This chapter is a complete re-write from the original post. It's a bit lengthy but I hope it holds your interest. - Gemma

Chapter 2

KAT

Summer 1987

Tacoma, Washington

The vision woke twelve year old Mary Theresa Rutherford from a dead sleep. She sat up in her bed panting heavily, her sweat-drenched hair clinging to her face. Raking her hands through her dark walnut locks, she threw the covers to the floor and scrambled out of her bedroom and down the hall. The pounding of her feet was muffled by the newly laid Berber carpet as she ran at full speed to the last door on the left. Without knocking she reached for the knob and pushed the door open blindly entering the room.

"Kat, wake up!" she whispered frantically as she grabbed both her sister's shoulders and shook as hard as she could. A spilt second later she regretted it as a clenched fist caught her right in the nose.

"OWW!" Mary Theresa released her sister and reached for her now bleeding nose.

"Jesus H, Reese," Kat was now sitting up in her bed. "You know you can't do that to me when I'm sleeping."

"I know," Mary Theresa mumbled her voice nasally from pinching her nose. "But HE's coming. I saw it."

"Unless HE is Bret Michaels, I really don't care," Kat answered with a yawn as she lay back down.

Mary Theresa continued to stand there, holding her nose feeling the blood run down her hands.

"Ummm, Kat," she whimpered softly.

"What Reese," Kat groaned, not even bothering to open her eyes.

"My nose is bleeding."

"Then go to the bathroom and clean yourself up."

"Can you go with me?"

"Reese….

"It's dark, Kat. And the drain makes that funny sound."

"What the hell…." Kat muttered, holding out the word for several seconds as she got out of bed and slipped her robe over her nightgown. Tying the belt in a loose knot, she led the way to the hall bath.

Bathed in the warm glow of a small Strawberry Shortcake lamp sitting on the vanity, Reese waited patiently as her older sister cleaned her face and tended to her nose.

"It's not broken," Kat informed her. "But it looks like you're gonna have a black eye, so," Kat opened the large (forbidden to Reese) make-up drawer and removed a few compacts of foundation. "Try not to get your face wet or cry unless you want Dad asking questions – which – to be absolutely clear – we do not want Dad to know about this. Got it?"

"Got it," Reese answered as Kat patted a thick layer of powder under both of her eyes.

When Kat finished, she stopped and looked at her sister's face. "Better, but now you need some definition in those cheeks."

It was hard for Reese not to smile as her sister filled the counter with assorted blush, eyeshadow, mascara and lipstick. Kat only liked about 5 things in life – and Reese was not one of those things – but make-up was. Yes, Kat loved make-up and so when she was done with Reese, she turned to the mirror and began her own beauty routine.

Reese just sat there watching her, staying quiet so Kat would not ask her to leave.

It was as Kat, plugged in the curling iron to start her hair, that she finally remembered what had started this whole process in the first place.

"So you had another vision, huh?"

"Mmmhmm," Reese answered. "It scared me."

"Are you sure it was a vision and not a nightmare?"

"It was a vision."

"How do you know?"

"Because I just… know."

"But how do you know?"

"I don't know…. I just know…and I know that he's coming."

"What does he look like? Is he hot?"

"No," Reese frowned. "He has these pointy teeth. I think he's a vampire."

"A vampire?" Kat's chuckled. "Reese, have you been watching Dark Shadows again?"

"No! He's a real vampire," Reese became defensive. "And he can fly…."

"Maybe he's Peter Pan," Kat was laughing harder now.

"He's not Peter Pan!" Reese raised her voice. "He's mean and evil and going to murder someone."

Reese watched Kat put down her brush with a smack against the counter top. "You can't go around making up stupid stories every time you get scared."

"I'm not making it up!" Reese insisted as she balled her fists angrily. "He'll be here before sunrise," she continued, "so you better hide or …."

"Sunrise? Oh no! That's twenty minutes away," Kat said in mock-disbelief as she glanced up at the clock hanging on the wall. "Thanks for the warning. I better go get my stake and…."

But Reese was already a step out the door.

Kat chuckled to herself as her sister childishly stomped her feet all the way to her room. When the door was closed (Reese knew better than to slam a door while their father was sleeping) Kat, returned to her hair and began to tease the top section.

