Chapter 12

Lisa glanced across the hospitality suite to where Jennie was talking to Jimin. Jennie was easy to find in her sunny yellow skirt and matching jacket, aglow with life and vitality, smiling, her face animated, her hands moving as she talked and laughed. She was beautiful. Just looking at her caused an ache in Lisa's chest. Although it could be indigestion, she thought, recalling the greasy breakfast she'd eaten that morning.

Jennie had been terribly quiet with her since they'd returned to the suite last night to find the box from Jeongyeon. She hadn't even followed her into her room to see for sure what the box held, but had merely handed her the backpack with the six bags of stolen blood, murmured good night and slipped into her room. Which had turned the night flat for Lisa.

She'd unpacked the box in her room and stored all the blood from their adventure as well as from Jeongyeon in the mini fridge. she'd had to remove everything from the fridge to do so. she'd stacked the cans of pop, the little bottles of alcohol and the snacks on the dresser, and then had wandered to the living room and dropped onto the couch to watch TV with Taehyung for a while, hoping Jennie would reappear. She hadn't.

The temptation to go to her had been strong. With her need for blood satisfied, Lisa had found other cravings bothering her top among them to just be in Jennie's presence. Her company somehow made her feel lighter, younger. As if she hadn't existed six hundred years and become weary of living. The woman was playing havoc on her psyche.

After watching a bad vampire movie dear God, why was the vampire always the villain?Lisa had left Taehyung and gone to bed. she'd awoken early, consumed a couple more bags of blood, put the Do Not Disturb signs on both her door to the hall and the one leading into the living area of the suite so that the cleaning lady wouldn't find her blood in the fridge and pitch a fit then had joined Jennie and Taehyung to head out for breakfast.

The three of them had eaten in the main dining room, joined by a handful of other YG authors. Lisa hadn't said much at the meal, just listened with interest as Jennie and Taehyung talked to the others. It was then that she'd realized how much of their time she was monopolizing. They were babysitting her as if she were a child. She'd almost felt shame.

Her pride had made itself known, then, and when they'd all moved on to the hospitality suite, Lisa had insisted that Jennie circulate and talk to her other writers, telling her she could take care of herself. She'd appeared torn, but at last had given in to the need to spend time with as many authors as she could. She glanced her way often, stopping by occasionally to make sure she was all right, but she had spent the better part of the morning circulating the room, talking and laughing, reassuring and praising.

Taehyung, too, had gone about his business, tending to his own authors, leaving Lisa to sit with the writers with whom they'd breakfasted. Lisa had spent the morning mostly listening, only commenting once in a while. These were nice women, interesting and creative, and they had included her in their circle without question. But they also tended to act a touch protective toward her, helping her handle her never-ending droves of fans.

She appreciated their assistance, but Lisa was starting to get something of a complex. Why did everyone think she needed protecting? They acted like she was fragile and she shuddered sensitive. Lisa was the least sensitive woman she knew. Why, in her youth she'd been a warrior, thinking nothing of hacking men down with her sword. When pistols had been invented, she'd fought countless duels, shooting men dead, then riding to her club for breakfast. she could take care of herself. But Jennie and the others didn't seem to realize that. Though she had left her side, Jennie still watched her as protectively as a mother bird watching her chick make its first shaky flight. she had no doubt that, should she deem her in need, she'd be at her side at once.

Jennie happened to glance her way just as she had that thought, so Lisa glared at her for thinking so little of her.

"Jennie's a beautiful woman," Wendy said softly by Lisa's ear. "She's also very sweet and giving. Many of her writers would be quite upset if someone were to hurt her. And that includes me."

Lisa turned to the writer in surprise. Wendy had been at her side through breakfast, and she had remained there once they'd reached the hospitality suite. Fifty years old, but with the vitality of a much younger woman, Wendy was one of YG Publishing's top authors. She'd built her career the hard way, increasing her readership book by book rather than making a sudden splash, and she'd built it to the point where her last five books had hit the New York Times bestseller list. Perhaps it wasn't surprising then that, as well as being attractive, she was also confident and interesting. Less obvious, but something Lisa had quickly discerned, was that she was also terribly kind though right now she sounded like a mama bear warning a predator off her baby. Lisa liked that. At last, here was someone who did not see her as helpless, but as a possible danger. If only emotionally.

"I would never hurt Jennie," she assured the woman feeling fond of her. She liked intelligent women.

Wendy nodded slowly. "I hope not, Lisa, because I like you."

"I gather you write historical romances, Wendy?"

"Yes. And I have all of your historical texts to help me with the research. You're much younger than I expected. I should have realized, though. Your books aren't like most dusty old histories. You bring other eras to life. Your books make research a pleasure."

Lisa felt her mouth twist again in a pleased grin. It felt odd. she wasn't used to smiling so much. She had only started to do so since the advent of Jennie in her life. But she thought she could get used to it.

Aware that the flood of fans in the hospitality suite had died down, Lisa relaxed a little and began to discuss history with her new friend. Soon the whole group of YG writers had joined in.

"It's grown a bit quiet."

Jennie nodded as Taehyung appeared at her side. It had been a long but productive morning. Jennie was pretty sure she had managed to have a word with every single one of her writers in attendance at the conference. She was ready for a break.

"It's lunchtime," she pointed out. "Everyone is probably eating. It will pick up again in a little while."

"Maybe we should collect Lisa and go grab some lunch, too," Taehyung suggested.

