Cougar didn't know what was going on. He'd kissed witches before but none of them had ever been like *this*. No, he knew what was going on and he didn't like it at all. The Soulmate Principle. So Ria was his soulmate. But she couldn't be, he hated her. Then why was he kissing her?

Then he heard her voice. No, she was in his head *again*. Very soft, very hesitant. << What's happening? What do you mean, Soulmate Principle? >>

That snapped him back to reality. The vampire pushed her away, ignoring the feeling that he'd just broken something. "Get away from me!" he snarled. Ria shrank back, and he could see how beautiful she was. Cougar tried to keep her out of his mind, but it was all he could see. He had to get out of here, away from that witch. She was turning his life upside down. Cougar didn't wait, just turned around and ran out the house. First time he had run away from anything. Straight down the street, back to his home. He got inside and collapsed in a chair. "Oh, shit," he groaned. What was he supposed to do now?

I don't need a soulmate. I don't want a soulmate. Aren't you supposed to fall madly in love with them? There's no way I'm in love with Ria. No way. Not at-

His eyes focused on the envelope lying on the coffee table. That definitely hadn't been there before he left. He leaned over and opened it. Bliss had broken into *his* house? That witch had a nerve.

Cougar unfolded the sheet of paper, the smoky exotic perfume Bliss used rising from it. Short and no way was this letter sweet.

Hello Cougar darling. Bet you weren't expecting to hear from me so soon? But I want to talk to you. About a few things - me, you, that human sister of mine, Ruby...I know all about Ruby. I'm prepared to make a deal with you for all your friends' safety - even that dragon creature. I know you can't refuse an offer like this, so I'll see you by my old house - that one that's a pile of rubble now - tonight, at midnight of course, the witching hour. Bliss

She was right of course; he was not going to refuse an opportunity to kill her. Who would? He glanced at the clock; eleven o' clock. He could be early, sneak around the long way...Bliss would never know a thing, until it was too late. He left, slithering out one of the side doors, just in case anyone was watching. As he walked down the street, Cougar realised he was still holding that note. With a swift movement, he crumpled it and hurled the ball of paper onto the sidewalk. Cougar began to smile madly. Goodbye Bliss, goodbye problems.

Bliss smiled as she finished setting up the last of her plan. The witch carefully moved the person beside her out of the way, trying not to look at the vacant face. She smiled patiently at the thing in front of her. "Go and sit by that pile," she ordered, pointing. The base of the pile of debris from the house was shadowed and it would be out of her way. There were some things even she didn't like to look at, and this was it. She shuddered, and tried to put the face out of her mind.

If it went well...then that cheetah 'shifter was dead and she was a *lot* richer. If not...hell, that 'shifter was dead either way, it was just a matter of time. Time...she glanced at her watch. Twenty past. He should be here soon. And then, Cougar Redfern was in for the shock of his life. But, she had to admit, this latest plan was a masterpiece. What was it Kobe had said? "Find something to break them, and they'll follow you *anywhere*." Follow me, vampire, she thought with a malicious certainty that this would work, had to work.

A rock clattered behind her. Bliss spun, waving the torch over the rock and wood, just in time to see a shadow sneak away. Trying to catch her unawares? Well *that* won't work. She stood up straight, tossing her hair back out of her face. "Stop lurking in the shadows, Cougar Redfern and let's talk like civilised people." The witch waited, ignoring how fast her heart was beating...play with fire and you can get burnt. But this was no fire, this was a vampire and one she had pissed off at that, so getting burnt was the least of her worries.

"Civilised?" The voice was calmly arrogant. A typical Redfern, acting like royalty. They all did, pretending they were so much better than everyone else, looking down on her. "I hope you don't include yourself in that category, Bliss." Venomous tone. Definitely annoyed. Good. She could use the anger to her advantage.

Bliss scanned the area around her, but she couldn't see anything. "Stop lurking around like a werewolf, Cougar. I know you have more of an IQ than one, but stop acting like you don't."

"Fine." The voice was directly behind her. Slowly Bliss turned around, letting a confident smile show on her face. He had fallen for it. You are going to wish you'd stayed in safety now.

Something looked a little different about him. What was it? Not the fangs and the hazel eyes that glowed from within. She couldn't place it, but something was definitely wrong. Yet another thing she could use to coerce him.

