Waking up after another night of death-like sleep was hard. Outside it was evening and the sun had passed the horizon. Don’t ask how I knew, I just did. It was as if my body demanded that I slept during the day. I wonder if my body was going through more changes that I couldn’t sense. I had aimed for at least having breakfast in daylight, but overslept again. It was dark outside and I felt like shit.

  The day, or rather the night, before had been shit. Wilson showing up like some Jack in the Box wherever I was starting to scare me. He had an uncanny knack to see connecting threads that no-one else could see. He was also damn good at finding whoever he wanted to find, which couldn’t be only by a methodical approach. That man had a talent of some kind.

  After the ride out to the morgue, I felt less scared than I had been. If a werewolf could die of an allergy, then maybe they weren’t that tough? At the same time, Lexi had looked like nothing more than a red ball of meat after being ground down by that truck, so maybe they were that tough. Could it have been that her immune system had worked so hard that when whatever she was allergic to entered her system, it just shut down because it was one thing too many?

  After thinking about what Gemini had told me about werewolves, I could only come to one conclusion – something in the treatment must have included silver in some form. I knew that they used silver in salves for burns, could it be that there were other uses?

  Since I had spent the early evening of the day before at a Chicago PD precinct, my plans for a finding Gemini had been wrecked. I didn’t even know if she wanted me to or not. I needed to find her fast and tell her about Marc contacting Dominic and Dino’s suspicions. She had to know that Dominic now knew what I was and I doubted that he would just accept it. No, from what Gemini had told me about him he would go absolutely batshit crazy. Understandable in his case, but the question was whether he would react the same way as Marc had and blame Gemini. I could live with him blaming me, but I might kill him for blaming Gemini.

  I was brought out of my reverie by someone pounding on my door upstairs. I let my senses roam to see if I could pick up who it was– it was Gemini!

  I jogged up the stairs and opened the door. Outside stood Gemini. In a dress. A very nice dress. Black, tight, dress that shouted “designer”. It was high-necked, long-sleeved with slim silk cuffs at the end of the sleeves. Very good quality, and it kissed her figure enhancing some of her forms and letting you imagine others. Versace, if I wasn’t wrong. She also had a long coat draped over her shoulders. The coat was Versace as well.

  Oh, I can spot the occasional designer of some dresses. Being a tomboy did not mean I had no interest in fashion. It was also important for my work to know fashion. With so many bodyguarding jobs with the rich and infamous mobsters and their daughters, I had seen my fair share of designer clothes. I even had to wear some to fit in. Gotta’ dress the part, you know.

  “We’re going out!” Gemini commanded.

  I couldn’t tell if she was angry or excited. She sounded angry.

  “Ah, I’ve only just-“

  Gemini gave me a baleful eye. “You what?”

  “Nothing.” I said quickly. “Why don’t I take a shower and put on some nice clothes?”

  “Yes, why don’t you?”

  I didn’t answer that. Instead, I headed full speed downstairs. I washed myself off thoroughly in cold water, because I needed it. I blow-dried my hair, put on makeup and then started rummaging through my clothes. There was only one thing I could put on and that was my Hugo Boss women’s suit. It was black with a more classic cut, close to but the same as the men’s cut. The suit was paired with a charcoal slightly metallic shirt; open collar and no tie. To top it off, I chose my Salvatore Ferragamo’s Vara pump heels with a glossy patent leather finish. The low heals were for practicality, but I loved the design of the pumps. I put on some Herrera and then went looking for some rings and necklaces. Gotta give the right signals. There was touch of gold and silver in the shirt that made it pair really good with both gold and silver jewelry.

  A last look at my hair, and a finishing touch of volumizing styler and styling it with my hands, and I was done. It didn’t turn out half bad. It would have to do.

  Gemini had not followed me downstairs. That was good, because I doubted, I could have been as fast if she had been close. Damn, but that woman had my brains scrambled.

  I didn’t care how or why at that moment. I ran back up the stairs, careful not to scratch my shoes.

