Under The Grave

I opened my eyes to see Bones leaning over me. His hand was idlely running through my hair. He was talking to Mencheres. They hadn't noticed I was awake yet and I didn't bother trying to tell them.

",,,,I thought I heard her call out to me. When I awoke I found no one in the house. I was coming out side to see if she went for another walk when Tepesh showed up with her. I was ready to kill him because I could smell him inside her. I didn't consider she had drank from him."

"Vlad and Cat were fighting the man as I arrived." Mencheres said. "From what I could gather; she went for a walk. Called to you. You didn't answer but Vlad did. and then I heard the scuffle."

"Thank you Mencheres. I guess I will have to thank that show hound again."

"Why didn't you hear her when she called to you?"

"I did. Just a little late to respond."

"Why?" Mencheres pushed.

"She drained me dry in every way possible. Her new found powers are going to be the death of me."

"Are you sure it was just her and not Josephine."

I felt Bones shiver around me before he responded. "I am sure it was just her. Granted she was abusing her new found powers on me but it was her. Had Josephine been involved she would have killed me. Which brings me to another point. Have you found out if the powers are permeanant or temps?"

"No." Mencheres replied. "I have not. And it looks like it could be longer before I do. Seeing how she has drank from Vlad."

"Why couldn't you have given her blood?"

"I assure you Crispin, Vlad would not cross the line to sleeping with your wife no matter how bad he wants too."

"How can you be so sure Mencheres?" Bones asked.

"Because he has feelings for Cat and knows that to do anything with her with hurt her more than it would hurt you. He won't hurt her."

"How does he figure it would hurt her more than me?"

"Because she would be hurt from hurting you. And despite how bad you can be on yourself she is far worse on her self." Mencheres paused. "I got a glimpse inside Vlads head and seen what she has not told you about the nights she spent at his home. He would have been talking her off a ledge again had it not been for him and us showing back up to get her."

"What do you mean 'talking her off of a ledge again'?"

"You don't know Crispin?"

"No but I am about to know."

"Oh Cat is going to skin me alive if I tell you."

I felt the urge to cover Mencheres ass since he had covered mine. I faked a yawn and started stretching as if I had just woken up. I rolled over and blinked at Bones a few times. See? I am just now waking up from an innocent sleep. I wasn't listening to your private conversation.

"What?" I asked. Both men were staring at me.

"Whats this about you and a ledge Kitten?"

I sighed and shook my head. "I just woke up. Is this really what you want to talk about?"

"Yes, luv, it is."

"When Patra called me to tell me you were dead I went for a walk. I didn't really have a thought in mind. Just walked and walked. One thing lead to another and I was standing on the cliff looking out over the rocks below and Vlad told me the story about his wife. How she didn't know what he was and thought he was dead and she was going to become a slave to his enemies. She killed herself before he could make it back to her. Then he asked me what a vampire would do. I backed away from the ledge and told him thanks before going to Annette and prepping to avenge your murder."

It all came out so fast I wasn't sure if there were parts I had missed or maybe got mixed up. Why was I in such a hurry to get it all out anyways? Oh yeah. I was covering Mencheres ass like he had covered mine.

"Oh Kitten." Bones sighed. "You're making me do something I have never thought I would do in my life."

Those words leaving Bones mouth made me shoot to my feet. My mouth was open and I was ready to run for the door. Did Bones just say the same thing to me that Vlad had said that day in the movies?

"Kitten? Whats wrong?"

Mencheres looked to be on full alert. I guess he thought this was another attack from Josephine. I don't blame him. But I had to ask Bones one question and pray it wasn't the same answer.

"What didn't you want to do Bones?"

Bones looked to Mencheres and then back to me. "I am going to start like that miserable sod."

I let out a breath of relief before sinking to my knees on the floor.

"Blimey Kitten. What did you think I was going to say?"

"Nevermind." I said pointing a meaningful look at Mencheres.

Bones seemed to have gotten the point because he let it go.

"Did you kill him Menecheres?" I asked.

"No. I am sorry Cat. He got away."

"Then we find him. He is the one behind the attacks on Vlad."

"Wait," Bones stood up. "I thought Josephine was the one trying to kill him. What are the two of you hiding from me?"

"Josephine is dead Bones. I killed her. But she was working for somoene else. The vampire that got away. He watched me kill her and said he would have to find a more direct way."

"Start over Kitten. You killed Josephine? How?"

"I gave her what she wanted. What she really wanted."

"And that was?"

"Something I need to talk to you in private about."

Bones didn't look to happy with that answer but he asked Mencheres to leave.

"Mencheres, Can you take Vlad with you and go somewhere neither of us know about?"

Mencheres looked at Bones - who looked to be coming up with his own conclusions - before nodding to me and walking out. I waited until I heard Mencheres and Vlad leave. Before I sat down.

"I think I have a pretty good idea how this works but I am going to need you to be patient. It may take a minute for me to play it all out. And I need you beside me."

My plan was to use my new found power of projection to show Bones what had happened. But I wasn't a hundered percent sure how this worked so I just tore the hatch off and let everything get projected into him. We started with my first memory. I tried to shut it out not wanting Bones to get bored but he shook his head and said he wanted to see this. So I leaned against him and let my life project into him. Luckily the projection made days last only minutes without loosing any detail.

**********************************

It had taken nearly four hours for Bones to see everything. He even got to see what I had seen from Josephine. How I came to the idea that would kill her. He even seen the whole thing between Vlad and I. I forced him to watch the last part. I also had to force the images to him of me picturing him instead of Vlad while I was doing my deed. I smelled his fury and hatred like a thick candy that was choking me. Then my projection gave me away for listening in on Bones and Mencheres private conversation. It was also showing him everything I was feeling right now.

I was projecting onto him my self hatred for what I had done with Vlad behind his back. I couldn't shut it off. I was even projecting my thoughts of how and where I would kill myself if Bones left me for this all the while knowing I deserved it. Finally I slammed my shields into place and blocked him out. But not before he saw me pierce my own heart with silver and twist the blade.

I pulled myself off of him and leaned back ready for his hatred and rejection. I closed my eyes and counted silently for the sound of him leaving.