"So," he said, glaring at her, "what do you want to talk about? What's this so-called offer?"

Bliss sighed. Honestly, sometimes vampires were so *stupid*. He had obviously read the note. "It's quite simple really; I want you to join me."

He laughed. Just threw back that handsome head and howled with laughter. "*You* want *me* to join you? I don't think so." He sobered suddenly and looked her straight in the eyes. Bliss could read the intelligence there. "You said this was going to save my friends. How is killing Jepar going to do that?"

"Hear me out." Bliss started to pace. She couldn't help it; it was a nervous habit. But he didn't know that, of course.

"Go ahead, but I doubt anything you are going to gibber about is going to change my mind." Oh do you?

Her feet thudded on the scorched grass. "I have an agreement with Kobe, but of course, you know that. I assume those papers *were* the reason you went to shout at Ria?" He nodded, face expressionless except for his resentful eyes. "Well, I have several people who would like to see some of the people here...disappear, shall we say. But I'm prepared to forget about those jobs. If and only if you join me. You help me kill Jubatus, we leave, you stay with me." She was watching carefully, out of the corner of her eye. Shock registered on his face for an instant, then went blank again.

"Why me?" The sixty-four million dollar question. Revenge, of course. If Cougar thought he was actually going to live any longer than it took for her to take him to those people who wanted to talk to him, that vampire was very much mistaken. Of course, if he proved useful, she *might* consider letting him live.

"You're like me. Smart, ambitious. We both know you don't give a damn about anyone except yourself. I could use someone to help me. A partnership, you could say." Would it work? After all, everything she had just said was true. And Cougar happened to be as vain and arrogant as they came.

"Thanks, but no. I happen to like it here, and I'm not quite the cold-blooded monster you seem to think I am."

Really? Then it was time to use her back-up plan. She turned her head towards the pile in the shadows. "Stand!" she ordered. Cougar was staring in ghoulish fascination. And as the figure walked into the light, she saw his face go white and his eyes grow huge until the pupil blocked out the rest of his eyes. "*Ruby?*" he whispered incredulously.

Oh Goddess, it really was her. The biggest mistake he had ever made and the results were standing right in front of him. Ruby Luthman.

He had met Ruby at his last high school, just before he left the enclave. She was the first human he had *liked*. Ruby had been the one who made him see humans as more than a quick snack. He had run into her - literally, and like any vampire would, just ignored her and walked on, leaving her scattered books on the floor. What he hadn't been expecting was for her to come and shout at him the next day.

He had been in his last classroom, after yet another lesson of history. He had turned to go and found he was facing a girl.

"Hey," she said, glaring at him, "you're the guy who crashed into me yesterday."

"And?"

The girl glared at him. "You messed up my work. I spent weeks doing that damn project and then some idiot like you wrecks the whole lot. It's going to take me *weeks* to copy up all the pages that got ripped because those bastards out there..." she waved a hand towards the hallway. "...trod on them. I mean, you didn't even stop to help me, just walked off."

"Why should I help you? You're just a human." Cougar replied, fixing cold eyes on the girl. For a human, she was stupid. Shouting at him, a Redfern.

"Just a...What kind of a comment is that?" She had stood back and looked at him, face calculating. "You're the new guy, aren't you? The one they say is-" Hastily she cut off her words.

Cougar was intrigued by then and for the first time in his life, he had apologised to a human. The girl introduced herself as Ruby and Cougar found his first human friend. He made sure the other vampires didn't find out though. He knew Ruby always thought there was something a little odd about him, but he didn't realise how smart she was until a couple of weeks later, when they had been talking in a café nearby.

Ruby had looked like her name, with short shiny black hair that glowed red in the light, a few stray wisps coiling round her ears. Doe eyes of deepest red and a vivid personality meant she was one of the most popular people in the school. One of the smartest, too.

She had looked at him and said just one thing. "You're a vampire."

He had told her the truth, about the Nightworld and his family. And then she had surprised him. He could picture her standing, hands on hips, feet planted firmly on the floor in black ankle boots. "Make me a vampire," she had said quietly. "Make me one of you."

