Chapter 10

"My son," Terri whispered. Howie stood up to face her. He was overwhelmed with emotion as he saw her again. He felt like it had been an eternity since he had last looked into her loving eyes.

"How did you know where to find me?" he asked.

"Howie, I have always known where you have been. Kevin too," she said.

"Mother, he's out of control. I have to stop him," Howie whispered.

"Come with me. Let's find rest," Terri said.

Once in his room, Terri sat down in a plush chair and opened her arms to her son. Howie sat at her feet and lid his head in her lap.

"You were always too big for me to hold," she said with a smile.

"That's ok. Just having you here is enough," he said contentedly. He sighed and wrapped his arms around her legs. "Then you must know about Kevin and his plans if you are here," he said after a few moments.

"Yes, I do," Terri replied, stroking his soft brown hair.

"He's going to destroy Nick because Nick has left him. Nick is," he started to say.

"Nick is one of Kevin's selfish creations. I know Howie. I have been watching Nick. What a beautiful creature he is, but much too sad. He should have never been made a vampire. And now he's in love with a human," Terri said.

"Nick had to leave Kevin. Kevin was relentless in his treatment of Nick. He was so frustrated because Nick would never bend to his wishes," Howie said.

"Now Kevin knows how I felt when I tried to tame him. He would never obey me or do what I asked. I was wrong in creating him, "Terri said.

"You didn't know. It was my fault; I'm the one, who wanted him, "Howie said.

"But you are right, we must stop Kevin. It would be a tragedy to let him destroy Nick," Terri sighed.

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Nick watched Sherl pace around the room. He could tell she was restless. She opened drawers and shut them, picked up books, would start to read, and throw them down.

"Sherl, is something wrong?" he asked, slightly amused.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"Well, you've picked up the same magazine about twenty times," Nick said.

"Oh!" she wined, "Nick, I'm sorry. It's just that I've been cooped up in this hotel room for over two days. I'm tired of room service. I'd like to go out. You keep telling me Prague is beautiful but will I ever get to see it?"

Nick got up from his chair and pulled her into his arms, "It's not fair and I'm sorry. I haven't thought about your feelings."

"It's ok. I know we have to stay on the down low but I'm getting cabin fever," Sherl said resting her head on his shoulder.

Nick thought for a moment, "Ok. We'll go to dinner. But just that. Anymore would be too much of a risk."

"Really?" she said her eyes widening.

"Go get ready," he said giving her a peck on the forehead.

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Kevin snapped out of his reverie when he heard the knock at the door. It was AJ. It looked like he was the bearer of good news.

"Found them, he said, handing Kevin a sheet of paper.

"This hotel is only a few blocks from here," Kevin said.

"I haven't had a chance to check it out," AJ replied.

"We have to go. Now," Kevin said.

"Kevin, have you planned what you will do once you find them?" AJ asked.

"Of course. But only Nick will be able to decide the final outcome," Kevin said with a wicked smile.

"I love it when you talk that way," AJ said facetiously, "It gets me all hot and bothered."

"Please, AJ. You're not my type," Kevin said.

The two vampires walked the short distance to the hotel where Nick and Sherl were hiding. AJ let out a whistle when he saw the opulent luxury of the hotel.

"Nick knows how to treat his women," he said.

"Everything he knows he learned from me," Kevin said shaking his head.

They pushed their way into the quiet lobby. Kevin looked for any signs of the two he sought. Finding none, Kevin and AJ waited for and elevator. They boarded and Kevin felt his stomach knot in excitement. He couldn't wait to deal with Nick again.

As the carved wooden doors to the elevator shut, the doors to the next elevator opened. A young, handsome, light-eyed male walked out with a slender, attractive female. The male turned to the female, "Where would you like to go to dinner, Sherl?"

Sherl watched as the candlelight played over Nick's pale features. She still blushed when she looked at him. The crystal blue of his eyes still gave her a tingle of excitement.

"This is a very nice restaurant, Nick. Thank you for taking me out," Sherl said, laying her menu down.

"It's my pleasure," he said, taking her hand.

"I'm not accustomed to places like this. Fast food and cheap beer are more my style," Sherl said taking a sip of red wine.

"You look beautiful," he said, reaching over the tiny table and tracing a finger along her exposed shoulder.

"Thank you," she said, shivering at his touch.

"I wish things were different. I wish we weren't running from Kevin. I wish I wasn't a," he stopped before the word "vampire" as their waiter came with their meals.

"Nick," Sherl said carefully, "what's going to happen? I mean, this is a classic tale of forbidden love."

"No laws or rules say we cannot be together but I can't give you what a man could. If I had a solution to this, I would act upon it immediately. But I don't,' Nick replied quietly.

"You know as well as I do that if Kevin finds us, he will more than likely try to kill me to punish you," Sherl said looking down at her hands.

"He could change you into one of us," Nick said.

"I've thought about that as long as we've been here. Nick, if it meant I could be with you, I would welcome Kevin to do that," Sherl said.

"No, Sherl. Please don't say that," Nick said, pulling Sherl out of her seat and sitting her into his lap. "I would never let Kevin do that to you."

"Nick I love you too much to refuse," She said, tears coming to her eyes. Nick wiped the teardrops from her cheek, he felt his own eyes begin to water.

"No, you can't even think about that, Sherl. You don't even know what you're saying," he said, choking on the lump that was growing in his throat.

"What if he tries to kill me, you know you could save me by changing me. Would you let me die?" Sherl said.