Chapter 3

     Daedalus had painted an ugly picture. Julian sat pondering over it. What he wanted to do, and 
what he could do, were two different things. Daedalus was probably right. Even if the crimes that 
Cameron had committed were made public knowledge, he would hardly be punished the way Julian 
wished. Not by Kindred law and certainly not by human law. The evidence that Lillie had given 
Julian was enough to convince him of Cameron's guilt, but it wouldn't hold up in court. Besides, 
Julian was not interested in human courts. Caitlin had never seen the man, the possibility that she 
would recognize his voice was minute, and Julian decided that he wouldn't let her confront 
Cameron. It wasn't worth it. Caitlin was fine now. Even getting Cameron wasn't worth the pain 
such confrontation might cause her. Julian had scheduled the meeting, at which he intended to 
accuse Cameron, when Caitlin was out of town. She was in New York now, attending a conference 
of media people and would be gone for another four days. Julian hated the idea of letting Caitlin out 
of his sight but he kept quiet, knowing how upset she would be if he tried to keep her prisoner in 
his City. He succeeded in talking her into accepting Arthur's company on the trip. It would have to 
do. When she asked him to accompany her to New York, he excused himself. There was no way he 
could leave San Francisco now. He hesitated for a long time, but finally contacted Servio, the Prince 
of New York. Servio had been a close friend of Archon's, but he barely tolerated Julian Luna. 
Servio was the oldest Kindred that Julian had ever met; he was a Pre-Christian. Julian made an 
official request for Caitlin's and Arthur's protection - one Prince to another - and, of course, it was 
granted. Julian never understood why the Ancient disliked him so much, but the promise had been 
made and Julian was sure that, at least in New York, Caitlin was safe. With her out of the way he 
could devote his whole attention to Cameron. 
     However, to destroy Cameron, without giving any reason for such an act, could prove fatal to 
himself. The Clans would not accept such arbitrary conduct from their Prince. It might become his 
own undoing. No matter how much Julian wanted his revenge, Cameron just wasn't worth the 
sacrifice. 
     Expose Cameron at the meeting and ask the Primogens to pass judgement? In reality, such 
action would remove the Brujah from his reach permanently. Raping a mortal - maybe a week in the 
Prison of Light, at the most. Who she was, would be of no consequence to the judges to be. No, 
that would not satisfy Julian Luna. Besides, the thought of revealing what had been done to Caitlin 
at a meeting of Primogens was... offensive. Yes, Daedalus had been right, as usual. He would do 
neither. Julian was aware of Cameron's state of mind. A little more pressure and he might break. 
     I must make him come after me, it's the only way to get what I want. Let Cameron make the 
fatal move. Once his mind was made up, Julian never looked back. He informed Daedalus of his 
decision. The Nosferatu nodded gravely.
     "You have made the right choice," he said. "The more nervous Cameron gets, the more likely 
he is to make a mistake. A mistake that will end in his final death."
     Julian closed his eyes, trying to relax. The meeting that was about to start, well, to Cameron's 
surprise, will be just another meeting.
     Julian made sure that he was the last one to arrive. He greeted everybody with a nod, letting his 
gaze rest on each face for a short moment. Lillie's eyes were downcast, while Cameron stared back 
at him defiantly. Julian looked at the Brujah Primogen just a split second longer than at any other in 
the assembly. He kept the color of his eyes unchanged, not one muscle moved in his face. 
Nevertheless, he managed to convey his hostility. To his satisfaction, Cameron looked away, 
apparently ill at ease. 
     Julian allowed Daedalus to lead the meeting while he occupied himself with the papers in front 
of him, looking up at Cameron now and then. Seeing the Brujah?s nervousness brought a shadow 
of a smile to the Prince's face. The meeting was drawing to an end and Daedalus posed the 
inevitable question.
     "Are there any other matters to discuss?"
     Lillie's eyes, as well as Cameron's, turned to Julian, but he gave the Nosferatu consent to end 
the meeting. Everybody stood up. The sounds of moving chairs and shuffling of papers, the small 
talk among those preparing to leave, were cut off abruptly when Cameron banged both his fists 
against the surface of the table, shoving his face in front of Julian. Julian looked at the Brujah's 
hands. In his mind, he saw those hands burning, heard the screams and, for a short second, there 
was a green shimmer in his eyes, but when he lifted his head, there was nothing in his gaze for 
Cameron except hostile indifference. As the silence dragged on, Cameron realized that everybody's 
attention was focused on him. If he made one false move, it would cost him his life. He backed 
away slowly, turned with an oath and ran out of the room. When Cash started after him, Julian 
stopped him with one thundering "NO!".
     "Let him go," he said much more quietly. "He will come back."
     When Julian thought he was alone, he pushed back his chair and walked over to the fireplace. 
Slowly, he let his hand move over the flames. The pain made him gasp, but he didn't withdraw. The 
smell of burning flesh brought bile into his throat. His vision began to swim when he heard a 
scream and was pushed away from the fire.
     It took hours before the pain he had inflicted on himself subsided enough to let him rest. Fire 
was one of the most dangerous elements a Kindred could be exposed to. Daedalus kept Julian 
company that night, but gave up his attempts to make him take any painkillers. Not that those would 
do so much good. The chemicals humans used had little effect on Kindred physiology. But the 
soothing voice and hands of the Nosferatu made the pain bearable. 
     It was almost dawn. The burned hand had almost healed, but, even apart from the pain, the 
night had been the most wrenching for Julian since the first night he had spent in the hospital at 
Caitlin's sickbed.
     "I don't know how I've managed to stop myself from tearing that Brujah apart! It almost tore 
me apart," he complained to his friend.
     But Daedalus did something terrible. He forced Julian to be Cameron.
     "You must think his thoughts and you must feel his emotions. You must know him better than 
he knows himself. Otherwise, he will always be beyond your grasp," Daedalus told him.
     "How? I can't enter his mind!" Julian found the idea preposterous.
     "Start at the beginning," Daedalus was unrelenting, "in Manzanita, ten years ago."
     The memories of death and destruction exploded in Julian's head. He had kept them locked 
away in his mind for far too long.
     "You killed almost all of them," Daedalus was saying. "All who were close to Cameron: his 
Sire, his blood brothers, his friends. All destroyed because Archon had told you to do it."
     "Yes," it was true, no matter how much Julian wanted to deny it.
     "You didn't know," Daedalus continued, "but the reason for that massacre was Archon?s wish 
to get rid of a rival, a personal vendetta."
     "No!" Julian said vehemently. "I didn't know that."
     "But Cameron knew!" Daedalus? voice was harsh now. "He knew that and, as far as he was 
concerned, you were just a henchman of a criminal."
     "Yes." Julian covered his eyes with his unhurt hand. "Yes!"
     "Now," Daedalus' voice softened again, "take it from there. you're Cameron now, go through 
the next ten years. Watch Julian Luna become a Prince, watch him rise above all Kindred in the city, 
unreachable, wealthy, prosperous, respected. What do you feel?"
     "Resentment."
     "Not enough!" Daedalus thundered.
     "Hate!"
     "Yes, now go back to Manzanita, those few months ago, Watch Julian Luna with his lover, 
watch him kill the remnants of the Brujahs that were left there, watch him return to life, revived by 
the blood offered by the human woman." 
     "No, he wasn't there," Julian protested. "He was here, in San Francisco, murdering Archon!"
     "It doesn't matter." Daedalus was running out of patience. "This is what happened, and 
Cameron knows it."
     "Yes, it's true," Julian gave in.
     "All right, you're Cameron - now what do you do?"
     "I... I seek revenge."
     "Good, now you tell me the rest!" Daedalus demanded. 
     Julian was silent for a long time, trying to disengage himself from his own being, becoming 
another.
     Be Cameron, he thought. Those who were closest to you have been destroyed by Julian Luna, 
now the Prince of San Francisco. You have managed to get to Archon, but Luna lives because a 
mortal woman has chosen to save him. Julian Luna is out of your reach, he has accepted 
Archon?s death as just. He has even accepted you as the Primogen of the Brujah Clan. You can't 
get to him here, in San Francisco, but you can get to his woman. You want to hit him where it 
hurts the most. You can kill her!
     No! Killing a human will allow the Prince to destroy you, the right being on his side. You 
take her and lock her up. With her as a pawn, you can get whatever you want from the Prince. 
What is it you want? And why the rape?
     Julian's mind went blank. He recounted his thoughts to Daedalus.
     "What happened in that cellar?" the Nosferatu asked quietly. Julian concentrated on what 
Caitlin had told him. 
     "She said something about paying dearly, and how angry the man was." 
     "Why?"
     "We... were together, just before he kidnapped her, somehow he must have sensed that."
     "He is a Brujah, Julian. If he came close enough, he was able to read her mind as easily as I 
can read yours now!" Daedalus said. The statement made Julian flinch.
     "I didn't know that you could do that," he whispered.
     "Normally I can't, but you're an open wound now, screaming to me," Daedalus responded. "I 
won't be able to do that tomorrow."
     Julian's thoughts returned to Caitlin's description.
     Be Cameron, he commanded himself. What happens in the darkened cellar? You talk to the 
woman who has saved your enemy. You tell her that she will be used for extortion. What then? 
You hit her because she screams. You take hold of her. What happens? Her mind tells you what 
has transpired just a few hours ago. There are physical traces that you can sense. What do you 
feel?"
     Hate!
     Julian sagged in the chair, and would have fallen to the floor if Daedalus hadn't caught him. 
The burned hand was nothing compared to the agony of rage and hate that churned inside him. He 
tried to shut out the pictures that his imagination created: the violence, the need to destroy, the hate!
