"Aiding you, he becomes my enemy." Brovik took Kurt's face into his hands, speaking softly, "You made this transaction. Tell me where you wired the money, and you can die holding her in your arms."

As hard as it was to agree, he didn't give Brovik what he wanted. He looked at his master, face in anguish. "I have nothing to tell."

Brovik released Kurt as if his skin was made of burning acid. "Gentlemen, the lady is yours."

"Brovik, this is very bad form!" protested Ethan. "I have the right to a proper execution. Since she's mine they can't touch her. I demand her essence before you take mine."

"The time for formalities has pa.s.sed, Ethan." Brovik turned his attention to me. "As for her, you cast her off. She's my property now."

"Let us die in the old way."

"Not enough sun here to finish the job. You'd rot for hours. It's a mercy to do this quickly."

"We have a right to die under the sky and see the sun. I have no great desire to live on this Earth, but I should like to feel the sun on my face once more before I die. Besides, do you really want her blood on your hands?"

Ethan was crafty. If there were any chance Brovik would die, it would have to be this night. We'd never have another chance, because we'd be dead. If Brovik would agree to kill us in the ceremonial way, there might be a chance. I had to prod him in the right direction. He'd know if I were telling the truth about the discs, so I decided to do just that.

I spoke up. "I stole computer discs with DNA sequences on them."

Brovik walked up to me. "Is this the truth?"

"Yes."

"Where are they?"

"In a locker at the Port Authority, the key is around my neck."

He hesitated then unzipped my jacket, drawing out the key on its silver chain with his knife. Brovik's one flaw was his ancient tendency toward superst.i.tion. He didn't want to touch me for fear I'd somehow rise up and murder him where he stood. He really would prefer Ethan do the actual deed.

"It's true," I said. "Ask Kurt."

Kurt met his master's gaze head on. "I helped her hide them."

"I knew she'd turn you." Brovik motioned to his dogs. "Take them outside. Prepare the pyres."

We were dragged into the bitterly cold night. The aurora wavered ghostly over our heads, as they forced us to our knees. I kneeled between Kurt and Ethan, shivering as Kurt took my hand.

"Don't be afraid, Mia."

"I'm sorry I've dragged you down with me. It's time, Kurt. This is the night. It ends tonight."

Kurt turned to Ethan and said, "The knife. He'll give you it to cut her throat. Do it cleanly."

"I know how it's done," Ethan replied.

Brovik came out to us, carrying the large knife by its beautifully carved whalebone handle. His unbound hair whipped about his face in the wind. "The woman first," he said, handing the knife to Ethan.

At that moment, Kurt launched himself at Brovik and knocked him down, as Ethan whirled and beheaded the two guards. Brovik threw Kurt off like a rag doll and faced Ethan. Kurt s.n.a.t.c.hed up one of the rifles, and shot the other two guards who ran toward us from the piles of wood they were preparing, and then whirled toward where Brovik grappled with Ethan. He raised the gun and took aim, but Brovik rushed him and broke it in two, crushing the other weapon to bits beneath his feet. Ethan threw himself on Brovik, shouting, "Kurt, take her into the house and lock it down! Do you hear me? Run!"

Kurt grabbed my hand and pulled me back toward the house, as I screamed, "No!"

I turned my head to see Brovik hurl himself at Ethan, and tear the knife from his hand. They fell to the ground struggling. Just as we cleared the door to the cave serving as a garage for Brovik's collection of cars, Kurt hit a switch on the wall that brought the steel security shutters down around the windows and doors.

I tried to grab for the switch, but Kurt pulled me away. "We can't leave Ethan out there!" I screamed.

"Mia, this is what he wanted! Don't you see?" Kurt took my hysterical face in his hands. "I hated him, but I understand why he did this. He had to. It's his redemption." I broke down crying in a heap on the floor. Kurt wrapped his arms around me and tried to comfort me. "Hush, he'll finally be at peace, while we have many more trials to face."

We huddled in the cave, numb from the events until the sun rose and set again. Outside, we followed a blood trail through the snow to the boat. We found two bodies...o...b..ard, disfigured and lifeless, only the hair, fair and dark identified them. Necrotic flesh, overcooked meat covered in a putrid jelly-like substance, fell away from the bones. I turned and vomited while Kurt held me.

