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MARQUETTE COVE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
Quentin Blood gingerly creeps toward Joel Kincaid's hospital room, careful not to alert anyone to his presence. Not that it would matter much if anyone spotted him.
Quentin is a vampire.
There's not much a nurse or hospital worker could do to detain him if it came to that. But he's not interested in causing a stir tonight or drawing any attention to himself. He has gone centuries in Marquette Cove without any mistakes, and he can't afford any now.
He knows that he's been sloppy. Discovering that he'd finally found his daughter, Akilah Moore, caused impairment in his judgment. But he'd been looking for her for what seemed like ages.
He still remembers the night that he ventured into that park in Chicago, lust in his heart. He found a victim...but she was far too beautiful to drain. He couldn't kill her. And so he made her his lover that night, beneath the starlight sky.
Through some act of nature, she was impregnated. He could sense it afterward, sense the child growing inside her weeks, months later. But what he could sense was also sensed by others in the town. A witch.
A witch responsible for cursing Quentin, blinding him from his quest and wiping the memories of his daughter from his mind. For years, he could remember nothing. And then...there was a realization. A convergence of energy in Marquette Cove that allowed the dead to walk amongst the living, years ago.
Quentin had no idea what caused the phenomenon, but regardless, his mind was awakened. Those dead memories returned to breath life anew in his mind, and he knew that his daughter was there.
Locating her would be the trouble...but through the help of his newly anointed Prince, Christopher Server...he was able to locate her. She has his blood. And soon, she will join him on the side of darkness.
But before then...he must dispose of Joel Kincaid. The others have been killed. He is the only one left alive with the knowledge of Quentin's true nature, and he must be stopped...
"Wait, Jessica, what's going on?"
Quentin hears Felicia Bale speaking on her cell phone inside Joel's room. She frantically grabs her purse and hurries out of the room. Quentin, his reflexes quick as they are, is able to conceal himself in the shadows before she steps into the hallway.
"She fired you?" Felicia says, continuing down the hall. "No, she can't...she can't do that. Calm down, just a moment, and I'll..."
As Felicia disappears down the hallway, Quentin smiles widely and slides into Joel's room. The machines keeping his breathing calm hum softly as Quentin closes the door.
Joel, the former Detective know for his keen observational abilities, remains asleep as Quentin draws his fangs and descends upon his prey.
Leslie Hanley walks down the hospital corridor, passing by Joel Kincaid's room. She stops outside the door, squinting as if her eyes were deceiving her. She could have sworn she just saw someone next to Joel's bed, but now the room is empty.
"Leslie?"
She turns to find Simon Holden next to her. "Simon. I got your voicemail. I thought I'd signed everything for Sean's release?"
"There's just a few thing that Michael didn't take care of. They're in my office," Simon says. "I hope I'm not keeping you out too late."
Leslie shakes her head. "No, I was just heading home from the office."
She opens the door to Joel's room and slowly walks inside, Simon following her. She glances back at him and grimaces.
"What happened?"
"I don't know," Simon sighs. "He hasn't woken up."
"There is so much pain in this town," Leslie says. "When his daughter finds out..." Leslie approaches Joel's bed and calmly touches his arm, saying a prayer before turning back to Simon. "When is this all going to stop?"
"I don't follow?"
"Melissa. Sean. Now Joel..." Leslie answers. "When is this going to stop? All the pain that this town breeds?"
"Some people manage to find happiness among the misery," Simon says. "We have to."
"I just wish that..."
Leslie's voice trails off as Joel's hand shoots up from the bed and grabs her arm. She tries pulling away from him, but his grip tightens, turning her bewilderment into screams.
SIMON HOLDEN'S OFFICE
Aaron Maddock knocks briefly on Simon's door, enough to give the impression of courtesy before shoving the door open. He finds Rebecca Li at Simon's desk, taking a long drag from a cigarette.
"This is a hospital," Aaron says, referring to the cigarette smoke.
"I'm aware of that," Rebecca says. "I have a seat on the hospital board."
Aaron closes the door and moves toward the desk, a stern gaze on his face. He sits down on the desk's edge and stares directly into her eyes. "I'm not going to stand for this much longer."
"I don't take orders, Aaron. You're not getting anywhere near Alexis Lopez, and that's final."
"Tell me who this Brent Zigeler is then!"
"No dice," Rebecca snaps, blowing smoke into Aaron's face. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm waiting for Simon."
"Are you fucking him too?"
Rebecca remains silent. She douses her cigarette on the desk and climbs to her feet. Before she can leave, Aaron grabs her forcefully and pulls her toward him.
"Answer me!"
"Let go of me," Rebecca hisses.
Aaron ignores her pleas, ripping the clothes from her body. She struggles to break free from his grasp, but Aaron keeps his grip firm. He loosens his belt and drops his pants, shoving forward and into Rebecca.
"Tell me, and I won't make this hurt," Aaron snarls.
Rebecca grits her teeth and stares forward, shutting her eyes. "Go to hell."
OUTSIDE SIMON HOLDEN'S OFFICE
"I'm sorry about that, Leslie," Simon says, leading her toward his office. "Joel isn't consciously awake, but his body still it. It was only a reflex."
"It's still frightening," Leslie says, rubbing her bruised wrist. "Let's just sign those papers and — oh!"
"What's wrong?"
"My cross. It's gone. I could have sworn I was wearing it when I was...never mind," Leslie says, shaking her head. "It's probably back at the office. Let's get this over with. I need to keep that Denise woman out of my husband's bed."
"You!" Leslie and Simon turn to find Felicia stalking toward them, a wild fire in her eyes. She points an accusatory finger at Leslie.
"You just fired Jessica?" Felicia demands. "You have no right to do that!"
Leslie folds her arms, rolling her eyes. "I don't have time for this, Felicia. And for the record, I do have the right. Because I'm her boss. And yours, I might add."
"Only because Michael promoted you," Felicia insists. "When he shouldn't have."
"Ladies," Simon says, stepping between them. "How about we remember that you two are friends?"
"It's just that this is so typical of her! Firing Jessica for no good reason. And it probably has everything to do with Vincent, and honestly, that girl deserves a medal after everything he put her through!"
Leslie can't resist the urge to laugh. "Typical? Let's talk about Melissa being dead less than a few months and you're already looking for a new sparring partner. No one has the time for your pettiness, Felicia."
She turns to Simon, ushering for him to open his office. Simon obliges and goes to the door, pushing it open and stepping inside with Leslie and Felicia following.
"The papers are just right..."
Simon's comes to a complete halt at the sight of Rebecca and Aaron going at it in his office. In his anger and disgust, he's unable to tell whether the scream coming from behind him is coming from Felicia or Leslie.
But having heard Leslie scream once already this evening, his money's on Felicia.
JOEL KINCAID'S ROOM
"Goodnight, Detective," Quentin whispers, strolling inside Joel's room. "I'm afraid this is where your life ends."
Quentin's fangs appear in his mouth as he lowers his head toward Joel's neck. As he does, he feels an intense wave of pain rushing through his entire body. Quentin stumbles and falls back, landing on the floor.
"What in the hell!"
Quentin leaps to his feet, discovering a cross necklace hanging from Joel's neck. He curses loudly as Joel's eyes flicker open. The former police detective weakly smiles at Quentin, opening his mouth slowly.
"No, Quentin," Joel croaks. "I'm the one who's sorry."
