Blood & Juniper

There are so many damn bodies roaming over the street! Where did all these people come from. I'm really starting to feel that hunger now and if I'm feeling it, I can't imagine what Ash must be going through.

I spare her a glance, she looks a bit rigid. Eyes staring blankly ahead, occasionally drifting to my pocket. Why is she staring at my hand like that? Like she wants to eat it.

I can see the bar from here. I spot a gap in the crowd and drag Ash off to the side.

"It's not too late to turn around, we can go back. It's tough with this kind of density."

"No," She shakes off that dazed look slightly, "No, It's better that I get reacquainted with the public soon than later, it won't be any easier if I put it off."

"It might, you've only been at it for a week. You don't have to throw yourself into the trenches so soon."

She shakes her head, "I'm fine, it's a lot but I think I've got a handle on myself."

"Blood will be in the air, drunkenness typically makes people more accident prone and I know a few vampires that hang out in bars. I can only convince so many if things get out of hand."

"If you weren't immortal, I'd bet money on you going to an early grave from how much you stress," she jokes before asking more seriously, "Do you doubt me?"

I titter, "No, quite the opposite, I have the utmost confidence in you," a sideways smile slides skyward, "but you caught me, I'm an eternal worrier."

She beams before looking down, "You want to know something?"

"Hmm?"

"I feel like… Things will be OK, like things are better" a hidden smile peaks from the corner of her lips, "When you're around."

She really means that. I… Didn't expect that, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't like hearing it. I smile softly, am I actually doing something right for a change?

She looks fl.u.s.tered, realizing what she just admitted, "Well, yeah. Don't let it get to your head or anything," her ponytail swishes as she walks ahead of me at a pace that's a little faster than what a human is capable of.

"Slow down, you're going to miss it," I call out to her with a grin.

She stops and looks back to me with raised eyebrows before swiveling her head to scan all the shop signs.

She spots it the fluorescent pink Rosie's sign suspended in the dark humid air. She points giving a look as if to ask 'Is that it?'

I nod trying to get to her at an average speed. In a way, it feels like I'm jogging through a knee-deep swamp. I forget how slow a crowd can be until I'm forced to echo their flow.

I finally make it to her as she waits by the doorstep.

"You're taking forever!"

"I'm trying to keep a low profile."

"Oh," she says catching on, "Really? It didn't feel that fast to me."

I nod as my fingers pull at the sturdy handle.

"Wow! That's painfully slow, how did I ever walk that slow before?"

I shrug, holding open the door for her.

She tilts her head cautiously to examine the inside before stepping ahead and I follow behind.

She takes in the ambiance, impressed as she scans the place, "Hmm, not bad, Sam. I was expecting a dive, this place is kind of cute."

"I suppose, I occasionally have good taste," actually Cooper introduced me to Rosie's, so I couldn't really take the credit.

As if the thought of him made Cooper appear from thin air, I hear his very unique dialect. His boisterous voice stood out amits the chatter and rock music, I locate him pestering Janet whose tending behind the bar.

"You think I won't throw you out? Because I will," I hear Janet say, she's giving Cooper that look.

"Wha? I didn't do nuffin'," He throws his hands up defensively.

"Just being you is enough, Cooper."

"Why are always singlin' me ou'! Yer so mean ta me, Janet," I can see Cooper's fake pout transforming into a grin at an unimpressed Janet, his charm seems to have the opposite effect on her.

"Cause, I know you. I know your bullshit. I won't be buttered by your sweet talk."

A low chuckle can be heard as Cooper's shoulders shake, "I'm not bullshittin', I mean whad I say, ya do look beautiful. Ya have a radiance abou' ya."

Janet eyes him dangerously as she wipes condensation from a recently washed cup. A tiny smile ruining her fasade. This regular banter from the two of them was routine at this point.

"Yer gonna, bite me head off fer a compliment? A true one, I'll have ya know," he shoves a finger into his own c.h.e.s.t, "I may be alotta things but disingenuous in't one of um."