     In the end, Julian chased Cameron out of his head but the experience had left him exhausted. 
He looked at his hand. There was hardly any trace left of the terrible scorch. 
     The pain was almost gone as well. After some time he returned his attention to the Nosferatu. 
Daedalus looked at him, as calm as ever. Seeing him return to reality, the Nosferatu let go of Julian. 
     "Be grateful you're not Cameron," he said. "But now you understand. The greatest 
punishment for Cameron is allowing him to live with that eternal fire that consumes him from 
within."
     "Why do you always have to be right, Daedalus?" But Julian's own anger had died down. He 
sounded sad and tired. "Cameron's fire may still burst out and destroy me, destroy us all." But Daedalus 
shook his head.
     "Let it be, what has been done to Caitlin can't be undone. If you let Cameron be, and let him 
know that, then there may be some peace in this city." Daedalus persuasive voice was mesmerizing.
     "Let Cameron be?!" Julian couldn't believe what he heard.
     Daedalus smiled for the first time that night.
     "Cameron will punish himself," was his enigmatic response.
     Eventually, Cameron understood that Julian Luna would not try to assassinate him nor declare 
a blood hunt. To his own surprise, it made him even angrier. As if he weren't worth the Prince's 
wrath! He was treated with polite contempt. His closest friends, those who knew, congratulated him
     "That Ventrue coward doesn't dare come after you," they would say. But Cameron knew 
better. Julian had not forgiven him and never would. That magnanimous gesture was his way of 
saying to Cameron:
     "You're the sole villain left in this sordid affair."
     And it made Cameron feel like a villain of the worst sort. He had always prided himself in 
being a man of honor. But now a big stain tarnished that honor. The more time passed, the worse he 
felt about it. 
     Probably, I wouldn't feel half as bad if I had killed her instead, he thought. But what he had 
done to that defenseless creature was just loathsome. It made him disgusted with himself. In the 
privacy of his mind, he admitted that Luna's contempt was justifiable. Cameron tried to keep 
himself out of the Prince's way as much as possible. He realized that there were others among 
Kindred who knew what he had done. Their contempt stung even more. He had once tried to flirt 
with Lillie in the Haven, bantering with her about her affair with the policeman.
     She had looked him straight in the eye and said:
     "Frank's attitude towards women is better than yours."
     There was no doubt about what she had meant. He was surprised over her strong reaction. 
Caitlin was hardly Lillie's friend. After all, Julian had ditched Lillie for his human lover. 
Nevertheless, Lillie's remark had sent a wave of shame through him. Daedalus treated him like so 
much empty space, never acknowledging his presence. 
     Many others would move away when they saw him. Slowly, he was starting to realize that his 
position was beginning to be untenable. The Brujah were loyal but other Kindred shunned him, 
probably without knowing why. They followed their Prince's lead. It was hardly feasible that Julian 
Luna had made the nature of Cameron's crime common knowledge among the Kindred population 
of the city. But the Prince's attitude was law to most of them. In spite of the lack of apparent 
reaction from Luna, Cameron was being punished harshly anyway. 
     The worst came when Cameron ran into Caitlin unexpectedly, in one of the city's big 
bookstores. He had rounded a shelf and was suddenly faced by that gay bodyguard of hers, Arthur. 
They were standing there, staring at each other. Just as Cameron decided to make a hasty exit, 
Caitlin came to Arthur's side. 
     "I can't get that thing off the shelf," she was saying, "can you help me to...?" She stopped in 
mid-sentence, suddenly aware of the animosity between the two men. She looked at Cameron 
frowning and then suddenly smiled the most beautiful smile. It made Cameron's heart stop for a 
moment.
     "I recognize you," she said. "I never forget a face. You are Cameron. You gave me a message 
for Julian once, remember? I delivered your message, what was it you said 'yes' to?" Her smile 
turned into laughter. Apparently, she didn't expect an answer. 
     Cameron was stunned. He was afraid to say anything. What if she recognized his voice? He 
just stood there, like a fool, staring at her. She was so beautiful. At last he decided that he had to do 
something. He made an awkward bow. She stretched out her hand and he took it saying:
     "Of course I remember you Miss Byrne, beauty like yours can't be forgotten." He saw her 
blush at the compliment, but there was no other reaction. 
     She doesn't recognize me! he thought with profound relief. He bowed over her hand formally, 
his lips touching her skin lightly. When he looked up at her, he noticed that she had blushed even 
more.
     "Please, convey my regards to Mr. Luna," he said, letting go of her hand. He bowed again to 
her, nodded to Arthur and fled. He looked back when he reached the door of the shop. She was still 
standing where he had left her, looking after him. She waved and smiled again before turning to 
Arthur. She said something to the gay Ventrue and they moved out of sight. 
     Cameron found an empty bench in a secluded part of the park. He sat there for a long time, his 
elbows planted firmly on his knees, his face hidden in his hands. He was disgusted and appalled by 
the pang of desire that had exploded inside him when he had seen Caitlin's skin flush at his 
admiring words. 
     What kind of a monster am I? he asked himself. 
     He tried to shut off the memory of what had happened in that cellar. She had screamed and 
cried. Her heart beating so fast in terror. Her futile attempts to shove him off. His own frustration 
when her body went limp after she fainted. At first, he had thought that she was dead. He had 
listened to her heart and watched her chest rise and fall. Unlike Caitlin, he could see in the dark. He 
had stopped himself from sucking the life out of her. He had wanted to erase Julian Luna, but all he 
had succeeded in was hurting the woman and making himself sick with revulsion. Just as he was 
making himself sick now. Cameron bowed forward and, clutching at his stomach with both hands, 
was violently ill. Afterwards, he found a small pond nearby and washed his face and hands in the 
water that smelled of decayed leaves. When the surface of the water came to rest, he looked at his 
reflection. 
     I'm all right, he told himself. His churning insides said something else entirely. He sat by the 
edge of the pond, exhausted, waiting for his body to calm down. To his dismay, he realized that his 
mind was searching for ways to approach Caitlin. He could almost hear Luna's voice shouting 
?stay away from her!?, as his own reason screamed, stay away from her! He splashed more water 
in his face. 
     Well, Luna certainly knows how to pick them, Cameron thought. The Prince?s impeccable 
taste in women was a subject of gossip all over the city. Why the women went all starry-eyed over 
Julian Luna was more than Cameron could fathom. True enough, he was rich, powerful and rather 
good-looking, but so was Cameron. Maybe not as rich and not as powerful as the Prince, but 
certainly more handsome. He glanced at his reflection in the water again.
     At least I don't look like a second rate mobster, he thought wryly. 
     He didn't. With his dark brown hair, big slate gray eyes and regular features, Cameron 
was indeed a very handsome man.
     His thoughts returned to Caitlin. To pursue her as long as she was with Luna would be 
madness. But wouldn't it be wonderful to breach the mighty Prince in his own bed? What if she 
finds out? No, if Cameron were to succeed in seducing her, she must never know what he had done 
to her. He was painfully aware of the fact that all Julian Luna had to do was to tell her the truth and 
she would never want to look at Cameron again. Instead of glowing cheeks, laughter and 
amusement in those beautiful eyes, there would be nothing but horror. 
     No, put her out of your mind, Cameron was telling himself. She belongs to another man. If 
you try anything, you'll probably harm her even more.
     But Cameron had trouble putting Caitlin out of his mind. She was too beautiful, too 
vulnerable, her smile too sweet. And she was in love with his worst enemy. 
     A week later, Cameron was still carrying the image of Caitlin's flushed face in his mind. He 
kept hearing her lovely voice. He realized with horror that he had fallen in love with the picture in 
his mind. 
     This can't continue, he decided. it's time to do something about it.
     Cameron started to follow Caitlin. He soon found out that she was never alone. Either Arthur 
or Julian was always at her side. She lived in Luna's mansion. The only time he saw her with others 
was when she went out to lunch with her colleagues. It was frustrating. He tried to think of a way to 
separate her from her company; he wanted to talk to her, alone. At last, in sheer desperation, he 
came upon the obvious solution. He sent her a big bouquet of flowers, with a card asking her to 
meet him during her lunch break. As soon as he saw the messenger boy come out of the office 
building, he called her and she agreed. He waited for her in the restaurant. He was afraid to show 
himself outside her office, in case Arthur might be hidden somewhere nearby, watching. 
     Cameron stood up when he saw her enter. He was as nervous as a school kid on his first date. 
Had he been human, he would have been sweating. She blushed again when he kissed her hand. 
She was even more beautiful than he remembered. She laughed, trying to cover her embarrassment. 
     "You didn't have to send me flowers," she said. "Unlike Julian, I have to eat three times a day."
     Her statement shocked Cameron. Did she know about the Masquerade? 
     "What do you mean?" he asked. 
     "I don't know what's the matter with him." She was still smiling. "It seems that he lives on ice 
cream and wine, and I taught him to eat the ice cream. But he doesn't seem to suffer from 
malnutrition." 
     "Oh..." Cameron nodded. He saw the sparks in her eyes when she talked about her lover and 
it stung. The last thing he wanted to do was to talk about Julian Luna. But he had to say something.
     "I'm sure that Mr. Luna is quite healthy," he shrugged.
     To his relief Caitlin ordered a salad and he could do the same. He made an effort to eat 
everything that was on his plate. He didn't want her to see any similarities between him and that 
damn Ventrue. He kept the conversation neutral, asking her about her work, but he didn't pay much 
attention to what she was saying, instead concentrating on watching her and sensing her presence. 
Suddenly she stopped talking, her face turning red. He could feel the warmth that emanated from 
her.
