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©® KAYCEE** Pseudonym 2012 (real initials TF; Publication held in electronic/hardcopy copyright by TF) Seattle, WA

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11

Dustin drove. We ended up at this small, hole in the wall Chinese place in LA's old 'Chinatown'. The main window of the place located on the street had about 5 or 6 'Peking' ducks that had been roasted and were now hanging in the window; small drops of duck fat occasionally dripping into a pan. Although the ducks looked delicious, the outside of the building Iooked worn down and decrepit, I caught Eli's eye skeptically. He only served to make him chuckle.

The trio headed down the adjoining alley in single file with me bringing up the rear. It was definitely not the way tourists passing along the sidewalk would enter. What struck me most was the fact it was as if the people walking by didn't see the alley at all. They just walked by without looking down the darkened corridor.

As we walked down the alley it opened up into a small garden area that was surrounded by what were once bright red brick buildings but now covered by years, or more likely decades, of dust and dirt. The night sky was clearly visible between the buildings and it looked as if there was enough sun during the day to grow a few plants.

Sitting on small stools near weathered steps, there were three ancient looking Chinese women. They were dressed in clothing of an earlier century and were so old looking they reminded me of twisted dead wood. They were swiftly sorting through bok choy, cutting and cleaning the bright green vegetables.

Eli leaned closer, "Don't worry," he smiled, "this place is the bomb for food!"

My only response was my right eyebrow flinging itself towards the top of my head in question.

Chance and Dustin began leading us up towards the steps. I noticed Eli's eyes started to glow in the darkened space and elbowed him pointing to the Chinese women.

He chuckled and quickly spoke something in Chinese to the two women. They looked up and nodded handing him one of the smaller pieces of bok choy. Both of them were smiling with glowing eyes. "Know your surroundings 'Little One'," Eli spoke before popping the piece of greens in his mouth with a grin.

He nodded at me and then said something back to the women that made them cackle with laughter before they went back to their picking and sorting.

"Lycans?" I whispered then realized that if they were then they could have heard my obvious question.

Chance spoke up as he knocked hard on the side door, "No," as he rapped hard on the wizened wooden door, "Familiars."

He turned to look at me as we waited, "Human forms of animals that attach themselves to a witch or a warlock. Generally though," as he stopped to listen at the soft shuffling we heard on the other side of the door, "It's witches that tend to keep them, especially cats. It's a 'girl' thing."

As he finished his sentence the old door creaked and slowly opened allowing bright light and loud din of pots and pans along with steam to escape out into the alley. I had to cover my eyes for a moment since I was still getting used to the changes within.

I heard a loud gasp and a wild, girly scream, "CHANCE!"

My eyes were now able to focus as I watched a rather striking Chinese woman that looked no older than her late twenties throw herself into the air and at Chance. His arms shot out and caught her as she pulled herself up to bestow kisses all over his face. "Hi Mei-Li," he laughed setting the young woman down.

"Look who I brought," as he turned and pointed to Dustin and Eli. The young woman squealed again and began jumping around before throwing herself over the two of them.

She was dressed in traditional red Chinois tight gown with slits up both sides of the legs. It was heavily embroidered in gold along the resplendent silk garment. The gold thread used completing a print of a large dragon and chrysanthemums in full bloom.

I stood there and watched realizing that I was getting jealous. It shocked me and I looked down to the ground trying to compose myself.

I looked up in time to see both of them looking at me with 'shit eating' grins. "OH SHUT UP!" I hissed, knowing full well that I needed to learn to keep my thoughts under control. They both chuckled.

"Who's this handsome young man?" the woman asked with a seductive smile.

Eli spoke up in Chinese. I couldn't understand a word he said but it ended with "Tristan Case."

I quickly stuck out my hand, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Ms.?"

She placed her delicate hand in mine and smiled, "Wei." I nodded softly. There was something interesting about her. I could almost feel a tingling that I got when I was near Chance.

"I take it you're a witch?" I asked in my most polite of tones. She smiled widely.

Eli clapped me on the shoulder, "Very good!"

I blushed at the praise. "How did you figure it out?" he asked.

"I felt the same strange tingling that I get when I'm near Chance. That and the 'familiar' comment earlier," I smirked.

Eli clipped the back of my head, "Smart ass!"

Dustin had been sniggering into his hand the entire time. It was obvious to anyone but it had slipped by his partner. I smiled inwardly knowing full well it was because he wanted me to access my abilities along with his feelings for me.

She turned to the guys, "He's a young one isn't he? Newly turned?"

Dustin took her hand, "I tell you about it in a few minutes. Do you have room for four?" She smiled.

She snapped her fingers and one of the old women/familiars cleaning the greens looked up. Mei-Li barked loudly in Chinese and the haggard old crone moved so deftly it threw me for a loop. It was right then and there I made a note to never underestimate a 'familiar'.

Eli sidled up to her taking her other hand as they led both Chance and I into the bright kitchen area with many different chefs were preparing various dishes. The smells were intoxicating and I found myself wanting to sit and watch them at work.

