Part 13

When it comes to playing a smarmy superhero who thinks he’s all that, is there anybody in the world you call besides Nathan? – Joss Whedon

Emily blinked and looked around. She looked down at Chad and rolled off him. She crawled weakly over Cal and fell against him. “Are you okay?”

Cal showed Emily his hands, his eyes red and swollen. Emily sighed and glanced over at James. “Come on, let’s get you cleaned up.”

She stood Cal up and took him into the adjoining bathroom. Emily turned on the faucet and held Cal’s hands under the water. She washed off the blood as quick and fast as possible.

            “I killed him.”

            Emily looked up at Cal. “What? No you didn’t.”

            “Did you see my hands? That’s not my blood. It was James’s.”

            “He’s not dead,” Emily said, still washing Cal’s hands. “Just sleeping.”

            Cal pulled back, flicking water everywhere, spattering everything with pinkish dots. “Sleeping? What am I? Twelve?!”

            “No, I was just—”

            “No, just leave me alone.” Cal sat down against the tub. He was careful not to put his head in his hands.

            “No.” Emily sat down next to Cal.

            “What are you doing? I could kill you.”

            Emily snuggled up to Cal. “I know.”

            Cal sighed. “You’re going to be here no matter what I say, aren’t you?”

            “Yep.”

            Cal smelled Emily’s hair and leaned his head on hers. “You’ve got a real problem, you know that?”

            Emily only smiled.

            It wasn’t long before they were both asleep in a tangle of limbs on the bathroom floor.

            Arthur woke up not long after. He saw immediately that Cal and Emily were missing. He heard that the faucet still running and ran in hoping that someone hadn’t drowned in the bathtub.

            The two were still curled upon the floor together. Arthur let out a breath he didn’t know he had been holding. He bent down to wake them up when he remembered James.

            Arthur rushed out and kneeled down next to James. He felt James’s neck, which was crusty with drying blood. James’s pulse was beating so rapidly that Arthur was startled. He felt it again to make sure he wasn’t imagining it.

            Arthur took a deep breath, feeling slightly woozy, his neck still hurting. He walked back over to the bathroom holding a hand to his head.

            “Cal, wake up!” he rasped, shaking Cal’s shoulder.

            Cal stirred and pulled Emily closer.

            Arthur huffed and shook Emily’s shoulder. “Emily, wake up!”

            Emily grunted and opened one eye to glare at Arthur. “What?”

            “If we don’t hurry to the hospital, James will die,” Arthur croaked.

            “He’s not dead?”

            “He will be if we don’t hurry,” Arthur tried to sound angry.

            Emily nodded and shook Cal. “Wake up! Wake up! We need to get James to the hospital.”

            Cal blinked blearily. “He’s not dead?”

            “Nope!” Emily replied happily.

            Cal jumped up while Arthur and Emily struggled to their feet. Cal walked out and picked up James. He looked over at Chad and leaned back toward where Arthur and Emily were struggling with each other.

            “Hey! Arthur, wake Chad up. He should probably come to the hospital too.”

            Arthur nodded and walked over to Chad. He kicked the big man’s boot-clad foot nearly falling over in the process. Emily steadied him. “Hey, you. Get up.”

            Chad shook his head and blinked a few times. “What’s going on?” He tried to get up, but grunted in pain and grabbed his back.

            “Yeah, that’s why we’re going to the hospital,” Arthur leaned against Emily again and the two walked slowly out of the room after Cal.

            Chad got up gingerly and hobbled after everyone.

            A few minutes later, Chad’s SUV pulled into the Emergency Room parking lot. Cal hopped and ran into the building. He was out a few minutes later with a few wheelchairs. He put James in one propping him up. Cal helped Arthur put Emily in another one. The billionaire offered one to Chad who shook his head and stood up as straight as he could. Cal rolled his eyes.

            Arthur pushed Emily’s chair into the room and Cal soon followed with James. They were met as soon as they came in.

            A pretty nurse, who name tag said Isabella, came out and said something in Italian. Cal quickly replied in kind.

            Arthur tried to follow the conversation and wished he remembered something from his Italian classes at Vyren Academy. He turned to Chad. “Do you know what’s going on?”

            Chad gave him a look that made it clear that he thought Arthur was a moron and no, he didn’t know what was going on.

            “You don’t talk much.”

            “Don’t need to,” Chad replied, shifting his weight onto his other foot; his thumbs hooked into his belt.

