliminally told Ethan she had no predatory designs on him other than the kind all women had on unsuspecting men. “What do you suggest I do to put the locals at ease, Ethan? Go to church?”

"I doubt that would be helpful to you, Beth, what with the tone of Pastor Wilson's sermons the past few weeks." He was going to say more. He was going to rise to face her as an equal. To keep a certain amount of distance between them. But all of that was brought to a screeching halt as her fingers caressed the back of his hand trailed up his arm as she glided behind his chair. Beth's hands placed themselves on both of his shoulders her thumbs kneeding the tense muscles at the nape of his neck. Her fingers so close to where she had bitten him before. A finger oh so innocently reached up to caress the top most scar where it peeked over the collar of his uniform's shirt.

"Mmmh," He moaned his eyes shuttering closed as the sensual pleasure of just a neck message and incidental contact of finger to scar tissue. Damn it, she sure as hell knew what she was doing to him. A tent was being pitched in his pants again.

Even her voice was a sultry caress, “I will warn Dorian, I will deny him if it really comes down to it. We all make sacrifices to survive..”

"Hmmm," He murmured at the reminder of anything other than the feel of her hands on him.

She stepped away then making him blink in confusion already missing the contact.

“We have lived here five times your human life times, some even longer.. And yet we are the ones who have given all up, adjusted to your fragile needs in order for life to be calm and balanced.” She told him some steel beneath the sultry velvet of her tone, “No more hiding. It’s time we had some rights as well as protection and laws in our favor.”

He nodded, "All I can gaurantee is that as long as I'm Sheriff of this town you and your people will be treated as fairly as the law allows. My deputies know it too. There will be no double standards of any sort if I have any say in things."

Thankfully her hands returned to kneeding the muscles at the back of his neck and damned if Ethan didn't feel each press and motion of those fingers straight down to the growing tent in his pants.

“You’re a good man Ethan, tell me how to make this transition go smoothly?”

He took a deep breath and shook his head, "I can't tell you that, Beth, I don't know. All I can do is promise I will do my damnedest to see it done for you."

Beth

"I can't tell you that, Beth, I don't know. All I can do is promise I will do my damnedest to see it done for you." His sign caught her attention, his scent already teasing her senses as she glanced down at him to see the rising bulge in his pants. A smile grew across her face, the warmth he created when ever he was around her, spread. Funny a mere mortal could awaken her deadened senses.

She froze momentarily, his words echoing in her mind. As long as he is sheriff. Her system raced, heart pounding harder as the reality of the situation sank in.

He was human!

As long as he was a mere human, how was he to protect and serve and LIVE? Her mind scrambled racing over the fact, scenarios played out as she stood behind him. Thankful he couldn’t see her face from his position, she felt him shift and quickly returned to the massage.

If he were to handle her people, the werewolves, drifters, assassins that were sure to come for them sooner or later. Perhaps she was being too soft, had age finally snapped her mind? It was possible, but doubtful. Could she convince him to hire and train some of her body guard? Had she bit off more than she could chew? Desperation was a bitch, and she hated feeling it breathe down her neck.

Pastor Wilson was becoming a bigger pain in her backside than most with his sermons and paranoia, but she was used to the church pursuing them. Centuries of bigotry would not change over night, especially now that they were SURE the boogey man existed. Would she forever go around and around in her mind over the choice she made? It irritated her, she never had self doubts before in her entire existence until now!

Idly her fingers played with him, molding him and exploring his shoulders, neck and even moving to brush down his uniformed chest. His pulse raced, her affect on him hadn’t changed and hadn’t been enhanced, though he probably believed she had done something to him to cause this. Amusement lit up her eyes, her tone dropping with her arousal to a more husky tone, “You work very hard, Ethan. For them…” Her breasts pressed to the back of his head as she pressed closer to him, “For us.” Came out quietly.

Should she change him? Would that be wrong or right? She had never changed someone who wasn’t already in danger of dying… But wasn’t he? Without him how would this town riot against them? If she did change him, would there be even more chaos in that choice? He had no wife, no children of his own. Did he not want some? The thought was unpleasant and made her anger rise swiftly to the surface.

Her hands went still, gripping him until she felt him tense under her caress. She was dangerous when angered and she was also coming close to hurting him without meaning to as her hands tightened on his body.