  When I got upstairs, shoes and all, Gemini was looking at me with an amused face. “A bit stressed?” she asked.

  “No, why do you ask?” I would be damned before I admitted that I had half panicked over having only one thing to wear. I was more than looking forward to a date with her, but I had to agree that my stress levels were through the roof.

  A small but genuine smile was on her lips. “Nothing in particular.”

  “Is this really a good idea? What if someone tries to collect on my bounty while we are walking around the city?” I asked.

  “I will hold a glamor over you that will make people unable to see you as the Maria Smith that has a bounty on her. I can keep it up for an evening.” Gemini answered.

  “Like at the café?”

  “Similar, yes.”

  “How does that work?” I was curious as hell.

  “It is one of my powers. Very few can resist my power, so we’ll…you’ll be safe.” Gemini was absolutely confident.

  She made a face, indicating that we had better get a move on and I complied.

  I brushed off my jacket and held out my arm. “Okay, I’m ready. Shall we?”

  Gemini took my arm. She was stunning in that figure-hugging black dress. You could see the muscles in her arms and legs as she walked. She had her hair out and the faint smell of flowers, lily of the valley I believed, and it made me want to push my face down into hollow of her neck and inhale her scent. And more!

  I saw hints of tattoos coming up her neck, the edges of some of the inkwork just visible above the neckline. It seemed like rune script or something like it.

  “So where are we going?” I asked as we walked towards downtown Chicago.

  “A small Argentinean steak house, that I like. They have steaks to die for, and their wine list is impressive. They even have some Italian wines.”

  I enjoyed her holding both her hands on my arm as we walked. “Anyone can have Italian wines on their wine list, but only a few have any above ‘good’.”

  “Quite true. But Italian wines have never been my favorite. I prefer South African wines actually.” She said with a straight face.

  “Barbarian!” I mock-scolded. “But seriously, I think they have some really nice wines as well, so I'll forgive you this time.”

  We continued talking about trivial things and no one said a word about what might lie ahead. Tomorrow would come in its own time, but I did not want to think about that.

  It was a wonderfully warm evening for this time of the year. And spending time with Gemini gave me the opportunity to get to know her. For each minute we spent together it seemed that the connection between us became stronger. For whatever reason Gemini was firmly etched into my mind and soul, and the addiction became stronger the more time we spent together.

  It was not only the connection between us – not only lust. We thought alike about many things. And while we differed in many more, we were more alike than I would have thought. It was weird how someone supernatural could come off so normal in many ways.

  The small restaurant turned out to be one of those places with an enormous charcoal grill in the middle of the restaurant where you pick out what meat you wanted at the grill.

  Gemini was greeted like an old friend of the family as we entered the restaurant. People smiled and nodded as we walked past the tables towards a small table that seemed a little more private than the others.

  “Come here often?” I asked.

  “Now and again.” Gemini answered vaguely.

  “Gemini!” A woman’s voice called from the other end of the room. “Where have you been keeping yourself?”

  Gemini waited for the woman to come to the table before she answered. “Hello, Ana-Maria. I’ve been busy.”

  Ana-Maria took a good look at me – sizing me up. “I can see that!”

  “Want to look at my teeth?” I quipped.

  “I prefer dissection if I need to check someone’s health.” Ana-Maria smiled a wicked smile. “It’s much more thorough.”

  I laughed. “Well, I think I’ll pass on that one. You have a nice name, half of it is mine as well. I’m Maria,” I put out my hand and she shook it.

  Ana-Maria turned back to Gemini. “Well, well...as I said, it seems you have been busy. Invite me to the wedding?”

  I guess Ana-Maria just wanted to poke a little fun at Gemini, but the result was the opposite. I think the comment made Gemini think about how little chance everything had of a happy ending. Gemini’s mood turned black fast.

  Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

  Ana-Maria picked upon that as soon as she said it. “God, Gemini, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to spoil the evening for you!” She put her hand on Gemini’s shoulder. “Gemini, dear, you forgive me?”

  Gemini nodded slowly. “Not your fault, Ana-Maria.” But the black mood stayed with her.

