Daniel was just zipping up his jeans when he heard the sounds of gun fire. He ran as fast as he could toward Ceenta's room. Two giant Samari warriors ducked into the room just in front of him. By the time he made it to the veranda, the two huge men and Sarduri were huddled over two men on the floor. Blood was everywhere. Daniel quickly moved over and looked down at Ceenta's body. He openly gasped. Then he looked up and saw Don's body sprawled out on the lounge chair. The emotions that ran through the young actor were rapid and raw ... shock ... extreme grief ... and then ... anger. The anger started slowly but continued to build until Daniel opened his mouth and hissed. Sarduri looked up and widened his eyes. Daniel's eyes were blood red. His mouth was open and two menacing fangs gleamed in the rays of the setting sun.

"Calm yourself, Daniel," he said quietly. Daniel hissed again and turned quickly to the stone wall. He intently studied the grounds for a moment then leapt over the wall. Sarduri and the warriors listened as scream after scream came from the woods. There was sporadic gun fire, but the screams continued. Each one ending the same as the other … as if abruptly cut off. Sarduri and the warriors lifted the bodies of their masters and carried them carefully to the master bedroom. They were placed on the master bed. Sarduri went to the bathroom and returned with a bowl of water and a soft cloth. He removed the bloody clothes and gently washed the blood from the skin. As he was finishing, Daniel appeared at the veranda door. Sarduri looked at the torn and tattered clothes he had only just laid out for the boy. He looked at the shirt that was covered in blood. Then he looked up into the eyes that were filled with tears.

"I am to assume that no one got away?" Daniel looked at him and nodded. "Good, then come. You have the power within you to save my masters' lives. They have lost much blood. Even though their bodies strive to repair themselves, they need more blood. I think you know what needs to be done." Daniel looked at the two pale bodies on the bed. His fangs slowly revealed themselves as he moved to the bedside. Saduri smiled quietly to himself. Daniel leaned over and gently bit into Don's neck. In mere seconds, the color returned to Don's skin. Daniel moved to the other side of the bed and looked down at the man that had changed him forever. The long blond hair was still splattered with blood. The handsome face lay still. Daniel leaned over slowly and bit into Ceenta's neck. He could feel his fangs slip effortlessly through the skin and sink deeply into the artery below. The blood pulsed through his fangs. He closed his eyes and waited for Ceenta to receive enough blood to save his life. There was movement and then Daniel felt an arm around his shoulders. He released his bite and looked down into the blond man's smiling face. Ceenta tightened his arm and pulled Daniel into a tight hug.

"Thank you," Ceenta whispered and then quickly looked over at Don who was smiling back at him. The two men joined hands. They were still very weak, but very much alive thanks to Daniel.

"We're going to need some time to rest. Our bodies need to fully repair themselves. Sarduri, please get Daniel something to eat. He has given us both quite a bit of blood and I'm sure he needs the nourishment." Sarduri bowed deeply. "And you, Daniel. I want you to try something for me."

"What do you want me to try?"

"I want you to concentrate on Tom. He's your partner, right?" Daniel nodded. "Then concentrate on him and call out to him in your mind. The power to speak with him telepathically is within you."

"I miss him terribly."

"Then call out to him. You can do this, Daniel. Believe in yourself."

Tom and Will couldn't believe the tray of food that Governor Downing brought back. It was piled high with donuts, cakes, candy and two cans of Coke. He waddled over to the table and sat down.

"Gotta keep up my strength. I get a sinking spell in the afternoon," he said as he shoved a whole donut into his mouth. "Ow, ought un ooh ell e out an ul?"

"What?" asked Daniel. Governor Downing swallowed the donut and washed it down by draining a whole can of Coke. He smiled and burped quietly.

"I said, now what can you tell me about Daniel?"

"He's gone missing. Not a trace. Nothing. Can we go now?" said Tom disgustedly. The governor took another donut and shoved it into his mouth.

"Ought et. I eed or n fur a un."

"Didn't you momma tell you it's impolite to speak with your mouth crammed full of donut?" Tom asked sternly.

"Oory."

"Tom!" The word echoed across his mind and the voice was Daniel's. Tom gasped and sat back in his chair.