She thought it was a little strange that Reese had chosen to wake her up so frantically, instead of the usual whimper that she had a bad dream and begging to sleep in Kat's bed. It was also a worth noting that Reese did not often share her visions however the ones she did mention all seemed to come true. So if a vampire was going to show up at their door at sunrise, he was either 1. Suicidal or 2. Stupid or the most likely option 3. Hungry

Either way, Kat felt obligated to at the very least check out the front porch. After a blast of AquaNet Super hold, she unplugged the curling iron, left it on the vanity along with her very large cosmetics collection and went back to her bedroom. Kat slipped out of her nightgown and into jean cut off shorts and a cropped Metallica concert tee.

She removed a secret backpack that she kept hidden in the depths of her closet. Sifting through packs of cigarettes, her most prized cassette tapes and a few wads of cash, she retrieved a small switchblade. It wasn't exactly a wooden stake, but it would have to do. Glancing at her reflection in the mirror, she practiced her scowl. No need to greet a vampire with a smile. She went back down the hall, stopping at Reese's bedroom. Without knocking she opened the door a few inches and whispered into the room. "Go unplug Dad's alarm clock. Make sure he doesn't wake up until I…," there was a pause as Kat winked at her sister, "…take out the vampire."

"You're going to what!? Kat! NO!" Reese jumped to her feet but by the time she got to the door, Kat had already disappeared down the stairs.

~~~0~~~

Twenty miles outside of the city limits, the bike's engine sputtered. There was a loud bang, and David barely had time to pull off the highway before it completely died. Over a thousand miles in less than eight hours was more than his chopped Yamaha XT could take.

Tossing it into the brush, he left behind the last reminder of his days in Santa Carla.

David took to the sky, gliding over the side streets of the affluent suburban Tacoma neighborhood. He couldn't remember the exact address, but he could never forget what the house looked like.

It stood at the top of a hill surrounded by a high wrought iron fence with matching gate. Compared to the other mansions on the block it was a fortress impenetrable to the average passerby but not a vampire. He glanced over his shoulder noting that sun was just about to rise.

Dropping to the ground, under the cover of a large tree he strode confidently across the street, scaling the 10 foot tall wrought iron fence. Following the driveway he turned when he passed the gardens and made his way to the covered porch. He was about to ring the doorbell when he sensed someone there.

Turning ever so slowly toward the creak of the porch swing, he stopped and took a long look, barely recognizing her. She was much older than the last time he saw her.

He hoped she was more powerful as well.

She had one leg down on the floor giving the swing a little momentum, the other leg tucked underneath her. Her hair, once a dull caramel was now bleached blonde and teased at least six inches off her face in all directions. Her look was complete with a concert tee and ripped jean shorts.

"It's rude to show up without calling first," she informed him as she sipped something out of a large coffee mug. "But you never did have any manners."

"How is it rude if you were expecting me?" he countered, taking a few steps toward her before sitting on the railing. "Or were you expecting someone else?"

"Hoping for someone else," she sighed, getting up from the swing. As she walked by, she gave him a deliberate once over with her eyes. "Rough night?"

"You have no idea."

"Sucks when your dinner fights back, huh?"

David followed behind her as she opened the door and went inside.

"I'd invite you in but… then I remembered how you left me here with HIM," she stated shutting the door in the vampire's face.

David knocked on the door and waited.

The door remained closed.

He knocked a little harder.

Still no answer.

The first rays of sunlight were beginning to dance over the freshly landscaped lawn. David cursed under his breath. The seconds ticked away and the light crept closer.

David pushed in the doorbell and held it down.

Instantly the door flew open.

"What the hell are you doing?" she hissed. "Do you want him to know you are here?"

"FRANK!" David yelled into the house.

"Asshole!" Kat snapped at him as she jumped out onto the porch and shut the door behind her.

"Frank's not as scary as you think he is."

"You really have no idea do you? You bring me here and then take off and I don't see you again for ten fucking years! I've been living in hell!"

"Hell? You call this hell?" David grabbed her by the back of her neck like he did when she was small, forcing her down the porch steps and around the side of the house.

"Let go!" she ordered, punching him.

He ignored her, dragging her along the path made of paver stones. "Tell me, Katherine, is hell landscaped? Does it have an in-ground pool with a summer cottage? What about fountains? Does hell have fountains?" he asked listing the property's key features.