     "What's wrong?" he asked, afraid that he had missed a question.
     "You tell me," she answered. "you're staring. it's unnerving."
     Cameron looked down. Now it was his time to turn red in the face. Only he did it deliberately.
     "I'm sorry." He was mumbling, and Caitlin leaned closer to be able to hear him. He looked up 
for a split second, flashing the most charming smile he could manage. "I didn't mean to embarrass 
you," he continued. "I just had to see you again. I've been thinking of you ever since we met in that 
bookstore. Please, don't get upset." He made a pleading gesture.
     Caitlin didn't say anything, but he could feel her withdraw. 
     "I don't think this is such a good idea," she said finally. "If you will excuse me, I have to get 
back to work." She rose abruptly, but Cameron was on his feet before her. 
     "Miss Byrne... Caitlin." The urgency in his voice made her listen. "Julian Luna and I aren't 
the best of friends," that's the understatement of the century, he thought, "but no matter what 
happens, I'll always be your friend. Please, forgive me for intruding." 
     He helped her with her coat and kissed her hand again, but let her walk out of the restaurant 
alone. He sat down and ordered another beer. He had sensed no anger in her, just compassion and 
confusion, mixed with a little fear. He decided not to contact her again for at least two weeks.
     If she agrees to see me again, he made a bet with himself, then I have a chance. On the other 
hand, if Luna finds out what I'm trying to do... No matter how much Cameron strained his 
imagination, he could not conceive the magnitude of the disaster he might be bringing on himself. 
Unlike Julian Luna, Cameron didn't possess the ability to think somebody else's thoughts.
     Caitlin was upset, but she wouldn't be human if she hadn't been flattered by Cameron's 
attention. He was young, handsome and seemed rather tense. He lacked Julian's maturity and self-
confidence. 

     Why am I comparing them? she thought. She remembered the impact that Julian had made on 
her the very first time she saw him. The influence his very presence still had on her. No, Cameron, 
nice as he was, had nothing to compete with. She looked at the bunch of yellow carnations that he 
had sent her. She didn't even like yellow! Nice guy for some nice girl but Caitlin wasn't interested. 
     Well, Cameron, she smiled to herself, when you?ve been robbed of your last dollar, you're no 
longer afraid of the thief.
     But she didn't get rid of the flowers and, of course, they were the first thing that Julian noticed 
when he came to take her out in the evening.
     "A new admirer?" he asked casually.
     "As a matter of fact, yes," she said laughing.
     "Somebody I know?" But she wasn't fooled by his neutral tone.
     "Uhm," she tried to sound as neutral as he did, "a guy named Cameron."
     "WHO!!!?" His shout made her jump. She looked at him in shock. His face was white and 
his eyes had turned pale green. She couldn't believe what she saw. Julian came to her desk and 
leaned towards her, his face only inches from hers. 
     "Cameron... is lethal!" He was still shouting. "Stay away from him!"
     But Caitlin just stared. 
     "Julian," she whimpered at last, "your eyes, what happened to your eyes?" She didn't give a 
damn about Cameron, but Julian's reaction scared her out of her wits. He turned away swiftly, his 
hand moved over his face. When he looked back at her again, his eyes were their normal deep 
brown color.
     "Caitlin," his voice was back to normal too, "Cameron murdered my closest friend. I won't tell 
you about other atrocities he has committed. Please, avoid him like the plague. I'll kill him if he 
tries to come close to you! I'm serious."
     But Caitlin wouldn't be sidetracked, not even by threats of murder. She got up and moved 
close to him. Taking hold of Julian's jacket lapels, she tried to shake him. Obviously, she could just 
as well try to shake a building. Her inability to move him frustrated her but she didn't let go. 
     "Julian, I don't care about Cameron or his crimes." There was a new intensity in her voice. "I 
want to now what happened to your eyes?"
     He swayed a little under her hands and she flattened her palms against his chest.
     "Don't you dare faint on me!" she hissed, "I want an answer!"
     "I can't tell you, Caitlin." He was shaking his head. "Believe me, I just can't." 
     He started to move away from her, but Caitlin slid her arms around him, knowing that he 
would never use force to disengage himself from her embrace. She rested her forehead against his 
chest.
     "Oh, Julian," she sobbed, "I Don't know if I can take any more of this?" She listened to the 
silence, and just as she was starting to become alarmed, she heard his heart beat. His arms enclosed 
her.
     "Caitlin, promise me that you won't see Cameron again," he demanded.
     "If you intend to blow your top every time I talk to another man..." she started, but Julian 
didn't let her finish. 
     "You may see whomever you wish," he said, "but I will blow my top, as you colorfully put it, 
over Cameron."
     She couldn't help laughing.
     "Well, if I ever want to see you green-eyed with jealousy, I'll know what to do. But for the 
moment, one glimpse is enough."
     Julian didn't plan to have sex with her on a park-bench. He was perfectly aware of the fact that 
he was showing off in front of a rival. They hadn't talked much during dinner, but in the theater he 
suddenly looked as if he remembered something, and had asked Caitlin what it was Cameron had 
wanted. 
     "He tried to seduce me," she shrugged dismissively. "I wasn't interested."
     "I have trouble believing that," Julian wouldn't be shrugged off. Caitlin was insulted.
     "Which part is so difficult to believe, that he was interested or that I wasn't?"
     But he just put his arm around her in a proprietary gesture. Julian was very much in love with 
her. He had no trouble believing that other men wanted her too. Even Cameron. Especially 
Cameron.
     On their way back Caitlin had demanded fresh air. They walked in the empty park after Julian 
had made a show of leaving Cash by the car. The seven guards who were following them were 
invisible to Caitlin. Also, Cameron was out there. Julian felt his presence in the dark. He knew that 
Cameron was watching them and Julian wanted to send a message to the Brujah:
     "This woman is mine!"
     They sat on the bench and kissed. Caitlin had drunk some wine and it had made her bold. She 
was so beautiful in the soft moonlight. Julian looked at her upturned face. Her eyes opened when 
his hand slid under her blouse, but she made no move to stop him. He heard her inhale sharply 
when he pressed his lips to her breast. Her fingers dug into Julian's shoulders. He could feel her 
nails pricking his skin through his shirt. He made her lie down, her skirt rolled up around her waist, 
her panties turning to shreds in his hands. He never seemed to have time to take them off, and his 
urgency excited her immensely. She held her breath as his tongue slithered over the most sensitive 
spot on her body.
     "Oh... Julian..." she was moaning aloud, her back arching in ecstasy. Her white skin 
glimmered in the moonlight, her eyes and nipples the only dark spots as she shuddered violently. 
Her body relaxed slowly and she heard a bird scream nearby. Julian was crouching over her, hiding 
her body from sight. Not that she cared. Who would come into the deserted park in the middle of 
the night? But when her hands slid down, touching him, he stood up, lifting her in the same 
movement.
     "We don't have to make out on a park-bench like a couple of love-sick teenagers," he 
whispered in a hoarse voice. She made a sound of protest but allowed him to carry her out of the 
park. Julian shook his head at the look of alarm on Cash's face and the young Gangrel opened the 
rear door of the car without a word. Caitlin continued to caress Julian, trying to touch and excite 
him the way he had touched and excited her. He let her, catching her hand when it became too 
intimate. But she wouldn't desist, making him clinch his teeth in order to stifle a groan of pleasure. 
The two men in the front seats stared at the road while the car sped through the night. The drive 
took forever. In spite of his superior strength, Julian was barely able to prevent Caitlin from taking 
off his clothes. When the car finally stopped, he grabbed her and carried her up to her bedroom, 
taking several steps with each stride. He dumped her on the bed, but she wouldn't stay put, getting 
up and helping him tear off his clothes. Her hands and lips on his bare skin made him hiss as if he 
were touched by fire. He was inside her within seconds, mumbling incoherently, holding her so 
tight that she had trouble breathing. But Caitlin didn't mind; she raised her hips towards his every 
thrust, her arms locked around his waist. She cried out when she was hit by the release and then she 
heard Julian gasp before he collapsed on her, almost crushing her with his weight. She listened as 
his breath returned to normal, his heartbeat slowing down. 
     No, she thought, I'm not interested in you, Cameron, this is what I want. But the fact that she 
was thinking of Cameron in this moment shocked her, and she tightened her grip on Julian.
     "You're the one I want," she murmured, and, as always, Julian heard and understood her 
mumbling.
     "I know," he whispered in her ear, and started everything anew.
     He did this night what he had done once before, refusing to break physical contact, almost 
strangling her in his efforts to keep her close. And, as on that fateful occasion six months earlier, he 
was gone when Caitlin woke up in the morning. But it didn't frustrate her so much anymore.

     Cameron was becoming more and more frustrated. Caitlin was being watched like a nun in a 
convent. There was always someone guarding the entrance to her office, and when she went out 
without Arthur at her side, there were at least two Kindred following her. They were discrete, Caitlin 
didn't notice them, but Cameron picked them out easily. After all, they were Gangrels. Cameron 
didn't have to see them, their presence was as manifest to him as a noxious smell. His calls were 
screened. His flowers weren't delivered. Apparently, Luna was making sure that Cameron would 
not be able to contact her again. 
     She must have told him about our lunch date, Cameron thought. But the difficulties only 
strengthened his determination. The solution came from the least expected quarters. Sasha agreed to 
take a written message to Caitlin, after he had convinced her that he was trying to make peace with 
Julian Luna with Caitlin's help. In his letter, he accused Luna of isolating her from the rest of the 
world. He figured that Caitlin would resent that. He would be waiting for her in the park nearby, at 
lunchtime, every day for a week. He hoped that she would come; he wanted to see her and apologize 
for his behavior. End of message. 