“Sorry!” Rushed out, her hands snatched away from him quickly as she took steps in retreat. Jealousy was a new and ugly thing, something she wasn’t familiar with any more.. Or so she had thought so until now. She felt anger at him, for that wife and child in her mind, yet she knew he had done nothing of the sort! Hell he wasn’t even dating, so how could she be angry at him for something her mind conjured up?

“My home, I am told is habitable.” She mentioned in hopes of distracting from her inner thoughts and jealousies. Funny now that she thinks about it, she even purchased a home out in the sticks towards his family’s homestead. She was, without a doubt, losing her frickin’ mind… and over a human too! Which put her mind back to square one, his vitality and the curse it brought.

“How many men work for you, Ethan?” Her tone had that iced edge to it once again, back to business and not pleasure. Hot and cold, she swung that a lot here lately being around him and these people. Hormonal? Maybe if she was a living being… Well they said vampire were undead. No one has ever tested that theory. They can not produce offspring or regenerate blood cells, and so .. dead. Logical answer of course.

“Do you have enough men to deal with a lycan’s temper? Silver bullets on hand? You’re mortal with a mortal’s limitations!” She sounded almost upset as if she had a right to him, his person or his life. “You’ve yet to face off with a vampire, and they’re out there. Covens of them who have no peace treaty, who hate me for coming out and revealing our presence to the world.” She moved around the chair to stand before him, eye to eye. “You could empty your gun into me, and I will keep coming. A healthy, well fed vampire heals far too quickly to slay easily. Do you have a sword to sever my head, fortitude to rip out my heart?” She was shaken, her imagination having gone crazy with possibilities, and all because of one mortal man.

“I am sorry…” She offered, turning from him to stare at the water in the pool as it danced in the darkness. “We’re here for peace but…” Weary already she rubbed the back of her neck, one of the few signs she was agitated.

IC: Ethan Kingsley

"I can't tell you that, Beth, I don't know. All I can do is promise I will do my damnedest to see it done for you."

Her hands stilled and Ethan wondered if he had hit some unexpected nerve with his promise to her. He meant it. If he had to move heaven and earth to see it done he would.

"Beth," He said then her hands resumed rubbing soothing circles into the tense muscles of his neck. She massaged his shoulders for some time. Her hands strayed lower over his chest one hand playing over the golden sheild of his badge the other spreading out over his chest making his breath catch and pulse race.

“You work very hard, Ethan. For them…” She moved and Ethan felt the bust of her dress press to the top of his head. “For us.”

"It's just part of the job," He prevaricated. "Protect and serve aren't just words to me."

Her hands stilled holding him down. Her hands tightened causing a little bit of pain. "Beth," He said tensing up.

“Sorry!” She stammered stepping back from him.

"It's okay," He said rising up and facing her. "We all need to learn to forgive eachother of unintended moments like that."

“My home, I am told is habitable.”

He blanched at the abrupt shift in conversation, but he nodded, "The Dawkins House. It's actually close to my place."

Lowell Dawkins had been the owner of the sawmill and pretty much the wealthiest man in Allendale until the sawmill was closed down a few years ago and Dawkins moved on to greener pastures leaving the town and the majority of its citizens employed by him in financial shambles. His house, that was pretty fair if one called it a mansion, had been abandoned and there were alot of cases of vandalism on it as out of work lumber hands vented their displeasure at their former boss on the only peice of him left behind. When Beth bought the property dirt cheap she had immediately set about hiring the same lumber jockeys to help renovate the place for her. From what Ethan had heard the work would be done by the end of the week.

"We'll practically be neighbors," He continued, "I'll see about bringing over an apple pie or something to welcome you to the neighborhood."

“How many men work for you, Ethan?”

Another shift in conversation topics. "I have seven deputies, so adding myself and Mary Alice at the dispatch desk the Allendale PD has nine officers." He shrugged, "You've met Harry and Joe Gaines, Beth, the others have been serving during the day. They're good men and a woman, I'd trust them with my life."

“Do you have enough men to deal with a lycan’s temper? Silver bullets on hand?"

One more shift. "I can probably buy some at Bob Larson's grocery store though he'd charge me so much I'd be better off being mauled by the pissed off werewolf."

"You’re mortal with a mortal’s limitations!”

"Is that it, Beth, you're worried about me getting hurt?"

“You’ve yet to face off with a vampire, and they’re out there. Covens of them who have no peace treaty, who hate me for coming out and revealing our presence to the world.”

"You never mentioned that before," He put in, "How many of these other covens're out there, Beth? Do you believe they'll try to cause trouble to the town? What kind of damage can one of you take before being put down?"