Kurt found a can of gasoline in the boathouse and poured it over the deck. Then he started the motor, while I waited on the dock. Kurt lit the gasoline, and flames leapt up over the boat. He jumped out onto the dock, and set the boat adrift on the fiord. We watched, hand-in-hand, as the burning craft disintegrated and sunk below the icy water. Kurt's troubled eyes blinked back tears, as it finally slipped out of sight.

Suddenly, the sound of a helicopter thumped toward us and we began to run."

Mia looked up, a single tear running down her face.

"Ethan sacrificed himself for you?"

"One hundred and sixty-eight years he walked this planet, then nothing. Poof, it's all over. Now do you understand why I'm here?"

"I'm sorry, Mia."

"Vampires aren't supposed to cry." She wiped her eyes. "Gaius knows we're here somewhere. It's only a matter of time before he puts this all together."

"That's why this place is so well protected."

"If Gaius succeeds, the average mortal's life won't mean a thing. Immortyls will inherit the earth. Genocide on a scale never seen before."

"How did you manage to finally get here?"

"Philip hid us for a while in London. He was shocked of course, but understood why we acted as we did. He gave us money to fly here. We hid with another group of rats in LA until Leisha was ready for us. Little did we know she was building us a prison here... "

"All that data. It will save years of work. If she agrees to allow you to be together, you'll give it to her?"

"That's all it's going to take."

"I'll get her to agree," Joe said.

Mia looked doubtful. "I wouldn't be so sure."

"I'm not going to let her get away with this."

"I don't want that b.i.t.c.h Loy there when I talk to her." Mia subsided into silence, her thoughts far away again.

Joe felt it was best to let her alone now. "Thanks Mia, I understand things a lot better now."

She looked up, her misty, mirrored eyes reflecting Joe's image. "You're a good man Joe. You tied yourself to the mast and resisted the siren."

TWENTY-TWO.

Lydia stood in her office, attired in the lab coat Joe suspected she wore to bed, while Leisha gave him an appraising stare. He'd never seen anything like her. She was cold and frightening, over six feet tall, athletic, and a h.e.l.l of a lot bigger than the two in the cells.

"Doctor Ansari, a great pleasure to meet you. I want to personally thank you for your work with the female subject."

"Her name is Mia."

Lydia shot him a warning look. "Joe has established quite a rapport with our subjects. If it wasn't for him we wouldn't have gotten this far."

Spooky amber eyes fixed on his. "You've made great strides. You've begun looking into their empathic ability?"

"It appears to stem from a biochemical transmitter stimulating the brain, to produce a psychic vibration so to speak, echoing the feelings of the donor inside of the receiver."

"No magic involved?"

"Well, we aren't quite sure how they transmit to the brain so rapidly or what component in the blood they latch on to. We need to isolate it. It's my guess that hunger floods the transmitter into the brain. I'm still reviewing the data on tests we made. Hopefully we'll be able to track it down."

Leisha smiled her chilly smile. "I'm thrilled but it's just a start. There's so much still to be done."

Joe took a deep breath. "Cut the c.r.a.p, Leisha Leisha. Mia's told me everything. I know who and what what you are. It doesn't take a genius to figure out why you two sent me in there." you are. It doesn't take a genius to figure out why you two sent me in there."

Leisha leaned her long body languorously against the doorframe, while Lydia hovered anxiously in the background. "Well, Mia has has told you a lot, except the thing we need most." told you a lot, except the thing we need most."

"It's very simple. Put them together again and they'll talk. And don't give me that safety bulls.h.i.t. It's Kurt. You really hate him. He risked his life to make this happen, and you sent me in to cause tension between them. They both want to talk to you."

"I was planning on it, after I reviewed your notes."

"No, Mia wants to see you now, and she wants me there."

"What business do you have with us?"

"From what she tells me every person on this planet has a stake in this. I guess she doesn't trust you, can't imagine why."

"No need to be sarcastic, Doctor." Leisha straightened up her long frame. "Fine, I have nothing to hide. Let's go."

Joe turned to Lydia. "Not you, she specifically stated she didn't want you."

Leisha nodded to Lydia. "Lydia, go home and get some rest. You've done a superb job here. I'll call you in the morning."

"If you're sure there's nothing else?"

Leisha's voice was a caress, "No, please go home. It's getting late."