"Yes, you are a lot of things, Cooper."

Cooper peaks at us from the corner of his eye, "Ya neva' give Sammy a hard time. What's with tha harsh treatmen'?" His infectious grin spreads as Ash and I wander to them.

"Sam doesn't annoy me."

Cooper clicks his tongue as he mutters, "Stone cold, stone cold."

"Involving me in your quarrel isn't going to help, Coop," I throw in as I reach the bar to leaning into it.

"Quarrel? I'd neva' argue wiff Janet, she's always right," Cooper remarks with a coy eyes as Janet sneers at him, he always said things that made it nearly impossible to pick a fight with him, I think he got off on it.

"Ashlen this is Cooper," I tilt my head to him.

I'm about to say more before a sharp interjection comes from Ash, "Yes. Cooper. We've definitely crossed paths."

My eyes dart over, she gives him a deathly glare. Shit, he was there that night, too. Am I really dropping the ball that hard tonight? No, I specifically recall telling her he'd be here. Maybe she wasn't completely grasping *who* I was talking about. I guess the ice would have to be broken sooner or later, maybe shattered judging by the look Ash is giving Cooper.

Cooper does what he always does, act like nothing's wrong, "Aye lil' fireball! It's good to see ya. Yer lookin' well."

This could get certainly interesting, possibly ugly. Ash has a crazed look on her face, the perfect combination of baffled and irate. There's not much I can do, I'll opt to stay quiet.

"Oh! Oh really! After what happened last week that's how you're going to address me?"

I examine Cooper, curious how he's going to calm this tempest. He remains composed though one eyebrow is raised into his curly hair, "Ya, we din't meet on tha best o' circ.u.mstances, did we? Fresh start?" Cooper gives an innocent and apologetic sideways smile.

Ash leans back folding her arms, he's not off the hook that easily.

An unexpected voice chimes into the spat, "Cooper! What did you do to this girl?"

"It was a misunderstandin', Janet."

All eyes are on Janet as she drills holes into Cooper, "You just don't have a care in the world, do you?"

He shakes his head feeling a little bit of the heat, "It's not what you think…"

Janet ignores Cooper, now invested in Ash, "Honey, I know it's no consolation but I'll get you whatever you want no charge."

Ash is speechless, bewildered by Janet's self insert, "Uhh, I'm alright. I couldn't, but thank you."

"Don't worry, Cooper is paying for it, it's the least he can do."

This is turning into some real drama. Yikes, Janet is ruthless.

Cooper pretends to be offended, "Harassin' then robbin' me? I hope ya don't treat all yer customers like this, Jan."

"Shut it! You're paying," her scary eyes melt into softness when they drift away from Cooper and back to Ash, "So what will it be, sweetheart?"

Both of Ash's hands wave in front of her c.h.e.s.t, "Thank you, really. But I don't think I'll be drinking tonight."

"Well, if you change your mind, give me a shout," Janet glance further down the bar to see one of her employees getting bogged down, "excuse me, I've got to take care of that," she jabs a brightly painted nail at Cooper in a threatening tone, "*You* make this right."

Cooper throws his hands up in response as she glares at him, she turns to me with a small smile and a nod before marching away. I give her a wave back with a subtle flick of my fingers.

"Look," Cooper starts his apology by pouring his prop beer discreetly into a small sink behind the counter, "I hope ya kno' it wasn't personal," he gives her a more serious expression, "I'm not really into tha fear tactics, but Derek," He pauses, twirling the bottle in between his fingers, "Well, you're probably aware o' wha' blood can do ta one at this point."

She insinuates, "Save it. You probably enjoyed the show, admit it."

"Absolutelay not, that's no way ta treat a laday!" Cooper refutes passionately, but I can see he's not bothered at all by her accusation, "but there's only so much ya can do when tha bloke's got wretched table manna's."