     She came a couple of days later. As he had expected, she was upset and demanded proof of 
his accusations against Julian. When he told her that he had been trying to reach her for days 
without succeeding, her eyes flashed in anger. 
     "For God's sake!" she exclaimed, "he's gone too far. I can take care of myself!"
     No, you can't. Cameron thought of the cellar, and shivered. 
     "Apparently, Luna doesn't believe that you can," he was fueling her fire, "anyway, not where 
I'm concerned." 
     "He is just jealous." She was still angry. "Sometimes he's so pig-headed that I would like to... 
oh, I Don't know what I want to do. One day, he'll drive me into doing something crazy!" She 
laughed suddenly. "Sometimes, I wonder, which one of us belongs in a mental institution." 
     Cameron took her hand. 
     "There is nothing wrong with you," he said, "and Mr. Luna has every reason to be jealous. I 
can't change the way I feel about you. Even the Prince can't force me to stop loving you." The title 
slipped out before he could stop himself. He sounded bitter.
     "The Prince?" Caitlin withdrew her hand, frowning.
     "They call him that, didn't you know that?" Cameron was thinking fast. He had to come up 
with a credible lie. "The... people who work for him." He almost said Kindred. He tried to collect 
his thoughts, but it was difficult when she was so close.
     I'm endangering the Masquerade, he thought in panic. He shut his eyes, being so near her 
made him lose control. But instead of regaining his composure, he merely managed to recall the 
images that were engraved in his memory. He had followed them in the darkness, shape-shifting 
into a falcon, he had watched them... he had found the discarded garment afterwards. The 
resentment made him slide away from her, his face turned away. But Caitlin leaned closer, her hand 
on his arm.
     "Cameron, what's wrong?" There was genuine worry in her voice.
     Slowly, he turned back to her, blinking repeatedly, as if he were trying to keep tears at bay. 
     "What's wrong?" she asked again. But she was just too close, her eyes looking at him 
intently, her lips slightly parted, her warm breath on his face. With a inarticulate cry he gave in to 
his impulse, taking hold of her and kissing her on the mouth. He felt the triumph sweep through 
him for a second as she responded. He was erasing Luna again, only this time she was cooperating. 
But in the next moment he felt her stiffen in his arms and she tore away from the kiss, her hands 
pushing at his chest. His grip tightened reflexively and she ceased fighting instantly. Her face 
turned white. 
     "Please, let go of me." The fear in her voice was like a knife in Cameron's heart. He released 
her and put his hands over hers; they were still on his chest.
     "Forgive me," he whispered. "I'd never do anything to harm you. You must believe me. 
Never!"
     Caitlin's hands slipped away from him and it felt as if his heart followed. She stood up very 
slowly, as if she were afraid that a sudden move would provoke an attack from him. She looked at 
him for a long moment.
     "Cameron, I want to ask a favor of you," she said at last. He nodded. "Please, stay out of my 
life."
     He bowed his head in defeat, but she wasn't satisfied with that. 
     "Promise!" Her voice was demanding. Cameron looked up at her. 
     "I promise that I will never touch you again, unless you ask," he said. 
     "That's not enough!" She sounded angry, and Cameron felt his own anger rise. He got up to 
his feet and she backed away a few steps.
     "All you have to do is to tell Luna what has happened today and you'll be rid of me forever." 
He heard the bitterness in his own voice. 
     "You're talking rubbish," she responded angrily. "I won't believe for a minute..."
     But Cameron cut her off. 
     "Your precious Julian will tear my head off, rip my lungs out and dismember me just to make 
sure!"
     Caitlin stared at him, suddenly there were tears in her eyes. After a moment, she turned and ran 
away. In her mind, she saw Julian's eyes flash green and heard his enraged shout "I will kill him". 
She had made her decision before she reached her office. She would never meet Cameron again and 
she would not tell Julian anything about their meeting in the park.
     Of course, Caitlin didn't know, and Cameron repressed the possibility, that her bodyguards 
had followed her into the park.
     The Prince had summoned Cameron; he realized that his second meeting with Caitlin must be 
the reason. But Julian had not come after him with a phosphorus gun, nor had he sent his assassins. 
Bringing his Brujah guards with him wouldn't make any difference, so he went alone.
     Cameron was admitted into the mansion and led into the gatehouse. If anyone was surprised 
that he had showed up without his entourage, there were no comments. Daedalus was sitting behind 
a table, but Luna was nowhere in sight.
     Is he going to let the Nosferatu do his dirty work? Cameron wondered. 
     Daedalus nodded towards one of the empty chairs, but said nothing and ignored Cameron 
after he seated himself. Luna's message had said midnight and since that was seven minutes away, 
Cameron had to be patient. The Prince wouldn't be late, but he wouldn't come before the appointed 
time either. Somehow, Cameron knew that his life wasn't in danger; the presence of the Nosferatu 
Primogen guaranteed that. Caitlin was probably in the main house, asleep at this hour. Cameron's 
imagination created pictures that drove him mad. He hadn't tried to contact her since their meeting 
in the park, but he had seen her from a distance a few times. He had sincerely tried to free himself 
from his obsession, but ever since he had seen Julian and Caitlin together, he realized that it was a 
losing battle. Following them that night had been a mistake. The way she abandoned herself in 
Luna's arms, Cameron wanted that for himself; he wanted her to whisper his name. His common 
sense told him that Caitlin would never be his, but reason had no influence over his feelings. 
     Suddenly, Julian Luna was standing in front of him; he had come in without making a sound, 
while Cameron was lost in thoughts. He looked up at the Prince and, in spite of himself, rose to his 
feet. The last thing he wanted to do was to show Luna respect, but reflex took over. There was no 
doubt about who was the supreme predator in the room, even the Nosferatu Primogen found 
himself in the background, despite his superior age and strength. 
     Julian stared coldly at Cameron. He sat down at the opposite side of the table before giving 
Cameron permission to sit. Julian leaned back in his chair, his eyes never leaving Cameron's face. 
Cameron decided to break the silence while he still felt himself capable of talking.
     "What do you want?" he blurted out, showing more confidence than he felt.
     But Julian answered with deliberate calmness.
     "The question is, what do you want?" He leaned forward suddenly. "Cameron, what are you 
trying to do?"
     Cameron shrugged.
     "I Don't know what you mean," he said, trying to win time.
     But the Prince made a contemptuous grimace.
     "Are you trying to make me think that you're even more stupid than I already believe you to 
be? In that case, you're succeeding beyond your own expectations." 
     Cameron checked himself. Luna's derogatory words stung. He sat up straight and stared 
defiantly at his adversary. There was nothing else to do but admit the truth. He clasped his hands 
together, pressing them hard against the surface of the table. 
     "I love her." His voice was a barely audible whisper, but of course, Luna heard him. With 
satisfaction, Cameron saw the Prince wince.
     "The lady is not available." Julian wasn't hiding his animosity at all. 
     "Why doesn't she tell me so herself?" Cameron knew there was no point in arguing, but he 
would be damned if he'd let Luna intimidate him.
     "I was under the impression that she had told you that," Julian retorted, "but you keep 
following her. you'll stop!"
     "You Don't know what might happen in the future." Cameron's desperation was carrying him 
on. "She cares for you now, she might care for someone else tomorrow. You don't own her!"
     Julian shook his head.
     "Cameron," he sounded almost kind now, "you're missing my point. Of course, I don't own 
Caitlin, nor can I dictate whom she should love. As you pointed out, she loves me now, but she can 
love someone else in the future. However," the kindness turned to steel momentarily, "I can make 
sure that this someone will never be you."
     "You're a cruel bastard!" Cameron hissed.
     "I am?" Julian rose slowly to his feet. "Let me remind you that I'm not the bastard who beat 
her up and raped her!"
     Cameron sagged in his chair.
     "Don't you think that I have regretted that every day ever since?!" he shouted. "If I could turn 
back the clock... I'd do anything to..." He hid his face in his hands, a sob escaping him. "I can't 
obliterate what I have done."
     Julian glanced at Daedalus, but the Nosferatu sat quiet and unmoving as a stone. He had to 
resolve this one on his own.
     "Cameron," his voice was calm again, "Caitlin seems to believe that I might kill you out of 
sheer jealousy. I don't know what you have told her, but she made me promise that I won't. I 
intend to keep that promise. But I can help her remember what happened, I can make her remember 
your voice." He leaned forward shouting again. "Do you want her to know?!"
     "No!" Cameron shook his head. "No, I'll keep away from her." He looked up at Julian, white-
faced, defeated. "Do you want me to leave the City?"
     Julian considered that for a moment.
     "Frankly, I don't care," he said at last. "You can go or you can stay. If you stay, I'll tolerate 
your presence. The Brujahs are more orderly under your rule than they have been for years. it's 
important to me." 
     Cameron winced, this was the Prince talking and it had nothing to do with Caitlin. He nodded. 
     "Then I'll stay," he said getting up.
     But Luna hadn't dismissed him, so he couldn't leave.
     "There is one more thing." Julian smiled suddenly. "If anything were to happen to me, 
anything at all," he was apparently enjoying himself, "a freak accident, an assassin in the dark, there 
are those who will inform Caitlin about your role in her abduction and the subsequent crime. And if 
anything happens to her, I'll be free from the promise she has forced me to make. I suggest you 
bear that in mind." Julian's hand raised towards the Brujah Primogen. "You may leave now."
     Cameron hesitated for just one second, but the Kindred instinct took over. He took the 
Prince?s hand and kissed it.
