What Big Teeth You Have

Khaat was glad their short mission to Brazil was over but as happy as she was with Brian and her children and her life, she found her mind wandering frequently back to Enrique. She had been careful not to call him by first name around Brian because she didn't want him getting the wrong idea. Brian had been overly protective where Enrique was concerned and had tried to turn the earth practically off his axis to get Enrique to let her go. But Enrique had never attempted to deceive her. She knew what he was, and on top of that, he was gentlemanly, refined, a scholar, graceful, and affectionate. After all, he had let her go almost anywhere in the castle.

Her mind wandered to the night he'd arranged a fine dinner. Dancing, just the two of them. He was handsome, and for some reason, he seemed to have been in her dreams now more that she was back than when she was in Brazil.

She had been at Sparks tonight, writing paychecks, her attentions divided and unfocused. She was glad when it was done. She was the last one at the bistro, and it was late. She left by the kitchen door, locking it and starting down the alley, when she heard a noise behind her. A soft noise, but enough to make her turn around. And in the shadows she clearly recognized the profile.

"Enrique?" she asked softly. "Is that you?"

"I missed you," he said, stepping out of the shadows, elegant as always. "I just had to see you. Am I...disturbing you?"

"Oh no," she smiled. "No, no. I was just finishing for the night."

"It is a very dangerous place. Your husband is a fool to leave you alone, but then again, you can take care of yourself, I know," he laughed. His laughter sounded like music in her ears. "You must let me see you home so I know you're safe." A rustle in her spirit seemed to unsettle her for a moment. Brian was adamantly protective over their home. It was unplottable, and he had placed layers and layers of protection spells around it, and they had been reinforced by her father. It was a fortress. Brian would come unwound if she brought 'HIM' into it even for a moment. She hesitated. Brian wouldn't like it. But--perhaps...perhaps if it were only for a moment...perhaps if Brian never found out, then it would be alright--just this once.

"Querida," Enrique said softly, sensitively, his hand brushing her cheek. "Is he treating you badly?" He had started to borrow the Spanish term for her one night after he had read her part of a Spanish love poem to her and had translated it to her.

"No," she smiled, laughing slightly. "Not at all. He's a good man. He is just very careful." Enrique had smiled when she laughed.

"I'm sure he is, and I am glad you are well cared for. I have missed you, though. You are such a treasure. The castle is not the same without you in it,and it is much too far for friends or visitors. I have thought about you often."

"Did you really come this far for me?" she asked.

"Would I not?" He asked. Then he seemed to have some amusement in his eyes. "Well, and I came to add to my collections."

"What collection this time? I don't know if you will find any more of those odd green swords here."

"Enchanted blades," he corrected her again on this. She could never get that right. "The light from the blades make them quite the conversation piece and they are very valuable."

"They must be. You wouldn't even let me touch them. I haven't seen any swords that glowed green before yours. Or did you come for one of your other collections? Your collection of people? You still never answered me if I was part of your collection."

"Yes I did," he laughed. "You are not part of my collection. You are simply my Querida. As for the blades, I told you. They are merely very..sharp. They might cut you."

"I didn't think you'd be bothered by blood."

"I'm not. Oh, I'm not. But, you...I would much prefer not to see a scar of any sort on you." His hand drifted to her neck. That uneasy fluttering started again but then she saw he was looking right in her eyes. The uneasiness seemed to melt away completely as she looked into his eyes. "I insist," he said in that slow, melodic voice that was so soothing. "you really must let me take you home."

What was it about his eyes and his voice that seemed to make her heart come to a complete stop? What was it that made her want to tell him yes when all the while she knew Brian would have been saying no in the strongest possible term?

"I do insist," he repeated, emphasizing every word.

Khaat was ready to speak the words. The words of consent to take him into her safehaven. And a voice interrupted them. A spell? And then someone addressing Enrique? Her eyes had been locked onto Enriques, and then she saw his head turn at a speed she had not ever seen before, turning in the direction of the voice. Khaat looked too and saw Ne'Os there. She was confused. She felt power of some sort rising up in Enrique. She looked in his face. Had it..darkened somehow? Something had changed.

"Is this..one..someone you know, Querida?" Enrique asked, gripping her arm, and it felt a bit too hard. He had not taken his eyes off Ne'Os. She hesitated, but perhaps that was a mistake. He laughed sardonically. "You did tell me you have many friends, Querida, but I do question some of your choices." Then he spoke to Ne'Os. "The human female is none of your concern. She is already mine."

Khaat frowned. Human female? He had always used terms of endearment towards her, and right now the grip on her arm was too hard. It was going to bruise. He had never hurt her. She looked up at his face. Enrique was bearing fangs. He had never done that before either.

She looked at Ne'Os. something wasn't right. Not if Ne'Os was here, challenging Enrique for her. Then she replayed Ne'Os's words in her brain. Spell? What? She was bewitched? Her brain flooded with questions.

"Leave us now, and you might live, Human," Enrique said in a low, serious voice.

"Tell me the truth," she said to Ne'Os. She had to make a choice, and of the two, she knew Ne'Os better.

"Enough!" Enrique ordered quickly, almost as if he had not wanted time for Ne'Os to reply to her."She's mine!" He still had a grip on her arm when he more or less threw her behind him. The force was strong enough that it hurled her backwards quite a distance and into the wall of the opposite shop. When she hit the ground, she was momentarily stunned. She could do nothing but watch. Enrique's wand seemed to suddenly be in his hand and he was firing at Ne'Os. And Khaat did not believe, for a second, he merely wanted to politely sit Ne'Os on his butt.

Khaat watched as Enrique seemed to simply dissolve into thin air. She had never seen someone just, well, dissolve. He reappeared only a moment later, only gone long enough to dodge Ne'Os's spell.

What the heck did he want to know what color Enrique's eyes were? They weren't back or red, she thought. They were a beautiful cocoa brown. At the question, Enrique laughed.

"She knows I practice the dark arts, Young One," he said. "Is that what you want to know? Come and brave me for yourself if you dare. She knows. I told her. She does not fear the dark arts. You are not her husband. I've seen him. What I don't know is who are you, Mr. Dark Magic? And what do you want with a married woman?" He paused and then said. "Know this. I do not ever give up what is mine. There are a lot of other human females, and this one will never be yours, even if I did go against my own nature. Her human male will come for her--again, and again, and again. Go home, little human--before I do not give you any more chances."

"This is not the time for a business deal," the older vampire said. "It seems we have different goals. I want her. You want me. You say you don't want her. " He laughed. "Isn't this a bit different? And what makes you think I can't have both right now if i choose? Imagine that happy little threesome. You have very little to offer me that I want. And you do know that I do have the power to change your life forever.

"Presume for a moment that I would agree to let her go tonight. I can come back for her any time I choose. I will not release her. Are you certain you have any clue what you're asking for?

"I find mortals so short lived, I keep very few of them in my collection. Even if I were to keep you, I dont know that I would want you to be a mortal. We would need to correct that flaw. So tell me. Would you rather hand her over, die now, or never die at all? Because one of the two of you will change your lives forever tonight."