            Since he couldn’t follow the conversation, Arthur took the time to study the nurse. She had her dark hair pulled back in a bun. She had a fairly average face, not too skinny, not too fat. She was the same height as Cal and it looked like with a curvy figure. Arthur figured she seemed nice from the sound of her voice.

            Cal walked back over. “The nurses are going to take you to your respective rooms, which will be near each other.”

            “How do you know?” Arthur asked.

            “I’m Cal Hardwick.”

            “Why did I even ask?” Arthur said and turned to Chad for backup.

            The muscle-for-hire only raised an eyebrow and didn’t respond.

            Arthur felt his cheeks heat up and wished that James was awake to back him up or make some snarky comment or… something that James always did.

            The nurses came out and helped them all to their rooms; two in each – James and Emily in one room and Arthur and Chad in the room next door. Arthur and Chad weren’t in their room for long however. A doctor came and checked them out. Nothing was seriously wrong with them so they were released after being bandaged and walked into the room with Emily and James.

            Arthur scratched at the bandage around his neck. “This is not comfortable.”

            Chad was rewrapping his bandage. “Morons don’t know what they’re doing.” He pulled it a lot tighter making him look skinner and making him stand straighter.

            Cal was sitting on a chair between James and Emily’s beds. He glanced at Chad “I’m fairly certain that it was loose for a reason.”

            Chad gave Cal a hand gesture that made it clear what he thought of the billionaire. Cal only snorted in amusement and shook his head.

            Emily glanced over at the men. “Why don’t you guys go get something to eat?” She yawned being close to dreamland.

            Arthur glanced at Chad and shook his head. “I’m not hungry.”

            Cal rolled his eyes. Emily nodded and closed her eyes.

            Isabella came bustling in and pushed Arthur and Chad out of the way. The two backed into an available corner, but not without a growl from Chad. Isabella gave him a reprimanding look and Arthur was surprised when Chad looked slightly abashed.

            She turned to Cal and spoke. Cal shook his head and replied.

            Isabella looked at Cal, took in James’s death like pallor and shook her head.

            Cal scrutinized her before nodding. Arthur looked to Chad who shrugged.

            “It’s all Greek to me.”

            Isabella was busy taking James and Emily’s vitals. She checked under James’s bandaged throat. She pulled back the gauze and furrowed her brow. She walked over to a drawer and pulled out some scissors.

            “What’s she doing?” Arthur asked.

            “I’m not sure,” Cal answered and stood up.

            Isabella started cutting the bandage away. She pulled the gauze away and gasped.

            “What? Che?” Cal ran over and stepped back. He muttered something under his breath.

            “What?” Arthur rushed to James’s side and couldn’t see anything wrong with his neck. What are they gasping about?

            Isabella said something in Italian, crossed herself and ran out of the room.

            “What’s going on?” Arthur asked, frustrated.

            “The bite marks,” Cal whispered. “They’re gone.”

            Arthur realized he had been looking at pale, unblemished skin. “Wow. Amazing. Do you think that means he’ll wake up soon?”

            Cal nodded. “I do.”

            Emily rustled in her sleep and Cal was at her side in nearly the blink of an eye. He looked her over once before gently laying a prolonged kiss on her forehead.

            Arthur raised an eyebrow.

            “What?” Cal said. “That’s the way to tell if someone has a fever. Hands are good, but lips are better.”

            “Sure, sure…” Arthur looked over at Chad who had sat in a vacated chair in the corner they had been backed into by the nurse. His head was laid back against back rest. He was sound asleep. Arthur felt a smirk tugging at his mouth. Not so tough now, are you?

            Isabella came back in with two doctors and three nurses in tow.

            “That’s a lot of medical people,” Arthur noted.

            Cal nodded and he and Arthur backed away, bumping into Chad. Chad grunted, but remained asleep.

            Isabella was pointing at James’s neck and speaking very rapidly in Italian.

            “What’s she saying?” Arthur asked Cal.

            “Shh. She’s talking too fast. Uh… vampire… massive blood loss… miracle… I think she may have just called James the … the… cacciatore di vampiri?” Cal chucked.

            “Cachatori de vampiri?” Arthur asked

            “Vampire hunter. Someone that’s destined to kill supernatural creatures, vampires, werewolves and such. If I remembered correctly, and as much as I hate to admit it, I probably don’t. Legend says that this ‘killer’ will be strong and kind and pure. James is none of these Especially not pure,” Cal replied. “He’s no more a Vampire hunter than I am.”

