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Just a day before Alex had been killed, she had spoken with him and he had summoned her for a visit. They had hardly any time to talk before she felt herself pulled away again. But she didn't begrudge the summoning, it was for a worthy cause.

After her and her friends had crippled the rouge and made sure the uneducated vampire was cared for and safe, she had gone to hunt feral vampires in the Quarantine Zone. The crownet, as much as she did not trust it, claimed the city alert was barely acceptable and lie or no lie? Alexandrea wanted to help. It was bad for business when the shops closed and she had come to realize that integration of her kind and the humans had to happen slowly, exposing the humans to vampires too abruptly would endanger both races.

She had taken several of the ferals down when she had paused to rest and after only a few minutes, she was dead. She had rested only 15 minutes or so and the next thing she knew she was dead? Again? She hadn't had a bounty in weeks, maybe even months. What the hell?

No one bothered to even speak to her to explain why, they just sent her back to that dull as dishwater shadow realm once more. She sent Odin a message letting him know, and telling him she missed him. Telling him how she hoped to see him soon.

Days passed. Nothing. Always before Odin had visited her when she was stuck in the shadow realm. The entire week passed and not one visit from him. Not one message. The day she knew she would be able to break free, Alexandrea spoke into his mind again. Morgan was unable to meet her, Kira was still stuck in the Shadow realm with her, and Madison was busy keeping her self safe, also being hunted down.

This time, Alexandrea asked Odin a favor. Could he please meet her at the morgue with some clothes? Telling him that she was looking forward to seeing him again. She hoped he would either be there himself or send his thrall so she gave him the time she felt sure was correct and kept her fingers crossed.

But no one was there when she materialized and with a sigh, she ran as fast as she could with celerity back home to dress. Streaking though the town was a bit of a rush but she was terrified she would trip and go sprawling naked in front of a bus full of people.

She didn't though. She made it back to the mausoleum safely. Only to find... it was surrounded by the army? Some branch of government... the whole area was guarded and only by going through the sewers was Alex able to get to her lair and get dressed. Thank Nox she had come back at full strength.

Making her way back to her shop in the mall, an unscheduled week off had to have hurt her business, she went passed the place Odin might be. And he was. He wasn't alone however. And she knew he would be displeased if she said too much where anyone else might hear it. She had kissed him on the cheek once in public and he had not taken it well. So all she did was say hello.

A few days passed, and still no word from him. Alex inspired him almost every day and waited to hear from him. But nothing... no texts, no phone calls... no visits.

He must be upset with her, Alexandrea was sure. She knew she had promised him to stay out of trouble and despite her doing her best? She hadn't. It really was NOT her fault this time, or the last time... but he was still keeping his distance so... he must be unhappy with her, right?

Sad and confused, Alex spoke into his mind one last time. *If you are upset with me, I wish you would let me know why? Or just tell me to let you be?*

Odin took off his shirt and tossed it into the trash. The last mountain lion he came across put up quite a fight. The front of his shirt was torn to shreds. He glanced down at the dark red marks across his chest. It could have been much worse if he hadn't leapt back from the full power of those razor claws.

He got into the shower to wash off the blood - his own and of the creatures he had killed in the Hunting Grounds. He had spent much time there as of late, slaughtering animals as he came across them. He remembered months ago when the place was filled with many hunting the mammals. Except for a few, now the place was pretty much abandoned.

More for me.

He didn't have any immediate plans except to just chill for a bit after the shower. He considered just sitting in front of the fireplace in his room, but then decided to go downstairs and see what was showing on the television. Before he had the chance to step outside his room, Alexandrea's voice was in his head.

*If you are upset with me, I wish you would let me know why? Or just tell me to let you be?*

Odin frowned. "What the hell?" he said, pretty sure his relaxing evening was taking a definite turn. He walked over to his dresser and picked up the cell phone, then texted back:

I got your little head message. What the **** is your issue? Why do you think I'm angry at you in the first place? I do have a few things on my mind - but explain!

Stepping out of the shower, Alexandrea heard her cell phone beeping but didn't rush. She could tell by the sound it was just letting her know she had a new email. anyone who was sending her an email rather than calling her directly, must not know her very well. Wrapping her hair in a towel, she slipped on her bathrobe and stepped into her slippers before leaving the steamy bathroom and going out to check the computer.

The bottle of Merlot in the kitchen was calling her name, so she stopped in to rescue it along with a lonely wine glass. The three of them got cozy on the sofa as Alex opened the laptop and went to her inbox. She almost dropped the glass when she saw who it was from and what it said in the subject line...

