He walked to the door. Outside, he could see his three bodyguards. He opened the door and gave them a c.o.c.ky smile. "Where have you guys been?" he mocked.

He turned back to Carter. "Don't let anything leak out about this right now. I'll get back to you with the information tomorrow. Put extra patrols on at night. Inst.i.tute a mandatory curfew...no one on the streets after dark until we get to the bottom of this."

"That will not please the proprietors of the bars and..." she began.

"It's my order," Tyler replied. "Have the media announce that it is due to atmospheric conditions that Ruby scientists need to regulate. Put it into place for a week. We'll extend it if we need to."

"Sir," she said.

"Goodbye, Commander," he said and walked out to meet the guards.

Finally in the safety of his bed, Tyler snuggled down into the pillow. "Dino..." he whispered. He hadn't had s.e.x with anyone since he'd been back here in Ruby City. He missed him so much. "Come to me," he moaned. "I need you desperately."

Outside his window, in the deep dark night, he waited, his eyes blazing. "So you are desperate, are you?" he whispered, "me too, desperate for blood."

ENCOUNTERS IN THE NIGHT

Tyler was moaning. He felt the blanket being removed from his naked body, felt the hot breath upon his cheek. Hands moved over the length of him, stroking his flesh, setting it on fire. He tried to open his eyes but he couldn't. He attempted to sit up but it was as if he were pinned to the mattress.

Lips ma.s.saged his chest, encircled his nipples, moved down to his s.e.x and nibbled at it playfully. Then he felt fingers impale him, moving deep into the crevice of his a.n.u.s. An o.r.g.a.s.m shot through him, then another, his entire body going into spasm.

"Bryce," he whispered. "Oh yes, take me...take me..."

"Not Bryce," a voice floated to his ears, "Dino. He is Dino now."

He felt his body being turned over, than lifted into the air. Something sharp grazed his throat, like two needles. It began to pierce through him as a hard s.e.x brushed his b.u.t.tocks.

He began to struggle, the pain in his throat intensifying.

"I'm going to drain you dry. I came here for that, for the moment when I..."

Suddenly, he felt himself falling. He landed with a thud on his mattress. Pushing himself up into a sitting position, he raised a hand to his neck. It came away sticky.

Submerged in total darkness, he could only see shadows as they whirled around in front of his eyes with lightning speed. Throwing his legs over the bed, he reached over to switch on the light. The window was wide open, the sheer lace curtains flapping wildly in the breeze. The night stand and his chair were thrown half way across the room but the room was empty.

He ran across the room to the mirror and examined his neck. Blood oozed around what looked like the beginning of two puncture wounds in his throat. He closed his eyes. Bryce. Bryce had come back here to kill him. But for some reason, he had changed his mind. Or someone had changed it for him. Why would Bryce want to hurt him? But then he had to remember, he wasn't Bryce anymore. He was Dino and he was a vampire.

The following night just after sundown, Dino sat atop of one of the tall buildings in the center of Ruby City and surveyed the scene. The Military and the Sky Police were out in full force, doing patrols every half hour.

Early this morning, the neon signs had flashed the announcement of a temporary curfew. It was a smart move, but unfortunately redundant. The sudden rash of murders that had been visited on this fair city had ended.

Thor and the others had been invited to leave Ruby City for greener pastures. He would do the same as soon as he took care of Tyler Rose.

REUNIONS

Dino jumped down to the pavement and walked out into the parking lot when he saw Seth Murdock land his police vehicle. When Seth saw him, he did a double take. For a minute, he couldn't speak.

"h.e.l.lo, Murdock," Dino said. Aside from the fact that his hair was now much longer and thicker, and his skin more radiant, he pretty well looked the same as he always had. He was even wearing the black leather pants and jacket.

Murdock wrapped his arms around him and hugged him. It felt good. In fact, it felt more than good. It made him hungry. He could get away without killing anyone. He just had to drink a little here and there. It was time to drink.

He hugged him back, then looking deep into his eyes, he said, "I'm just going to take a little bit. You won't miss it. And you won't remember a thing."

Murdock's head went back.

Umm, he thought, Murdock was a nice looking specimen. He ran his fingers along his throat. Since he was technically a free spirit...why not give Murdock what he'd always wanted from Donovan? Dino picked him up in his arms and skirted him in the back of his vehicle.

Slowly he opened the shirt of his uniform and ran his tongue over his chest. He dipped his tongue over each nipple.

Murdock's body twitched some and then lay still.

First, he'd take care of his thirst. Rearing back his head, he brought his mouth down on Seth's throat, sinking his sharp teeth into the vein there. He drank deeply for a minute or two, then pulled back. Sliding his tongue over the wounds, they instantly healed over.

Now it was time to wake him up. "Seth," he said, snapping his fingers. "Wake up, lover."

Seth opened his eyes. He looked up into his face with surprise, then noticed his shirt was spread open.

"Do you want me?" He asked him softly, looking down into his eyes.

