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CHILDREN OF INFINITY

by

Melissa Albright

Disclaimer:

For disclaimers, please see the prologue

Chapter Five

The waiting game was unnerving. Elizabeth stood rigidly, rooted to her spot in front of the window, which overlooked the garden. She stared blindly out into the night. That Logan had been the one who'd called for this reunion meant only one thing - trouble. For whom, themselves or for Logan herself, Elizabeth wasn't sure. She was not foolish enough to believe that the Huntress had suddenly decided to bury the past. She'd been able to convince herself of just that for a while as she had sat on the verandah with Leslie, waiting for the others to arrive. But at that time, she'd believed the invitations had specifically come from Philip and Victoria and she had felt that such a gesture on their part might be the sort of peace- offering Logan was waiting for.

But they had not issued the invitations; at least, not by choice. She had commanded them to do it. The fingers of Elizabeth's right hand reflexively went to the pulse point at the base of her throat and she shuddered. She closed her eyes and tried desperately not to revisit the past.

The nervous chatter going on behind her as her companions tried to solve the mystery behind the summons faded into querulous monotones, and Elizabeth's mind slipped back twenty-two years. 'There had been so much rage in the young woman when she had swept into the chapel. Goddess, I could feel it pelting us like stones.'

Elizabeth's breath quickened. 'And the power, so much power; so dark and forceful, it had taken every bit of strength to remain standing before her and not kneel and beg for my life.' Her jaws clenched tightly. 'Especially when she … when she took me like she had taken the others. No, not like she had taken the others. Logan had been violent and brutal when she had claimed Philip and the others, ripping into their throats and draining them of their life- sustaining substance.'

Elizabeth had truly believed them all dead.' Yet they had risen again. But with me, she had taken her time, invading my thoughts and my secrets and making me confess them out loud to her as she force-fed me the blood dripping from her slit wrist … Logan had not allowed the others to drink from her, nor had she fed on Elizabeth that night.' Elizabeth's eyes opened slowly, the violet in them glowing softly.

If retribution was what Logan had been seeking that night, then surely she had gotten that. By refusing the others her blood, she had left them somewhat weaker than their fellow undead siblings and unable to make others. In Elizabeth's case, although she had crossed over into the realm of immortality and had gained enhanced strength and stamina, she did not possess the strength of a full-fledged Vampire. She was not an undead and in the realm of otherworldly things she was considered a blemish. To make a living Vampire was an unspeakable thing, for they served as a brutal reminder to the night breed of what they would never have. Elizabeth was an outcast among the living as well as the undead. She wondered at times if her punishment had been crueler than that of the others. She had wanted to hate the young woman. 'But I couldn't hate her. Goddess, I tried but I could never hate her.'

She stiffened, drawing in a quick breath, her body alert to the subtle charge of energy around her. The air in the sitting room seemed to still. The conversation behind her halted abruptly as four pair of eyes looked first to each other with apprehension, then to Elizabeth whose back remained to them. The tension rolling off her was palpable.

The grandfather clock chimed the hour of ten p.m. Silence ensued as those four pairs of eyes looked to the entrance of the sitting room. Though none of them had heard or witnessed her approach, they had felt her. Her presence flowed into the room with such force it was disorienting, its energy wrapping around them like a silken cocoon, all at once warm and threatening

fraid to turn around, Elizabeth clenched her hands into fists at her sides as a shiver stole over her. But she found herself unable to resist the pull. Slowly, as though in a trance - and she could not be sure that was not the case - Elizabeth turned to face the entrance to the room. Her heart arrested her violet eyes thirstily drank in the sight of the Huntress, an intimidating figure at the impressive height of six foot six. Poised beneath the archway of the sitting room entry, she appeared undaunted by the narrowed gazes of speculation and apprehension, which were trained steadily upon her.

Sable eyes made a lazy sweep of the room, taking in everything and everyone with the deceptive expression of casual interest. Elizabeth's breath caught and held as full lips quirked into a sardonic grin and Logan fixed a penetrating gaze upon her. Elizabeth was swept into a disorienting vortex of paradox where time slowed to a sluggish crawl even as her heart raced maddeningly in an attempt to escape the confines of her chest.

"Hello, Logan," escaped on a tremulous exhalation of breath.

