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This was a moment to enjoy for both of us. I took my time moving to her neck, kissing it gently before I let my teeth pierce her skin. And even then I moved slowly. Letting her feel her own heartbeat rising, responding to my attack. She felt the blood pumping and the odd tingling in her neck as the blood flowed away. She gasped in pleasure and surprise while I enjoyed her taste, her essence.

And it was glorious.

She wasn't completely sober, but slightly high on something difficult to define. Perhaps she had drunk some beers hours before. It was an exotic taste, a hint to something different on her pure blood. It was the best blood I had in days. It flowed very strongly, rich and vibrant. Every drop brought a new shade of color to the mix, varying and changing. A kaleidoscope of scents and tastes that played over my tongue.

Each heartbeat giving me more.

There were some flashes of memory that I could focus on, the girl telling her story, even an earlier flash of the two of them exploring each other. Esmeralda must have felt an echo of what I'd seen, as I felt the heat and blush in her body reflecting my own. It was an intimate moment and I felt surprisingly full when I stopped.

I released her neck, healed it and leaned back.

Esmeralda was feeling faint, but happy. "That was amazing. Thank you Amy. Can I sleep here?"

I smiled. "Sure, be my guest."

She made herself comfortable on the pillows, laying down on her right side, her back facing the wall, with her head on her arm, her other along her side and her legs half bent. She didn't make a fuss out of it and was probably tired to begin with. But, she didn't fall asleep immediately, her eyes stayed open to look at me.

Causing me to almost forget the briefcase.

She finally closed her eyes after I kissed her cheek lovingly, Her breathing smoothing out within seconds with a smile fading on her lips. I left the room silently, only remembering the briefcase when I'd almost closed the door. It didn't squeak when I opened it again, fortunately.

Josh smiled at me when he saw me walking in the corridor. "Did Es find you?"

I smiled back. "That she did. Quite the storm of words she brought with her."

He laughed. "As long as it wasn't the potato story, you should be fine." He winked.

Confusion. "Eh, no. What potato story?"

He smirked. "Ask her, but only if you don't value your ears or have a few hours to spare. So, going to work this late?"

Drat, the briefcase. I needed an excuse, quickly. "No, actually. It's something I have to return tonight." Vague enough to be believable and mostly true. The untrue part being me not going to work.

Josh shrugged "Well, be careful. Hey, want to come in for a beer afterwards?"

Was he flirting with me? I played it off as me being a little too over enthusiastic about guys liking me. It was probably just politeness of me being Esmeralda's friend.

"Maybe. I'll see." With that I waved and smiled at him as I left the building. He went back into the cafe area and continued whatever he was doing.

This whole thing had it's advantages though. It meant that I wouldn't have to go hunt for blood tonight and less secrets towards Esmeralda. On the other hand, I would prefer staying somewhere else after this. Not to be gone from Esmeralda as such, but as I was getting a little too much attention, I felt. I still had some scores to settle though. I wanted to pay Josh something like rent for the time he'd allowed me to stay. It was not compulsory, but, with a lot more money to my name, I felt I owed it to him and the Cathedral.

The room had helped me immensely.

The docks, however, were still their gloomy midnight self. I was too early. Part of me warned me not to wait on the docks themselves though, but stay out of sight until the time was right. Just to play I went up on the roofs of a store and took out the infra-red goggles. As I put them on I realized I'd forgotten to charge them. They weren't empty, but it wasn't exactly right to return them uncharged, I felt.

The deed was done, however, so instead of moping or feeling guilty, I tried to enjoy looking through them. And, if I was fair, the ocean was fascinating to look at.

Most of the creatures in the ocean are fairly cold especially those in shallow waters, like the shore. So the ocean was a large pool of black, spreading out to the horizon. The sky was a little warmer, but not much, giving an odd sight of dark blue sky with black below

The ships were possibly still warm from the warm day before and were slightly lighter silhouettes on the dark. The metal bouyies and posts the ships were tied to, were cold again, like holes in the boats or the docks. The docks were just as warm as the ships, with some lighter spots where bums were sleeping. In fact, this was a very easy way to spot them trying to hide behind left boxes.

The really funny thing I saw was a car parked on the docks with a hot engine. Someone had used it not too long ago. It was especially cool to see the air above the hood (pixelly) wavering with shifting warmth. The boat parked next to it was difficult to see, with the docks in front of it. When I pulled off the goggles I could see two shapes in lit portholes talking and arguing.

Lovers quarrel...

I was almost too late at the docks when I realized how much time had passed with me just looking at things The phone was ringing just before I got there. Maybe someone had seen me walking there and urged me on. This time I knew who it was... Or so I thought.

The phone wasn't alone. No big package, but a small one, containing a credit card, debit card and passport. It surprised me a little to see the passport, but it was a good idea. They all had a new name, where the passport even had my picture on it. From where I didn't know, but it had been taken very recently. The name, however, caught my attention; Anne Marie Young.

I would love to know why Seriph had chosen it. I liked it though, more so when I saw it stamped on the credit card. The phone had been ringing all this time, I finally picked up.

The one on the phone sounded a tad impatient but not unfriendly. It was the Voice of Seriph.

"Like the gifts?"

(Okay, so I did expect it a little, but it sounded more dramatic this way. It could still have been Seriph herself.)

Tease.