  I nodded to Ana-Maria to leave us alone for a bit. She gestured with her hands to say that she was sorry, and I nodded in acceptance.

  “Hey, Gem,” I said and took her hand, “don’t think about that right now. Okay? We’re here to eat and have a good time. Leave the worries for the walk home. I want your full attention – I do not want a brooding date.”

  There was a flash of temper as she looked up at me. “Telling me what to do, are you?”

  “No.” I said with a smile.

  “It sounded like that.” There was anger in her voice now.

  Temper was good. Temper I could deal with. “No, I was telling you what I’d like, not what to do.” I lowered my voice and let out my claws a bit. “But I’ll take you anyway I can get!” There was both promise and threat in my voice. The promise of staying put and the threat of not giving up.

  Gemini gave me a small sad smile, but there seemed to be some humor in it as well. Dark clouds aren’t that easily dispersed, but we had the whole night and hopefully she would find her good mood again.

  We went and got our food and wine, and it was all superb. The wine was very good, and the food was more than excellent. Truly one of the most succulent steaks I had ever eaten. They knew how to cook a rare steak, I can tell you that!

  The evening turned into night as we dined. Gemini’s mood improved with food. That was something to keep in mind. Sometimes the way to a woman’s heart was a bit of good food and some good wine.

  The whole situation felt weird in a way. There we were, two non-humans, having a totally normal date. At the same time there was an undercurrent of emotion that felt anything but normal. The strength of my emotions and the fact that I couldn’t get Gemini out of my mind did nothing to reassure me. Quite the opposite, in fact. Not that it mattered, because I would still have gone on the date. I was obsessed.

  “Why don’t we go for a walk?” Gemini said a couple of hours after dessert.

  We had managed to talk about everything but the harsh bleak reality. For one evening I did nothing but have a good time.

  “Sure,” I agreed.

  We did not have to pay for the food. When I asked, Gemini just shook her head and told me it wasn’t necessary. That didn’t bother me. I’m woman enough to not to have my self-image destroyed if my date decides to pay for my dinner. I might be masc, but I’m not a man.

  Gemini steered us towards the Navy Pier.

  “Did you know that Chicago is one of the meat capitals of the world? It was the meat capital for a while, but there are a few other places that beat Chicago right now. The average American eats around one hundred and twenty-three kilos of meat every year, but here it’s more than that.” Gemini said.

  “Didn’t know that.” I said.

  “It’s not just because people can afford more meat, Maria. This is one of the Cursed hot-spots in the world, and we’re not vegetarians!”

  I laid my arm around her shoulder. “I know that.”

  Gemini was quiet for a while. “What happened two days ago?”

  “I think you know, because I believe you saw some of it. But the short version is that my only real lead died at the hospital of some allergy. Especially since Dominic took off with the injured werewolf I left in the basement!”

  Gemini stopped dead. “He did what?”

  “He took Sam the werewolf with him somewhere. And he tried to track me yesterday. And to top that off, I overheard him saying ugly things about you. And that Marc had been calling him.” I repositioned my arm around her waist instead. “You were right; Marc couldn’t keep his mouth shut.”

  Gemini nodded to herself. “Papá Ourse said as much. Marc is his grandson.”

  “I don’t blame the old man. No, Marc is an idiot all by himself. He doesn’t need any help with that. But what will Dominic do when he finds out?”

  Gemini stopped and looked me in the eye. “He will try to kill you.”

  “I don’t give a shit what he will try to do to me, ” I growled. “I want to know what he will try to do to you!”

  “Me?” She asked perplexed. “Why would he do anything to me?”

  “Because of what little I heard him muttering about, he doesn’t come across as stable where you are concerned.”

  “Ah.” Gemini said sadly. “But he knows that it won’t happen.”

  “Gem, do you honestly believe he is that rational? I know that I wouldn’t be.” I took my chances and pulled her into a hug. She didn’t resist.