"Elizabeth," the Huntress nodded, offering the woman a small smile, which never quite reached her eyes. Violet eyes took note of the barely perceptible clench of the firm jaw-line. Her lips tingled with the memory of tracing that area of soft tissue. Her hands trembled down at her sides as she remembered tangling greedy fingers in those silken-feathered layers of black tresses, streaked with shocking strands of pale white.

Elizabeth tracked every gesture and subtle movement with careful scrutiny, aware that Logan was conscious of her gaze. Corded shoulder muscles and biceps tensed and flexed against the fabric of the long navy suit jacket as gloved hands slipped with slow deliberation from the pockets of dark navy slacks and one hand raising slowly to undo the single button of the jacket to reveal a pale blue clingy mock turtle. Even such a simple gesture was punctuated with a careless grace, instinctually predatory. Goose pimples rose in the wake of near physical recollection of long deft fingers languidly stroking over her own skin with that same, unrushed consideration. A heated blush painted Elizabeth's cheeks crimson and she was painfully aware of that knowing and mocking glare trained upon her.

She met Logan's stare willfully, attempting to appear undaunted as sable eyes raked over her in such a possessive manner that the heated gaze seemed to burn through clothing and scorched the skin beneath, dragging a small gasp from Elizabeth's lips.

Those sable orbs lay claim to Elizabeth in a way that left her flesh feeling branded from a mere glance. Elizabeth drew in another sharp breath. It was unsettling that so much time should pass and she should still feel an aching longing to offer herself in homage to Logan's austere beauty. The reality of Logan's continued effect upon her left her feeling exposed, raw, and vulnerable. No one else had yet dared to make a sound. She wondered at how much time had passed since the Huntress's entrance, for surely it had been an eternity she had stood there with those eyes clawing at her skin? Logan smiled inwardly to herself as Elizabeth lifted her chin in stubborn defiance. The Huntress stepped further into the room and with long, purposeful strides she made her way to the bar.

She raised the newly opened wine bottle with a leather-gloved hand and sniffed gingerly at the crimson intoxicant before pouring herself a drink. Ignoring the concerned violet eyes that followed her movements, Logan moved to the center of the room, speaking rather matter-of-factly. "Something was stolen from a friend under my protection." She paused, her eyes moving from one face to another. "Something belonging to me." Her narrowed gaze lingered on Philip's rebellious glare and her voice hardened. "This theft has caused a disruption in my life and I've very little tolerance for disruptions." A frosted smile touched her lips. "I hope for the sake of all present that no one here is involved."

Alex had not moved from the spot behind her old friend's chair; indeed, she felt she had not yet breathed since Logan's arrival. But her hands remained comfortingly on Leslie's shoulders. She could feel the quickened heart rate and pulse thrumming through the veins of Leslie's shoulders. With a side-glance, she took in Victoria's expression of studied indifference and Philip's features which were contorting into a scowl of angry indignation. Neither seemed to display outwardly the dread and apprehension that she and Leslie were experiencing, but she could hear the mad drumming of their hearts. 'Dear God, what are you two playing at?'

Logan twirled the glass by the stem between her thumb and forefinger, causing the contents to swirl as though caught in a tornado. Bringing the glass up to her lips, she drew in a deep breath to take in the scent of aged virgin blood. The glass pressed to her lips, she took a long drink and then licked the remaining droplets from the corner of her lips. Elizabeth heartbeat quickened, affected by the gesture. Her pulse throbbed low, somewhere in the vicinity of her abdomen and between her thighs.

When it appeared Logan would continue her silence and drink some more, she lifted her head and settled her attention on Elizabeth, her gaze watchful and intense.

"You've been out of the country." Logan addressed her silkily.

"Paris." Elizabeth's voice was steady and normal pitched. "On business." She had just recently returned from the taxing trip.

"Did you meet with Andre?" She was unnerved by Logan's searching gaze and was convinced that the Huntress was aware of the demon uprising in the small Parisian village. And that Elizabeth had chosen to handle matters alone. Logan drained the remaining content of her glass.

"I did." Her voice trembled slightly. "In fact, I had dinner with him at the Café De La Rouge." Elizabeth raised a brow as though sharing a secret. "It's a quaint little place; small, discreet, and caters to the unique palate." She had been hidden there in a secret room for a time, while her body tried to heal from the damage inflicted upon it.

