Author: catstark

From Protector of the Grey House:

Lorraine waited for her child to realize the decision had already been made. When he shook his head and backed away, she smiled impishly. Natalia stood off center and Lorraine charged, since she had the advantage.

Natalia saw Lorraine move before Vincent was completely out of the way, but it didn’t matter. When the smaller woman hit her, Natalia simply fell back and threw the vampire off her with her feet. She was up before Lorraine was, barely. Lorraine charged again but this time, Natalia grabbed her arm and used the woman’s momentum to swing her into the crowd. Lorraine crashed into Rowland and Maxine, who stopped her fall and helped her up. She turned back to Natalia, who simply waited.

Vincent watched as Lorraine walked to face off with Natalia. He gnashed his teeth, and thought about stopping the unfair fight, but Natalia was doing fine. Had she a sword, she would be winning. As it was, she held her own. When Lorraine started to circle Natalia, Vincent grew nervous. Lorraine didn’t fight much, but she was deadly up close.

From Protector of the Grey House:

Joseph shook his head. “It may be best not to take a vampire or anyone from this household.”

“Because you don’t want Vincent to think someone else betrayed him.”

“True.”

“Then why ask if I want an escort?”

“I would assign someone if you felt it was better.”

Something clicked in her mind. “And the longer we take, the more you can assess me.”

“Yes.”

She sighed. “Are you satisfied?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll go alone. I have to get my keys and money from the bedroom.”

“I will go with you.”

“Thank you. I’m going to take my phone, but buy a prepaid one along the way. Once I get the prepaid one, I’ll send you a text with its number and turn off my phone so I can’t be tracked.”

“Good plan.”

She nodded, gave Joseph another defeated look, and closed her eyes. She took a few deep breaths, then stood tall and gave him a determined look. “All right. I’m ready.”

Joseph nodded and led the way out of the dungeon.

From Protector of the Grey House:

Charlie changed back to human before he touched Natalia. He saw the blood on her back and hissed in sympathy. The wounds on her neck and back bled freely. He had scratched her up in his haste to kill the creature. Natalia was out cold, perhaps thankfully. Charlie ripped her shirt up more than it was and hurriedly pressed a makeshift bandage to her neck. The blood held it in place, and he turned into wolf form. Charlie did his best to lick her wounds clean, changed back to human and used the rest of her ripped shirt as a bandage for her back. It was too dark to know if he had done a good enough job, and the place reeked of death and decay. He worried about infection, but there was nothing he could do.

Charlie gathered her in his arms, and wondered how the hell he would be able to get her out of here. He looked up and knew, beyond doubt, there was no way out. He sighed, settled himself comfortably against the wall and cradled Natalia. He had to wait for help, and would keep his hand over her neck bite to staunch the bleeding. It was the worst wound. Rebecca knew where he was. It was a small hope, but it was hope. He learned long ago, that when it came to Rebecca, he could hope without worry. She would find him. He sighed again, kissed the top of Natalia’s head and started the long process of waiting.

From Protector of the Grey House:

“Calm yourself Mierka, he was only doing his job.” Vincent turned from the window, and regarded the only silent one in the room. As always, Joseph kept his opinions to himself, until he had Vincent’s ear only. Since he wondered at his loyal friend’s thoughts, he caught Mierka and Anthony’s gazes. “Leave us. Go and train. We’ll join you shortly.”

The two left without a word; this was not a new situation. Joseph stepped out of the corner he almost hid in and poured himself a glass of brandy from the mini bar.

“You never ask my permission.” Vincent accepted the glass Joseph handed him.

“You have a case of this in your cellar, which I gave to you.”

I’ve struggled with whether or not to write about this for a while now. For years, really. I think it’s finally time.

On December 31 ,1994 I had an abortion. I was 19 and pregnant with my fiancé’s baby. (He would become my husband then late husband.)

Though some would say it’s not important why I was pregnant, I think it’s very pertinent to what it going on right now with Roe v Wade. I became pregnant because we didn’t use birth control. That’s it. End of story. I was, as I said, 19, in college and didn’t want a kid.

At the time, I lived on a college campus in the Midwest. The town didn’t like that women had the right to choice in Illinois, and there was only one place to have an abortion. The clinic always had protestors.

I found out I was pregnant while visiting my family for Christmas. They still lived in San Francisco, CA. Where abortions were done in a fucking HOSPITAL. And there were no protestors. None. Not a fucking one. AS IT FUCKING SHOULD BE.

The experience was emotionally painful for a lot of reasons, but that’s not why we are here today.

I am telling my story because I am one of the many, many women you don’t want to have rights. And I’m not one of the “special cases”. I wasn’t raped, this wasn’t incest, this was two young adults being stupid and getting pregnant.

All people should have the right to safe and legal abortion. I don’t care what the reason for it is. You and I deserve to be safe and deserve to have the right to control what happens to our own bodies.