He had agreed, and they exchanged blood for the first time that day. Over the next two days, he exchanged blood with her again. Saw the change in her, how sometimes she seemed so sweet, with a lazy voice and serene face. At others, she was so...sharp. Her eyes glared at him liked burning daggers, her movements were quick and deft. But the day he went out to give her the last transfusion, the vital transfusion, his family found out. They locked him up for a week, and his father told him the Nightworld would have to punish him. He finally got out, but by then...it was too late. He was told Ruby had died, and Cougar Redfern left. He ended up in Ryars Valley aged fifteen and messed up.

Bliss watched. She had never seen anyone so shocked. But then, she could see why. Bliss looked at the thing, the zombie. That was what the girl looked like. She had seen pictures of Ruby before Cougar Redfern had got hold of her, and the contrast was amazing. The thing had long straggly hair, filthy and matted with dirt and other things. The eyes were completely blank. And she was *drooling*. There was no one home in that head, easy enough to see. And all over it, wounds were dripping something green. Bliss wrinkled her nose delicately. She hated having that thing nearby, but Kobe was right about the effect it had had on Cougar.

"Not pretty anymore, is she, Cougar darling? Poor little Ruby. I bet she regrets the day she met you - if there's anything left in her mind that can regret, that is."

He turned such a look of loathing at her, it was almost funny. Bliss ignored him though. "Know the problem with things like that?" Bliss said sweetly, flicking her gaze briefly to the Ruby- thing "*They're always hungry.*"

He turned burning eyes to her and she saw horror dawn in his eyes. "Yes Cougar, I could let Ruby here loose on your friends. But I'm a nice person so I'll give you another chance to accept my offer. How about it?"

He didn't answer. And suddenly Bliss realised she had pushed him too far. She had never seen *anyone* that angry. He stepped towards her. Bliss knew now why his parents called him Cougar. He was every bit as dangerous.

Ria needed to talk to someone, fast. She had to sort this whole mess out. Soulmate Principle? What the hell was that? Some kind of Nightworld curse, maybe. No one could ever want that sort of thing to happen to them. Being stuck in someone's mind, knowing what they were thinking. Even worse, having someone stuck in *your* mind. A thought struck her suddenly. Was her mind like his? All dark and hating, like, like...she didn't even have a word for what the vampire was. No, she wasn't like that, Ria was sure.

"Ria?" The voice was loud, echoed off the walls. Zara was back. The human flounced in, looking flushed and angry. She didn't wait for an answer, just hurled herself into a chair and glared at Ria. "I swear, I will never, never try to talk to one of those stupid 'wolves again!" Then she stopped and looked at Ria curiously. "You okay? You look kind of pale."

Well, she had to ask someone. And why not Zara? "What's the Soulmate Principle?" She wasn't expecting the reaction she got.

Zara's eyes widened and the small girl said incredulously, "You don't *know*?"

"Obviously, or I wouldn't be asking, would I?" It was hardly common knowledge, was it? Surely Bliss would've said something...

"But the whole Nightworld knows, even if they don't believe it!"

"The whole Nightworld minus one." Was it really so hard to believe? The whole Nightworld didn't really all know about this - did they?

Zara sighed, then began to talk, her voice low. "It's something that started recently, that happens to Nightpeople. Every person has their other half, someone who's bound to them - through time and space, apparently. And when you meet them - your soulmate that is, it's like you belong together, always. A really bad case of love at first bite, with some vampires."

Ria smiled, but this whole thing was really starting to worry her. "You mean, you can't live without them? Even if you hate your soulmate? What then?" Oh god, please don't let this soulmate thing be true. I don't want a bloodsucking monster for my other half. Especially not one who wants to kill me.

Zara looked at her searchingly. "Oh, you can live without them, alright, but they reckon..." 'They' had to be the universal person who knew everything, "...that you'll either be eternally miserable or, of they die, you'll go mad." Great. So it's a case of stay here and risk death, or try to leave and be killed - or, even better, stay here until you start foaming at the mouth and they put you in a padded cell.

"Do you think you've met your soulmate?" Zara was deadly curious now. That ghoulish interest people always had when someone else's life was being ruined.

Ria looked at her, trying to keep her face blank. "No, it was just...something someone said to me."