"Perhaps some day I shall dine there myself." Logan set her now empty glass on the bar.

"You would be committing an offence if you did not."

"Come, Elizabeth." Logan commanded and Elizabeth was appalled but found herself helplessly obeying before she could give thought to action. Feeling suddenly clumsy and awkward, she was surprised that she had not toppled over. She came to a standstill only a few inches from the Huntress and Logan's eyes narrowed cruelly. With her right arm she pulled the woman into a lover's embrace. Her left gloved hand was at Elizabeth's throat applying enough pressure as to cause no pain but to certainly communicate her seriousness. Elizabeth's breath quickened as much from Logan's nearness as from the posed threat. "Are you playing games with me, Elizabeth? You and your friends?" She cast a cursory glance from Philip and Victoria to Leslie and Alex before returning her attention to Elizabeth.

"Are we not far past the age of games, Logan?" Elizabeth whispered. "Toying is for those who hold the power, not for the overpowered - would you not agree?"

"Ms. Wu, you are gifted with a silken tongue." Logan chuckled at Elizabeth's blush. Her hand tightened around Elizabeth's throat causing a pained expression on the woman's face. "But I will not have that tongue of yours bathe me in lies." Logan's eyes were cold, but her voice remained soft as though speaking endearing words to a lover. "Have you been interfering in my life?"

"No, Logan." Elizabeth answered her sincerely. "I have not." Her unwavering gaze communicated her concern. "Logan, if there is a problem, perhaps I can help?" The Huntress studied her closely with an unreadable expression, though mentally she sighed with relief. She believed the Asian. One thing she was certain of, it was impossible for Elizabeth to lie to her. The possibility that Elizabeth might be involved was intolerable. She would have hated snapping that lovely neck had she not believed the woman. The idea that the she might have had to do just that made her veins strain with anger. 'Perhaps,' Logan's eyes moved back over the anxious faces before once again settling on Elizabeth's hot-blooded body. 'Elizabeth was proving to be a weakness.' Possibly a costly one, if the thought of the woman's demise could trouble her so. She placed a hand to the wound at the woman's side that Elizabeth had been concealing from the others with her magic. Logan knew the Asian had been hurt, but she was astounded to find that it was such a deep wound.

She pressed inward, exploring the wound and startled the others by causing the woman to cry out in pain. "What did this to you?" the Huntress growled. Leslie tensed with alarm and Alex's fingers tightened reflexively on Leslie's shoulder, fearing that her friend might do something foolish. She doubted Logan's intentions were to cause harm to the witch; Logan was too protective of her for that to be the case. Elizabeth swallowed the rising bile from the pain as her fingers squeezed around the powerful biceps, as much in request that Logan do no further harm as in need of comfort. Violet eyes teared and met angry sable pleadingly. "What did this?" Logan demanded harshly.

"Demon, a soul stealer." Elizabeth spoke in a choked whisper, aware that the others were watching the exchange with a fair amount of apprehension and curiosity. She bit down on the inside corner of her bottom lip, drawing blood in effort to stifle another scream. The pain was almost unbearable as the heat issuing from Logan's hand healed her. She would have expressed gratitude had it not been for the suppressed look of fury in Logan's eyes.

"One day," Logan murmured close to her ear, aware that the others were not privy to Elizabeth's secret coven duties, "you and I will talk." She lowered her head capturing the woman's mouth beneath her own. Her tongue darted past parted lips, and swiping greedily at the blood on the Asian woman's tongue, Logan swallowed the woman's soft moan of pleasure. Logan felt her own bodily response in a painful throbbing that settled between her thighs. The hand previously healing the wound at Elizabeth side slid down the silk material of the pale green dress to grasp the woman's hip. The hand at Elizabeth's throat tightened marginally, the thumb stroking languidly over goose pimpling flesh peeking out of the v-ed neckline. Another soft moan from the woman caressed the back of Logan's throat and she was enthralled by the uniquely heady flavor of Elizabeth's blood mixed with saliva. A subtle tremble worked its way up the Huntress' spine and she barely stifled a low throaty rumble of hunger. Logan was in danger of losing control. Her tongue found the self-inflicted wound and sealed it. She withdrew from the oral intimacy abruptly, shoving Elizabeth away from her. The Asian woman staggered back a few paces, blushing furiously. One hand rose to allow fingers to caress the tender area around her throat while the other hand moved absently over the area that had been healed. She stifled a breath of relief. Eyes downcast, she couldn't bring herself to meet the others' startled expressions.

