ST. THOMAS CHURCH

Vampires don't exist.

That's the only thing racing through Joel Kincaid's mind as he feels the protrusion of fangs deep in his neck. As he struggles to break free of his captor's iron grip, Joel can see his own reflection in the office door's glass window.

Quentin Blood has his teeth in Joel's neck. Yet, not in this reflection. He's invisible.

He's a...no. Vampires don't exist.

"Ah, Detective," Quentin says, sliding his teeth from Joel's neck."You taste wonderful."

"You're supposed...to be dead..." Joel gasps for air as he stumbles forward, falling atop Father Grady's desk.

Sprawled across the desk with blood drizzling from the matching wounds in his skin, Joel is almost akin to Christ laid across the crucifix. Crucifix.

Crucifix. Vampire. Crucifix...

Joel slides a hand out, gripping a nearby crucifix. He pulls the object close to his chest as Quentin reaches for him again. Straining every muscle in his body, Joel reaches up and jams the sharp crucifix into Quentin's chest.

Howling in pain, Quentin stumbles back, scratching at Joel's face. Joel slides to the floor, turning to see Quentin looming over him. Joel kicks the chair next to the desk, freeing up space for him to crawl toward the window.

Quentin lunges after Joel but hisses as a bright beam of sunlight hits his hand. He pulls back his charred appendage, glaring at Joel with a dangerous intensity."This isn't over, Detective."

As Quentin vanishes into the church, Joel slams his head against the wall, warm from the heat of the sun. He digs into his pocket and removes his cell phone, dangling it near his ear.

"I need...someone help..." Is all he manages before he collapses.

HANLEY PRIVATE JET

Julia Mitchell feels a chill run down her spine and shivers, nearly dropping the glass in her hand. Vincent Moore notices how unnerved she looks and turns in his chair to face her.

"You okay, Jules?"

"I'm fine," Julia says."I just...had the strangest feeling."

"Feeling like Alec is going to kill us all in our sleep?"

"I can hear you," Alec Bale says, mumbling under his breath. He is in the row of seats directly on front of Vince, placed next to Vince's sister, and his own ex-"girlfriend." Truth be told, he only dated Akilah in an attempt to make Jessica jealous.

Now, he regrets how he's treated both women. Most of the women in his life, actually. Yet another result of the shining example set by Alec's father.

"I meant for you to hear me," Vince shoots back.

"Can you both shut up and let me sleep?" Akilah says softly, turning to her side.

She stares blankly out the window, her eyes glazed over almost in a trance. She has barely said anything since the plane took off. It's as if she's in another world, anticipating something the others do not.

"Sorry," Alec says.

Naturally, she doesn't respond.



MARQUETTE COVE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL

"What do you mean I don't have clearance?" Aaron Maddock demands, glaring at the intern standing before him."With Victor Collins off galivanting God knows where, I'm practically the chief of this goddamn hospital!"

"I...I'm sorry, sir," the intern says, nearly shaking to death as if some British nanny had grabbed hold of his arms."But you're not on Dr. Anderson's approved list."

"Well, Dr. Anderson isn't here now, is he?"

"Aaron, please stop scaring the interns."

Aaron turns to find Rebecca Li approaching him with Simon Holden in tow. Fuming, Aaron shoves the intern out of his way to address them."What are you two doing here?"

"I work here," Simon says.

"And I have proxy," Rebecca says."On the hospital board. You know, the one you've attempted to pretend you're a member of in order to gain access to some headcase locked up in the mental ward?"

"That headcase is my...she is a past patient," Aaron says."It's very important that I see her."

Simon furrows his brow."I don't remember Alexis Lopez being a patient of yours. If I recall, that may have been part of the problem..."

"She wasn't an official patient, but —"

"Cyrus wouldn't give me the specifics, but he told me this is something he'll deal with when he gets back," Simon says.

Aaron snatches up the clipboard in the intern's hands. He reads the name on top of the list."Brent Zigeler? Who the hell is this and why does he have access?"

Rebecca quickly takes the clipboard from him."He's...a, um, specialist. I've heard. Possibly. It's none of your business."

"You two are grating, do you know —"

Before Aaron can continue, several doctors through the corridor, pushing a man on a gurney. The man is instantly familiar to them all.

"Joel," Simon gasps, recognizing the former police detective as the victim in question.

"You're needed, Dr. Holden," one of the doctors says."This man has lost a lot of blood!"

Simon nods, following in step with the doctors. As he hurries along, Joel reaches out and grabs Simon's arm.

"He's back..." Joel gasps."He's...he's back."



HANLEY PRIVATE JET
CARGO HOLD

Chris Server feels his stomach rumbling as he watches over a sleeping Matt Holden. His hunger is insatiable...ever since he returned to the fold with Quentin Blood and was made his right hand man.

He has been promised so much.

But it all hinges on securing Quentin Blood's daughter — Akilah Moore's — safety. Luckily, Julia is up there with Akilah. She is not like Chris. She can still walk amongst the daylight.

That is a luxury Chris can no longer afford. At least, not in long stretches. He is much younger than Quentin. Quentin, as old as Marquette Cove, has many of those weaknesses that are scripted in fiction books.

Julia on the other hand, is the human equivalent of a familiar. Someone bitten three times, but not killed or transformed, will be under your thrall eternally.

One bite is enough to disorient and open their minds to different worlds.

Two bites allows travel into the victim's mind. Vicarious living, so to speak. It is that which Chris has tested with Akilah, as per Quentin's instructions. He is Quentin's right hand man. It is only appropriate that Akilah be his...his Princess of the Night.

Chris tested his abilities with Akilah, but they failed to take hold. Because of the old blood surging through her body. Only Quentin has been able to temporarily enthrall his daughter, and that's only been long enough to erase her memory of when she was held captive for two weeks.

When she was prepared for the ritual.

No, Chris was not able to use his abilities on Akilah. But he did try them on her brother...and they have been increasingly successful. Two bites was all it took to allow Chris to experience the touch of his former lover, Blake Thomas, once more.

If only Chris hadn't been tired out from the ordeal...he'd have been able to bask in the afterglow of making love to Blake once more. Unfortunately, that was not the case...

"Dude, quit fucking staring at me."

Chris comes out of his thoughts, realizing that Matt is now sitting up in the corner of the cargo hold. He glares at Chris with mild irritation.

"I'm not gay, so don't even think about it."

Chris rolls his eyes and waves Matt off with a fling of his wrist. "Whatever."