She moved to stand in front of him. “You could empty your gun into me, and I will keep coming. A healthy, well fed vampire heals far too quickly to slay easily. Do you have a sword to sever my head, fortitude to rip out my heart?”

He shook his head, "No I doubt I'd ever be able to do that to you."

“I am sorry…” She turned to stare at the water in the pool. “We’re here for peace but…” She began to rub at her neck.

Ethan came up behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders hoping he was giving her as good a massage as she gave him. He had never done this but remembered well the movements of fingers and thumbs she had employed on him.

"What you need is a night off, Beth. Take the weight of the world off your shoulders tonight and come with me as I go on patrol." He suggested, "Come on, let me show you my town."

Bethany

"You're right. I am tense." She tried to hold still and let him do as he was with her back muscles but it wasn't in her nature to keep her back to anyone. She fought off the urge to turn around for almost two full minutes, but in the end she had to face him. Slowly she turned, his hands pulling free of her shoulders as her eyes lifted slightly to his face, studying those faint laugh lines.

"There are covens all over the world; almost every major city of the world has a coven within it. Be it a small coven of four, or an army as here in these United States. You could probably find a few here in this state. The majority of the vampires are in Las Vegas, that is the home of the largest vampire coven." She didn't want to give numbers, in truth she had no accurate idea of their numbers but she knew they had at least two for every one of hers.

"Wolves are smaller and tighter knit. It is rare an alpha male is born to break off and start their own pack. Their families range from ten to twenty, rarely are there larger. There are allot of single males out there, most get ran off by the pack leader, be them alpha or not." Did he really care either way? She wasn't too sure he would remember this but the only really important matter he needed was how to kill them.

That too warred within her mind and heart, educating humans on how to slay them, as if they didn't have enough creative ways to to torment them already that she had to go and provide real methods? So she would cower with false fright over churches and holy water, though she could sip it from a glass to demonstrate it was nothing more than tap water. Selfish of her to take away their meager safety nets...

A weary sigh escaped her, "Yes. Let's patrol together. I would like to memorize the routes, the streets and back alleys. Those hidden places where I might put in a safety shelter.. Perhaps a few basements that is unused?" She picked up her cell phone and small wallet she'd been given by Rose which held her newly acquired ID and a thing called a bank card which allowed her to purchase with her money the bank now was stuffed with. She had learned allot in the few short weeks of being 'known', the modern world a marvel and genius for a vampire with twenty four hour this and that.. But she could do without all the noise, smells and chaos.

She fell into step ahead of him, their strides matching as he shortened his steps to her movements. Did he even realize the things he did? The hand at the small of her back, the other at each door he held to allow her through. Old world gentlemen type behavior. It wasn't uncommon, but it was becoming so with each passing year. She waited at the patrol car as he unlocked the door and opened it too for her. Climbing inside, she studied the various instruments, mini computer, lights, switches and on and on.

"Ready?" She asked as he situated himself into his seat and put on his seat belt. He then turned to look at her and stopped short, his eyes on her in a questioning manner.

"What?" She glanced down at herself, was her panties showing? Nothing seemed to be out of place, nothing indecent showing.

"Seat belt?" He asked in THAT authorative tone.

"Seat belt? Are you serious??" She actually laughed, her eyes shooting to his to see what jest he was up to.

"Its the law and we don't move until it's on."

He WAS serious! She grinned, shaking her head at his oddness. She could fly out the window, get ran over... as it had happened before.. and be just fine! Humans are so amusing at times. One minute afraid, then bossy, then mad, on and on. But then again, she could go through the emotions as well, she just didn't attempt to boss a stronger creature around.

"Yes Mr. Sheriff, Sir." She gave him a wink and tugged the belt over her shoulder and across her lap. Pushing it into place, she shifted around trying to get comfortable with a restrictive band across her breasts. Tugging the dress down, moving the belt first to the left then over to the right, she grumbled a little as no position made it less annoying as it pressed to her breasts. Her hands went down and cupper her breasts and bra, pushing it upwards a moment as the belt was seriously bunching her clothing, then gave up and turned to Ethan to complain. His face was averted the other way, his mouth pressed tight together as if displeased. Had he watched her and grown impatient? Her senses flared, a darkness coming to her eyes as she inhaled him in the small confines of the vehicle.