The end.

From Protector of the Grey House:

Nevertheless, the disquieting feeling was almost overpowering.

It subsided as the limo drew closer to the house and he let himself relax. Perhaps it was just anxiety. He pushed it to the side and allowed himself to rely on the women who ran his house. The car finally stopped, and the back door opened to reveal Lorraine in a black silk robe. Vincent was the closest to the door and went straight for Lorraine. He kissed her on the cheek, and stepped back to admire her in her rather inappropriate outfit.

“Sire. Your warriors have returned.”

“There is blood if you need it.” She announced to the group at large. She linked her arm with Vincent’s, started him toward the house, and almost ignored the rest. “Come. Take me to bed and tell me all about it.”

From Protector of the Grey House:

Vincent looked about the room and understood that the plan was being executed tonight. It was earlier than he and his Lieutenants had anticipated, but that was fine by him. There were about twenty people gathered in the meeting room. He recognized four of his Lieutenants, three who leaned against a wall, each with one of their own Sergeants. The rest of the group, new vampires by their attitudes and look, were gathered at his throne, which Morgan sat on. There was a reason it was the only piece of furniture in the room, and it wasn’t for guests to enjoy. A low growl escaped Vincent’s throat.

He bought the throne long ago in China. The armrests were dragons, the right open mouthed, the left closed. The feet were claws and the cushions were red silk. It had a high back and was made of oak. It cost him a lot of money, but it had been worth it. He enjoyed sitting in the throne so much that he had his people move it back and forth between the training room and his larger meeting room, depending on where it was needed most. Joseph and Owen moved it into the meeting room days ago. It was his throne; no one was allowed to use it.

And now Morgan was defiling it.

From Protector of the Grey House:

“Why did you contact me?” Ashley turned angrily on her stool as her voice grew loud.

“I fought something you need to know about.” She looked around, then turned back to face the kitchen. “It’s all in the journals, but many Slayers ignored these demons because of who talked about them. I brought photocopies as proof. I’d have brought you the creatures, but I don’t know how to control them, and had to kill them instead.”

Ashley took the papers and skimmed the pages. “You’re kidding.”

“That’s what I said.”

“These aren’t real.”

“As real as everything else.”

“Let’s say they’re real. Why did you want to tell me?”

“Someone needs to know they exist so that they can be stopped. They’ll kill humans or possibly give them diseases, if all the accounts are true. Don’t you guys try and stop creatures that kill humans?” Natalia reached into her pocket, pulled out a five and placed it on the counter next to her untouched coffee. Though she had tried to keep the waitress in her sights, she had not seen Delores pour all of it and was not about to drink the coffee. “They’re real, they exist. They can be killed. All the information is in the papers I gave you. Read it and be prepared. I’ll see you next time.”

From Protector of the Grey House:

Diana helped her rinse her hair then helped her out of the tub. Vincent watched with jealousy as the healer dried his woman off with a large towel, steps away. He crossed his arms, and balled his hands into fists. Though he wanted to reach out and grab her, there was business to take care of first. Vincent stared at his woman instead, and ground his teeth with impatience as he waited for her to acknowledge him. Diana left before Natalia said a word.

“Did you need something?” She looked at him sidelong, barley turning toward him.

“I have to speak with you.”

“About what?” She took the hair dryer and plugged it in. She turned it on low to continue talking undisturbed. She felt sleepy, and calm, and wanted nothing more than to lie on her bed and drift in her thoughts.

“I just finished a conversation with Lorraine.” His eyes traced Natalia’s body, as he wished he had time.

“Your sire?” She sighed and turned off the dryer. She finally faced him, her calm still fully intact. “What’s going on?”

“I have to go. She needs my help.”

“How long?” She stepped in front of him and let the towel drop from around her torso.

He ground his teeth, closed his eyes, and squeezed his fists tighter. It was becoming increasingly difficult not to throw her down on the floor and have his way with her. He just didn’t have the time. “I leave tonight and stay no more than three nights.”

Natalia reached out and caressed his closed fist. He opened his eyes when he heard her gasp. “What did you do?”

From Protector of the Grey House:

Vincent’s fingers drummed quicker, annoyed at the truth in Joseph’s simple words, and at his own jealousy. His thoughts stopped as he understood he had made a decision regarding Natalia. He looked away from Joseph, toward the door, then looked back. He stood.

“We’re done.”

Vincent left the room as Joseph nodded. The vampire headed up the stairs quickly but stopped at the sitting room door. He composed himself and walked in slowly. He continued on to his bedroom and found Natalia. She stood at the window, her back to the door. Vincent leaned against the doorframe and wondered at his woman’s thoughts. She hadn’t heard him and therefore stayed at the window; the curtain slightly open.

 “Natalia.”

She drew in a deep breath and turned at the sound of his voice. He frowned slightly at the look on her face. She did, in fact, look remorseful. “Hello.”