            “Hey! James is nice. He may not be the other things, but he is kind,” Arthur responded.

            “Still. Not a Vampire hunter,” Cal said and watched the doctors check James.

            The doctors eventually shrugged and walked out. The three nurses that had followed them in, followed them back out.

            Isabella walked over to Cal and spoke to him.

            Cal turned to Arthur. “She wants to know where we have been.”

            Arthur shrugged. “Tell her the truth.”

            “Un hotel,” Cal replied.

            Isabella nodded and hesitated before speaking in halting English. “He is vampire hunter?”

            Cal laughed. “He’s not a vampire hunter.”

            “How you know?”

            “He’s not pure.”

            “Come lo sai?”

            “I’ve met some of his, uh, partner di sesso,” Cal replied, a smug look on his face.

            Isabella’s eyebrows hit her hairline, but she nodded and left.

            “What did you say?” Arthur asked.

            “Just told her the truth. James isn’t the Vampire Hunter. She didn’t believe me though. The thought that there is one is too deeply ingrained in her mind for her to believe me.”

            Arthur nodded and sat down in a chair in the corner next to Chad. Cal sat back down between the beds. Arthur slouched down in his chair to take a short nap. Through his nearly closed eyelids, he saw Cal gently take Emily’s hand and squeeze it.

            “Mi dispiace sto ti ho fatto male, amore mio,” Cal whispered to her.

            While Arthur didn’t know what the billionaire said, he couldn’t help the smile that graced his sleepy face.

 Author's Note: HAHAHA! See I told you I'd get the next chapter up sooner. I apologize if the Italian is wrong. You can only blame Google and their translations as I don't speak Italian. Still, overall, I do like this chapter.

Part 12

“You know what they say, ‘the corpse you find may be your own’.”

“They do not say that.”

“Well, mind you, it is hard to speak with six inches of knife sticking out of your face. Mostly they just gurgle… and bleed.” – Black Mage, Thief (8-bit Theater)

            The three flipped around to face the voice. A body was wedged in the darkest corner of the room where the walls met the ceiling.

Sabrina smirked at them. “Miss me, lover?” She jumped down and sashayed over to Cal and Emily. “Going somewhere with my juicy little strawberry?” The vampire pulled Emily closer to her.

Emily stumbled in her weakened state and fell to the floor at Sabrina’s feet. She grunted in pain and a tear escaped her closed eyelids.

“Right where she belongs,” Sabrina drawled and stepped over Emily to be only inches away from Cal.

Arthur had taken a step toward Sabrina. Now’s my chance, while she’s distracted with Cal, he thought and took another step.

Sabrina put her hand out behind her to stop Arthur. “Don’t even try, darling. You make way too much noise to ever sneak up on the likes of me. Besides, if I could kill Cal with my pinky toe, imagine what I could kill a weak mortal like yourself with.”

Arthur stopped dead in his tracks. “Can I at least help Emily?” Why am I asking her permission?

Sabrina sighed dramatically. “I suppose. If you feel you must.”

Arthur walked over to Emily and picked her up. He laid her on the bed and sat down next to her. Must protect her.

“What do you want, Sabrina? Why all this subterfuge?” Cal asked quietly.

He always seems to be unsure of himself around her. Unsure and childlike, Arthur mused.

“Pet,” Sabrina said drawing out the e. “I thought you wanted to see me,” She ran a fingernail down Cal’s cheek.

Cal shivered at the contact and closed his eyes. He took a deep breath and steeled himself. “I thought I did.”

Sabrina smirked and stepped closer to him. “You know you do, Sugarbear.” She stepped closer until their bodies were flush against each other. “You need me,” she whispered.

Cal gulped and closed his eyes. “I don’t need you.”

“Come with me,” Sabrina said and ran her hands through Cal’s hair. His eyes fluttered open. “Become a full vampire. Conquer the world with me and my maker.”

Arthur could see the hardened look in Cal’s eyes melting. “Cal, don’t listen to it. She’s lying to you. She only wants to kill you.”

Sabrina glared at Arthur. “Silence or I will kill you.”

Arthur glared right back. Emily whimpered and Arthur’s attention went back to the vulnerable woman at his side.

“Don’t let her kill him, Arthur,” Emily whispered.

Arthur opened his mouth to reply when Sabrina cut him off.