No.. He wasn't mad at all, he was most likely regretting inviting her to sit in his patrol car wearing a cocktail dress, fondling herself in front of him and making it harder for him to sit still. The warmth grew, but wisely she contained her smile ... Well almost, it was faintly there, but the knowing look was in her gaze.

"Ready when you are.." She spoke softly, near a whisper and relaxed back into the passenger seat, her face turned to study his profile. She really should have changed clothes to go on a ride with him, but the wicked pleasure at knowing just how short this dress was and how high the skirt part of it climbed up her sleek thighs exposing more of herself to him.... She was already starting to enjoy herself and they had yet to move out of the Inn's parking lot.

Ethan Kingsley

"What you need is a night off, Beth. Take the weight of the world off your shoulders tonight and come with me as I go on patrol." He suggested, "Come on, let me show you my town."

"You're right. I am tense."

From the feel of the muscles of her neck he could tell she wasn’t exaggerating. She turned to regard him, those shimmering eyes boring into him, through him. She stood there in that barely there dress. So close to him with the moonlight shining through the glass windows giving a luster to her dark sinous hair.

Good God, she was beautiful.

He cleared his throat to help settle himself. “You said there are more…what…covens of Vampires out there, Beth,” He asked more as a diversion to safer subject than…than other subjects, “What…how many are there out there?”

"There are covens all over the world; almost every major city of the world has a coven within it. Be it a small coven of four, or an army as here in these United States. You could probably find a few here in this state. The majority of the vampires are in Las Vegas, that is the home of the largest vampire coven."

“Every major city? There’s that many of you,“ Ethan blinked, “And no one knew you even existed in all this time until your press conference a couple months ago?” He blinked again, “What about the werewolves?”

"Wolves are smaller and tighter knit. It is rare an alpha male is born to break off and start their own pack. Their families range from ten to twenty, rarely are there larger. There are allot of single males out there, most get ran off by the pack leader, be them alpha or not."

“Am I gonna have any trouble with the bunch that took your offer of sanctuary come the full moon next week?”

She looked like she was thinking. Probably on whether answering his question constituted a betrayal of people that she was protecting.

She sighed wearily, "Yes. Let's patrol together. I would like to memorize the routes, the streets and back alleys. Those hidden places where I might put in a safety shelter.. Perhaps a few basements that is unused?"

“Won’t be too hard,” He shrugged, “You own most of the abandoned buildings in town.”

“Well, let’s go then, Ma’am,“ He said putting back on his wide-brimmed hat. They left the indoor pool, Ethan falling into behind her a step subconsciously. He had his hand at the small of her back and the other opened the door for her as they went through the inn.

It wasn’t anything he did intentionally. It was just the way his daddy had raised him and the way his grandpa had raised his daddy. A man was polite to a lady. A man took off his hat when greeting a lady. A man held doors open for a lady. A man was a constant gentleman to a lady, and if Ethan ever stopped treating a lady like a gentleman should he knew his daddy and grandpa both would come out of their graves-god rest their souls- to tan his rear end something fierce.

Not that he had any intention, of risking that with Beth. She was a woman of class and elegance-a lady-capital L. So Ethan treated her with the utmost politeness-though she sometimes didn’t make it easy-he flushed as he remembered the sight of her in that damned tiny, little Bikini she had.

They climbed into the patrol car and he glanced over to her keys in hand poised to turn the ignition. “Beth,” He said leadingly.

"Ready," She returned.

“You’re forgetting something.”

"What?" She said glancing down.

“Seat belt,” He told her trying to convey his intention to her that they weren’t moving until she was well buckled up. After all it was the law and as the sheriff in Allendale he had to maintain a proper example. Not to mention the whole safety issue. Sure she was a vampire and strong and resilient but what was the point in taking stupid risks.

"Seat belt? Are you serious??"

He pointed a finger at her. "Its the law and we don't move until it's on."

"Yes Mr. Sheriff, Sir." She gave him a mocking wink with a grin. She looked gorgeous when she smiled like that.

She pulled the seatbelt and he turned his head to provide her some privacy as she tried to adjust her dress to cope with the unfamiliar sensation of the strap across her ample breasts. He should’ve thought to ask if she wanted a quick change of clothes, but honestly Ethan hadn’t thought about what she was wearing…Did he just actually think that?

"Ready when you are.." Beth informed him settling back into her seat.