     After Cameron had left, Daedalus came to life. 
     "That should keep him at bay, at least for some time," he said. "You didn't need me here to 
control your temper," he added.

     Cameron wandered around the city for many hours. He was angry and ashamed. 
     How did he do it? he wondered, the damned Ventrue!
     Cameron had taken Caitlin in order to use her for extortion; he had fallen in love with her, 
hoping that he could take her away from the Prince. But now, he was on the receiving end of a 
blackmail threat. And it was Luna who was using the mortal woman, and what Cameron had done to 
her, to get what he wanted.
     Face it, he told himself, you and Julian Luna aren't in the same league. At least not yet.
     Cameron returned home at dawn. He would stay away from Caitlin, he would hide his hate, 
and he would wait. He had lost this battle, but the war between himself and the Prince of San 
Francisco wasn't over.

     Caitlin was scared and excited at the same time. She was late. She had been leafing through 
her calendar, trying to juggle meetings and deadlines, when it suddenly struck her. She was almost a 
week late. 
     The hopes and fears that she had managed to keep just beyond consciousness, burst forward 
with a force that made her reel. She and Julian had been together for how long? Almost eight 
months now. He had never given a thought to protection, never asked her if she used anything. He 
seemed oblivious to the facts of life. On the other hand, his attitude towards children wasn't 
reassuring. He avoided any contact with them and was visibly ill at ease in their presence. Caitlin 
remembered an incident she had witnessed. They had been on their way to the car, walking through 
a small park, when they came upon a family, a couple with two children. They were about to leave 
the park after a picnic. A small boy, aged four or five, was screaming loudly in protest, struggling to 
get out of his mother?s arms. He succeeded finally and ran off in the direction of Caitlin and Julian. 
The father came after him but the child managed to bump into Julian's legs before he was caught 
by the young man. Julian grabbed the boy reflexively and handed him over to the pursuing man, 
who said in an angry tone:
     "Was Herod a great king, or what?"
     Caitlin had been appalled, but Julian had laughed aloud. He repeated that stupid joke to 
himself several times afterwards, always laughing at it. 
     She asked him later, what he had against children.
     "I've got nothing against children," Julian had responded, "I'm just not used to them."
     But Caitlin wasn't convinced. Also, she was afraid. She didn't want this to happen to her 
again, a man leaving her pregnant. Somehow, she couldn't imagine Julian Luna shunning his 
responsibility, but she didn't know how he would react. She decided to take the bull by the horns 
that very day. 
     Julian was in the library, a stack of papers in front of him, when Caitlin had built up enough 
courage to confront him with the possibility that he might become a father. 
     "Julian, I need to talk to you."
     He looked up from his work.
     "Yes, Caitlin?"
     She braced herself, crossing her arms over her chest, her hands squeezing her shoulders in a 
defiant posture. 
     "I think I'm pregnant," Caitlin said as evenly as she could.
     Julian blinked several times and looked away. Caitlin watched him carefully, but there was no 
expression on his face. His gaze returned to her.
     "You think you're pregnant, you aren't sure?" he asked.
     "Nnno..." Caitlin answered, "but I'm late."
     "I see," he said, his eyes turning back to the pile on the table. Apparently, he didn't intend to 
say anything more. Caitlin didn't know what she had expected him to do, but his lack of reaction 
was unnerving. 
     "Is this all you have to say?" She was feeling belligerent.
     "What do you want me to say?" He was frowning now.
     "I want you to tell me how you feel?" Caitlin demanded.
     Julian leaned back in his chair, and Caitlin got the impression that he was looking inside 
himself. The silence was frightening. Then his attention focused on her again.
     "I don't know what I feel." There was a note of sadness in his voice. "This is rather 
unexpected. Right now I'm just worried, about your health," he added, noticing the 
uncomprehending expression on her face. He forced himself to smile. 
     "Please forgive my lack of enthusiasm at the prospect of becoming a father, I need to get used 
to the idea."
     Well, Caitlin thought, at least he hasn't told me to get lost.
     "Please, let me know how you feel, when you know," she said haughtily, and stomped out of 
the library. 
     Julian sat unmoving for a long time. The papers were a blur in front of his eyes, he couldn't 
concentrate on the reading anymore. He felt numb and cold. 
     Caitlin, how could you do this to me?
     The taste of betrayal was bitter. 
     Who could be the father of Caitlin's child? And why was she trying to hang it on him? In his 
mind, he went through the mortal men that Caitlin knew. Probably someone at her work. He knew 
how easy it was to lock the door to her office, to find enough privacy, to... He felt his anger rise. 
But why lie? On this Earth, in this life, there was no way that Julian could beget any children the 
way humans did. But Caitlin didn't know that. 
      I should have told her, Julian mused. But now, it was too late. Or was it? Should he pretend 
that the child was his? Should he let her pretend that the child was his? It was possible that she 
believed that it was so. Could he live with that lie, the way he lived with so many other lies? He 
sighed heavily, realizing that the notion of leaving Caitlin never entered his mind. No, he could not 
let her go. He thought of the child she had been forced to abandon in her youth. Whoever was the 
biological parent of Caitlin's child, she wanted him to be the father. For her sake, as well as his 
own, he would accept that. Only, it would never be the same anymore. He shoved the papers aside 
and got up. His head had started to ache, he had to get out.
     It was almost dawn when Julian returned to the mansion. His strength was restored, but he felt 
ashamed. What a stupid way of seeking revenge! For a moment he had entertained the idea of 
seeking out Lillie. But no, Lillie didn't deserve that. He had roamed the city most of the night, 
feeding several times. But he hadn't returned home after his hunger had been satisfied. He had 
found a young student on her way back from some party. It hadn't taken him long to make her 
invite him to her room. But when they were in her bed, he realized that he was thinking of Caitlin, 
wanting her, not the amorous young girl who was wriggling all over him. He had given her what she 
craved, but left without allowing himself the same release. He stayed in the shower for almost 
twenty minutes, making sure that all traces of the other woman disappeared from his body. Caitlin 
was asleep when he entered her bedroom. He crept into the bed cautiously, making sure that she 
wouldn't wake. But she seemed aware of his presence because she turned and snuggled close to 
him. He held her lightly, wondering if he would dare. An hour passed, then another. At last, he 
allowed his awareness to invade her being. He found no trace of another life inside her. 
     Caitlin was surprised and relieved to find Julian at her side in the morning. But when she tried 
to entice him to make love to her, he backed off, telling her that he was tired. Somehow, he didn't 
want to soil Caitlin with what he had done that night, wondering about his reaction. It had never 
stopped him before. But Caitlin was relentless and it was so easy to give in to her kisses and 
caresses. As usual, he could not say no to her.
     A couple of days later, Julian found Caitlin sitting listlessly on her couch. She appeared 
desolate and his heightened senses informed him instantly of what was wrong. The faint scent of 
blood made him keep his distance.
     "False alarm," she said. 
     Julian looked inquiringly at her. He knew what was coming, but he didn't want her to 
understand that he knew. 
     "I was just... late." She sounded so sad. She wanted him to comfort her, but Julian couldn't 
bring himself to come closer. He was searching desperately for the right words, but his mind was 
just empty. He didn't dare to look at her and she started to cry. 
     "Caitlin," he faced her at last, "Caitlin, I can't give you a child!"
     There, it was said. No turning back. Her head snapped up.
     "What?"
     Julian steeled himself. He spoke slowly, pronouncing each word carefully.
     "I can't have children. I'm sterile." He watched her face contort in pain as the understanding 
dawned on her. 
     "Why didn't you tell me?" She was whispering now. 
     "We've never discussed the subject, it's nothing one brags about. I thought..."
     But Caitlin cut him off, shaking her head.
     "No, no, I mean the other day, when I thought that I was pregnant." She watched him look 
away again, embarrassed. She was getting quite good at reading his expressions. He responded 
after some time.
     "If you had been pregnant, I was prepared to accept the fact that I was the father, no matter..."
     She didn't let him finish this time either.
     "Julian! How could you!? For one second..." Her anger turned to tears again. "How could 
you think that I'd betray you?" She flared up angrily again. "You thought that I had slept with 
Cameron, didn't you?!"
     Julian shook his head, almost saying Cameron can't father children any more than I can, but 
he stopped himself in time. 
     "No," he answered, "I did not think that you were involved with Cameron. He promised that he 
would leave you alone, and you said that you weren?t interested. I had good reason to believe both 
you and him." 
     "Oh," Caitlin looked at him suspiciously, "how come we have become so trustworthy?"
     "You have no reason to lie, and he has every reason to keep his promise," Julian answered.
     Of course, Julian Luna didn't trust Cameron for one second. He had done a wicked thing after 
his meeting with the Brujah Primogen. That night, he had influenced Caitlin's mind while she was 
sleeping. The next time she would hear Cameron's voice, she would recognize it as belonging to the 
man in the cellar. Cameron had better keep his distance.
     "But accidents happen," Julian continued. "it's easy for me to imagine that other men want 
you as much as I do. Your friends at your work, I don't know who is close to you." He tried 
desperately to talk away his jealousy, but Caitlin's thoughts ran in another direction.
     It had been so obvious, she mused, during all those months, his apparent lack of interest in 
contraceptive measures, his avoidance of children, why didn't she see it?
     "I'm sorry," she said. "I'm so very sorry." And then, "what's wrong with you?"
     Reluctantly, Julian came to her side.
     "Take my hand," he said. She did. "Now, tell me how it feels."
     His hand was warm and dry against her palm. 
     "You're hot," she sounded surprised, "like a fever." 