“Like he could stop me if I felt like doing anything.” She turned her attention back to Cal. “Now where were we?”

“I was still wondering what you want,” Cal answered.

“You. Nero Domitius Hardwick. You,” Sabrina whispered. “I want you.”

Cal took a deep shuddering breath. “Sabrina, I…”

“Shh… Just let me take you away. Let me take you to a dark place, suck you and fill you with my luscious blood. We will live forever in our youth. Be forever beautiful,” Sabrina murmured seductively.

“Please, I…”

Arthur glanced at Cal worried. By the tone of Cal’s voice, he could tell Cal was giving in. What do I do? I can’t leave Emily here. She’s so weak. She needs to get to a hospital. I can’t take on Sabrina. The vampire is way too powerful for me. I can’t convince Cal either. He’s too fixated on her almost like cocaine.

Arthur was thrown from his thoughts when he heard voices coming in the front door.

“No way. Astronauts would totally win,” Arthur heard James say.

“Cavemen are much more powerful. What could an astronaut do that a caveman couldn’t?” A deeper voice said, who Arthur assumed was Chad, unless James had picked someone up at the hotel bar.

Sabrina paused in her whispering and pulling Cal gently toward the window. She muttered something under her breath.

James and Chad walked over into the kitchen area and sat down across from each other to continue their debate.

Sabrina looked at Cal who was watching her as if in a trance. She glanced at Arthur and Emily. “You make a sound, you die.” Arthur saw Sabrina’s mouth move, but no sound came out, and yet, he heard her perfectly. “She makes a sound, she dies, got it?”

Arthur glared at her and looked out into the kitchen. They aren’t that far away. Emily said that vampires move in the blink of an eye, but I think I could at least make a noise before it got over here. Arthur took a deep breath and started to yell, but only got out a peep. Sabrina was at his side in a moment.

“Are you prepared to meet your maker?” Sabrina ‘said’ viciously. She picked Arthur up by the neck easily. “Out the window for you.”

“I was hoping you’d do that,” he whispered, the bed squeaking as she lifted him off. Sabrina froze.

“You hear that?” Chad said cocking his head toward the bedroom.

“Uh, no,” James said. James, you idiot, Arthur thought.

“I heard a squeak. Bed’s don’t squeak less someone is on them. No one’s supposed to be in here,” Chad replied and got up to walk to the bedroom. James sighed and followed him. They both stopped at the sight before them.

Emily, weak and curled into herself on the bed, Cal, standing in a stupor before a partially opened window, and Arthur being held a few inches above the ground by a woman half his size.

“Well, this looks fun,” James said with false merriment.

“Sabrina?” Chad questioned.

“Chad, I pay you to keep me safe and yet, these two snuck in while you were getting drunk with your little homosexual friend. You will not be paid for your work here. You’re fired.”

Chad looked at James.

“She’s a vampire.”

A look of comprehension dawned on Chad’s face followed by skepticism.

“No, really. Have you never seen her drink anyone’s blood?”

Chad shook his head. “No. Have you?”

James looked bashful. “Actually, no, but Cal is half-vampire, so I know it happened.”

“Half-vampire? You’re shittin’ me.”

“Hello? Can we get back to the situation at hand?” Sabrina said irritably. “Chad, you’re fired. Take James and get out.”

Arthur was starting to get light-headed from being held up by his neck. “James, Chad, help.”

“Sorry, fired,” Chad replied and walked out of the bedroom.

“What can I do, Arthur?”

“I-I… get Cal,” Arthur choked out. Sabrina squeezed slightly and Arthur gasped for breath.

James ran over to Cal. “Cal, hello?” He waved his hand in front of Cal’s face. “Not again!” James quickly kissed Cal.

No response.

James kissed him again.

Nothing.

Sabrina laughed and squeezed Arthur’s neck tighter.

Arthur gagged, his vision going blurry.

“Cal, come on, buddy. Please. Work with me. Wake up!” James said, desperation flooding his voice. “Arthur, it’s not working!”

Arthur tried to nod weakly. “S’okay.” James stood straight. “No, it’s not! You can’t die on me! I have to snap Cal out of this!” James picked Cal up in a surprising display of strength. “Cal Hardwick, I may be madly in love with you, but if you don’t snap out of this daze I will throw you out the window.”

Cal hung limply from James’s hands.

