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  Stephen had informed him it would be ‘Better to be safe and have no questions, than risk raising the wrong question or two. The stories from back in the 90’s might have a bit of truth to them.’ So, they placed the blood in their keep-cold packs in the old escape route. Ivan now just assumed he meant the 1890’s. No matter how much he tried to get Stephen to open up and tell the story, Stephen wouldn’t talk. Stephen did admit he wasn’t proud of those few days and had stayed out of Frankfurt for over a century because he didn’t like the memories.

  Once they had hidden their stuff away, they went upstairs and informed the front desk they would be out until at least early afternoon.

  They had a nice breakfast at a small cafe. Stephen was happy to try a new coffee he hadn’t had before and Ivan had rolls covered in marmalade and Wurst on the side. They had worked a little on Stephen’s use of his smart phone, but Ivan’s help was needed less and less the more Stephen played with technology. Now, Ivan was as much a travel companion as a technology consultant anymore. Unknown to Ivan, Stephen had taken over his monthly payment from Bethany Anne back in Brasov. Stephen thought Ivan was helping ground him as he acclimated to how people talked and acted with each other, and he enjoyed having him live with him.

  Bethany Anne told Stephen that was fine, but that he was going to pay for that service. There was no good reason for her to foot that bill, she'd winked at him.

  As Stephen enjoyed his newspaper, reading it in German without a problem, Ivan went through his social connections and sighed a little heavily. Stephen halfway closed his paper and looked around it over to Ivan, “What’s wrong?”

  Ivan leaned back in his chair and smiled. “I think this new city is getting me down. I miss Gabrielle and I wonder how she is doing.”

  Stephen smiled, he liked that Ivan was thinking about his daughter. “Bethany Anne said she would be in the medical pod for almost a week, she is sleeping at this moment.” Ivan and Stephen had received texts early that morning to let them know Bethany Anne had made it to the Bahamas ok. “Tell you what, I’ve been wanting to go out a little. Why don’t you help me acclimate with people and we can go out tonight?”

  “Be your wingman?” Ivan smiled at Stephen.

  “What do you mean, ‘wingman’?”

  Ivan put his hands up side by side, but one slightly in front of the other. “Are you aware of how fighter jets fly together? You have a primary and a secondary so if you are flying one jet, the other jet is called your wingman. They help each other out.”

  “Ah, exactly so!” Stephen loved this new word. “You need to be my wingman tonight.”

  “Hey, I won’t be able to help you if the girls have friends, I’m off limits!”

  Stephen closed his newspaper, “I don’t think they will be looking you over, when I am available.” Stephen winked roguishly at Ivan who had to laugh. Stephen was the complete opposite of a scary vampire to him. Even Bethany Anne scared him significantly more than Stephen did. Stephen didn’t seem to have a mean bone in his body.

  Ivan speared the last piece of Wurst on his plate and ate it. “I’m sure that’s very true. However; if I happen to run into any women too drunk to tell that I am not you, then you have to promise me you’ll save me, right?” Stephen agreed that he would.

  They stayed another half hour and then left and called a cab. They would take the taxi to the address of their contact Josef von Dorman, who had his offices at the Commerzbank Tower. It was a magnificent structure at over 56 stories with a very distinct triangle design and tall spire running up from one of the apexes. Stephen paid the taxi and the two went into the main entrance to the guard desk inside. When they received the appropriate instructions, they took the elevator to the 45th floor.

  Mr. Josef von Dorman was a financial planner. The two gentlemen went up to his office. Stephen made sure to enter the office first. While he didn’t expect a surprise attack from the Weres here in the middle of Frankfurt, he wouldn’t take any chances with Ivan’s life.

  Mr. Dorman had a very attractive and very human secretary in the sitting room. They gave her their names and hadn’t time to turn around and sit before Stephen could hear a person quickly coming down the hallway behind the secretary.

  He waited for the new arrival, who was an older gentleman and definitely a Wechselbalg. The new gentleman held out his hand, “Josef von Dorman.”

  Stephen shook his hand, “Stephen, Herr Dorman and my compatriot is Herr Romanov.”

  Ivan shook the man’s hand, “Ivan is fine.”

  “Yes, let’s dispense with formality if that is ok with you, Herr Stephen?” Stephen inclined his head in agreement. “Please come this way into the meeting room. Sandra? Please hold all communications until we finish. Thank you.” He led them into the meeting room which was off the main office, and closed the door behind them. “I assure you, this room is very protected, we will not be heard outside.” Josef’s accent was very strong.

  Ivan looked around the meeting room. It was a very traditional room with a dark wooden table surrounded by eight chairs. They looked over the open gardens a few stories below. Stephen looked out the windows, looking for anything that seemed out of place. Satisfied, he took a chair where he could see Josef, the door and the windows. Josef sat himself across the table with his back to the windows and Ivan chose to sit to Stephen’s left.