It was only one word. "What" and it was from Odin. He had heard her message after all, it seemed. She had begun to wonder.

Her eyes grew wide and she swallowed her entire glass in one glup as she read his words.

He seemed pretty annoyed with her...

Odin wrote:I got your little head message. What the **** is your issue? Why do you think I'm angry at you in the first place? I do have a few things on my mind - but explain!

She sent the laptop off to the side and poured another glass as she considered what Odin had written and weighed the tone of his email with how she knew he behaved in person. He could be a rough person, even when in the best of moods. He didn't beat around the bush or sugar coat anything. It was one of the things she loved about him.

Alex wished she could be a bit more like him sometimes. She tended to take her time, almost to the point of beating around the bush about things, rather than just get to the point quickly. She made a mental note to do her best to not write an entire book as a reply and set her glass down to pick her laptop back up.

I'm sorry I spoke in your mind, Odin.

I did not think it bothered you. You never told me it did but if it does, I won't do it again.

My issue. My issue is not really an issue, I just was hoping to see you or hear from you and after being back for almost a week and not hearing back from you at all, I decided that you didn't welcome my attention. So I was letting you know I won't be bothering you anymore.

I had promised you I'd stay out of trouble three deaths ago now, so having broken that promise I concluded that you were ignoring me either due to that or because you didn't want to be my friend anymore because of my feelings about you. Both of which would be understandable.

It seems like we never get to speak in private so it's hard to guess at what you are thinking when my attempts at reaching you go unanswered.

If you have a lot on your mind, you know you could always talk to me if you wanted to. But if I have misread the situation I apologize. I have no wish to add to your stress.

Again, I am sorry if I over reacted, my only excuse is because of my recent trauma I'm feeling a lot more vulnerable and disliked. Being hunted down repeatedly can have that effect on you I guess, lol.

So, ball's in your court. I hope I have not lost your friendship. I hope to hear back from you. But if I don't, I guess I just have to accept that I screwed up.

No matter what, I'll always be your friend, I want you to be happy, I want you to stay safe. You know I love you.

~Alexandrea

Reading back over what she had written, she groaned as she hit send.

"So much for keeping it short..."

Odin shook his head to clear it, and rested the cell phone back on the dresser. No longer wishing to go downstairs, he sat at his desk and logged into his computer. His home page was set to Google, and he hit the image link then typed "propeller accidents" in the search bar. Instead of the normal display of pictures that amused him, most of the images of a pretty blonde. Raising an eyebrow, Odin clicked on one of the images of the woman to see why she was replacing most of the pictures of sliced flesh, muscle and bone. The images were of some model named Laura who accidentally walked into an airplane propeller and lost her left hand and eventually her eye.

Grumbling, Odin tried again, this time typing in "boat propeller accidents." A half-dozen pictures came up that were worthy of his attention, but most of the images were of boat propellers.

"Dammit," he growled, but before he had the chance to type in another search string, the email alert got his attention. It was a letter from Alexandrea. He closed the browser, opened her email and read over the first paragraph.

Furrowing his brows, he mumbled under his breath the she certainly assumed a lot of things. He started typing a reply to her letter, responding to her concerns as he read down the rather long message.

It doesn't ******* bother me for you to talk into my mind. I was just noting how I got the message. Oh, and so you're not going to bother me anymore? *smirk* ...yeah, you get into a lot of ****, some of which I don't agree with...and what exactly ARE your feelings for me? Huh? I don't take polls. You know I like you..**** - we almost had a *cough* baby together.

I hate those cunts that are hunting you and putting up bounties. I still can't find out who is putting the personal bounties on you. As far as you being hunted down for regular bounty, it does make me wonder wtf you are doing. I've told you several times that discretion is the key!

When Ripper was ******* with you, I did take that upon myself, as you know. Dropped much of my blood for you, not to mention lost a leg in the process - he's a tough ******.

Ah...damn, writing this as I'm reading...the last part made me stop in my tracks. You ...love me? Like seriously love me? You know what? I've been killing animals for days in the hunting grounds just for kicks. Once I get done with that, I have to ******* steal 25 expensive paintings, cause my thrall accidentally sold yours off. So yeah...that's my ******* schedule for the next few weeks. Kill things and steal expensive art. You love me? Ha! I'm sure you can find a better match.

He was typing quickly, and as soon as he was done, he hit the send button and got up from the desk. Odin ran his hand over the top of his head then started to pace back and forth.

"What do people want from me!" he yelled.

He was sure now his night was not going to be relaxing at all.

The television was on but Alex couldn't have said was program was playing, she was looking at the screen but not really seeing it. Garfield was in her lap and she petted him without even really thinking about it, too distracted with all the thoughts that were going through her mind.