The edges of Arthur’s vision started turning black. I never thought I would kick the bucket this way. Interestingly enough, I’m about to be killed by the woman I was desperately in love with for most of my life. I’m oddly articulate when I’m about to die, Arthur thought and shrugged in his head as his body was too weak.

James was shaking Cal wildly, tears streaming down his face. “Wake up, Cal. Wake up!” He kissed him again and again. “Cal, I love you. Wake up, you stupid vampire!”

Cal immediately took action and grabbed James by the throat. The whites of Cal’s eyes quickly became blood red. If Arthur could see, he would have thought they became very festive. He growled low in his throat and squeezed James’s throat with his left hand.

Arthur vaguely saw a grin light up Sabrina’s face. She’s enjoying this.

“Cal, please—”James gagged and clawed at Cal’s hand. “It’s James.”

“Hey, I should be paid because I stood guard at that door all day and all night for two days,” Chad said walking back into the room. He looked at Cal holding James’s throat in a vice-grip. He took two strides over and grasped Cal’s shoulder. “Let go of—”

Cal pushed Chad with his right hand into the baseboard of the bed, which broke around the big man’s body. Emily rolled onto Chad and both fell still.

James gagged again and Arthur was only holding on by a thread himself. Is this what the world will soon be like? Vampires taking over the world? I’ve failed.

“Cal… James… Please…”James’s tears fell onto Cal’s hand and rolled down his wrist to drop to the floor.

Cal growled again and brought James close to him. His eyes were ruby red as he bared his now pointy canines. He sunk his teeth into James’s neck and drank deeply.

James closed his eyes and took as deep a breath as he could. “I’m sorry I never accepted you.”

Cal’s eyes slowly faded back to normal and he dropped James’s body on the ground. Cal looked at his hands. They were covered in blood. Cal gagged and turned away.

Sabrina dropped Arthur, who was still slightly conscience. She walked over to Cal. “Don’t worry, pet. It’s always messy the first time. Now, don’t freak, but I’m going to suck all your blood and fill you with mine.” She pulled Cal close and ran a hand down his face. “It will all be better when we’re together.” She pushed his neck to the side and bent down.

Cal glanced down at his bloody hands and James’s body lying on the floor. He looked around the room at the destruction and back to Sabrina. “No!!” Cal pushed the vampire away with all his might and she smashed through the wall into the living room.

“Cal, let me make you a vampire,” she said climbing back through the wall.

“No!” Cal grabbed her and spun her out through the window into the dusk. He watched her fly a few dozen feet before bounding off toward the river. The billionaire sank to his knees and stared at his hands. “What have I done?

Author's Note: I admit, I'm not happy with this chapter. I think it sucks cheese, but I've been working on it and I can't seem to make it any better. So any and all constructive criticism would be VERY helpful. I'll try and get the next chapter up faster.

Part 11

 I may to foolish things, but at least I do them with enthusiasm.

A few hours later, after James and Arthur had met back up with Cal, they found themselves back in Rome. Cal had made some excuse about the Inn not being good enough and he needed a five-star hotel. Also, that if Emily wasn’t there, what was the use of staying. Arthur suspected it had more to do with painful memories than needing a gold plated bathtub.

Cal drove them to a hotel and left the car with the valet. Arthur and James, who could never hold a grudge against Cal, followed the billionaire to the elevator. He had apparently called while Arthur was helping James. Or he has a regular room always ready for him, Arthur mused. The ride up was as awkward as the ride back had been. Cal had never apologized for anything in his life and he wasn’t about to start now. James had forgiven Cal, but wouldn’t ever tell him that and Arthur didn’t know what to say to either.

They got out of the elevator, but Cal stopped them and walked to the end of the hall to peek around the corner. He motioned for Arthur and James to join him.

 About halfway down the hallway stood a man, dressed immaculately in Armani. Or what Arthur assumed was Armani. He looked to be a few inches shorter than Arthur’s six foot one frame. He had short dirty blond hair cropped close to his head, military style. He looked as if he hadn’t shaved recently and as if he had more weapons on him than Air Force One.

“Who’s the hottie with the bulging bicepts?” James asked.

“Chad Moran,” Cal answered with a slight sigh. “Hired hitman slash bodyguard of sorts.”

“Oh great. That’s wonderful!” Arthur said sarcastically.

James and Cal looked at him in surprise.

“What? Am I not allowed to be sarcastic?” Arthur replied anger tingeing his voice. Why am I angry? Too much time in cramped quarters with these two maybe.