  Stephen started the conversation, which was the preferred method for Wechselbalg. Better to answer questions than try to probe with leading questions that might only get you in trouble. “Josef, my Queen is concerned that Europe is not as secure against the Forsaken threat as we might have thought. She has asked me to meet with you and understand the real situation here in Europe. When I spoke with my daughter, Gabrielle, she informed me that perhaps she and a few others had not updated Michael’s contact in America appropriately. Now, when I woke up I found my own son was involved with the Brasov Were pack and participating in very shady dealings. Whether he was connected with the Forsaken, or just involved in the black market I do not know. However; Europe is my responsibility to my Queen and I intend to find all of the issues and deal with the situation as appropriate. I am not here to cast blame, but rather find and fix. I am not here to cast blame, but rather to find and fix what's wrong. If blame were to be issued, it would surely be laid at my own feet. So, I am only interested in fixing the problem. We will correct those who accept correction, but those who refuse correction will be appropriately chastised.”

  Ivan was a little surprised. Stephen seemed to be a different person now that he was speaking with the Were Council Pack leader directly. Much more direct and without much give.

  “I understand Herr Stephen. May I ask a clarifying question?”

  “Certainly. I am to work with you, Josef. My Queen is not about the old ways. Work with us, and we can work together to accomplish results in a satisfactory way. However; I have been charged with making sure Europe is safe. Do not mistake my effort to work together as an indication that I will accept anything but the most honest and earnest effort. Now, what is your question?”

  Josef weighed his words carefully before he responded. Stephen was rumored to be the most easy going of Michael’s children, however; he was also the one responsible for the night of flames right here in Frankfurt. That he was obviously young and passionate again spoke against the rumors he was ready to sleep a final time. “You say you have a Queen, is this the one who killed Algerian in Brasov?”

  “Yes, her name is Bethany Anne. She is the one who saved the American Were and Ivan’s sister, Ecaterina. Ecaterina is the one who captured Petre’, and Bethany Anne is the one who chose to execute him and fulfill the strictures.”

  “And if I can be so bold, what about Michael?”

  “His whereabouts are unknown. We have no information that he is either captured or killed. There is some evidence that he is absent for his own reasons. No, I will not go into that with you.” Josef just nodded his understanding. “I can understand the concern abou
t Michael visiting, as he hadn’t come back to Europe in centuries.”

  “So, that much was true?”

  “Yes, his last known location was in Romania. A few days after Michael left Romania, his plane disappeared on its way to England.”

  “What would Bethany Anne have us change? I understand that the American Pack Council had a run-in with her.”

  “Yes, so did the vampire Clarita, who is no longer among the living. Bethany Anne can be vengeful or merciful, depending on how you act yourself. She will not visit the sins of the children on their fathers, but if you don’t accept responsibility for your children, she might apply punishment for not taking care of what you need to. In the case of the European Pack Council, she will understand if we work to fix it now. However; there will be no second chances. I can tell you this because she doesn’t suffer fools or foolishness. You have one chance to make it right, and that is all.”

  Stephen stopped talking, it was time for Josef to decide which way his council would go. If Josef did not choose wisely, there might be a new Pack leader before the night was finished.

  Josef had been in contact with Gerry in the States. He had shared more about Bethany Anne than Stephen had right now, however; none of what he said contradicted Stephen. Her guards had killed more Were than she had in their last dust-up. With so many years of working around the strictures and keeping mistakes quiet, the knowledge they were going to deal with one of Michael’s children had concerned many on the council. They were all guilty, to some degree, of being loose with the rules. However; there was one thing they could not fail to share, or the whole councils lives were forfeit.

  The vampire just stared at him, with unblinking eyes. It unnerved him. Unlike in America, the splinter group that they had here in Europe was truly not part of the Pack. They had their own underground organisation and most of them were dealing with illegal drugs, prostitution and other crimes. They had been working with three - now two - vampires for the last thirty years. Petre’ had been one of three. Another was based here in Frankfurt and the last lived in Paris.

  They had a tenuous agreement that Weres who wanted out of the pack had to join the underground. There were no other options. They had policed themselves well over the decades and it had worked. Now, it was going to come out what was going on.

  This was going to be seen as his decision which was why Stephen wanted to speak only with him. It was his decision and would be his responsibility to accept the fall out for the decision. Stephen was a typical vampire in one respect, he started at the top and if he didn’t get what he wanted, he would get rid of that person and move down.

  So, Josef opened up and started explaining to Stephen the underground pack and the last thirty years. Surprisingly, Stephen didn’t kill him right away. He was good as his word and throughout the afternoon, he asked questions and worked to understand how they could fix the situation. Once Stephen had a handle on the situation, he told Josef he would talk with Bethany Anne and figure out their next step.

  Stephen and Ivan left Josef’s and went back to the hotel. Their rooms had been cleaned up nicely. They got ready while Stephen drank a bag of blood. They didn’t have a microwave, so he had to drink it cold which was not the high-point of his day so far.