  “But he knows I don’t like men and that-“

  I cut her off with a kiss. “This is obsession, and it doesn’t stop! I don’t know if he just decided that it is way it should be, or if he gets off on being all chauvinistic and shit. He sounded crazy.”

  Gemini turned into my arms and hid her face in my chest.

  Great, I had managed to make her sad. What a nice woman I was.

  I held on to her as she collected herself, hoping that she would talk to me when she calmed down. It had been a lovely evening in every way, but reality came crashing down chasing away the fantasy we had played.

  “This cannot be, Maria.” Gemini said with a calm voice, her eyes a bit watery. “It just can’t. I can’t-“

  I held her closer.

  With a low growl she pushed me away. Hard. “I’m not some delicate flower that needs protection, Maria.”

  I walked right back and put my arms around her again. “Never thought that.”

  “Then what are you doing?” She asked with a hint of anger in her voice, but she didn’t push me away again.

  “Doing what I would have liked if I was sad – being held!” I mumbled into her hair. “Not trying to be anything but comforting, Gem.”

  She put her arms around my waist and leaned against me. “Just so you remember that I’ll kick you into next week if you go cave woman on me!”

  “Not my thing. I’m a lover not a fighter.” I told her.

  That got a laugh from Gemini. “God, you’re cheesy!”

  “Well, it can’t be all bad, since you’re still here?” I said with a smile.

  “I can’t, Maria...I can’t watch you die. I-” Gemini pulled away and this time I let her go.

  She walked beside me as we went further out on the pier. The fog had lifted and the air was only a little hazy. It was getting chilly, but neither I nor Gemini felt the cold. We were busy trying to figure out our feelings and avoiding thinking about the grim future ahead.

  I knew I couldn’t ignore Gemini no matter what. There was something unbreakable about the connection between us, but even if it was breakable I would fight like hell to keep that connection alive. Whatever kept Gemini coming back to me was a good thing.

  For Gemini it seemed that it wasn’t as clear. I knew that there was something more than just feelings at play. Perhaps it was instinct? Since Gemini didn’t seem to be able to see it like I did, I doubted it was something that was natural to the The Cursed Ones. It could be something that happened rarely, I supposed, but even if that was the case we still seemed to have no choice about how we felt.

  None of us spoke. We walked around the pier side by side. Not touching, not speaking – only walking. Every now and again people who knew Gemini nodded or casted a glance at her. Some with fear and some with anger. Some with hate. Even I could tell that she was feared by most and avoided by all.

  “Not many friendly faces.” I said.

  “No. My people resent my choices.” Gemini answered the non-existing question anyway.

  “Choices?” I asked.

  “I don’t want to talk about it, but let’s say that the Outsiders are not that respected. And my mother resent me for turning my back on the family.”

  “Mother?” another inane question came out of my mouth.

  “I said I don’t want to talk about it!”

  “Okay! I hear you.” This conversation wasn’t going the way I wanted it to. But I had at least learned more about Gemini over dinner.

  It took a while, but Gemini managed to calm herself down enough to converse again. “If Dominic took the werewolf with him, I doubt he is still alive. But I also doubt that he got anything out of him. The Dockside werewolves are stubborn bastards.”

  That was probably true, though it did nothing to explain why in the first place. Dominic might be out for me, but taking Sam would give him nothing. Unless Sam was used as a bargaining chip with his pack.

  “What would Derek do to get Sam back?” I asked as we neared the end of the pier. “I mean what are his responsibilities as Mael?”

  Gemini looked at me strangely. “It is his pack. And what is his is his!”

  “Could Dominic trade Sam for information? I know Derek isn’t on Dominic Christmas list, but since he can’t kill him himself, would he talk to Derek?” I paid close attention to Gemini’s reactions and scent.

  I could sense anger and hate. There were other undercurrents of emotion that I couldn’t really pin down, but it was safe to say that the possibility Dominic talking to Derek wasn’t something that sat well with Gemini.

  “He could.” Gemini said in clipped tones. “Just because someone wants to kill you, doesn’t mean that you can’t talk to them. Parley is something that happens often, with so many feuds and small turf wars here in Chicago. And then we have the whole racial thing.”