Cal had a bemused smile on his face and James held up his hands in defense before peeking around the corner.

“His muscles are huge, but not in a scary gross steroid kind of way,” James said.

“Focus, James. We are not talking about his looks,” Arthur said. “How are we going to get past him?”

Cal pointed in Chad’s general direction. “Someone needs to distract him.”

            “How are we doing to do that? None of us are women,” Arthur pointed out.

            “How do you know that’s how he swings?” Cal replied, his eyebrow raised, a smirk gracing his features.

            James smiled. “Is he really? I could seduce him. He’s hot. Look at those muscles. I think he may be more muscle-y than you,” he said to Arthur.

            Arthur peeked around the corner and shook his head vehemently. “No, he’s not.”

            “Are you kidding me? He looks like he was made out of pure testosterone without all the hair,” James replied.

            “So James,” Cal said clapping James on the lower back. “Are you up for this?”

            James glanced around the corner and nodded vigorously. “Hell yeah.”

            Cal gave him a nudge around the corner. “Then get to it.”

            James waltz out into the hallway with a grin on his face.

            Arthur turned to Cal. “Are you sure Moran’s gay?”

            “Oh, I know he’s not. Chad Moran is very straight.”

            “What? And you let James go out there?!” Arthur said. “I’m bigger and stronger. I could have taken him.”

            Cal nodded and grinned. “I know, but this is funnier and will make a good distraction. Now, shut up.”

            Arthur grumbled, but did as he was told. The two frenemies watched silently as James walked up to Chad swaying his hips slightly. Arthur strained to hear what James was saying to Chad, but they were too far down the hall and talking in voices too low for him to hear.

            Cal snickered quietly. “Stupid homo.”

            “What? What’s going on?” Arthur asked.

            “You can’t hear them?”

            Arthur shook his head. “No, too far away.”

            “Chad is just too damn straight and he’s a trained assassin.” Cal paused thoughtfully. “And he’s probably banging Sabrina.”

            “And you’re okay with that?” Arthur asked surprised.

            “It’s not like I can do anything. Plus, have you seen him? I’m a flaming heterosexual and I’d tap that.”

            Arthur snorted and looked around the corner. “They’re coming! Crap! What do we do?”

            Cal looked startled before screwing up his face trying to think of something fast.

            “Hurry! I can hear them coming,” Arthur whispered.

            “Shut up!” Cal pulled Arthur against him and threw his arms around Arthur’s neck burying Arthur’s face in Cal’s neck and his face in Arthur’s neck just as James and Chad rounded the corner. James stopped dead in his tracks his mouth open in astonishment.

            “I… What… Why?” James said.

            Chad walked back from where he had stopped. “What’s going on? It’s some people making out.” He grabbed James’s bicep. “Are we going to get that beer? Or did you want to stand here and show me that you’re into voyeurism?”

            Arthur took a deep breath and blew it out slowly trying to stay calm. The adrenaline was starting to make his six foot one inch body cramp from bending down to Cal’s much shorter level.

            Cal shivered. “Don’t do that,” he hissed in Arthur’s ear and gritted his teeth.

            Arthur scrunched his face and tried not to move as James finally closed his mouth and followed Chad’s insistent pull. As soon as the freakishly tall man had vanished down the hall, Arthur rolled off Cal and sank to the floor his back to the wall.

            Cal looked at him and sneered. “What? You’ve never been that close to someone as hot as me before?”

            “No, I’ve never been that close to getting my life taken away,” Arthur said his hand over his heart.

            “So, you are saying that my bear I sent after Sabrina all those months ago didn’t scare you at all.” Cal said crossing his arms.

            Arthur rolled his eyes. “You know it did.”

            “I know. That’s why it wasn’t a question.” Cal looked after James and Chad. “Ya know, I didn’t actually think that would work. Apparently, I’m smarter than I think I am.”

            “No, you just got lucky.” Arthur stood up. “Come on, let’s go see if the vampire has Emily.”

            “I also need to talk to Sabrina.”

Cal and Arthur walked down the hall to where Chad had been standing guard. They stopped in front of the door and Arthur took a deep breath. He took hold of the door handle and turned. He stepped forward and almost ran into the door as it was locked.

            “Have you never stayed in a hotel?” Cal shook his head. “Sometimes I think you’re as dumb as James and that worries me. You need a key to get in, moonbrain.”

            “Moonbrain?”

            “Yeah, anytime I call you something weird, just go with it,” Cal said and pulled a keycard out of his back pocket.