Logan despised any form of regret, yet she did regret that Sabrina had lost her life because of their affiliation, and she did regret a choice she had made in anger so long ago. That regret was why the witch was under her protection. Though Logan had kept her distance from the Asian, Elizabeth bore her mark and most of the Dark Spawn knew that she was not to be touched. Apparently, there were some who needed to learn that valuable lesson. Logan had been content to remain neutral in the past, with regards to Elizabeth's life and her sacred coven duties. That would soon be amended. Elizabeth had become reckless with her life and Logan was inclined to change that.

Pale Face had been correct in one regard; it was time to bring her creations to heel. She had been neglectful in keeping up with their activities and Pale Face's suggestion that the group presently assembled might have had something to do with the missing vials and Sabrina's death was a surprise, but not all that alarming. She would have thought by now, however, that her creations would know better than to meddle in the Huntress' life.

"Anyone else have anything to say?" Her eyes alighted on Alex, who had moved to stand protectively at Leslie's side. Logan doubted the pale female was even aware she had stirred, but Logan was impressed. She admired the thin Vamp's foolhardy bravery. She hoped Alex was not involved in this. The puzzled expressions on the two female vamps left Logan doubting that they had anything to do with the theft. The two females shared a questioning look with each other and then met Logan's stern expression with a shake of their heads. Logan shifted her attention to Philip Hessing and Victoria Mercer. "And you two?" She asked. Philip's left hand trembled slightly as he brushed through his short blond locks. Logan was pleased that her scrutiny caused him discomfort.

"Frankly," Victoria smiled with forced politeness, her voice oozing with dramatic southern flare as she continued, "I'm positively appalled that you would question us in regards to such criminal activity as though we were no more than gutter variety thieves."

"As usual you will think what you please, Birche, and as you choose." His insolent tone meant to insult. "But please, if it appeases you, do have a look around. Search the premises." Logan restrained herself from killing him right away. She would deal with Hessing later.

"I will find out who was behind the theft." She regarded each with a brief glance. "And should I find that any of you has been involved in this matter, there is no place you can hide that I will not hunt you down and find you." Turning her back to them, she brushed past Elizabeth, sparing her one last appraising glance. She reached the exit and without bothering to glance over her shoulders, she instructed, "Remain here until I return." And then she was gone.

Philip, apparently having regained his bravado now that Logan was gone, broke the silence, drawing their attention with his baritone voice. "Actually..." He moved across the room to stand beside the entrance and then grinned at them secretively, "… she won't be coming back. At least not for awhile, anyway."

"I don't understand." Elizabeth looked from Philip to Victoria with suspicion. "Why wouldn't she come back?" she questioned sharply. "If she's in danger, Philip, tell me what you know. She needs to be warned."

"No!" Philip spoke sharply as he advanced toward her. He was stopped hastily by Victoria's hand on his forearm.

"Elizabeth." Victoria stood, her soft voice drawing the suspicious woman's attention. "Logan's not coming back because she will be otherwise detained and it's best she not return here until we're ready."

"Ready?" Elizabeth voice was a hiss as her eyes narrowed with impatience. "Ready for what?"

"What are you up to?" Leslie sat forward in her chair. She and Alex shared a brief look of amusement before both turning their attention in Philip's direction. "I gather from that constipated look on your face that you're not making plans for a surprise party."

"How amusing you are." Victoria's smile was strained but she passed up the opportunity for further insult. "Philip and I think it's prudent for the five of us to discuss a little problem that's come to our attention." Her lips thinned in distaste. "A problem that must be dealt with." Victoria's subtleness was not lost on the Asian.

"That problem being?" Elizabeth questioned with a darkening scowl.

"Birche," Philip intoned smugly, "is the problem. She's become too dangerous." He met Elizabeth's eyes coldly. "And someone's got to stop her."