“Right,” Ethan smiled to her as he turned the keys and the car engine came to life. He noticed how high that dress was riding up on her thighs of course. Though trying to maintain his poise as a gentleman he turned his face to look away though his thoughts remained on the glimpse of smooth pale thigh he had caught. She shifted in her seat a little more and he had to catch his eyes from sliding down and over to see if anymore of her luscious body was exposed.

What was wrong with him? If he didn’t snap out of…out of this he was liable to get them in an accident.

They pulled out of the parking lot and they traveled down Riverside Road towards the Howard G. Allen Memorial Park and the Red River bridge. Most of the buildings were shuttered up but there were signs of life. Vampires, her people, were out walking down the street chatting amiably with each other. The townsfolk were all holed up in their houses praying for a quick sunrise as her people set about their business making Allendale their new home. They passed several rundown buildings with vampires and werewolves hammering new siding, or repairing roofs, or cleaning out the interiors. There were signs in windows proudly claiming the coming of a Parisian style clothing boutique, a painter’s studio/gallery, even the ancient Imperial Movie theater which hadn’t seen business in forty-two years was being converted into an opera house of all things.

He stopped for the light at the intersection of Riverside and First street. While they waited he raised his hand and pointed out her window towards the statue of a burly man in frontier buckskin and furs at the entrance to the park.

“Howard G. Allen,” He informed Beth, “Founder of the town. He started Allendale as a beaver pelt trading station back in the days of only trappers and Indians around these parts.” Below the statue was a large base with a list of seven names. “The plaque is a list of all the folks that came after him and turned his trading station into a settlement for folks to live. My great, great, great, great grandpa Mathias Kingsley is on that list. My family has lived here ever since.”

The light turned green and he turned onto First street.

Bethany

She nodded her head as he toured her around the small town; she knew the history as she had made it a point to investigate a few small towns before choosing. She had researched for years, including Ethan’s family and all other founders as well as the local preacher. One can not be too careful when it came to survival, especially in today’s society but there were bonuses to it as well. Political Correctness was her saving grace, that and greedy government. Low crime rate, family oriented and tight knit as this town was, it was also easily guarded by its geographical location and surroundings.

“Every where you look, you see the good I’ve brought to this town. Antique dealers, book collectors, scholars and business minded individuals. We’re not different than you, we just live longer.” Okay there were a few more differences between them but all in all, not many to warrant such a panic attack. She chuckled at herself as the steeple of the church came into view, “I even restores the human’s faith in their God, as more are attending than before the witch hunts of Salem.” It bothered her a little that no one wanted to accept them in even these modern times where it appears all would be accepted regardless of differences… Guess it didn’t readily apply to ‘blood suckers’. Still Ethan had accepted her and her kin at face value and word of honor.

“I told you I was creating a sanctuary, Ethan. Do you think we’d come out of hiding after all these centuries if the threat was just the pizza delivery guy?” She hated that she had to keep so much from him and yet resented the need within her to tell him all as well. He wasn’t her enemy, he had proven that…. And yet she still feared he too, in time, would condemn her and her kind.

“We’re working around the clock to protect Allendale and it’s occupants, but they will come…“ A shiver passed down her spine, a premonition she hated knowing before hand and was helpless to stop it. “They will come but due to press and media attention, they will just be more sly about it.” She stared out the window at the passing store fronts, the workers, laborers and friends. “They will…. but the quicker we work and get the boundaries up, technology in place as well as the Identification tags all sanctuaries will wear.. Well we’re doing our best to make sure no harm comes.” But she couldn’t guarantee it and they both knew it.

“The lycan are our defenses in the day light as well as night time. The fifteen here in town are all good men, and strong. You would do well to get to know them and them you, they can be of assistance in handling things. They’ve been my enforcers of law since they began coming to me for sanctuary. I believe they would make good law enforcement here as well.. Rose is working with a few organizations and companies to get additional funding from a few companies we hold stock in, whatever that means... A good tax write off as well, so I am told.. The IRS has a major portion of my funds on hold..” So much to do, it was daunting at times. “The funding would help pay for the extra police force, monitoring the boarders, hazard pay and what not.. Rose handles the financials, I handle the people.. on both sides.” She sighed and leaned back into the seat further, her eyes closing for a few moments, her senses opening up to get more information.

She could hear his heart beating and smell the deodorant, cologne and body wash he had used in his shower today. Now and then the faint sound of his CB radio would crackle to life as a code went out over the air waves between dispatch and another deputy. All in all, it was peaceful in the car and confined… She inhaled again and drew him into her lungs and felt her beastie inside stir. Pulse leaping, she had to remember to keep her hands to herself, but her eyes snapped open as she turned her head to his profile, watching him. At the end of First Street, he turned yet again and continued on his patrol.

