"Where is she?" demanded Paddy.

"Jacqueline had some errands to take care of. She said she'd meet us here." he said. This turn of events made no one happy but there was nothing we could do about it. Yet. Lucas decided to try the direct approach. "Mr. Gill, I'm Lucas." The man remained remarkably well controlled. His clenched fists paled to white, his teeth ground loudly and veins popped out all over his purple face but he made no move toward Lucas. Hercules was also providing no small incentive for this inaction as he was standing directly behind Mr. Gill.

"Damn fruit." he muttered under his breath. Lucas let it slide.

"Your daughter is a very sick young girl." Lucas began.

"Don't you talk to me about sick you..." he stammered as he realized a hand the size of a portable TV was now resting on his shoulders.

"I think you should listen to what he has to say." Hercules said in a voice barely above a whisper. It got his point across louder than if he had shouted. Releasing his grip, Hercules sat on a nearby bar stool.

"Of course. How foolish of me." he said. I was impressed. He was able to keep his knocking knees totally silent.

"Jack has a disease. She infected me and someone I loved dearly against our will." Lucas continued.

"Infected you? Seems like she'd be more likely to get a disease from you." Gill started. Hercules rose slowly to his feet and Gill realized the rest of his thoughts were best left unsaid.

"Mr. Gill, your daughter is a vampyre." said Lucas.

"What kind of crap are you trying to pull here? Is this some kind of joke?" he asked, face bulging and turning a deeper shade of red. Looking around the room at the faces he saw, the unbelievable truth began the long process of sinking in.

"There are no such things as vampyres," he said as if begging the answer to a question. No answer came. "There are no such things as vampyres!" he shouted grabbing Lucas' collar and shaking vigorously, trying to force the answer he wanted to hear to come out.

"I'm afraid there are." Lucas said with no small amount of sadness shading his voice from the fire in Gill's eyes.

"How do you know, faggot?" Gill mockingly asked, as if talking to a slow child. This one Lucas was not going to let slide.

"Because I am one." Lucas said, baring his fangs in a smile, hissing for effect. Mr. Gill fell backwards over himself in his desire to get away.

"But these people can help her." Lucas said more congenially. Jack's father did not respond at first. He was a man whose world had just exploded and his eyes showed he was not taking any visitors at the moment. He just kept muttering "Not my little girl." We were so involved in watching the father that the daughter arrived without us noticing.

"Isn't this sweet? Daddy dearest and Lukey." Jack said. She was a medium build with blond hair cut short and a neutral kind of face. Little cleavage to speak of. She could easily pass for a man or a woman depending on how she accessorized. Now it was Lucas' turn to trip over himself running away from her.

"Lukey, you shouldn't have run away from me. You've been a bad boy. I'm going to have to punish you." she purred.

"Back off." Lucas said regaining his footing. "I'm not afraid of you." he lied unconvincingly. Although his knees were not knocking together, they were stirring up some fierce air currents.

"Honey," said Mr. Gill, his daughter's arrival bringing him out of his stupor. "these men said that..."

"Daddy, you can believe them. I'm sure it's no worse than the truth." she said.

"They said they can help you." he pleaded with his daughter. She was not interested in buying what he was selling.

"Help me? Why? I've never been so happy." she said, drawing a tongue the color of blood over the length of her right index finger as if licking something tasty off. A small, purposeful burp came forth from her mouth which she covered with her hand and a giggle. She tried to sound like a little girl but the tint of evil in her voice prevented her from getting even close.

"Jack, where were you?" Lucas demanded, the horror of recognition in his eyes. "My, so forceful. Not that it's any of your business but I stopped for a bite." she said drawing her tongue over her glistening white fangs and dark crimson lips in small circles. Lucas cringed. Jack smiled a smile of darkest intent. Behind her Paddy nodded and Hermes turned the skeleton key and locked the door. Never before had I seen the front door bolted. We only lock the door behind the bar that leads to our living quarters. Even when no one is on duty that door remains unhooked along with the cash register, a rarity in this city. Pity Jack did not recognize this omen for what it was. Jack looked around at the rest of us. A white collar attracted her attention. She moved toward Father Mike. Paddy tried to reason with her.

"Jack, we may be able to help you." Paddy explained.

"God helps those who help themselves. Isn't that right, Father?" she asked. Mike did not answer. He stood defiant. She put her hand on his chest and began stroking up and down in a sensuous manner. "And I help myself to what I want." she said, her hand traveling southward to areas strictly off limits. Mike grabbed her hand before she could have been arrested for trespassing in his nether region.

"C'mon, Priest. Think of all the commandments we could break," she said her other hand going toward Mike's upper chest as she was bending forward to lick his chin. With a start she pulled away, obviously in pain. Jack put her fingers in her mouth and sucked on them to soothe the cross shaped burn.

"Smart man. Today you should always carry protection." Paddy had given dispensation for the crosses to work but only on sight or contact so Lucas was not harmed. It worked through clothes. The door rattled. It was the sound of a lock being picked. Hermes was inside so I had no idea who it was. The knob turned and the door creaked open. Funny what you think of at time like this. I just knew Paddy was going to make me oil the hinges later. Rebecca lumbered in, burdened down by a large object in her arms.

"You hurt one of my people," she spoke calmly but with intense bitterness in her voice. "You are not leaving here alive." Jack was unfazed. Paddy was livid. The lifeless body was that of an eight year old boy named Peter. He had Down's syndrome and was the sweetest kid I ever met. He was one of the homeless children Rebecca had brought to Bulfinche's. He lived with us for several months before we found him a new family. His room was next to Paddy's apartment. Paddy would spend hours with Peter, with all of the children. They played, Paddy told them tall tales and made music with his harmonica. I've never met anyone who loved children more. Jack had killed one of his. It took both Hercules and Dion to keep him from going after Jack. His rage was frightening to behold. The entire room shook. I knew Rebecca spoke the truth. Despite his distaste for killing Paddy would not let Jack leave alive. Hermes took Peter's limp form and laid it tenderly on the bar.

"Ah, yes the child. Very tasty. Children are best you know. Very little fat and cholesterol and no nicotine or drugs to taint the taste. Healthier for you than adults really. Kind of like veal." she said.

"Jackie, how could you do such a thing." her father asked again returning to the real world.

"Don't be so sentimental. The boy was a freak. Just like Lucas here. They don't deserve life. They just are not as good as we are. Isn't that what you always taught me? Besides, I go after freaks because I love you, Daddy." she said without the faintest trace of emotion. Mr. Gill did not understand what she meant. Lucas did.

"She's been feeding on you too. Check." Lucas said. Mr. Gill checked his neck. It was without blemish. Lucas explained that only an idiot or someone who wanted to be caught used the neck anymore. The shoulders were also clean.

"Check your inner thigh," Lucas suggested, shamefully. "It's a favorite spot of hers." Gill reached his hand down to palpate his leg and winced at the pain it caused. Jack was a very sick girl.

"I did not want you to run dry," Jack said. "I would have to move all my stuff out. I guess I'll have to move out anyway. Maybe I'll go to the children's shelter. They always leave a window open and its lights out at nine. I dine there in the special children section often. Best selection and prices in town." Everyone lost it.

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