I went upstairs and waited for Paul's arrival. I heard his motorcycle five minutes before I saw it. He smiled at me as if he had had no doubt in the world that his plan would be a success. We returned to the lower level arm-in-arm. It wasn't long afterwards that the room began to fill with several vampires, very old vampires. The atmosphere seemed to change with their arrival. It was as if they filled the world with too much other-worldly matter, as if they brought a piece of limbo over with them. I didn't like the feeling because it was foreign and empty—much like the soul of the average vampire."Alexis," a male Elder said. He stared without emotion at Alexis, who now stood in front of the Council table. The man looked rather young although his skin was ivory. His hair was like a black bowl crowning his skull, and his blank, black eyes made him look like a Roman extraterrestrial. "Faris," Alexis said. "Will you ever learn?" Faris asked."Learn when there is no lesson to be

"But—"Malarias began."Omegas have no Alpha," Paul interrupted. "I don't control them. They do what they want. It just so happens that they want what I want. I am their creator, after all. You always love the one who sires you … "Malarias grew quiet, and I grew even more hopeful. "Call the other members of your Council so we can make this a reality," Paul said. "We'll wait." He glanced at the other vampires in the room. "Though if you wait too late, some members of this vampire Council will learn one big secret, and that will be completely your fault for keeping them here past dawn."The Malarias-thing sagged, but seven more black ribbons of mist appeared and swept around the Malarias-thing like a shroud. Oh, what I wouldn't give to be able to hear that discussion.They circled Alexis and attempted to circle Paul, but he swept his hand out and waved them away as if clearing the air of annoying smoke. For some reason I felt a giddy, hysterical laughter bubbling up through me. Wi

-The Final Battle-I forced myself to rise in the late afternoon instead of full dark. Paul had already left to see after the Wolfpack and since other Vampires didn't rise until the sun had fully set, I had a jump on the day. I decided to spend it with my daughter.Unless I was off handling some Vampire mission, my daughter was constantly with me. I had a few hours of daytime and BJ was in a good mood, so I decided it would be a good time to take care of some grocery shopping. I did most of my shopping online, although the girls and I did enjoy overnight excursions to New York, Miami, or Los Angeles. But if I only needed applesauce and diapers, I drove to the nearest grocery store.I put on big sunglasses and a cap because it was still daylight and I didn't want anyone to recognize me. And by that, I mean that I didn't want one of the humans from any nearby territories to see me walking around in the sun. Revealing to the mass of Vampires that I was a day walker was still a no-no.

People got killed when security was breached. People sometimes got killed even when security wasn't breached. We took the safety of our residents very seriously.This particular building housed fourteen people—fifteen counting the female from California.Jason led the way up the walkway and pressed in the code to open the door for Tyler and me before he took up the rear. The entry points were manned by surveillance cameras, which fed to an off-site security firm. Inside was a 24-hour-a-day security guard.It hadn't always been this way, but I had learned the hard way that sometimes even the people you are working hard to protect will stab you and the other residents in the back. So now we take precautions.I didn't know the security guard. He was one of Voss' boys. He met us at the entrance and looked a little scared. He was a Vampire so I didn't blame him. No Vampire wanted to be in the same room with Tyler, but she stayed back and kept her tats covered by her leather jacket. Jaso

"I can't do the things that a young woman can do." She peeked at me from beneath long lashes. "You know—in the bedroom. I haven't had sex in many years. Bernard is true to me so that means he hasn't had sex in years. I don't ask this of him. I don't expect this, but it is his will.""Lydia, what do you think Bernard will do if you don't go home with him? Now that he knows that you are here, will he kill us all in order to get to you?""Yes," she said quickly. "He will kill you all. And I suppose that is my answer. I must return with him, and maybe I will have another opportunity to escape before I become too old or he turns me once and for all.""I can talk to him. Maybe he will listen to me. I'm not afraid of Bernard or his death threats. I have…well, I have someone similar in my life."She nodded. "Yes, because you too are gold."I stared at her in shock. "Gold. What do you know about being gold?""There is not much that I know about it. It's not a subject that is broached by t