     He hated to lie to her, but it had worked with doctor Enright and it would certainly work with 
Caitlin. 
     "My body temperature is higher than normal, a freak genetic disorder. It doesn't affect me in 
any other way, but what's comfortable to the rest of humanity, is cold to me, and it has rendered me 
sterile."
     The truth was that his body temperature was subject to his will, as many other autonomic 
functions were. And all Kindred were sterile.
     He tried to remove his hand from Caitlin's grasp, but she wouldn't let go.
     "I'm so sorry," she said again, "but don't you ever mistrust me again. If I ever decide to be 
with someone else, you'll be the first to know."
     Julian flinched at that. He wanted to implore her never to leave him, but decided there had been 
enough melodrama for one evening, and let it be. For now, the reassuring way she held on to his 
hand told him that she would not desert him because of his inability to father a child. In a way he 
was glad that he could no longer propagate in the normal way. He remembered his wife, Evelyn, 
who had died giving birth to his son. He never wanted to live through such anguish and despair 
again. 
     Caitlin wasn't sure what she was looking for. She wandered from one door to another, trying 
to open them, but all were locked. A vague feeling of urgency propelled her to the next door, and to 
the next. She was more and more convinced that none of the doors would open. She watched her 
hand take hold of a doorknob, her fingers straining when she tried to turn it, it didn't budge. 
Disappointed, she moved to the next knob. Suddenly, there was a key, sticking out beneath the knob 
she was holding. She turned the key without making a sound. The door swung open in front of her 
and she peered inside. It was her own room, in her parents? house. She walked around, touching 
her things, the books spread on the table, the magazines, her diary, a discarded sweater hanging over 
the back of a chair, the ugly stain still visible on its front. Her mother had scolded her for damaging 
it. She had tried to wash it several times, but the stain made by coffee flavored ice cream would not 
disappear. She still remembered how sad she had been; she had loved that sweater. 
     She opened her diary. Strange, she was sure that she had burned it, along with the few letters 
she had from the father of the child she had been forced to give away. She leafed through the 
yellowed pages, but no matter how much she strained, she couldn't read one word. 
     What's wrong with me? she thought in panic. Then she was able to make out simple words, 
like 'mom' and 'dad' and 'love'. She saw a name that she recognized very well 'Julian'. It made 
her frown. 
     No, it's not possible, she thought, this diary was gone years before I met you! She looked at 
the sentence that contained the name, but could not make out the words before or after it. She threw 
the diary at the wall angrily. It bounced off and fell, opening at a page where there was only one 
word written. She leaned over it.
     'Julian', she read. And then, before her unbelieving eyes, the name disappeared, leaving a stain 
of fresh blood. She gasped in fear and ran from the room. It was dark and she was whimpering in 
fright.
     "Help me!" she cried.
     Suddenly, he was there, and the relief made her giddy. She was in his arms and it was no 
longer dark and he was saying all the things she wanted to hear. His hands moved over her skin, 
kindling small fires wherever they touched her. She felt safe and warm and happy. The warmth 
spread inside her, the desire becoming a hunger, but when she tried to touch him, she found to her 
dismay that she couldn't move...
     Caitlin turned opening her eyes. She smiled when she saw Julian, fast asleep, lying on his side, 
his face resting on the back of his hand. She hesitated only a moment, but the hunger from the 
dream made her lean towards the sleeping man, her lips searching his. He responded to the kiss 
before waking up. Using her weight, she managed to push him onto his back, marveling at his 
instant hard readiness.
     "Men!" she giggled, "only one thing on your mind!"
     Afterwards, he admitted, that he had not been asleep at all. That he had enticed that erotic 
dream in her, by touching her while she slept. Caitlin felt ambivalent. She liked her dream, it had 
chased the nightmare away, but the fact that it had been forced on her was disturbing. 
     "I don't like you messing with my mind," she mumbled.
     A look of hurt came on Julian's face.
     "I wasn't messing with your mind," he said, "just your body." His hand touched her again, but 
she moved out of his reach. She looked at his hand, just inches away from her. 
     Sure enough, she thought. Whenever his hands were on her, her thoughts would turn in one 
direction. Whether it happened while she was awake or asleep made little difference. Still, that he 
could influence her while she slept made her uncomfortable. 
     She kept thinking about the nightmare during the day, trying to analyze it. The locked doors? 
Probably all the unknown nooks in Julian's mansion. Many doors were locked there, and Julian 
had warned her against going to the gatehouse. A reclusive, disfigured friend of his lived there and 
he didn't like company. Lots of mysteries to dream about. Nothing strange about that. Her old 
room? She was going to visit her parents during the weekend; her mother was sick. Caitlin hadn't 
seen her father since the night Julian had chased him out of her house. It still made her laugh. But 
facing her father on her own was another matter; it produced a feeling of apprehension. To her 
surprise, Julian offered to go with her. She knew how unwilling he was to leave San Francisco, even 
for a couple of days. 
     Her inability to read?
     Aw, stop it, Caitlin, she told herself, soon you'll be analyzing every erotic dream you have. 
     She didn't analyze it, but the memory kept her warm and happy all day. She had forgotten the 
end of her nightmare, the part about the blood left by Julian's name. 
     Her thoughts returned to her parents. Funny that she should dream about her childhood home. 
Her father had always been so stern, her mother always in the background, always agreeing to 
everything he decided.
     Poor mom, she never had much life of her own, Caitlin thought. And now, she was sick. 
     The letter had been short and to the point.
     Your mother is unwell. Please, come.
     Caitlin forgot her fear and pride and called home. To her relief, her mother answered. An 
ulcer! Her meek, mousy mother had managed to develop an ulcer the size of a walnut. Caitlin put it 
on her father's bill. 
     it's a wonder he didn't give me an ulcer! was her conclusion. But she would visit her mother, 
she would show him that she was no longer afraid of him. And she would take Julian along, just to 
spite the old goat! She realized that she was trying to build up her courage and she snorted at 
herself. The thought that Julian would be with her made it easy to feel brave. She crossed her 
fingers, hoping that nothing would turn up that might prevent him from accompanying her. 
     Nothing did.
     Caitlin knew that Julian was wealthy, but sitting in his private jet made her realize that there 
must be more to the Luna fortune than met the eye. To her utter surprise, Julian was visibly afraid 
of flying. Once they were back on the ground, he admitted to hating it even more than he hated 
being cold. 
     "If you were to learn to pilot the thing yourself," she told him, "you'd love to fly."
     "I..." he started and then bit his lip. He had almost said I love to fly, but not in this 
contraption.
     "I never seem to have the time," he said at last, lamely.
     Another fancy, foreign car waited for them at the airport, but Caitlin was past being surprised 
by worldly signs of Julian's riches. She was becoming more and more nervous, the closer they 
came to her family home. Finally, they arrived, and to her great relief, her father greeted them quite 
cordially. 
     She was back in her old room, she almost looked for the stained sweater. Her diary was of 
course gone, too. Julian was given a guestroom in the other end of her house. The car and guards 
disappeared, God only knew where - and Julian, of course. Caitlin corrected herself. Her mother 
looked worse than Caitlin had expected, but their visit brought color to her cheeks. Caitlin looked 
askance at her father, but he only shook his head. He seemed... subdued, and sad, and Caitlin's 
resolve melted away. She understood that her mother?s illness must be more grave than she had 
been told. 
     But Mrs. Byrne showed little interest in her daughter. She oozed all her charm over Julian and 
he responded by turning on his most Latin politeness, showering Caitlin's mother with 
compliments and attention worthy of a queen. What amazed Caitlin even more, was that his acting 
seemed so natural; if she didn't know better, she would have believed him to be a European 
aristocrat. In the end, the two of them switched to French (Caitlin's mother was from Quebec) and 
that made father and daughter stare at each other open-mouthed. Caitlin's French would suffice in a 
phony French restaurant, so she hadn't been impressed by Julian's perfect pronunciation when he 
ordered French wines or dishes. But now she was. Her mother and her lover chatted away happily, 
oblivious of their company. Caitlin shrugged and blinked at her father. They walked out.
     "He's a rather charming fellow, when he?s not showing his fangs and claws on your behalf," 
was the first thing her father said. Caitlin laughed with relief. But her concern was for her mother 
right now.
     "it's not an ulcer, is it?" she asked.
     The old man's expression turned serious.
     "She has cancer." His whole frame sagged. "Six months, a year at the most. She doesn't 
know." Suddenly there where tears running down his face.
     "Oh, daddy!" Caitlin threw her arms around him, realizing that she hadn't called him 'daddy' 
for at least ten years. She started crying too.
     "I'm sorry, so sorry," she sobbed. They held onto each other for a long time. Her father was 
the first one to gather his wits.
     "Enough of that." His voice was gruff. "Let's talk about you."
     Brrr... Caitlin winced, here it comes. And it did.
     "That young man in there, who is charming your mother out of her marbles?"
     Caitlin heard the question mark but pretended that she didn't.
     "What about him?"
     "Caitlin!" Her father sighed heavily. "Okay, I'll spell it out for you. Why aren't you two 
married?"
     Caitlin gulped. That one was up front.
     "Dad," she was dithering, "I don't know Julian that well yet. I didn't even know that he spoke 
French." She was talking fast, trying to lead her father away from the subject. But he was quite 
single-minded.
     "You know him well enough to... to sleep with him." His bluntness was deliberate. "Are you 
planning to become an unwed mother again?"
     To his surprise it made Caitlin start crying again. 
     "You don't have to worry about that," she sniffled. "I can't have children, at least not with 
Julian."
     Her father stared at her uncomprehending.
     "He can't marry me," Caitlin continued sobbing.