"By someone," Alex spoke and moved to stand behind Leslie. "I take it you mean us. The five of us." She rested her hands on Leslie's shoulders and gave a gentle squeeze. "And I'm assuming that you have a particular reason for suddenly deciding Logan is too dangerous." Alex couldn't help the smile of amusement. She couldn't number the times she'd gotten phone calls and faxes from Philip over his paranoid concern that Logan was hatching some malevolent plot against the world.

Alex's summation of the Dark Bitch, as Leslie was so fond of calling her, was simplistic. Although the elusive woman had refused to share with them who put the bite on her twenty-two years ago, the result was the same. 'Logan is a Vampire. Simple as that. Same as the rest of us. She's a lot stronger than any of us. But she has to drink blood to live just like we do, no hidden plot there.'

Alex cast a curious glance in Elizabeth's direction. Elizabeth, however, was ever the mystery. The Asian had seated herself on one of the tall stools at the wet bar and was sipping her drink. None of them were exactly sure what Logan had done to her that night. She never displayed any newfound abilities other than her supernatural born talents. She often found herself wondering if the Witch's secretiveness was more a personal agenda than what they had often perceived as modesty. Her attention was drawn back to the discussion at hand by Leslie's voice and the apparent irritation in her tone.

"Just quit with the dramatics and tell us what you think you know." Alex almost laughed at that. Leslie doubted everything, and was suspicious of anything that wasn't sugar or meat. Leslie trusted exactly two people, Leslie and Leslie. Alex gave her friend's shoulders another squeeze and waited for Philip and Torie to continue.

"I assume you know who Sabrina Houston is?" Philip directed his question to Alex. Alex frowned for a moment, searching her vast mental database for the name and face. 'Found it!' She nodded.

"A scientist. She was quite infamous for a while; nearly lost her credentials some years ago over some kind of scandal to do with unorthodox research. She caused the deaths of two people by using some experimental anti-aging drug that had not been approved for human testing."

"Yes," Philip Hessing nodded gravely. Annoyed at his ploy to cause Logan trouble, Elizabeth set her glass angrily on the black marble bar top.

"Philip, I'm well past having lost patience with whatever little game you're up to here," Elizabeth began.

"As I recall," Alex continued, absently cutting Elizabeth off, "she was later hired by Sci-Tech." Alex bit her lip, recalling more information. "I remember rumors about Sci-Tech being against hiring her ... but there were hints dropped that Houston had gotten cozy with a major funding contributor to Sci-Tech who threatened to withdraw all funding to the labs upon continued denial of Houston's employment." Alex shrugged.

"That person Houston was and is so cozy with is Logan Birche." Hessing supplied confidently. He glanced briefly over at Elizabeth and was rewarded by her blanching at the mention of Logan's affair. Brushing imaginary lent from his black Armani pants, he continued in a smug voice. "Birche Enterprises being the major silent contributor of funding to Sci-Tech Labs."

"Okay. So far you've informed us that Logan is responsible for getting her favorite pet a job." Leslie grinned snidely then gasped with mock dismay. "You're right." She imitated Victoria's southern accent. "If that fiendish bitch continues being responsible for finding employment for everything she fucks, the world is doomed!" she clutched at her heart dramatically. "The unemployment rate will drop to irrational proportions." She rolled her eyes and glanced over her shoulder at her pale friend. "Alex, let's get the hell out of here." She stood, missing Elizabeth's satisfied smile.

Alex's laughter pierced the angry silence. "I'm sorry guys," she sighed and smiled apologetically at Philip and his lover. "But you haven't told us anything that..."

"Sabrina Houston has created a deadly virus that could wipe out more than a third of the world's population." Philip's declaration halted all movement.

"Philip, " Alex began, despite her sudden uneasiness. "The military is constantly contracting labs to do this sort of research. It's unethical but the fact remains..."

"She's not under military contract." Victoria cut her off. "In fact, Sci-Tech doesn't even know what she's been up to. Her funding comes strictly from Birche Enterprises with a hefty fee paid to Sci-Tech not to interfere in Houston's work."

"And just how do you come to know this?" Elizabeth demanded, folding her arms across her chest.

"We have ... friends at Birche enterprises." Victoria's cunning grin was antagonizing the witch. "And a few associates at Sci-Tech."

"We felt it wise to keep tabs on our good friend, Logan Birche," Philip defended.