Garfield decided he had enough attention for awhile and bit her hand before jumping off and taking off upstairs. The little beast had drawn blood. It didn't hurt but blood stains and her robe was white silk. So Alexandrea went into the kitchen for a bandage. She put the kettle on while she was in there. Maybe tea would soothe her nerves better than the wine.

Once her tea was made, she took it back to the living room and heard the cell beep at her again. Another email alert. Could it be Odin replying? Already? Was it a good sign or a bad one that he would write her back so quickly...

She sat down and opened her laptop again, while she could read emails on her phone she preferred not to. Besides, if a reply was in order, she hated trying to type on the tiny little keypad her cellphone had.

The mail was indeed from Odin and after reading it, Alex's hands were shaking. She went upstairs to put some clothes on. She felt naked in more ways than one in that moment.

Hanging up her robe, she shivered. Not that she felt cold anymore now that she was a vampire but because she was feeling even more vulnerable than usual. She pulled on some comfort clothes, an old Maple Leafs jersey and some soft flannel pj bottoms.

Back downstairs, the tea was dumped and out came the Ice Cream. She ate the entire pint standing in front of the fridge. Her nerves settled some, she went to write her reply.



Well, it's good to get that clear, about the mind speaking. I can't read minds you know, just speak to them and as I have learned recently, send images and memories as well. Long story. I'll show you sometime if you like. So without you telling me such things, I can only react to how you are acting. Or not reacting...

And no. As much as I would hate it? I won't bother you anymore at all if that is what you really want because I respect you and want you to be happy.

But, as far as my getting into a lot of 'sh*t'? I swear I have REALLY been trying to keep out of trouble, I REALLY have! My bounty had been at zero for months and was still at zero when Ty killed me the last time. I... have no idea why they did it, no one has told me jack. I was in the QZ hunting Feral Vampires when I was attacked. I fought back the best as I was able to but it was over so fast, there were just too many of them.

You know how I feel about you but if you want I'll tell you again. I've said it before and will happily say it as many times as you wish. May I ask that I can do so face to face?

So, you do not need a poll. I won't lie to you or hide how I feel.

And I am so honestly very sorry you lost blood over that Ripper situation. It meant a whole lot that you would stand up for me like that. You have no idea how much... even if after saying I was your girlfriend you took it back, lol

I can't help with the Independent bounty list, the hit parade. Your guess is as good as mine when it comes to that. The words are more hurtful than the hits themselves. At least I'm not going cheap however. >.<

All I can do is say that I am honestly trying to do my best to be the best person that I can be and hope that you care about me just the way that I am, flaws and all.

And yes, what you read? Yes, I REALLY love you. And it's up to me who is a good match for me. Not that I expect anything or demand anything from you because of my feeling the way that I do. I want you to be happy. I'd like to be the one that could make you happy but if I'm not, I would never stand in your way.

I honestly really thought you knew, I spoke to you before in the mall about it. You don't have to feel the same way or act any different way, I just do love you for who and what you are, the way you are. I almost said so that first night. When we... were together, and before you walked away.

But I stopped because I had never said 'that word' to any man besides my father before. And because I didn't want to scare you away. It was then that I figured out that while I was not frightened of you, the reason I was frightened when I was around you was due to my feelings for you.

The paintings. Oy. lol. I am sorry to lose them but no need to replace them, I can get more. I just liked them for my collection but what I can't replace? I can just recreate. :) The only shame is that your thrall wouldn't have gotten as much for them as you would have, being she is human. You, with Silver tongue, would have gotten 10% higher profit.

So please, don not worry about them, okay? If you want to repay me for them? Just finish up the carpentry on the shops? ;) Or buy me something shiny and/or sharp. lol.

I believe I have addressed all your points and hope that I haven't driven you off in the process but I would never lie to you, Odin. I hid the truth from you before when I got pregnant and it was the biggest regret of my life.

I want you to be happy. I hope to be a part of your life... even if all it is, is to be friends. Because I value you as a friend above everything else.

~Alexandrea

Dang, she had written another book. With a sigh, she went ahead and hit send. Pretty sure that if Odin wrote back at all, it wouldn't be soon, she turned off the television and went upstairs to bed. Sleep wouldn't come to her, though. Instead she just stared up at the ceiling fan and tried not to cry.

Odin had probably paced back and forth across the length of the room ten times before he decided to sit back down at the computer. He decided to play a game of Spider Solitaire to relax. Before he was finished with the game, another email arrived from Alexandrea. For some odd reason he didn't think she would write back. He gave it another moment's thought and said under his breath, "Of course she'd write back." The woman seemed to have no problem expressing herself.