“Does it bother you that my home will be so close to your own, Sheriff?” The question came softly, bold as hell and she loved the way his face showed all his emotions, especially the ones her bold question brought forth.

Ethan Kingsley

First street was a short avenue between Riverside and Washington street. They passed the big brick building of the Allendale Bank and Trust, Lois Buckley's Red River Cafeteria closed up and dark with a sign in the door that said 'No blood-suckers allowed'. Right next door however was a renovated building modeled after a french bistro with a sign in its door that said 'Blood-suckers welcome'. It was open and Ethan was pleased to see many people sitting at the tables outside, and not just her people but a few of the townfolks as well including Sarah Wilson and that Dorian kid. Sarah must've snuck out of Pastor Wilson's house again to be out this late at night past curfew.

“Every where you look, you see the good I’ve brought to this town. Antique dealers, book collectors, scholars and business minded individuals. We’re not different than you, we just live longer.” She told him. “I even restores the human’s faith in their God, as more are attending than before the witch hunts of Salem.” She pointed to the church steeple rising above the trees of the park from over on Washington street.

He nodded to her, "Folk're just scared, Beth. Once they get used to you they'll become more and more neighborly towards you and your people, and a lot less reactionary." He smiled at her, "Allendale has good honest folk, here. You just have to have faith in them, like I do. They'll come around to you. I know they will."

They came to one of those run down buildings Bethany had bought up, but instead of being renovated to a new business like the others there was a sign that said 'Watchstation 1'. Atop the roof was a wooden tower with a burly man with binoculars and a walkie-talkie overlooking the town.

He stopped right there and looked over to Beth. "Mind explaining yourself."

“I told you I was creating a sanctuary, Ethan. Do you think we’d come out of hiding after all these centuries if the threat was just the pizza delivery guy,” She answered calmly.

"Why is tonight the first I've heard of your enemies Beth," He nodded to the watchtower, "And this neighborhood watch of yours isn't exactly legal. We both know Mayor Clark would never approve the permits for it, but you should of told me of this enemy and your plans for a private army. Once Mayor Clark sees this he'll blow his top, and he's already throwing up enough obstacles in your way. I could've smoothed it over for you-that was the idea when you recruited me as your liason with the townfolks. Hell, if push comes to shove I could've used an old by-law in the town charter that says I can as town sheriff authorize a militia from town volunteers in the event of an imminent danger to Allendale."

A little upset with her Ethan got them going again approaching the intersection of First and Washington street. "Tell me about them, Beth-these enemies of yours."

“We’re working around the clock to protect Allendale and it’s occupants, but they will come…They will come but due to press and media attention, they will just be more sly about it.” She stared out the window as she spoke watching the people, hers and a few of the townfolks out on the sidewalk the new businesses, the sparks of new life she had breathed into his dying town. “They will…. but the quicker we work and get the boundaries up, technology in place as well as the Identification tags all sanctuaries will wear.. Well we’re doing our best to make sure no harm comes.”

"I know you're doing your best," He told her, "But this is my job, my responsibility. If you've brought danger to my town I need to know as much as I can learn about it from the beginning."

“The lycan are our defenses in the day light as well as night time. The fifteen here in town are all good men, and strong. You would do well to get to know them and them you, they can be of assistance in handling things. They’ve been my enforcers of law since they began coming to me for sanctuary. I believe they would make good law enforcement here as well..Rose is working with a few organizations and companies to get additional funding from a few companies we hold stock in, whatever that means... A good tax write off as well, so I am told.. The IRS has a major portion of my funds on hold..The funding would help pay for the extra police force, monitoring the boarders, hazard pay and what not.. Rose handles the financials, I handle the people.. on both sides.”

"Harry and Joe Gaines have told me about them, but Beth you can't go outside the law on this. It'll be giving the Mayor and Pastor Wilson all the justification they need to kick you back out on your ass." Why did that prospect upset him so greatly? "You have to trust the system, work within the law, and you need to trust me to protect you and your people. Trust me enough to tell me about these enemies of yours."

She sighed leaning back into the seat not answering him. He drove on. The car was silent as he pulled up to the fourway stop at Washington street.

“Does it bother you that my home will be so close to your own, Sheriff?”