     "Why, does he have a wife stashed somewhere?" there was that old anger in his voice again.
     "There is no wife!" she shouted, then tried to calm herself. "The reason that he can't marry 
me, is that he can't have children. He is sterile," she said defiantly.
     The old man frowned.
     "What's wrong with him?" he asked. Caitlin shrugged. 
     "What does it matter? He can't, and that's it," she looked up at her father, prepared to fight, 
"but I love him, and that's that. If I never have children, I'll learn to live with it." 
     But her father didn't fight back.
     "I'm sorry to hear that," was all he said, not explaining what he was sorry about.
     The next challenge came with the dinner. When they came back, Mr. Byrne made jokes about 
the fact that Caitlin and he were starting to feel jealous, but then decided that hungry was a more 
appropriate description of their condition. Caitlin's heart sunk. Her mother's famous mutton 
chops! If Julian refused to eat, it would be the ultimate insult. But to her disbelief, Julian ate 
everything he was served. She saw him flinch at the sight of meat, but he ate it, complimenting the 
chef, pretending that he didn't know who had prepared the meal. Caitlin wanted to hug him. 
Somehow, his sacrifice at her mother's dining table made Caitlin realize how much he cared for her. 
She remembered that in the beginning, when they had started to date, he had made heroic efforts to 
eat whatever she had cooked, but gave up after only a few weeks. But Caitlin had never regarded 
cooking as a serious business, the way her mother did, and didn't mind his refusals so much. 
Anyway, his color returned when her mother's cheesecake was brought in, and he genuinely 
enjoyed her father's French Armagnac, but declined the cigar. At last the meal was over and 
Caitlin's mother retired. 
     Caitlin and Julian sat together on the couch, Caitlin's father pretending that he was reading a 
book in his chair by the fire.
     "Julian, you never cease to surprise me!" She was giggling, "Where did you learn French?"
     "I have always known French," he said. "I... my family came from New Orleans, we spoke 
French at home."
     Now, he's talking! Caitlin thought, he had never mentioned his family before. She jumped at 
the opportunity to prod further.
     "Any other languages you know?" she asked.
     "Well... I speak Spanish," Julian answered, "and some Italian."
     "I'm impressed. Why haven't you told me any of this before?"
     "You've never asked." Julian was visibly retreating, but Caitlin wouldn't let go.
     "Any other secret skills you're hiding? Ballet dancing? Writing poetry? Running a marathon? 
I bet you were quite a sportsman when you were younger!"
     He tried very hard to keep a serious face, but Caitlin saw the corners of his mouth start 
quivering, and at last he couldn't keep his laughter back.
     "I'm a good swimmer," he confessed finally. "As for running marathons," he leaned close to 
her, his arm encircling her waist, "there are other activities that require good lung capacity and 
endurance that are of a much more pleasant nature." He was whispering now in a suggestive voice, 
making sure that Caitlin's father couldn't hear them. Caitlin's face turned red. 
     She understood very well what he meant and his arm was pressing her against him, making 
her forget her questions about his past. But Caitlin knew that she wouldn't dare sneak into the 
guestroom in her father's house and she hoped that her lover wouldn't try to come to her room 
during the night. Julian understood her shyness, because she slept alone that night.
     Old Byrne was surprised. He went up twice in the middle of the night. The guest-room was 
empty, the bed untouched, but when he looked into Caitlin's room, he found her fast asleep, curled 
up in her bed, alone. In the morning, he found Julian fast asleep where he was supposed to be. 
Julian gave the old man a wolfish grin when he woke. 
     "I know what's on your mind," he said. "I walked in the woods for several hours. Ate too 
much, too late." He didn't lie about that part. He had to get rid of the food he had stuffed himself 
with. It had felt like a stone inside him. His other nightly activities he kept to himself. Also, he 
refused to eat breakfast.
     Caitlin and Julian strolled in the woods, not far from the house. Within minutes Caitlin 
realized that Julian knew his way around, which forced him to tell her that he had gone out during 
the night. He gave her the same excuse that he had given her father.
     "The food, last night. I had to get out..." He didn't finish, when Caitlin made a graphic gesture, 
and he nodded affirmatively.
     "Oh, Julian, I love you," she said most tenderly, bewildering him.
     "You love me?" he asked with incredulity, "for throwing up your mother's food?"
     "I love you for eating it," she answered putting her arms around him. "I simply love you," she 
added after a moment. 
     For you, I could eat... a rare steak, Julian thought, but the picture his imagination created 
made all his body-hair stand on end and he shivered. Dead animal blood was about the most 
revolting thing he could imagine. But Caitlin interpreted his reaction differently.
     "You're cold." Her hands moved up and down his back in an effort to warm him. "Let's go 
back inside. The woods in Washington State are not the most pleasant place for you."
     "No, it's all right, I would like to stay outdoors a little longer." They started to walk again and 
he changed the subject. "Tell me about your mother." 
     Caitlin was quiet for a long time. When she finally started talking, her voice was brittle with 
pain.
     "While you were busy charming her out of her marbles, as my father put it, he told me that she 
is suffering from cancer, and probably has less than a year to live." She fought back the tears for a 
moment, but then let them fall. Julian touched her face.
     "I'm sorry," he whispered. He had suspected that much. The elderly woman was obviously 
gravely ill. He had sensed it the moment he touched her hand when she greeted him. 
     But now it was Caitlin's turn to change the subject.
     "You know how blunt my father can be. Can you imagine what he asked me last night?" She 
didn't wait for his answer. "He asked why we're not married!"
     Julian stopped walking and turned to Caitlin.
     "Why aren't we married?" he said.
     Caitlin shrugged helplessly.
     "I told him that's because you can't have children." Then she looked straight at him. "You've 
never asked."
     Julian pondered over that for a moment.
     "I'll marry you Caitlin, if that's what you wish," he said quietly. But Caitlin shook her head 
forcefully.
     "No, Julian, you won't. If you ever marry me, it will be because you wish it." She turned away 
and started walking faster. He followed her through the wet ferns, catching up with her shortly, 
taking hold of her arm.
     "Caitlin," he implored her, "do you want it or not?" When she turned back and looked at him, 
he continued. "I'm the one who can't have children." He looked away for a moment as he always 
did when he was out of his depth. "The choice should be yours," he summarized.
     But Caitlin shook her head.
     "I Don't know what I want." She was talking more to herself than to Julian. "The editor 
marrying the publisher, so much for my professional integrity," she added. "Not that our 
relationship is so clandestine anymore, but... frankly, I?d really like to know what you want."
     "To be truthful," Julian answered, "marriage has never entered my mind. Being what I am, it 
just wasn't an option." He smiled suddenly. "Not until now."
     He stood behind her, his arms around her waist, his chin resting lightly on the top of her head. 
His hands moved up slowly, and when they came to rest, she sighed softly. Even through the thick 
layers of a wool sweater and a coat, he was able to excite her. She pressed her back against him in 
response, aware of his reaction that here, in the middle of Washington woods a stone?s throw from 
her father?s house, it made her blush and inhale sharply. She turned, opening her coat with shaking 
hands, and Julian accepted her wordless invitation, his chilled fingers sneaking underneath her 
sweater. But his hands were warm when they touched her breasts, and Caitlin felt her nipples 
harden against his palms. She took hold of his neck with one hand, pressing his head down so she 
could kiss him, her other hand wandering off in another direction, making him grunt and press 
against her bold fingers. A fine rain started to drip through the treetops, turning into a downpour 
within minutes. But Caitlin and Julian went on standing in the deluge, exciting each other senseless, 
without being able to reach fulfillment. At last they gave up and ran back to the house, wet and 
frozen to the core.
     "You must both be mad!" Caitlin's mother admonished them. "you'll catch pneumonia." But 
she smiled inwardly seeing their disheveled appearance. "Wait here" she said. Seconds later she 
was back carrying several bath towels. "Now, a hot shower, both of you, before you catch your 
death."
     Caitlin's hand searched Julian's.
     "Mom..." she mumbled. But her mother winked wickedly.
     "Your father has gone into town. won't be back until late in the afternoon." She laughed at 
their disappearing backs. 
     Caitlin had just peeled off her wet clothes, the cold making her teeth chatter, when Julian, 
swifter as always, pulled her into the hot shower, lifting her high, a kiss muffling her shout of 
surprise at the sudden change of temperature. Julian held her tight against his chest, his hands 
beneath her thighs, her knees pressed against his sides. She locked her arms around his neck, trying 
to stay as high up as she could. But he stopped supporting her weight as his hands let go of her 
thighs and moved to her hips, and she slid slowly down his torso. His fingers hardened their grip as 
she was slowly impaled. She was trying to stop her downward movement, clinging to him with all 
her strength, prolonging the exquisite torture of their merging. He made a hoarse sound, as if in 
pain, then his hands took hold of her properly, and he pressed her hard against him, just as his hips 
shot towards her, completing their union in one powerful stroke. It was Caitlin's turn to cry out as 
if she were in pain. Fortunately, the running water drowned their voices. Julian slid down to his 
knees and leaned back, making Caitlin rest on his body, while his hands kept her in the right 
position, his hips moving rhythmically. But after a moment she pushed at his chest and, 
straightening her arms, leaned away from him, their bodies now only connected by sex. Their eyes 
met and he watched her lick her lips. His searching fingers easily found the right place, bringing an 
ecstatic look to her face. It didn't take long. She was very still for a moment and then he felt her 
inner muscles flutter as she exhaled with a drawn-out moan. With indomitable force, he drew her 
closer again, until their lips met in a long exhausting kiss, which Caitlin ended by biting him. Before 
he had time to think, he bit her back, and the taste of their mixed blood made him dizzy, but the 
feeling disappeared with the hot water that washed the blood away. 