He thought about a brief conversation he had last week. He was sitting at a table in the Moonlight Cafe. Two people, whom he presumed to be college students by the stack of textbooks, were discussing the intricacies of the psychotic mind, at the table next to his. The male said, "The psychopath cannot truly love someone." The woman objected. The young man replied with, "A psychopath would consider his love interest something he would own - he can't really love."

Exasperated, the woman turned to him and asked, "Do you think a psychopath can truly love someone?"

Odin grinned and said, "Define psychopath."

She thought for a moment and replied, "Well, someone that can go out, kill a puppy, go back in the house with no remorse whatsoever and eat breakfast."

Without hesitation Odin replied, "Sure."

Both of their mouths dropped open slightly before the young lady asked hesitantly, "Do you consider yourself psychotic?"

At this Odin laughed and said, "Of course not." They relaxed and joined his laughter for a moment, then went back to their conversation.

Odin stared at the computer, and the message from Alexandrea. He furrowed his brows.

Of course it's probably not normal to want to kill your girlfriends.

He slammed his fist down on the desk. "This is ridiculous!" he growled. What made it worse is that he not only cared for Alexandrea, he had feelings for Serenity as well. He wondered how the hell this all had happened, then stood up once more and started pacing again.

He was slowly shaking his head back and forth as a myriad of thoughts went through his mind. Not less than 24 hours ago he had spotted Serenity in the living room. He hadn't really talked to her for days, keeping to himself. He had grinned at her for a moment, and then muttered under his breath, "Missed you." He didn't even realize he had said it out loud until she placed a hand to his forehead and asked him if he was okay.

Odin picked up a bourbon carafe that was sitting on an end table and slung it against the wall. It shattered with a loud crash. As it was sans bourbon at least there would not be any liquor to clean up off the walls later.

He glared at the computer again, then walked quickly over to it, closed the email and logged out. He was done with passing notes. If this conversation was going to continue, it would be in person. He knew what he was going to do, but then realized he couldn't bring her to him here at Lunar Lake Estates.

Odin went into the bathroom and washed his face. The mirror over the sink was long gone. He shook his head to clear it, then used one of his favorite powers he gained after becoming a Vampire, and arrived within moments in his own apartment.

He made his way to the bedroom, locked the door and summoned Alexandrea to him.

After doing a lot of tossing and turning, Alexandrea had gotten up and wrote another entry in her journal. Still feeling restless she lay back down again and debated just giving up on sleep and start packing for her upcoming trip. She didn't want to think about leaving Harper Rock. But she had to and maybe... just maybe if she was out of town, maybe missing Odin wouldn't hurt so much. She didn't really think so but she was desperate to feel better.

And she was mad and upset with herself for ruining a perfectly good friendship. Alex rolled over and stuck her head under the pillow and tried to force sleep to come to her by the sheer force of her will. Willpower had never been one of Alexandrea's strengths, however. Maybe a cup of tea would help. Or a good stiff drink.

Alex was on the verge of getting up for the last time when a strange sensation came over her. It began with a soft tingle that she had felt before, someone was summoning her. "Oh crap, not now!" She muttered as she wondered who it was... she was without any weapons and so not dressed to go out. Whomever it was had better have a sword to lend her if they were expecting her help in a fight.

Being without a weapon was the least of her worries she realized as she materialized mid air. She'd always been standing whenever she had been summoned before and the thought never occurred to her that her body's placement would remain the same whatever position it was she had been in. Next time she felt a summoning happening, she would be sure she was on her feet.

That plan was formed in her mind later, after her face had been planted into the floor. The only thought she had time for when she first saw the floor rushing up to meet her face was, 'oh ****'.

Sitting up quickly she rubbed her poor nose and looked around. She had been in this room before. It was Odin's. Odin had summoned her? She got up to her feet as fast as she could and spun around. He was standing right behind her and in front of the door. Normally Alexandrea wouldn't mind Odin being between her and an escape route but given the recent exchange of emails and her declaration of love for him, she felt a little uneasy. And extremely self-conscious.

She ran one hand through her messy hair, pushing it out of her face as the other hand clutched the waist of the old flannel pj bottoms that she was wearing. She was praying that the weakened elastic waistband didn't pick this time to give up the ghost and die. Having her pants fall down would just be the icing on the cake. With a soft sigh, she was glad that at least the over sized hockey jersey was long enough to cover her butt if it did happen. She made a vow to never go to bed without underwear ever again.