It's going to be interesting, Joe thought as he followed Leisha through the hall to the cells, wishing like h.e.l.l he didn't have to witness this catfight.

Leisha had special clearance to the cells. She stepped forward, saying her name and the series of doors opened to her. Mia stood, dressed in a leather bustier, pants, and boots, a pint-sized dominatrix. Very hot Very hot. Leisha's eyes scanned the room then rested on Mia's face. They looked hard at each other, not a glimmer of emotion pa.s.sing over them.

Leisha moved to embrace Mia, but she hauled off and slapped her across the face. "You lying b.i.t.c.h! He risked everything!"

Joe braced for something ugly to happen, but Leisha's face registered nothing at Mia's outburst. She replied with exaggerated patience, as if to a small child, "He could do us great harm. I worked with him for over ten years, Mia. I know a h.e.l.l of a lot more than you think. He did lots of ugly things to please his master. How many mortals died for not keeping their mouths shut? Your boy gave the instructions to the dogs, and paid them off. I'm not taking orders from that little p.r.i.c.k again. If he influences you, he'll run roughshod over me, and if you'll excuse me, you know nothing."

"Kurt and I've discussed our views on this enterprise in depth. We're on the same page philosophically. We've all done ugly things, Leisha Leisha. Why do you think we want to end this nightmare? Guess what? I'm not giving up those discs unless I get what I want. Clock is ticking. Gaius has a six-month jump; Brovik's data is languishing in files no one but Kurt can access. It's up to you. Keep us prisoners here and slog for years to catch up or bring us together and expedite this process?"

Leisha was beaten. It was scribbled untidily over her face. "You swear you'll give me the discs?"

Mia nodded. "Give Kurt his laptop and he'll get you the rest."

Leisha handed Joe a set of keys. "Doctor, the computer is locked in Lydia's cabinet. Obviously, our people haven't had any luck hacking his files. Mia, come with me."

"Gimme a minute. I haven't seen him in a month."

Mia crossed to her dressing table, picking up her hairbrush and running it through her hair. Pheromone spread through the room, as she rummaged in her drawer for lipstick to apply to her mouth.

Joe ran to Lydia's office and found Kurt's laptop locked in the cabinet. He caught up with Leisha and Mia at the outer door to Kurt's cell. Leisha moved forward to open the door. Joe handed the laptop to Mia. She winked mischievously. What was she trying to tell him?

Leisha opened the outer door and buzzed the intercom. Kurt came up to the gla.s.s. A long look pa.s.sed between them before Leisha broke the silence. "Kurt."

"Leisha, you finally got everything everything you wanted." He held his wrists out toward her. "What else is there but the blood in my veins?" you wanted." He held his wrists out toward her. "What else is there but the blood in my veins?"

"Don't be ridiculous, all I want is the data. We're losing time."

He snapped. "Whose fault is that? I never should have trusted you."

"What choice did you have? You were persona non grata persona non grata. It made sense for us to join forces."

"And you separated us, because we'll join forces against you?"

"It was a mistake. I've brought a peace offering." She opened the door and stepped aside as Mia moved forward holding the laptop. "She's here to stay. Now maybe we'll get somewhere."

Mia dropped the computer onto the desk, falling into Kurt's arms with a strangled cry. They covered one another with frantic kisses.

It was an intensely private moment. Joe felt uncomfortable, yet oddly touched. In the soft light, they looked like young lovers. He glanced at Leisha to gauge her reaction to the scene. The bronze statue gazed enigmatically through golden eyes. Was she was feeling anything?

Her honey-smooth voice interrupted their embrace, "So, where are my discs?"

Mia pulled away from Kurt breathlessly, withdrawing a key on a long silver chain from her bosom. "Port Authority- couldn't go back." She turned back to Kurt, their bodies locking onto each other, opposite poles of two magnets. "You got your G.o.dd.a.m.ned discs, Leisha," she snarled. "Now get the f.u.c.k out of here."

Joe nudged Leisha. "Leave them alone now."

She nodded and turned to the door, placing her fingertip on the reader. Kurt waited until they cleared the door, then snapped off the lights so all that burned was a small bedside lamp. Joe took a final glance over his shoulder to see them fall in a tangle on the bed.

Leisha's face remained unreadable as they walked back to his office. "I have to leave for New York tonight Doctor, but I need to ask a favor."