"What?" asked Will. Tom quickly looked around the room and then back at Will.

"I just heard Daniel," he whispered while the governor stuffed a pastry into his mouth.

"What? I didn't hear anything."

"Tom! It's Daniel." The telepathic message echoed in Tom's mind.

"I've heard him again!" Tom shouted gleefully. The governor looked up.

"Ought id ooh aye?"

"Nothing. Just eat." The governor smiled and happily chomped away.

"I'm not hearing anything, Tom. Maybe it's all in your mind," whispered Will.

"Tom! I'm trying to talk with you with my mind. Baby, please. Can you hear me?" Tom fell back into his chair again. "Talk to me, Tom. Use your mind."

"Daniel? Is that you?" Tom thought to himself.

"You hear me! Thank God!" came the reply.

"Daniel?"

"Yes, it's me!"

"Are you … are you dead?"

"No! I'm fine! Well, as fine as … well, I'm ok. Long story."

"Where are you?"

"Scotland."

"Daniel, what happened?"

"Long story, babe. I'm coming home. Can you meet me there? I'll explain it all then."

"I miss you so much. I've been so worried," Tom thought back to Daniel. Will watched his friend and saw the expression of sheer joy change. Giant tears rolled down Tom's face.

"Hey, bud. You ok?" Will asked. Tom nodded quickly.

"See you in a bit?" asked Daniel.

"Yes. In a bit," Tom thought back quietly.

"Love you."

"I love you with all my heart, Daniel." Tom turned to look at Will.

"What the hell's going on?" asked Will.

"Ooof, did I miss something. Sorry. Let me just tidy up this tray." The governor wiped his mouth, drained the can of Coke, burped, smiled, then slid the tray to the side. "All right then. Let's get this paper work filled out."

"I'm sorry, governor. Suddenly, I'm not feeling well. I'll just go home and stretch out for awhile," Tom said quietly. The governor frowned.

"Now, now young, Tom. We all want to find Daniel, but you're the only one that can give us somewhere to start. Can't you just tough it out a bit?"

"No, I don't think so." Tom stood up. "I'm feeling quite nauseous."

"We have medical personnel on staff. Let me call …"

"I'd really rather be at home right now," Tom said firmly. "Will, can you take me home? I'm feeling very weak."

"Sure, Tom." Will stood up and took his friend by the arm. "Come on then."

"Please come back as soon as you can, Tom," the governor said as he reached for another pastry.

Tom and Will made their way down the hall and stopped at the entry. Will pulled out his wand and a flick later the two boys were back at Daniel and Tom's flat.

Starr sat quietly studying his text book on directing. Abbas had insisted he finish his homework before heading out to the market for some shopping. Starr flipped the page of the text book and sighed. He knew this material. He had studied it on his own, but the class was a required course. He flipped to the next page. His class would be in just a half hour, but since the school was just two blocks away, he could easily walk there in five minutes. He munched on a slice of pizza and wrote a few notes.

The door burst open shattering the silence. Starr looked up but before he had time to even finished chewing his bite of pizza, three men disguised in masks grabbed him and pulled him to the floor. He struggled but the three men overpowered him. The next thing he saw caused him to fear for his life. The shiny blade of a knife was held up to his face.

"If you want to keep that pretty face, you'll do exactly as you're told," the man behind the mask said coldly. Starr was frozen in fear. The men roughly pulled him to his feet and dragged him out the door. He tried to walk but the men were too forceful. He stumbled down the stairs and out onto the sidewalk. A car was waiting. The men pushed him to the back door, opened it and shoved him inside.

"Hello, son. Nice of you to drop by." Starr looked into the bloodshot eyes of his father and gasped. The old man's fist connected with Starr's face and sent him flying back against the window. "Faggot!"

Daniel took the last bit of roast duck. Sarduri and the household staff had cleaned the veranda and there was no trace of the violence that occurred there just a few hours ago. He finished off the glass of Beaujolais and wiped his mouth with the linen napkin. Daniel sighed a contented sigh.

"Is there anything else I can get you, young master?"

"Oh no. This was wonderful, Sarduri."