Then he felt it, a sharp pain in his right thigh. He pushed her away with so much force that she not only hit the ground but somersaulted backward.

Looking down he could hardly believe his eyes. A tiny pocketknife was sticking out of his leg.

The little witch had stabbed him.

Yanking the blade from his leg, he threw it downward. Smiling with satisfaction as it stuck in the ground less than a millimeter from her left hand. Reaching across her body she pulled the knife out of the ground and began to run.

"Don't start what you can't finish, little girl."

He chased her through the yard, observing her slow and somewhat clumsy attempts at evasion.

Why isn't she using magic? He thought to himself. Witches relied on their powers not physical agility to defend themselves.

He glanced up at the clouds overhead as the sun was on the brink of peeking through.

She'd run into the cottage and locked the door behind her, a most ineffective way to protect oneself from a creature of the night.

David merely forced the door open, the frame splintered under the force. Upon his entry a barrage of objects were thrown his way, a large pink inner tube, a pair of googles, and several beach towels.

Then a bucket. Followed by sea shells.

When he had her cornered, she swatted at him with the pool skimmer.

He heard himself laughing out loud as he caught the pole one handed and tore it from her grasp.

"Why don't you give me a real challenge?" he taunted.

"Why don't you go fuck yourself!" A large chlorine tablet was hurled in the general vicinity of his head, but missed by a wide margin.

But his smile faded as he noticed the sun's rays now shining through the large windows. As the light touched his hand, he felt the seething pain and had to throw himself on the ground and roll behind the bar. This was only a temporary solution as there was a large mirror hung on the adjacent wall reflecting the sunlight. He watched as it slowly moved past the shelves full of liquor and closer to him.

"Mary Katherine!"

"You broke the door!"

The sunlight touched the collection of expensive crystal brandy sniffers, sending a kaleidoscope of rays in every direction. David shielded his face with the tattered remains of his trench coat.

He heard her mumbling and then the scuffing sounds of her feet as she began to move about the room.

"Katherine!" he hissed again, fighting to cover his entire self beneath the leather of his coat.

"What!" she called out with irritation. "I have to get this mess cleaned up before my dad sees it."

Annoyed, David leaped out from his hiding place and into the direct light. His body began to smolder at the contact. Without hesitation he caught hold of Kat, pinning her beneath him.

"HELP ME!" he commanded.

"The garage," she stated. "No windows."

Keeping his hold of her, David made a break for the large structure on the other side of the house. Even with his supernatural speed, he could feel the flames ignite on his skin. By some stroke of luck, the door Kat chose was unlocked and rolled up easily. He raced inside ducking behind the brand new Lincoln Towncar as Kat pulled the door back down.

"Holy Shit! You're on fire!" she yelled, grabbing a flannel blanket and tossing it over him.

"What are you doing?" David hollered at her as she began to beat on the blanket. "Use your magic!"

"I. Don't. Know. How." With each word he felt her hitting him with a shovel.

"What do you mean you don't know how?" David was in the duck and cover position as she pounded on the blanket. The garage was filled with smoke and he could hear her coughing, then the garage door being raised. Before he could yell out at her to stop, she called to him that she needed some fresh air.

Then he waited a moment before daring to peer out from under the blanket. The garage was dark except for a sliver of light under the door.

He heard her coughing and knew she was just outside.

How could she not know how to put out a fire? Had she forgotten? Had she gotten too cozy in her privileged lifestyle?

Cramped by the front fender of the car he removed what was left of his coat – which wasn't much. His boots were charred along with his clothes. The scar glowed as the burns along his skin healed. David closed his eyes and leaned his head against the shelving.

He was vaguely aware that the rollers of the garage door creaked as she made her way back inside.

"Get up!" She kicked his leg. "You can't sleep there!"

David half opened his eyes.

"Up here. In the loft." There was a thud as she pulled down a ladder.

"For ONE day and tonight you go back to wherever you came from."

David didn't have the energy to argue. Forcing his limbs to move, he followed behind her as she led him up the ladder and through the maze of boxes.

"Don't think about coming down until I come back for you. I don't want my father to know you're here."

"Alright," David agreed as he curled up between a large plastic lawn Santa and his eight reindeer.

"I mean it," she continued moving boxes around until he was blocked in and hidden from sight. "Do not come out of here for any reason."