She cleared her throat and bit her lower lip, the one dainty fang she never seemed to be able to hide sticking out and slightly into the bottom lip. A wee drop of blood pooled up but she was too nervous to notice.

"Um, Hiya. Um... what's up?"

Odin was not in the best frame of mind, but when Alexandrea appeared in her pajamas and faceplanted on the floor, he couldn't help but grin.

"Are we having fun yet?" he asked her with a smirk. She seemed to be somewhat disoriented, straightening her hair and looking around. He didn't miss the tiny drop of blood on her bottom lip and subconsciously licked his lips.

Several emotions fought with each other as he glared at someone very special to him, wearing nothing more than pajamas, harnessing no weapons and locked in his room. She may have memorized the path to his private lair by now, he wasn't sure. The whole place was booby-trapped.

"So, you wish to discuss some relationship things?" he said with a sneer.

He stepped closer to her, all kinds of alerts going off in his head. The first thing he wanted to do was hold her close and press his face into her flaxen hair, but he knew it wouldn't stop there.

Instead he blurted out, "What do you want from me?"

He closed his eyes for a moment, not really wanting an answer. His eyes snapped open again and before she replied he snapped, "And what if I cannot provide that for you?'

He frowned and considered punching a hole in the wall, and then did it.

"What if I cannot, will not provide that for you?" he growled at her.

Seeing Odin grin always made Alexandrea smile, even when it was at her expense. His question to her asking if they were having fun yet caught her off guard and she chuckled, partly laughing at her self as she pictured how she must have looked as she fell to the floor and partly just out of nervous tension.

She barely had time to think before Odin was asking her another question, and it was a pretty redundant one at that. Alex started to nod as he moved closer to her but before she could say 'yes, I would like to discuss our relationship' Odin was asking her yet another question, then punching the wall before asking one more with a growl.

She was startled as he punched a hole in his own wall and jumped back a step, stepping on one of the hems of her pajama bottoms. That was enough to do in the elastic band she was still clutching in one hand even as she lost her balance and tried to break her fall with one arm. Somehow she ended up rolling into a somersault and even though she didn't think she had ever let go of the waist of her PJ bottoms, once she was back on her feet she saw them laying in a pile on the floor between her and Odin. Which meant she must have just mooned him.

"Well you've been getting quite the show tonight, haven't you?" Alex said sighing and then chuckling as she shook her head in disbelief at the messes she kept getting her self into. "What do I want FROM you?"

She pulled on the jersey so in hopes it would magically grow longer but then stopped, remembering what she had been wearing the first time they had met. That little Lioness costume had shown off a lot more leg than was showing now. She folded her arms in front of her chest before marching back over to Odin. She was suddenly feeling a little feisty and she glared up into his face with fire sparking in her eyes.

"What I want FROM you, you have given me before so I know damn well you are capable of it. And as far as you refusing to give it to me goes..."

She went ahead and and pulled the jersey over her head, making sure the long silver chain she always wore didn't come off with it. She tossed the shirt over her shoulder, as the golden signet ring that had been her father's bounced on her chest. Alex turned around and took a single step away from Odin before turning back around to face him again.

"Well I guess if you've made up your mind, there isn't a whole lot I can do to change it. But let me ask you the same question, Odin." Alex then closed the distance between them and licked her lips, not even noticing the taste of blood.

"What do YOU want from ME?"

She asked him what he wanted from her. He did have several requests he would make of her. The real answer he needed to figure out was what he wanted for himself. He did want Alexandrea. He also wanted Serenity and last, but certainly not least, he wanted his freedom.

It's not logical

What Alexandrea wanted from him was another matter altogether. He recalled her recent words.

"What I want FROM you, you have given me before so I know damn well you are capable of it. And as far as you refusing to give it to me goes..."

She wanted more from him than he was willing to give. Though her answer to that question would imply she just wanted sex, he knew that wasn't all there was to it.

He wished he had never picked up the cell phone...wished he wasn't here. He summoned a beautiful woman - inside and out - to his bedroom. Now she stood here, naked no less, asking what he wanted from her.

The short answer is nothing

Odin gritted his teeth. He knew this thought was not true at all, but he was now ready to tell Alexandrea what he did want from her.

"I want you to know I care about you."

Too much

"I want you to know I'll always have your back."

"I want you to remember me."

I want you to leave

Odin sighed and shook the last thought from his mind. At this point he didn't know what he wanted to do more - **** her or kill her.

Can't do both.

Not a good idea anyway, if I killed her she wouldn't be around.

The only thing that made sense to him now was to try to clear his head, which seemed to be in overdrive.

To her he simply said, "I'm going for a walk, you can show yourself out."