     Julian's hand shot out and he turned off the shower. The battering ceased. He looked at 
Caitlin's face. Her lip was still bleeding, her eyes were wide open, her pupils dilated by the sexual 
excitement. He tasted his own blood; the wound hadn't closed yet, and Julian didn't intend to let it. 
He kissed her again, and this time the intoxicating taste didn't disappear too soon. He felt Caitlin's 
nails rake his back and gasped in pleasure. Throwing his head back in order to avoid her inviting 
throat, he pressed her close to him again, and she used the opportunity to bite him more, first on the 
shoulder, then on the neck. He cried out violently and pressed her head down, while he bowed away 
from her, trying so hard not to bite her back. He stopped himself at the last moment, when his teeth 
were already pricking the skin on her neck, just above the spinal artery. 
      She slid away when he let go of her and lay panting on the floor, her eyes half-closed, her 
mouth smeared with blood. As if drawn by an invisible force, they slithered towards each other 
across the wet bathroom floor. They came together in a violent embrace, clinging to each other, their 
mouths joined in a passionate kiss. But making love on a bathroom floor wasn't inviting, so they 
picked themselves up and sneaked into Caitlin's room. She made Julian lie down on her bed while 
she continued to kiss and caress him. He stretched out, hoping that her blood-thirst had been 
appeased, at least for now. He closed his eyes, reveling in the sensations her soft hands and lips 
created. His body stiffened in anticipation as her mouth encircled him, his fingers touching her face 
lightly, encouraging her. He didn't look at her, and therefore didn't see the strange expression on 
her face. Her lips moved away, and he made a disappointed groan. In the next moment her mouth 
was back, closing over the most tender male part, human or Kindred, while her hand enclosed his 
hardness, moving lightly up and down. He fought hard to prolong the wonder a little longer, to 
prevent the importunate release, shuddering in delight. Suddenly, her hand closed hard, her nails 
driving into him and her teeth clenched in a powerful bite. He screamed, his body arching in a 
spasm, the excruciating pain turning into the ultimate pleasure, as his semen and his blood spurted 
over Caitlin's face and hands. It was the first time ever that he had become totally spent and 
exhausted while he was with Caitlin. When he looked at her, he saw that she lay motionless, her 
eyes closed, her spattered face resting against the injured parts of his body. 
     Julian was scared. He had never, not even in Manzanita, come so close to Embracing Caitlin, 
than here, in broad daylight, in her parents? house. In the trance-like state that her sensuality had 
propelled her into, she had challenged the Kindred core of his soul. But he had not succumbed, and 
it made him feel proud of himself. Julian had summoned all his Kindred powers in order to calm 
Caitlin's senses, well aware that if she broke through his defenses, he might do her serious harm, or 
even Embrace her. Just to make sure, he made her forget what she had done to him in this pink and 
white girl?s room. Now, she lay asleep, her head resting on his chest, breathing slowly, her heartbeat 
calm, her body warm, soft and alive. Julian lay very still, the injury she had inflicted on him was 
grave enough to take hours to heal. Every move caused him excruciating pain, and he reveled in it. It 
made him feel totally alive, too.
     Julian was thinking of Caitlin's mother: The charming old lady's terminal illness and 
Caitlin's tearful voice when she told him about it. He knew he could change that. He was thinking 
Kindred now. He could offer to Embrace her, to snatch her from the brink of mortality. He had the 
power and he had the right. He was a Prince, and the Prince of Seattle was a blood brother of his. 
There would be no trouble from that quarter, not over an elderly woman who lived in the 
countryside. But would she want that? What if she turned away from his offer in terror and 
revulsion? Then he would have to kill her immediately. And if she accepted? He could hardly 
imagine the consequences. He could not allow Caitlin's mother to endanger the Masquerade; he 
was already putting it in jeopardy through his relationship with Caitlin. He sighed heavily. He 
wasn't comfortable with his decision. 
     Cautiously, he got out of Caitlin's bed, intending to get up and pretend that nothing out of the 
ordinary had happened. But he realized that he couldn't leave the mess behind. The bed looked as if 
someone had been slaughtered. A couple of hours had passed since Caitlin had done her bloody 
deed. His wounds had closed, but the pain was still rather bad. He suspected that he looked like a 
castrated dolt when he moved. He went to the bathroom and cleaned himself up, then returned to 
Caitlin and very carefully wiped her face, her chest and hands with a wet towel, removing all traces 
of what had happened. Now, the covers. He made it to his room without being seen, put on fresh 
clothes and returned to Caitlin's room. Making sure that she wouldn't wake, he removed the soiled 
bedclothes, made a bundle of them and went looking for a washing machine. Mrs. Byrne was in the 
kitchen. She looked at him and then at the bundle he was holding to his chest. Without a word, she 
beckoned to him and he followed her to the small storeroom beyond the kitchen. Their eyes met as 
she opened the washing machine. She paled visibly when she saw the dried blood; there was no 
way he could hide it. There was just too much of it. She took a sheet and touched the stain, the fear 
in her eyes was accusing.
     "It's my blood," Julian said. "Caitlin is unharmed."
     He was trying to think fast, to invent some injury that might explain the bloodletting. But his 
knowledge of human physiology was insufficient. He shrugged helplessly and started putting the 
bedclothes into the machine. Caitlin's mother watched him intently, noticing his awkward 
movements.
     "What did she do to you?" The question made him freeze. 
     He turned back slowly, facing the old women. They looked at each other for a long time, a 
battle of wills. To his own surprise, Julian was the first to look away. 
     "I'm quite all right," he said, but his reaction belied his words as he doubled over in pain when 
he bumped against a chair in his effort to make a hasty retreat.
     "Quiet now," Caitlin's mother said, "or you'll harm yourself even more. Here..." She handed 
him fresh sheets. "Come back here when you're done, I want to talk to you."
     He thanked her with a nod. 
     It was rather difficult to make Caitlin's bed with her in it, but he managed it. He sat down for a 
moment looking at her. She seemed so innocent and vulnerable in her sleep. He still hadn't come 
up with a lie for her mother when he went back to the kitchen. The notion of disobeying the old 
woman?s order had never entered his mind. She had made tea while she waited for him and he 
accepted it gratefully.
     "Is Caitlin asleep?" she asked.
     "Yes," Julian answered, "she will sleep until I wake her up."
 

     They sat sipping the aromatic brew. At last she said in a very even voice:
     "I know what you are."
     Julian's head snapped up at her words. But there was no horror in her face. She just sat there, 
calm and composed. Julian hoped against hope that she meant something else, but her next words 
took that hope away.
     "No human being can lose so much blood and stay conscious. I used to be a nurse, I know 
what I'm talking about. I can imagine how badly you were hurt."
     Julian blinked in embarrassment, still not daring to say anything.
     "Has she become one of you?" she asked, her voice sad. Julian shook his head.
     "No," he said, "and she doesn't know."
     Mrs. Byrne smiled unexpectedly.
     "Caitlin doesn't know, because she doesn't want to know. But sooner or later she?ll find out. 
I figured it out within one day. But then I've known of your existence since I was a little girl. You 
see, I've met you before, almost forty years ago, and I'm like Caitlin, I never forget a face."
     Julian tried very hard to recall a French-speaking child, in the fifties, but the memory eluded 
him. Her smile was still there. 
     "Don't bother," she said, "you won't remember anyway. But I do. I used to dream about 
you." She laughed at his bewildered expression. "Beautiful dreams. I envy you now. You see, I'm 
dying. My husband thinks that I Don't know, but I do. I'm not stupid."
     "You don't have to die," Julian blurted out at last. "I can change that!"
     But she shook her head. 
     "No, it's too late. Just promise me that you'll take care of my girl. Don't let any harm come to 
her." There was that wicked smile again. "And Don't let her harm you," she made a telling gesture 
towards the washing machine, "and I promise, I won't make you eat dinner tonight."
     Julian couldn't help laughing at that. She hugged him, and he closed her in his arms for a long 
time, preventing her from seeing the bloody tears that ran down his face. 
     Caitlin and Julian returned to San Francisco the next day. She didn't remember what she had 
done to him and, to his relief, showed no desire for new blood orgies during the following weeks. 
Julian started to relax, she seemed a little distant sometimes, but otherwise was all right. 
     I hope that the calm isn't false, he thought apprehensively. He could no more see into the 
future than mere mortals could, and he didn't want to confide in Daedalus. What troubled him was 
just too private. Caitlin sold her house and moved her things into the mansion. Just as Julian started 
believing that everything had been settled, she dropped a bombshell.
     "I'm going to Europe next week," she announced one evening.
     "How long will you be gone?" Julian was taken aback.
     "A few weeks, a couple of months at the most."
     "Caitlin..." He looked at her dismayed.
     "Don't worry, I'm not leaving you, but it's the opportunity of a lifetime. I'll be able to see 
how they do things in all the major European papers." She hugged him. "Don't look like that, I'll 
be all right. Besides, a little separation will do us good. I've got some thinking to do."
     That worried Julian even more, but he didn't say anything. Apparently, her mind was made up.
     The night before she left, she bit him again, not seriously, but it scared her and it scared Julian 
too.
     Maybe, a separation will do us good, he thought.
     But his heart was heavy with fear as he watched the plane bound for Frankfurt, with Caitlin 
onboard, disappear into the clouds over the San Francisco Bay. Knowing that two of his most 
trusted Gangrel guards where on that plane didn't help a lot. Caitlin had refused to let Arthur go 
with her.

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