  Stephen took more time than usual getting ready. Tonight would be the first time in decades he had gone out to acquire female companionship.

  Ivan came out of his room. He had dressed in a pair of fashionable jeans and Converse. He had paired the jeans with a white long sleeve shirt and a dark blue blazer. Stephen came out shortly after and he had on a pair of black jeans, white long sleeve shirt with cufflinks and a nice black suit jacket. He had black dress shoes with his ensemble. “Ready wingman?”

  Ivan smiled, “After you, Mr. Cruise.”

  Stephen started towards the door and called out over his shoulder, “Who is this Mr. Cruise?” Ivan laughed and proceeded to give Stephen the quick version of Top Gun and the actor who played the main character.

  They decided to walk to the Velvet Club as it wasn’t too far away from their hotel. It was a little early in the evening, so they went to the bar and picked up a drink apiece. The bar had multiple levels with a dance floor shrouded in green lights. The decor was modern with dark wood everywhere. Stephen talked to the barman and was able to procure a nice table which overlooked the dance floor. They had a glass wall next to them which would block some of the sound, but none of the sights.

  Ivan sat across the table from him. “Stephen, how are you going to get the attention of the women from way up here?”

  Stephen smiled at Ivan, “It is all about a woman’s biggest weakness, Ivan.”

  “Really, would that be Chocolate?”

  “No.”

  “Diamonds?”

  “No.”

  “Money?”

  “Please, you are being prosaic, Ivan.”

  “Ok, maybe so. Remember, my present girlfriend came up to my front door. I don’t have much experience needing to go to clubs.”

  Stephen laughed, “Really? Wait until I spring that answer on Gabrielle, I wonder what her response will be?” Stephen knew what her response would be, she wouldn’t care. However; Ivan didn’t know that yet.

  Ivan put up a hand, “Let’s not be hasty, maybe I am getting my facts a little off. So tell me, what is a woman's greatest weakness?”

  “Curiosity and its’ darker sibling, jealousy. Having what the other woman has, my good Ivan. Fortunately for you, your woman is past these childish feelings.”

  “Really? How long did it take her to get beyond these problems?”

  Stephen looked like he was doing some calculations in his head. “Maybe a hundred and twenty years?” Ivan just about snorted his drink out of his nose.

  “So, not something a normal lifespan will fix?”

  “Oh, probably. Most women can get over it by their fifties or sixties. However; Gabrielle was still looking like she was in her twenties and thirties and being in that young of a crowd kept her insensible for decades longer than she should have. Ah, here comes our first two fish now.”

  Ivan turned around and noticed two women coming up the stairs with red chits in their hands. One was a brunette and the other a dirty blond with glasses. The brunette was smiling like she was part of an in joke and the other looked a little shy. Stephen looked them both in the eyes as they came up and he smiled in a disarming way.

  The brunette came up and placed the red chit on the table, “Ok, what is this game you have going on with the barman? He says that you have purchased all of the cosmopolitans for the evening?” The blond was covertly looking over at Ivan who was looking at Stephen.

  “Yes my dear, in a way. I have purchased the right to provide cosmopolitans to all of the ladies here tonight. I simply ask to know your name.”

  “My name? I tell you my name and then the barman will provide me with a cosmopolitan?”

  “Yes. There is nothing else to it. I made a bet with my good friend Ivan here that I could learn the names of fifty women tonight. If you and your friend share your names with me, I will be two wonderful names closer to winning my wager.”

  “Really, what’s your wager with your friend?” Despite herself, Terry was getting curious. Neither one of the guys gave off the sleazy vibe she was used to and the one she was talking with acted like he could take her or leave her. He certainly didn’t act needy.

  “I’m sorry, but I’m providing a cosmopolitan to learn a name, the details of the wager have a value to me and I can’t simply just announce it.” Stephen fished into his pocket. “So, here are two blue tokens that the barman downstairs will accept for your cosmopolitans. Do we have an agreement?”

  She looked at him harder. “You really don’t want our phone or anything else, do you?”

  Stephen looked at them both, “Well, that would be a problem. You see, there are certain qualifications to the bet. If a couple of things happen then I could lose the bet and I would really prefer you didn�
��t share any other information with me.”

  “Oh, why not?”

  Stephen acted exasperated. “I’m sorry, but isn’t it enough that we have a small business agreement here? I pay for your drink, you have a wonderful time exactly how you had planned to have a wonderful time except with two drinks you didn’t have to pay for and you help me win a wager with my friend?” Stephen purposefully looked over the brunette's shoulder at another two women coming up the stairs with a red chit in each of their hands.

  She turned back around and changed her demeanor to be a little more agreeable. She reached out and took one of the two blue tokens, “It is Evangeline. I’m getting my drink but I’m coming back. I’m going to find out exactly what the wager is between you two.” With that she turned around and started to leave her friend. Realizing she was alone she turned around as the blond reached out to take the second blue token. Stephen took it and with his other hand placed it into her outstretched palm.