Life Blood's Vengeance

Plans to Kill

"Maman! Stop fighting, you will be going home the moment we arrive at Life Blood!" I shout from the back seat of their small car. I don't even look up from playing with my nails, however I feel them looking at me.

Maman's cold glare seeming to freeze me. If I had not had much experience with it I would have shivered. "I will have you know I will not be disrespected by my daughter. I have much more experience as the oldest coven member and my word is law," she childes. I smile snuggly, she always trys this power move and it always fails. She simply does not have the same powerful ways my father once did.

I rebut her statement with a kind and excited high pitched manor, "So I assume you provide all for the coven and I can stay at home while you deal with humans! I must say I am so excited to finally pass on such a work load to you Maman." I look up into her eyes though the rearview mirror. Her eyes go wide and then darker as she comprehends my words. She narrows then slowly as she turns from the front passenger seat.

"I know your tricks! You know you run the business and I am grateful that you provide for our coven and family so well. However, you are not a master at war!" I lift my eyebrow and she thins her lips and bites them.

The last time she said such words I challenged her to a sparing battle and I had won despite her amazing strength and skills as an elder. I stare back at her as my smile turns evil, curling in anticipation of the unspoken challenge.

Maman turns and faces forward again as her brother chuckles and she slaps his arm lightly. "Nevermind, I will wait at home while you take care of business." I laugh as it is always fun to rile my mother and prove to her I am my father's daughter.

"Now that I have your attention we must now plan our attack against Michell. We will discuss until we get to Life Blood and then continue to the board room on the third floor until 8:30 when I have to prepare for another meeting." They both nod and listen as I discuss that the 4th floor supply room will be become my temporary chambers and that security will be 24/7. Glancing at each other they know the sacrifice I am making as the room is small and prison like. For good reason as it is used as a holding area for people accused of crimes like shootings and assult as rare as they are.

Samuel speaks to me gently,

"Sweet heart, it sounds like you will never leave work. This is too much. Surely a security force will allow you to sleep in comfort instead of a prison." He would know how uncomfortable such a situation would be as he was a prisoner of France during the Revolution for years and mother thought him dead until they found each other once more. I rolled my eyes, "Sam I will be fine. It is short term and I will be taken care of well." He looks at me through the rearview and shakes his head.

He focuses back to the sunny and city filled landscape and groans, "You are too stubborn. Alright then, how do you propose to make yourself bait." This man has good questions. If I remain safe I am not good bait.

"I think we must hold a business charity event at our offices and then invite many outsiders. We will raise money for the children's hospital and catch out Michell who will no doubt seek to attend with his men. What of your thoughts?"

The car carries us the rest of the way to Life Blood as they think much on the plan proposed for any flaws. Samuel finial speaks as we park next to where my car still remains parked, but dented on the driver's and sracthed in at least five places against the dark green paint. There was such a thing as a jilted lover taking something too far. "We are here. I think we must fortify said event, but we must hide our condition and purpose well. Otherwise we will risk harming our patrons."

We open the car doors and walk in as I looked disgusted at the way my prize possession was treated. Can I ever get a break from such happenings lately?

Apparently not. We walk to the elevator watching our surroundings carefully. All seemed clear and we decended to the first floor to access Life Blood.

We walk to the recipionist in our signature black and red uniforms and sign in. Everyone must sign in and show their badge to enter anywhere beyond the lobby. Not to check gets the recipionist and the offending employee fired. Tough rules, but when you have been though conflicts for as long as I have been you do not play around about security. Tina the favorite receptionist of mine smiles brightly at me and Samuel and wishes us well. She knows better than to ask why I am an hour early to work, but she must know the matter is serious if she sees me at this time.

We talk about the country estate and the young couples who are dating, the recent baby born to two of the previous refugees who found love in each other after they were saved and the gardening my mother loves. The small crowd of others in the building nod and greet me distantly but kindly as I make my way to the bank of elevators that lead to the upper floors.

I call for one and it opens as I dig out my special entry key to the third floor. Special Access Only written on the panel I turn the key and scan my badge. There are only a select number of people who work on this floor. My seven chief scientist who work on classified government research on blood and other medical works, my IT staff of three, my secretary, vice president and myself.

Everything on this floor is badged and montiered via camera closely.

I step off the elevator and see Lucy Ulrick my receptionist and a refugee we saved. She had been the only surviving family of Lugar we could find after we learned that Lugar disappeared. She was his sister's daughter and she now had a family of her own staying at the estate. I go to kiss her cheeks in welcome and ask her of her boy's welfare. All is bon. "Lucy, please bring us some melon and tea to the board room. I have not eaten yet." She pats my hand gently.

" Yes miss, Maman told me of your troubles and I saw your car this morning. Don't worry I will take care of all."" As she speaks I glare at Maman once more. Can she ever keep her mouth shut about my personal business. I might as well make a company buliton page about my personal life for this floor the way they gossip about me. Lucy hurries away and goes to take care of my request as Maman shugs at me and walks towards my office. I walk after her.

"No Catherine, you will not meddle in my desk and make some note to Lucy or another to take care of an issue that I need to personally take care of." I grab her hand and move her away from my personal area that just happens to have cyber reports on it I do not wish her to see. No need to provoke the protective monster further.

"We must talk of defences Maman. I value your insight and you will tell me your thoughts and then you will go home and protect all including Lucy's little boy, " I guide her to the plush leather chair and pat her shoulder as she pulls my earlobe intending to annoy me.

I do not answer to her antogizing and take a seat beside her as Lucy comes in with my God sent morning beverage. I smell the floral bounty of my tea and take a sip. At least I was able to get some caffeine before I started my day. Diving in Samuel takes advantage of my silence, "We must host this event soon to strike while we know he is still in the area and hoping he has not lost his chance. However we must find out how much he and his men truly know before we dispatch them." I nod for him to continue as I gaze into my tea thinking rapidly. He serves himself some melon stabbing each slice as if it were the enemy. " We must keep you hidden until the speaking moment and allow him only one chance as everyone leaves the event to have access to you. That is when we will strike, when the area is clear of potential victims.." I hold my stirring spoon in the air to stop him and lean back. A motion I copied and like from my mother.

"How do we not know that he will attempt to take hostages before the end of the event. We must protect all and have as little of our species as possible so we do not give him more power. We must strike early and quietly."

He thinks on this and asks "How? We must then trust others who are not of our kind to catch a man who now has at least some of our abilities."

I smile and give the answer I love to give. "Technology of course, we lock all the doors magneticly and then have internal security watch all cameras. All catering staff and venue 3rd parties will be prescreened and checked if they are linked with him in anyway." I push back my chair and taking my tea walk to the one way window to the outside cityscape. "We will catch him and hold him in storage. Then we will securely transport him to our estate and allow our coven members to exact their vengeance for their lost loved ones to the best of their ability."

Maman's eyes light up and Samuel hoots in Glee. We have a plan and we will get our blood payment through having Michell go through the hell on earth he helped put others through.

Authors Note: I hope all of you are enjoying this story. I will consider any ideas that are suggested.