"Are you saying you wouldn't have attacked me?"

"Well," he chuckles, "Not attacked, per say, but I likelay would've snacked on ya. Now that ya are what ya are, wouldn't you 'ave done tha same? You were by yerself, that's an opportunity too good to pass up."

Ash's lips pull to one side. Probably not able to argue with that.

It's true, any vampire would have hopped on the opportunity. She smelled good and there were no witnesses. Cooper probably wouldn't have done more than taken a drink from her. He usually didn't kill his victims, especially if they were women, aiming to keep the local body count low.

"Ya wouldn't kno' it but Sam n' miself were tryin' to dissuade 'im," I squint at Cooper but don't call him out. I recall him somewhat encouraging Derek, why is he lying?

Cooper goes on, "But I'm sorry, lass. I'm sorry it had to be you," he looks her right in the eyes with sympathy, an attempt to be sincere.

Cooper shifts his tone, not one for getting into heavy conversations, "But look at ya, Lil' Fireball, alive n' kickin'! Yer a tough one," Cooper praises with a grin, tilting the bottle to her.

She stares him down for quite a while, a sceptical foot tapping. She's not saying much, atypical, I expected more sass or resistance. Is she's about to blow up on him?

She finally concedes, "Fine, whatever," she drops her arms to her sides and looks to me, "I'm going to have a look around, come and find me in a bit?"

I ask, alleviated their tiff was unexpectedly short lived, "Do you want me to show you around?"

"In a little while, where's the ladies' room?"

The restroom? She still has a use for that?

"Back corner," I point, "There's also one upstairs and down stairs."

"Thanks," she starts to one in the far corner. Usually Ash's face gave away everything, making her easy to read, not this time.

"Did ya get into a brawl?" Cooper asks when Ash is far enough away not to hear.

"There was a bit of an altercation," I turn to Cooper, he's grinning at me slyly, like he knows something I don't, "What? Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Ya know how ta pick um. Betta head on 'er shouldas than the last one but I think yer attracted ta trouble."

"It's not like that."

"Shor, Sam, whateva' ya say."

I tilt my head unamused. He widens that smug grin, interlocking his finger while his elbows rest on the bar.

"O' course ya'd choose tha Reapa's blood. Yer nuts," Cooper's smile fades as suspicion takes its place, "If yer bein' honest wiff yerself and it's reallay 'not like tha', why are ya gettin' close ta tha Reapa's sired?"

He knows me too well, knows I'm not one to let things go. My intentions are set and nothing he says is going to change it, so there's no point in even admitting vengeance is on the menu.

"I felt bad, Coop. It really took me back to when everything was turned upside down in my own life, when I was alone," I lied, omitted. It's only a half lie.

"Bu' she's not abandoned now, is she?"

"Pretty much, her master is so inattentive. She's hardly taught her anything."

"She?" blurts Cooper in alarm, I know how he feels about 'Older women'. He murmurs shaking his head, "Yer navigatin' a minefield, Sammy."

He sighs, "So ya reallay care abou' tha lil' fireball? Ya know tha' Reapa could be an excommunicated Thorn memba? Dangerous game yer playin'."

I shrug, if that reaper has anything to do with the Thorn, I really am stepping into a burning house. Doesn't matter. I'm going to look out for Ash as long as she wants me around and I'm going to take out that Reaper.

"Kay," he narrows his eyes, I'm sure he knows my motives but he's not one to argue his point, "Yer gonna ruin yer jacket. That hand's a mess," he chuckles, "There's a loo jus' down the way ya heathen."

The corners of my lips twitch, "Why did you lie to Ash? You didn't *dissuade* Derek."

"Still on that, are ya? I din't lie."

"I saw no dissuasion."

"Not verballay. But you an' I were there for tha same reasons tha' night." he stares into the beer bottle like a crystal ball as he fidgets with it.