Zara smiled. "Yeah. A lot of the Nightpeople round here are like that. And it's been on all our minds - our little circle, that is."

"Why?" Ria asked, curious. This soulmate thing must be pretty important.

Two little words answered her thought. "Bliss Follehex." Zara spat the words out. She really hated Bliss. And if she felt like that about Bliss, what was going to happen if they ever found out she had helped her? Well, she'd just have to hope they didn't find out. Ria didn't like lying to any of the people here, but she wanted to stay here.

Ria raised an eyebrow. "What's Bliss got to do with this?" She was doing her best to forget that particular nightmare, though Ria had this feeling that Bliss just wasn't going to go away.

"She killed her soulmate and the Nightworld put her in an asylum. She escaped, but..." Ria could finish that sentence for Zara. Then she hunted me down and started her little killing spree. That explained everything though. Why Bliss was so...insane. But how could anyone just kill someone like that? It was...crazy. Yes, she realised that was the whole *point*. Bliss is crazy, you knew that soon as you really talked to her.

She got up abruptly and tried to focus her eyes as the room spun. Ria felt a little weird, light headed. "I need to go for some air." She walked out quickly before Zara could say anything. The night air was cold and crisp, fading the dizzy feeling. Ria walked absently, until she was really beginning to get cold then turned and skidded on a piece of paper. She grabbed onto a lamppost and let off a string of curses that would have shocked even Bliss. What idiot had chucked that on the sidewalk, just waiting for someone to fall over it?

Then something caught her eye. The last word...-llehex. This was too much of a coincidence. Ria picked up the note and realised it was from Bliss. What was she plotting now? World War III? No, she realised as she read the note - what wasn't covered in mud, anyway. Ria would bet whatever plans Bliss had for Cougar Redfern, they were going to be pleasant.

She stood thinking for a while, remembering what Bliss had done. How she had always wished someone would stand up to her. What Ria hadn't realised was that *someone* was going to be her. Then she sighed and said to the night, "Guess I'd better go and save that vampire idiot then." And she told herself firmly, it was nothing to do with the fact he might, possibly, be her soulmate.

Cougar was walking towards her, steps slow and menacing. Bliss jumped back, realising too late, there was nowhere she could go. The witch had chosen this spot because it was so empty; no place for any vampire to hide. She had forgotten she might need somewhere to hide.

"I am going to kill you." He kept on walking, his voice in that quiet, deadly calm tone completely without passion.

Bliss kept stepping backwards, throat so dry she couldn't talk, couldn't even scream. Terrified, she saw two eyes, ruby red eyes, watching her. And Bliss could've sworn that there was cold malice, awareness in the lifeless face of Ruby Luthman. A tiny smile curved up on the thing's lips and for a moment the whole face looked cunning and evil, not imbecilic blankness anymore.

"Look," she said desperately, holding out her hands, hoping he wouldn't see how terrified she was, "let's talk about this."

The vampire kept walking towards her. "You can do all the talking you want, but I haven't fed in a while." Cougar looked at her and smiled heart- meltingly. "And don't worry - it won't hurt...much."

Bliss swallowed. He was only a couple of metres away now. She tried to throw fire at him, but her mind had gone completely blank. I'm on my own, Bliss thought. And I'm going to die.

All that lay between her and death was a long rope...in the...grass? Bliss stared fixedly. That was no rope, it was a snake. A cobra. Cougar stepped forward over the creature.

Bliss gathered what was left of her confidence and turned her coldest stare on him. "You are going to die."

Cougar smiled again, and she saw the glint of very sharp fangs. "No," he whispered, so quiet she had to strain her ears to hear him, "You're the one who's going to die." Behind Bliss watched as the cobra seemed to grow taller, legs forming out of the skin, the marking beginning to fade. She began to smile, and saw the vampire look a little confused. For the first time, she had the advantage.

"Sorry Cougar Redfern," she murmured. The stake appeared in Kobe's hand seemingly out of thin air. The 'shifter was standing behind Cougar and he raised an eyebrow in a question. Bliss nodded slightly. She turned her attention back to the lamia. He knew something was wrong now. "Game over." Her eyes slid over his shoulder to Kobe and she saw, as though in slow motion, Cougar turned, but too late as the stake went straight into his shoulder and he fell to the ground screaming.