They were fast with the ladle. In their deft hands, things of deliciousness were being created. I felt a tug on my arm as Dustin pulled me down a corridor draped in ornate red and gold silks over aged oak paneling. It opened into a large dining area where two obvious lycans were eating in the far corner. They waived over to Eli with large toothy grins before returning to rather rare beef with broccoli.

"What would you like?" she asked.

I looked over the menu and smiled, "I know it's not really a traditional Chinese dish historically but I do love General Tso's Chicken." Mei-Li smile followed my own, "Good choice. How spicy? One to five stars."

"Three please and may I have a diet drink?"

She nodded and finished taking down the rest of the guys orders.

Chance handed over his menu after he ordered and finished with, "A glass of 'O' positive for the young man," then looked over to me firmly.

I just grumbled and fiddled with my straw paper. Dustin laughed, "Two please Mei-Li."

I dropped the paper in my fingers and looked over to find the three of them smiling at me.

"Whatever," I sighed. "I still don't like the fact that I have to do this for the rest of my life."

Chance snapped his fingers and a bottle of wine appeared on the table along with four glasses. "And it's going to be a long life so how about thinking of it as having a health condition, like diabetes, and having to take insulin."

Mei-Li returned with the blood. There was a light steam coming off of it. I nodded my half hearted thanks taking the glass from her.

"You're not happy about this," she stated simply. I sighed and shrugged my shoulders.

Dustin and Chance kept eyeballing me while Eli fiddled with the cork on the bottle of wine. Bringing the glass to my lips, I took a slight sip. I still worried about the fact that I was beginning to like the stuff. What if I 'flipped' and wanted more than I should? What if I went on a rampage? Ate my family?

I took a deep breath and allowed the first sip rolled over my tongue and down the back of my throat with ease. It wasn't as harsh as it had been previously. I found myself instantly downing the entire glass.

I sat there with the glass in my hand. It shocked me; part of me wanted to lick the rim. There was a sweetness to it that seem to call me; and another taste, vanilla. I looked over nervous at Dustin to find that he too had finished off the entire glass.

"It seems less 'minerally' than what I've had up until now," I said handing the glass back to Mei-Li.

She smiled, "It has a mix of Chinese herbs in it to make it more palatable to those who still coming to terms with the fact that they have to partake of it."

"Thank you," I blushed, "It's not been easy. I didn't ask for this situation."

Dustin sighed and I immediately regretted my choice of words. "I'm sorry Dustin. I didn't mean it that way." Eli pulled him and me over and hugged us both.

Chance spoke up, "Tristan was attacked."

Mei-Li looked surprised, "Seriously? In this day and time?" Dustin nodded.

She walked over and kissed me on the top of the head, "You couldn't ask for a better bunch of people to be there for you."

Those simple words sunk in as Eli pulled me closer.

The smell of the spices made their appearance before the dinner itself appeared. My mouth began to water. It was so damn good!

Chance poured the wine and we ate in silence for a bit until Eli spoke up, "You two ok?" looking back and forth between Dustin and I. I stopped my chop sticks midway from bringing a piece of chicken to my mouth. "Yeah, I am," smiling over to Dustin.

Dustin could feel my honesty before he got my thoughts on it all and how much I owed he, Eli and Chance. I was grateful to be alive.

The rest of dinner was filled with talk and laughter. I found out that all three guys had known Mei-Li for years. Chance had known her for two plus centuries. She sure didn't look like it and, unlike Chance, she didn't use an aging spell. Only a few mortal people ever met her so she really had little need of it.

As we sat there, I found myself getting tired and suddenly yawning. Eli ruffled my hair, "I think it's time we got our 'kid' home and into bed Dus."

Neither he nor Dustin missed the sharp raise of my eyebrow at the kid comment. Dustin looked at his watch, "He does have to go interview about a job in the morning."

"Not to mention a Dr.'s appointment in the afternoon," Chance added. My head flew back as I stared at the ceiling and sighed.

Mei-Li laughed and send us on our way with the leftovers. We dropped off Chance at his place.

Although I'm quite sure he could have just left without conventional means, he decided to ride with us. I still suspect he was keeping his eye on me. Twenty minutes later we were back at the guys place, well, our place now.

I said my 'goodnights' and settled into bed. I was about to turn out the light when Dustin appeared with a quarter glass of red liquid. He gave me a slight, uneasy smile. I took the glass without comment and drank the dark contents. He started to leave when I grabbed his hand.

"Thank you," I said. He stopped midway in step.

"For what?" he asked with a hint of sadness in his voice, "For cursing you with an existence that will defy time and the knowledge you'll outlive your own family."

"No," I sighed pulling him back and down to the bed, "For caring enough to give me the chance to live. I could have died. My life may be different now and I'm sure that I'm going to have ups and downs but knowing that I have you two to guide me makes it a lot easier," as I pulled him into a hug.

He kissed the top of my head, "Get some sleep."

Dustin left my room but I had the feeling he was both smiling and crying. I turned off the light and hoped that the dreams I'd had before wouldn't repeat. They didn't.