            Arthur pointed at it, confusion written across his face. “What is- How did you—” He hesitated and closed his mouth. “Do it with the desk clerk once?”

            Cal scoffed. “No, I don’t need to sleep with everyone to get my way, Arthur. I’m just that extraordinary.”

            “Sure, sure…” Arthur moved out of the way to let Cal open the door.

            Cal took a deep breath, his hand on the handle.

            “You sure you want to do this?” Arthur asked. I don’t know if Cal will be okay after this. The vampire isn’t Sabrina even if he thinks it is.

            Cal nodded. “Yes, I’m positive.” He turned the knob and opened the door. It opened into a suite. Cal nudged Arthur into the room.

            Arthur hesitantly stepped into the room and looked around. The living room area was clear of people. The couches, coffee tables and giant flat screen were almost glisteningly clean. It looked as if no one had been there since the maid had cleaned.

            “It’s clear,” Arthur said.

            Cal stepped into the room and looked around. “You check the kitchen, I’ll check the bedroom.”

            Arthur nodded, Of course you’d pick the bedroom, and walked into the kitchen area. It was to the left of the living room through a small doorway. As he walked in, it was clear that no one had been in this room either. He decided to check the cupboards anyway.

            “Hello? Vampire?” He whistled like he was calling a dog and smiled to himself. He opened all the cupboards and shrugged. I knew she wasn’t here. None of these cupboards are very big so unless someone was in pieces…He let the though drift off. Arthur looked at the small cupboards trying not to imagine Emily in tiny pieces, leaking out on the floor toward his shoes.

            Arthur took a deep breath and walked out of the room away from the imaginary blood. He crossed the living room and saw Cal standing in the doorway to the bedroom. He walked up behind him and put his hands on Cal’s shoulder.

            Cal jumped and blushed a pale peach color.

            “You okay?” Arthur asked.

            “Yeah. Let’s go.” Cal opened the door all the way and stopped in his tracks.

            Emily was tied to the bed. Her arms were anchored to the headboard with sharp metal handcuffs. Her legs were tied to the baseboard with sturdy string. She was blindfolded and gagged. She was almost perfectly still and her skin was pasty white.

            “Is she dead?” Cal whispered.

            Arthur walked over and felt her neck – very cold – for a pulse. “It’s there, but it’s very weak.”

            “We need to get her to the hospital,” Cal responded and walked over to the bed. He grabbed the handcuffs and forced one open. “Get the twine.”

            Arthur stepped over to the foot of the bed and started untying the string. It seemed to be easier to try and untie it from the baseboard since the string was digging into Emily’s ankles. Cal gently pulled off the blindfold and Emily started struggling and shaking her head.

            “Cal, can you hold her still so I can undo this?” Arthur asked trying to undo the knots Sabrina had tied.

            “I’m a little busy right now,” he replied trying to take the gag out of Emily’s mouth. He eventually glared at her and succeeded in removing the material.

            “No! It’s a trap! You’re not supposed to be here! Hurry leave before she comes back!” Emily pleaded. “Tie me back up and leave.”

            “I come all the way to Italy, wander around the countryside for a day, get molested by Arthur and you want me to leave you here? I don’t think so.” Call pulled the other handcuff open.

            Arthur untied the twine from the bed leaving it wound tightly around Emily’s ankles.

            Cal helped her up and gave her his long coat to warm her. He rubbed her arms. “Are you okay to walk?”

            “I- I think so, but you need to leave.” She pushed him away as much as she could. “Hurry before she comes back.” Emily pleaded with the billionaire.

            “No. I’m half-vampire. I could kick her ass. I have to get you to a hospital.”

            A quiet click sounded outside the room. Arthur stepped back into the doorway and looked at the main door. I thought I heard the door open, but it’s still closed so apparently not. Arthur shrugged. He leaned against the door frame and watched Emily and Cal argue. He figured they had enough time before James and Chad came back for the two to get this out of their systems before they made their escape.

            “You’re only half-vampire, Cal. She’s a fully-fledged vampire and has been for weeks. Sabrina is much more practiced and stronger than you.”

            “I’m sneakier.”

            “She could kill you with her pinky toe.” Emily’s eyes had started to fill with tears.

            “She’s right you know,” a voice said.

Author's Note: Sorry this is much later than the last chapter was posted. I will try and get the next chapter up sooner. Please tell me what you think.