I lean in a bit more trying to gage the expression on his face, "But he wasn't going to listen to me. He would have listened to you, Cooper. Why didn't you say something to him?"

He shakes his head, "You two are very alike in tha' respect. Once yer mind's made up, no words 'ill change it. All I can do is hang around as a visual reminda' of where I stand. Am I wrong?"

Now that he puts it like that, I guess he wasn't wrong. I thought Cooper held more sway on Derek, suppose not. There really was nothing we could do but make our disagreements known by being there. It didn't seem to do much good though, maybe we made it worse.

"It's done Sam and the choice wasn't ours ta make. The bes' thing ta do is let it go," he spins on the barstool so his back is against the counter, "though, we alreaday established yer not a good listena', so any Reapas or Thorns show up n' I'm good as gone."

I smirk from the truth of what he said, all of it. I know Cooper likes to stay far away from The Thorn or anyone that even resembles them, so that statement didn't surprise me.

"Well, don' keep 'er waitin'. Go catch up with yer 'its naw like tha' girlfriend o' yers," he smirks pressing himself comfortably into the bar. "She seems nice, I'll chat 'er up nex' time when she cools off. She forgave *you* afta all, so we'll get along easy."

I snicker, "I don't know, Cooper. Your charm might not work on her."

He blows air through his teeth as his perpetual grin widens, "Naww, it'll be peachy."

I roll my eyes and salute Cooper as I head to clean up a bit. Weaving around the people and tables of the popular bar, a dim circle spot lighting the men's room sign so the highly intoxicated wouldn't lose their way.

I push open the washroom door I rarely set foot in. It's pretty clean in here for a bar restroom. Janet keeps a pretty tight ship.

I twist the knobs attached to the porcelain sink running my stained hands underneath. The water ran the color of wine as it swirled down the drain. I wet some paper towels wiping blood soaked pocket of my leather jacket. It might have stained but no one sees the inside of a pocket, so I don't have to be terribly thorough. It's relatively easy to clean.

I can't say the same for my T shirt. There was a massive hole where I was stabbed by the cheating ghost hand. The wound is better than before but still pretty gasty, at least my ribs are back in the right spot.

No one's here with me. I strip off the jacket hanging it on a door hook, then my shirt next. I run the blood soaked bits under the water, ringing it occasionally. When the water runs light pink I throw the shirt over my shoulder to tidy up around the gash as well. No first aid kit on the wall, I'll make sure to zip up my jacket when I'm done here.

Some drunken steps stubble their way to the bathroom. Guess that's good enough.

Putting the shirt back on isn't fun, the sharp jabs in my c.h.e.s.t prevent me from going as fast as I'd like. I grab the jacket off the hook right before the door burst open slamming into the wall.

"Woah, sorry, sorry." The wasted kid apologizes to the wall as the door bashes into it.

I slip the jacket on my bad arm first, trying not to move in a way that will send more unpleasant jolts. He's so wasted he shouldn't even notice…

"Bro, holy shit what happened to your shirt! Dude is that blood?"

Of course, he's so wasted how could he *not* notice and comment.

I'll just deny it, "Hmm? What are you talking about?"

He stumbles over with wide eyes glued to my shirt, "Dude, there's, like, a hole in your c.h.e.s.t!"

"Are you OK? Maybe you hit the bottle a bit harder than you should have."

"No, I swear, it looks really messed up!"

I tug at the sides of my jacket and zip it up.

I grab his shoulder with a smirk before casually leaving, "You're drunk, pal. Take it easy, OK?"

Why persuade when you can gas light? He gawks after me as I step out of the restroom. I scan the area for Ash upon stepping out.

The smell of that lovely perfume of her's lingers in the air but she's not on this floor. Upper floor. I head up the stairs to the balcony overlook.