"Sure," David muttered as he drifted off not hearing anything else she said.

Kat climbed back down the stairs looking at the mess in the garage. "How the hell am I going to clean all this up?"

~~o~~

"He's in the garage?" Reese whispered to her sister over the breakfast table.

"More waffles?" their father interrupted setting a large plate down in front of his daughters.

The girls smiled innocently and Kat helped herself to another waffle. Reese stared down at her plate which was still very full.

"What was I supposed to do?" Kat replied as soon as their father stepped away again. "Invite him to stay in the guest room?"

Reese frowned. "What do we do now?"

"Get Dad to take you to the mall or the movies or something this afternoon. While you're gone I'll go up there and…"

"I have a surprise," Dad interrupted again as he pulled out a chair and joined them at the table.

"A surprise?" Reese grinned.

"Great," Kat muttered dumping syrup onto her waffle.

"Guess who got us front row tickets to the circus today?" Their father held up three tickets, fanned out like playing cards.

"The circus!" Reese squealed. "And front row tickets!" She leaped out of her chair and threw her arms around the portly man. "I love you Daddy!"

"What about you, Kat?" He waved the tickets closer to her. "It's fun for all ages."

"I have plans," Kat said quickly. "Sorry."

"Maybe just you and I could go," Reese said to her father with a hopeful smile. "I really want to see the trapeze…."

"What kind of plans?" Dad asked as he turned to the elder daughter.

"Doing stuff with friends," Kat kept her attention on her breakfast.

"Friends? Kat, you don't have any friends."

"That's not true," Reese defended her sister. "Melissa is…"

"Melissa lives in New York."

"Okay fine," Kat dropped her fork on her plate. "The truth is I have a date."

"A date?"

"Yeah, a date. I didn't want to tell you because I know how you get when I have a boyfriend."

"Kat," her father rubbed his brow. "The derelicts you bring home aren't boyfriends. They're pathetic excuses for…"

"Just because they're not like you…"

"You're going to the circus today and that's final."

"I'm not going to the stupid circus!" Kat's voice quivered with anger. She stood up so hastily her chair fell backwards, smacking the linoleum floor with a loud clunking sound.

"Katherine!"

"God damn it, Dad, I'm twenty years old!"

"As long as you live under this roof you will show me respect."

"Maybe it's time for me to move out."

"Nooooo," Reese wailed. "Stop fighting. Please." The dark haired girl grabbed her father's arm. "We can still go to the circus, Daddy just us." Reese looked at her sister pleadingly but Kat was already storming out of the room.

"Reese, finish your breakfast," her father said as he left the room through the opposite door.

As she started down into the sea of syrup on her plate, Reese started to cry. She's seen this moment too many times in her visions. The young witch knew that once her sister left home she'd never return alive.

~~ o ~~

David slept the entire day. As the sun was setting the unrest grew inside him. He wanted to go out into the night. He wanted to feed, but it was more important to finish his conversation with Mary Katherine. He needed to know how much power she had. Magic was an integral part of his plans for revenge.

It was close to midnight when he heard someone entering the garage.

"Hey Asshole," she whispered loudly. "Are you still here?"

He heard a creak as she pulled down the stairs. Then the thud of her footsteps and she began to climb. Boxes shuffled as she began to clear a path.

David inhaled once than twice. The flavor of the air was a mixture of roasted peanuts, cotton candy and elephant dung. "Why do you smell like the circus?"

"Don't ask," Kat scowled as pushed the heaviest of boxes to the side. Once the way was cleared she backed down the stairs. "You're free to go," she told him as she picked up a gym bag. Throwing it over her shoulder she began to walk away.

"Slumber Party?" He followed her out of the garage and down the long driveway.

"How cliché," Kat replied as she went through a side gate toward the street where a Taxi was waiting.

"Going somewhere?" he called after her.

She tossed the bag into the backseat not bothering to answer him. The witch got in the car and as she placed her hand on armrest to pull the door closed, David placed his hand on the frame holding the door in place.

"Seriously, where are you going?" he asked. "We need to talk."

"I'm going to see my boyfriend. He's in a band. I'll probably be out all night. So don't wait up…. DAD."

It was as she emphasized that last word, she somehow managed to slam the door closed. Then the taxi disappeared down the street.

David stood there for a moment, mulling over the idea of following her. A night out at bar with a band might not be a bad way to spend the evening, too bad he was so hungry. He decided dinner before the show was the better choice. David looked up at the sky as he took flight.

It was time to feed.