"It was Master Don who prepared the duck. I find it to be delicious but a bit rich for my blood," commented Sarduri as he picked up Daniel's plate. "The masters would like to see you now. You will find them in the bedroom."

"Thanks." Sarduri bowed deeply and left. Daniel stood and walked over to the stone wall at the edge of the veranda. As he looked out across the estate, his mind was filled with questions. When the anger consumed him earlier it was like he was along for the ride. Sure, it was his body, but it was like something else was in control. Daniel could only watch in horror as man after man was literally ripped to shreds. Their screams were still echoing in Daniel's mind. He looked down to the pool some forty feet below. Had he actually jumped off the veranda? Why wasn't he hurt? Was it instinct that took over? He reached up and rubbed his finger across his teeth. He willed the fangs to appear and they slowly slid down. Daniel ran his finger from the top to the very sharp point. Is this a dream? Daniel knew there were only two people with the answers … Don and Ceenta. He turned and walked into the master bedroom.

"Daniel, how was my duck?" asked Don. Daniel looked at the two handsome men sitting up in bed and couldn't help but grin.

"You duck was excellent, Don. Thank you," Daniel said as he walked over and took a seat in the chair beside the bed. "Did you two eat?"

"Sarduri brought us some broth. I'm afraid that's all our bodies can deal with right now. The blood you gave us is busy healing wounds. A heavy meal like roast duck would cause the digestive system to demand too much blood. So we thought it best to just have some broth," explained Don.

"Daniel," said Ceenta with a very serious tone. "I want to thank you very much for saving our lives. We are forever indebted to you."

"You did the same for me, so let's just call it even."

"And he's a righteous man too. I'm liking him more and more," Don said to Ceenta.

"Daniel, there is something we need to talk about, but I am too weak. Don and I would like for you to go home and see Tom. We both know you miss him."

"I do miss him terribly."

"Then go, Daniel. It will take both of us at least a day to fully recover. Go see the man you love," Don said. Ceenta grinned.

"Yeah, get out of here. In fact, come back tomorrow and bring Tom with you. I want to hear about what happened in the woods."

"Ah, I don't know if Tom is going to be ready to hear about that," Daniel said shyly.

"Don't worry about that. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it."

"Ok, but, ah, I've got a more pressing problem."

"What's that?" asked Ceenta.

"I don't have my wand."

"You don't need your wand," chuckled Ceenta.

"That's right," added Don. "Just think where you want to be and you'll be there."

"One of my new powers I presume?" asked Daniel. Ceenta nodded. "So I just think about it and it happens?"

"Well, you have to think of the place, picture it in your mind and then project your desire to be there. Just concentrate on your desire to be there. It'll happen. Trust me," said Ceenta.

"You can do it, Daniel," Don said seriously. "Think about what you've already done. There's nothing stopping you but self doubt. So, stop mucking around and give it a whirl." Daniel closed his eyes and pictured his and Tom's flat. He pictured Tom sitting on the couch waiting for him. He missed Tom terribly and before he knew what happened, he was standing in front of the couch looking at the boy he loved.

"What happened to my baked Ziti?" Daniel said with a grin. Tom's eyes flashed up and he was immediately in Daniel's arms. Their reunion embrace was bone crushing. Will stood off to one side and grinned. Tom was kissing Daniel all over his face. Daniel was kissing Tom right back.

"It got burned up," Will said when the reunion had settled down some what.

"Huh?" asked Daniel.

"Your Ziti got burned up."

"Figured as much. How are you, Will?"

"Much better now that you're back. You're bugger of a boyfriend has been driving me crazy."

"I have not," said Tom indignantly. He kissed Daniel again, then looked back over at Will. "I've just been worried to death is all." Then turning back to Daniel, he continued. "And just where in the hell have you been? I've been worried sick. You have no idea how crazy I've been. People have been calling. We had to watch a governor stuff his fat face with donuts. And what's this about a Russian assassin?"

"Whoa, whoa. Easy, babe. I'll explain it all. But I think we need to sit down. This is a long story."

My many thanks to my editors in Florida. You are simply the best! Where's Tina Turner when you need her? LOL!



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