He looked over to her, "What makes you ask that? You're a fine and good woman, Beth. I'm sure you'll be an excellent neighbor to me." He chuckled as he turned onto washington street. "And not even you can be a worse blood-sucker than Lowell Dawkins, the previous owner of that house."

They drove down the street approaching the front of the church where a crowd was gathered around Pastor Wilson as he spoke and gestured broadly. The others nodded shaking fists into the air as he did.

Ethan pulled into the parking lot. He got out of the car and looked back at Beth. "Stay inside. I'm going to find out what's going on."

He approached the crowd seeing Bob Larsen stepping up to whisper into the pastor's ear. Bob was also pointing at him accusingly as he did so.

He came up to them saying in a tone that was disarming to any ornriness these folks might have, conscious of Beth in the car. "Evening folks, mind telling me what you're doing here."

"Ethan, son," Pastor Wilson said coming to meet him halfway so Ethan was pretty much surrounded by his fellow churchmembers, "Bob, tells me you've been touched by the succubus trying to corrupt our town."

"Suck you what," He asked bewildered at the unfamiliar term.

Bob pointed to Beth still in the passenger seat of the car, "There she is there."

"You brought this, demon-whore of satan to defile my house of god." Pastor Wilson snarled.

"We should tell her to go back to hell where she belongs," Bob piped up pulling out his shotgun.

Ethan's hand streaked to the holstered gun on his hip. "Put the shotgun away, Bob, now!"

Others were brandishing rocks, bricks, and sticks. Things were going from bad to uncontrollable. "Pastor tell them this isn't the way."

"He's right folks," Pastor Wilson said trying to calm them, but Bob Larsen would have none of that.

"Get the hell out of our town," He snarled at Beth through the windshield of the cruiser as he leveled the shot gun on her.

Ethan's revolver was out now and pointed at Bob. "Put the gun down, Bob."

"It's all her fault, Ethan," Bob told him, his shotgun not wavering, "We don't want her kind here."

"Put the gun down," He repeated calmly but emotion broke through at the end, "Please, Bob, I've never fired this thing on anyone before. Don't make me use it to stop you, because I will."

Beth Kingsley

The shotgun swung in Ethan’s direction and that was all it took to prompt Bethany to move. Before he could fully face Ethan, she exited the car, coming around it and up between Ethan and Bob. Her eyes piercing the night to see his finger on the trigger, the minute detail of the safety being off made her rush blindly. Knowing that both barrels were loaded and pointing at the Sheriff, with the innocent people congregated here in the church grounds set her temper into over drive. She didn’t stop to think nor consider, merely acted on instinct when she grabbed for the weapon. Grabbing the barrels within her hand, she tugged hard, pulling barrel and Bob away from the crowd flanking him and Ethan before him and straight towards her body. Shifting at that last second when the clear first ‘click’ of the weapon’s trigger being engaged.

She miscalculated, certain she was out of harms way if it went off… But she wasn’t quite free as her yanking and his grip made his finger depress the trigger. A loud shot echoed through the neighborhood and all stilled as Bob stared into the eyes of Beth and then lowered down to where his hand gripped the old worn wooden butt of the gun his grandpa had carved for him as a boy. Ringing was loud in her ear, though she had shifted sideways, it wasn’t far enough to avoid being peppered with holes nor the chunk that was missing from her waist and the cruiser’s bumper. Her lips parted, a gasp coming from her as her eyes widened, the pain in her ribs and left side near crippling as she staggered, but she managed to hold on just the same.

People jumped, someone was crying in the back from fright but still her hand wrapped around the barrels and yanked. Pulling it from him, she flipped the safety, popped open the gun and removed the other unspent round, shaking with rage and pain as she debated destroying the weapon.

No one seemed to know how to react, wide eyed with fright and cowering down was every where.
“Are you mad!?” She stammered out, blood boiling with rage as her eyes went from dark black to red. Blood was seeping from her in many places, but nothing was life threatening. She straightened though it hurt like fuck to do so, someone actually yelped with fright in back, the entire crowd once pressing closer for a piece of her, were now back tracking across the parking lot.

“The Stevenson’s children are playing across the street in their front yard!” She hissed at Bob with barely controlled rage. “Old Miz Tilman is on her porch just to the other side. You are SURROUNDED by family, friends, and neighbors! You… Are pointing a GUN at the town’s Sheriff!” had he not thought of any of these things, not once!?