  “Racial? I assume you don’t mean the KKK here.”

  “No,” Gemini laughed. “Breeds don’t like Broods, Broods don’t like Breeds, and everyone hates the Gh?la.”

  “And the Others?”

  “There are only two left. Let’s say that are no other beings in this world that are more scary than them!”

  “That powerful?” I asked.

  Gemini shuddered. “Gods, yes! Erase cities powerful. But that is not why they are scary. They’re older than sin with eons to perfect their powers. They are the last of their kind and their motivations are more or less unknown. To top that off they live to hunt down Gh?la that breaks the Compact. Only an Other or a Bane can truly kill a Ghoul, otherwise they only return to their non-existence and can come back if they can snatch a body for it. Aside from that, the Others don’t give a damn about the rest of us.”

  “A Bane?” I had no idea what she meant.

  “A Bane is a creature that is immune to some or all of the powers of The Cursed. They usually have some powers of their own, besides the strength and extra senses we all share in greater or lesser degree. They are a nightmare if they are evil. The last really powerful Bane was Van Helsing, and he was hell-bent on world domination. He enslaved thousands of The Cursed One in his effort to take over the world. The only reason he didn’t succeed was Drake.”

  “Drake?” I asked already guessing who she meant.

  “Dracúl, or Dracula if you like.” She smiled at my confusion.

  “No way! He was real?”

  “Yes, he is, and so was Renfield. He was a failed conversion, and he was not a dupe.”

  She was dropping one bomb after another, and I was close to brain-meltdown. Thousand thoughts rushed through my mind, but none that I could catch or describe with any kind of coherency. It was like a static, white noise, but in my mind.

  “Whoa! Stop there! I can’t keep up, Gem. Everything you say spawns a million questions in my mind! You’re overloading my brain.” I knew I was looking a bit wild and Gemini’s wry smile confirmed that.

  “Not much to overload...” she teased.

  “Har har har...I never thought you’d go for the obvious comeback.”

  Gemini laughed quietly. “Oh, come on, Maria! You can’t give me openings like that and expect me to pass them up every time. How else would you learn?”

  I just shook my head. No need to invite further ridicule. Gemini was sharp, but it seemed like her tongue was sharper than a blade, and I had no desire to be cut into pieces.

  Gemini was troubled. More so than she wanted me to know. I couldn’t read her as clearly as I could others, but every now and I again I picked up on some things during dinner. She was drawn to me that much was clear by her body language alone. And she clearly enjoyed the dinner and the conversation. At the same time, she felt anger, fear, and something more I just couldn’t pin down. I couldn’t be sure that those negative emotions weren’t because of me. The fear was definitely not of me, since she was more powerful than I was.

  I could only hope that her fear was for me and the mess I was in. And that the anger was for something or someone else.

  Gemini had made it clear that I was in no way a true Breed. But even so there were things that didn’t fit the description of a Mimic, from what Papá Ourse and Gemini had said. Papá Ourse said that there was something different in my power, something that tasted of an awakening - whatever the hell that meant. The fact that I seemed to act more on instinct than anything spoke against me being a mimic, if Gemini’s description was true. I felt as if there was something more inside – something that had yet to emerge or develop. That was why I thought Gemini was wrong, because it didn’t feel as if there were something unnatural about it.

  Playing the normal couple had been wonderful for the few hours it had lasted. For the first time in long time I had felt like normal. Funny, considering that I had never been less human.

  I wondered what it had been like for Gemini growing up. Were there real children? Did the supe children do all those normal things as humans do? Not the Gh?la, but the others? Were there supe proms and supe PTA-meetings?

  I seriously doubted that, considering the harshness of their world.

  “Walk me home?” I asked Gemini as we started walking back.

  “No, Maria,” She said with a smile. “I don’t think I need that temptation right now. I’m not sure I could settle for only that.”

  With that she pulled down and kissed every rational thought out of my mind.

  And then she disappeared again – whoosh – like smoke.

  Damn that woman!