"You've been spying on her?" Elizabeth shook her head in disbelief. "That's an all- time low even for you, Victoria." She looked at the woman with distaste. "And you're behind whatever it is that has her so pissed?" She already knew the answer to that question. Her eyes widened incredulously.

"Elizabeth, wake up and come to your senses," Philip hissed angrily. "Birche is not the same innocent little Jesus freak you felt the overwhelming need to protect when we were in college. She hasn't been that for twenty-two years now. She's eaten up with hatred. She's vengeful and unscrupulous."

"I'd do a self evaluation if I were you." She spoke through clenched teeth. "Because you just described yourself." She stood abruptly.

"We believe Birche intends to somehow disburse the virus among the population." Philip ignored the jibe and continued.

"Why would she do that?" Elizabeth challenged angrily. "Wouldn't that endanger her own survival?" She walked across the room and faced him squarely. "Why would she do that?"

"Because she doesn't fucking care, Elizabeth," he hissed. "That's why," he spat out angrily, "and she doesn't play by the rules."

"Because she doesn't play by your game plan, she's dangerous? I've got a newsflash for you, Phil. No one plays by your rules." She clenched her hands into tight fists. "It was Logan that brought you over, Philip - she brought all of us over. Or have you forgotten that?"

"Elizabeth, don't pretend to be blind," he growled impatiently. "Stop trying to protect her. You know what she was like that night she'd been attacked. I don't know what the fuck that thing was that brought her over, but it wasn't like one of us. For fuck's sake, she's a Goddamned Day Walker."

"You're forgetting something, Philip." Elizabeth eyes narrowed. "So am I."

"We're all familiar with the legends of your bastard kind." He smiled at the insult. Elizabeth moved towards him but halted when Victoria stepped in front of him protectively. Her argument was with Philip, not his lover. "The living Vampire." He spat the words out as if they were a curse. His lips curling up in a challenging snarl, he whispered the derogatory term, "Hot blood."

"That's enough," Victoria intervened. "We need to discuss how we are going to handle Logan."

"She's too strong." Alex reminded them of the fact that unlike the few day walkers in existence, Logan had the luxury of being much stronger than her siblings of the night breed. "And this Virus or whatever it is you've stolen from her is going to bring you nothing but trouble."

"Not if the five of us work together." Philip looked to Elizabeth expectantly.

"Fuck you," she spat and shook her head angrily. "I want no part of this." She couldn't make herself believe Logan would do something so catastrophic. She wouldn't believe it.

"Are you terminally stupid?" he snarled. "You're survival is at stake here as well. If the mortals are wiped out by this thing, your witchcraft won't save you when there is no blood left to nurture us, and we have no idea if this virus is deadly to us or not. Don't you even care?" His top lip curled up in disgust. "Or was she that good of a fuck?"

"Why don't you ask your lover?" She smiled nastily then nodded with satisfaction when he blanched at the reminder of Victoria's alleged tumble in the sheets with the Huntress. It wasn't true but it yanked at him that others believed it.

"Then make sure you stay out of it." Philip's hard gaze bore into her violet eyes. "I mean it, Eli. Don't even think about running to Birche." He smiled meaningfully at her.

"Are you threatening me, Philip?" She posed the question with a deceptive calm.

"A friendly suggestion," he amended and stepped around Victoria to approach the Witch. He stopped a few feet away from her; his posture intended to intimidate.

"That's good, Friend." She matched his overconfident grin with a cold smile, her violet irises darkening. "Because I respond quite unpleasantly to threats."

"Four to one, Half Breed?" He took another step forward. Elizabeth's hardened eyes swept over the other three Vampires before settling back on Philip.

"Are you that eager to find out?" Her eyes changed suddenly to a bright royal purple and Philip was startled into silence. "Very well then," she nodded politely. "I'll just see myself out." She cast a gentle warning look at Leslie and Alex. "Don't let him blind you with his stupidity."

"Don't interfere, Elizabeth." Philip spoke to her retreating back.

"She's going to kill you," Elizabeth tossed over her shoulders. "One of these days she's going to tire of playing with you, Philip, and you're going to die."

"Everything has been set in motion," he laughed. "There's nothing she can do stop it."

Prologue | Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6

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