Her long brown hair tied back into a ponytail makes her easy to spot. She leans over the banister, her expression seems relaxed from the profile view but I see something in her eyes, concern. I spy someone talking to her, a vampire. My eyes narrow, I don't recognize this guy, his Homburg hat sits in his short sandy hair, tipped forward into his face. A trench coat down to his ankles.

I make strides toward the two of them. Call me paranoid, but I believe he's trying to take advantage of the newly undead or intends something far worse. The attire doesn't help my suspicion.

He raises his eyebrows without looking my way, "Please excuse me, I must get going. I'm sure we'll see each other around... Ashlen."

Her face is full of shock as he strategically moves around me with supernatural swiftness. My skepticism sirening off, I shouldn't let him go but he's already halfway down the stairs. I could chase him, but Ash might follow. I don't want her involved in another potential fight. Did I scare him off? He didn't even look my way. I don't like it, I don't like anything about that guy.

I make a mental note of all the traits I could spot if I were to run into him again. Just under 6 foot, 5'10 is my guess. Lean. Near 30 but a bit baby faced, sandy short hair, couldn't see his eyes.

"What was that about?" I ask resting my forearms on the banister when I reach Ashlen.

"He knew my name, I don't remember telling him my name," she looks spooked, staring at the stairwell were he fled.

I glance at the stairway then back to her face, "Are you positive?"

"I think so, maybe not? That guy is a vampire, I think he was trying to make light conversation with me. He knows I'm 'new' somehow," she bites her lip looking anxious.

"You look troubled," I lean in, I'm bothered by all of this. Has he been spying on her, eavesdropping on us? I'm sure he's not a local.

She hesitates, "I mean, it was like any normal interaction at a bar. Telling me a little about himself, asking me friendly enough questions…but…"

"But?"

"Am I just being paranoid? I feel like he was probing me for information, it felt off. Am I overreacting?"

I shake my head, glad she does have a good sense of judgment after all, "There was definitely something fishy about him. What questions tipped you off?"

"He was asking me where I was from, said I didn't look like I was from around here. I was vague, told him I was from the mountain west area and he said he was too. The weird thing is that he claimed to be from the same state that I'm from," she squints, "I think he was lying but never said what state I was from, it was like he already knew where I was from all along."

Yep, that's incredulous.

She continues, "The other question that stood out was when he asked if I was here with my master. That's not a normal question, is it?"

"No, that definitely sounds intrusive, like you said. You didn't tell him any details or mention the reaper, did you?"

"I don't think so, tried to be imprecise but," she stares at me biting her lip with worried brows, "Could he have done that hypnosis thing on me, maybe I told him without knowing. It was weird Sam! I felt kind of vulnerable, like he could see through my clothes and knew all my secrets. I really didn't like it!"

My eyebrows tense, "Did he say anything that made you feel like telling him information was a good idea or did you give him information without wanting to, like you were on truth serum?"

"No… I don't think so. But it was like he was in my head or something, sort of," she kneads her bottom lip with her fingers staring intensely over the balcony rail.

"It doesn't sound like he tried to persuade or control you," it's still concerning though, he might be from a mental manipulation line. I'm definitely going to keep an eye out for him, "Tell me if you see him again."

She nods staring below, her face ridden with unease.

I question, "Did you happen to see his eyes? The color?"

"Light brown," she replies quickly, still staring over the banister.

Noted.

I stare at her for a moment, her left hand squeezes the rail until her knuckles are like painful white blisters.

I tenderly place my hand over hers, "Ash."

She turns her head my way with her eyes are massive, like a frightened animal. When she looks at me like that it makes me want to hold her close, comfort her, keep her safe. I don't fight against that urge this time.

"I promise, I won't let anything happen to you."

Her eyes are still wide but her face relaxes, her fingers curled against her lip drop to clutch her c.h.e.s.t.

Am I serious? Can I promise something like that? What if I can't protect her?

Something inside doesn't care about any of those worrying questions, I have this overwhelming compulsion to protect her. I repeat it again, "I promise."

I know deep down, I mean it.