Seth's chest heaved suddenly. "Yes."

Dino smiled at him. The taste of his blood lingered in his mouth. He lowered his mouth again to his throat, kissing him there then bringing his lips down to his nipples again. He tasted each one, than reached for his pants. Undoing them, he lifted his hips and slid them down to his knees. His gaze ran over his s.e.x.

Seth looked up at him. Bryce Donovan - fondling his c.o.c.k in back of his police vehicle he would have never guessed it in a thousand years. But here he was, and he was even more stunning to look at than before. He reached out and caressed his skin, his hair. His hair was longer, so shiny, and his skin, so soft.

And the things he was doing to him now with his hands and his mouth, his tongue. His entire body was on fire. And then suddenly, he was inside of him. It seemed as if he was being lifted off the seat. His long hard deep thrusts made his entire body ache for more. He cried out, as his body lost all control. It was being used as an instrument for his pleasure, and in return, it felt as if he were being f.u.c.ked by three, four men at the same time. And it went on and on until he wasn't there anymore.

When he woke up, he was alone. He was dressed and sitting in the front seat of the vehicle. He had several messages from headquarters. "Where are you, Murdock?"

Suddenly, he pressed on the screen. "Here. What is it?"

"You won't believe this but the Commander just walked in the door," Carter said. "Donovan is back. He's alright."

Seth started to laugh. He felt hysterical. It was true. He hadn't dreamt it. Bryce Donovan had f.u.c.ked the h.e.l.l out of him in the back of his patrol vehicle.

It took Dr. Talbot longer than he thought to research vampires for Tyler Rose. When he finally did give him the information, he looked doubtful. "It's dated. They were thought to be extinct." Tyler nodded. "I know. It's alright. Anything will do."

When he phoned Carter the following morning, she took his call right away. When she answered, she was laughing.

"What is it?" Tyler asked her.

"Something incredible has happened, Mr. Rose. Our long lost Commander has come home."

Tyler gripped the phone. "Bryce?"

"Yes. He walked in here last night, looking none the worse for wear. He managed to escape. And our vampire scare is over."

"Oh?"

"Seems there were a few people living on The Planet of the d.a.m.ned, like you said. Bryce said they were madmen who thought they were vampires. Apparently, he had an encounter with them on his way back here, and sent them on their way. They are someone else's problem now. So, I guess you can call off the curfew."

"Really," Tyler managed. "Where is the Commander now?"

"He had to go home and sleep. He said he was really tired."

Tyler took a breath. It had been Bryce who had come to him last night. He had tried to kill him. He wondered why he was still alive.

Tyler said a hasty goodbye and hung up.

Tears stung his eyes. He hadn't said anything to anyone about the break-in. Given the impenetrability of the mansion, he didn't think anyone would believe him anyway. And of course there was another reason. If he had been Bryce...Dino...well...he didn't want anyone to hurt him.

Bryce had tried to kill him. Each time he told himself that, he felt actual pain. After racking his brain for the reason, he could only come to one conclusion. Those words Ethan had forced him to say, somehow they had penetrated. Bryce thought that he'd betrayed him. He had to find him. He had to tell him the truth.

THE CLUBS

Since the first moment he had been summoned to Ruby City, he had been here to work. But, no more. Finally, he would get to savour the delights that abounded here.

Earlier he had spoken to Carter who was disappointed to hear that he was not returning to the military. "I don't even think you can do that, Bryce," she said as they sat together in a little coffee shop in the center of Ruby City.

"Well, I've paid my dues," he said deeply. "Technically, I'm dead, remember?" He grinned. She'd never fully grasp the nuance of that joke!

She shook her head. "I'm sure I can get you an honourable discharge, given that you are now legally a citizen of Ruby City. Jack Rose did give you the papers?"

"He promised me," Dino said softly. "I never saw anything in writing."

"Umm, I'd contact Tyler Rose and make sure that..."

He gave her a harsh laugh.

"I know it's hard to believe but he is the supreme ruler," Carter cautioned him.

"I arrested his a.s.s more than once. He's the supreme idiot if you ask me."

"Bryce," she looked around, "you can be thrown in prison for that."

"Yes, such a democracy we live in, the epitome of free speech and liberty. And you wonder why I don't want to risk my a.s.s to protect this place anymore?"

And what a nice a.s.s it is, Sam thought. Gorgeous was saying it lightly. And lately, well, there was something else...he was just so s.e.xual...his hair, his eyes. Um. d.a.m.n, she should have accosted him back on Sentra. "Nevertheless," she gave him a faint smile, "you do need him to give you the official doc.u.ments." Dino tightened his lips.

"You know," she said, "in his speech when he took over for the old man, Tyler Rose appeared as if he was going to loosen things up a bit."

"He's loose alright," he told her with a smirk, "but not in the way you might imagine." He stood up now when she gave him a curious look. "Well, Sam, since I am just an ordinary citizen of this fair city tonight, I'm going to give it a taste."