“What if you KILLED one of them, Bob? Huh?” She pocketed the cartridge by reaching out to stuff it into Ethan’s breast pocket of his uniform, her hands still holding the weapon as she debated bending the fucking thing in half.

“Shouldn’t she… Be..” One of the middle aged ladies stared almost dumbfounded at Beth and the bloodied side of her body, the droplets now staining and coagulating on the asphalt.
“What if you had been shot Bob.. What would your wife and son do then? YOU people need to THINK before you start collectively start turning into a mindless mob of stupidity!” She turned then, moving towards the car to sit down as she was beginning to feel weak, and showing that here and now would be a major no-no. She caught sight of one of the elementary school teachers, a nice lady by all accounts who now stood looking torn between rage and tears, clutching a kitchen knife in her hands.

“You too?” Beth was just disgusted with the lot of them, and she let it show on her face. “You have doctors, lawyers and school teachers here who are intelligent people in a good strong profession, building a better future… Or supposedly doing so. Yet you get together and do this?” She advanced on the teacher and some bookish looking young man beside her, both retreated quickly to escape Beth.

“Just disgusting behavior and stupid. Such a waste of life too.” Tossing the gun into the cruiser’s driver side window, she headed off on foot. She needed to get to the blood bank about half mile away or into the forest to find a deer. If she didn’t feed on something soon she wouldn’t start healing. Already smaller holes were closing as her body pushed out the foreign fragments of metal, but the gaping hole in her side would take a hell of a lot more than she had in her and a few days to mend.

OOC: I am so sorry I've put this off so long, Sweet.


IC: Ethan Kingsley

"Put the gun down," He repeated calmly but emotion broke through at the end, "Please, Bob, I've never fired this thing on anyone before. Don't make me use it to stop you, because I will."

Bob started to turn. The muzzle of the gun turned with him swinging towards Ethan. "Don't Bo-" He began to form the words thumb fumbling to pull back the hammer of his pistol in time. He and Bob had known eachother since kindergarten. He didn't want to shoot him.

Suddenly Beth was there between them. Her hand seizing the end of the shotgun and pulling it away. The sound of the shot gun blast echoed through the street now as silent as a tomb.

"Beth," He asked looking down there was blood on his uniform, but he wasn't feeling any pain. Could this be what shock was like? He dabbed at the blood on his shirt with his fingers. This wasn't his blood.

"Beth," he repeated.

“Are you mad!?”

He looked up to find she was addresing Bob. He stammered out with wide eyes, "I wasn't...I didn't..."

“The Stevenson’s children are playing across the street in their front yard,” Beth continued, “Old Miz Tilman is on her porch just to the other side. You are SURROUNDED by family, friends, and neighbors! You… Are pointing a GUN at the town’s Sheriff!”

"I didn't mean to-" Bob shook his head. "If you hadn't-"

She leaned back and placed the cartridge in his pocket. “What if you KILLED one of them, Bob? Huh?”

Bob swallowed, "I-I didn't think-"

"That's right," Ethan nodded, "You weren't thinking, Bob. Always been your problem. Once you get a fool idea in your head there's no room for anything else."

Henrietta Harmon pointed at Beth. "Shouldn’t she… Be..”

Ethan took a step over and saw better glimpse at the wounds Beth had recieved. "Bloody Jesus, Beth," He exclaimed, "You need to go to the hospital."

She spoke out as if she hadn't heard him, “What if you had been shot Bob.. What would your wife and son do then? YOU people need to THINK before you start collectively start turning into a mindless mob of stupidity!”

"Beth," he said as she turned for the car. He came to her trying to wrap his arms around her to support her and to get her back inside the car so he could race her straight to the emergency room.

Instead she pointed at Maxine Ward. “You too? You have doctors, lawyers and school teachers here who are intelligent people in a good strong profession, building a better future… Or supposedly doing so. Yet you get together and do this?”

"Beth let it go," He told her trying to nudge her to get inside the cruiser, "We need to get you to a doctor."

Instead she shrugged him off and stepped forward on Maxine and her son Nicholas. “Just disgusting behavior and stupid. Such a waste of life too.”

She threw the gun into the car and began walking down the road.

"Beth," He called after her.

Bob's hand on his shoulder stopped him, "I'm sorry, Ethan. I wasn't thinking."

"Stop gouging people in your store and we'll call it even," He said shrugging off his hand and swinging into the car. A minute later he pulled alongside where Beth was walking. He lowered the window and called out to her, "Beth get in. I'll take you to the emergency ward."