"Good idea." Jennie turned to find Lisa, and saw her deep in conversation with Wendy.

"She sure is loosening up now that's she's feeling better," Taehyung whispered as they walked across the room. "She isn't as difficult as Edwin always said. Either that, or you've had a good influence on her."

Jennie gave a dry laugh. "More likely that the night out you two enjoyed that first night loosened her up."

Taehyung laughed. "I couldn't believe she had never watched television. She has a good sense of humor under all that stuffy proper Korean personality. I like her."

"So do I," Jennie responded automatically, suddenly realizing it was true. She did like Lisa. She wasn't sure why, but she did. And it wasn't just her kisses or her importance to her career. She pondered why she liked her as they reached the group of debating writers, and waited for the appropriate moment to let their presence be known.

Lisa had been rude and surly when she'd first arrived on her doorstep, but not rude enough to push her out of her home and send her on her way. Which she'd had every right to do. She'd allowed her to drag her out shopping, followed her uncomplainingly around the grocery store, and eaten her cooking. She had been difficult about those letters, but Jennie now understood it hadn't been deliberate.

She recalled reading the letter from the reader asking if Lisa would turn her into a vampire, and Lisa's abrupt "no." Then she recalled the letter from the reader who had fallen in love with Seulgi, and Lisa's response: "She's taken." At the time, she had thought she was being deliberately difficult, but now it all seemed clear. She almost laughed aloud, though she'd been ready to shriek at her then.

Lisa was an honest woman, a woman of her word. She'd promised to do R.T. and, despite being tricked into thinking it was just an interview, had stuck to her word. She was now attending a conference she knew nothing on earth would have dragged her to if she hadn't givenher word. she was a woman of honor. she was also very caring and chivalrous. Just look at how she had refused to bite her and cause her pain when she'd been in such need.

Of course, she was beginning to suspect she had a wicked sense of humor beneath her proper facade and all that surliness. Sometimes she caught a glint in her eye usually when she was being most obtuse that made her think she was deliberately working her up.

"Oh, hello."

Jennie pulled herself from her thoughts and smiled as Wendy greeted her.

"We were thinking of slipping out for lunch while it's slow," Taehyung said. "Any takers?"

The writers were all on their feet at once, grabbing their stuff. It seemed everyone was ready for a break. Jennie smiled at Lisa, who moved to her side and took her arm. The action felt proprietary, almost possessive, but Jennie suspected it was just her upbringing. Her natural chivalry.

Someone suggested leaving the hotel and getting away from the conference atmosphere for a bit, but Jennie felt concern about the sun's effect on Lisa. Seeming to sense her worry, Lisa glowered at her. she muttered that she'd be fine; she had her "medicine."

"What medicine?" Wendy asked.

"Lisa has something of an allergy to the sun," Jennie explained reluctantly. Then she rushed on to add, "But she has some er medicine upstairs, so I'm sure she'll be fine. We can find a restaurant nearby if you guys want."

"No. There's no sense dragging her around while we find someplace. Wouldn't want to make her sick. We haven't eaten in the hotel pub yet. We can try that," Wendy suggested. The other women agreed.

As they made their way down, the other authors began teasing Lisa, commenting that she wrote vampire romances and was allergic to the sun. "Hmm. Perhaps we should watch our necks," Wendy joked.

Jennie was horrified. What had she started? She grew quite tense and anxious at the teasing, but Lisa seemed to take it in stride. Eventually, the conversation moved on to other subjects. They reached the pub and were seated.

Lunch was delicious, the company adding to the experience. When they finished, everyone seemed reluctant to leave, so Jennie decided a little fun wouldn't go amiss before she herded them all back to the hospitality suite. "Maybe we should check out the other events taking place, here," she suggested.

Wendy pulled out her conference agenda and read the options. There were educational programs for writers, a cooking demonstration called "Cooking with Love," psychic and astrological readings, and dance lessons.

Two of the authors wanted to check out the writers' programs, but they promised they'd drop back into the hospitality suite later. Two more left for the cooking demonstration with the same promise. One wanted to take dance lessons and dragged a groaning Taehyung off to that. Which left Wendy, Jennie and Lisa.

"Well, that leaves the psychic reading and astrology," Jodi announced, folding her agenda and slipping it back in her purse.

"Sounds fun." Jennie pushed back her chair to rise. She happened to glance at Lisa, and was surprised to see her looking uncertain. Wendy noticed as well.

"What's the matter, Lisa? Scared the psychic will see something bad in your future," the writer teased.

Lisa grimaced. "Or in my past."

She had spoken in her usual surly tone, but there was a teasing glint in her eyes Jennie found she was beginning to recognize. Wendy apparently recognized it, too, because she laughed. Still, Jennie wondered. Lisa had a long past. Six hundred years. That was a lot of time. She found herself wondering about all the years she'd lived. Had she ever loved someone? Been married? Had children? she was single now at least she seemed to be. Dear God, she wasn't even sure about that. She might have a wife. She might have kids. She might

"So, how have you managed to avoid marriage so long, Lisa? Or are you married?" Wendy asked, as if she'd been reading Jennie's thoughts. The woman had always had a way of doing that, which made Jennie a tad nervous. Perhaps the writer had a touch of psychic ability. Heck, she might even be a mind reader, and know that Lisa was opening Jennie's mind to all sorts of possibilities she would have laughed at before. Jennie decided she would guard her thoughts around the woman from now on just to be sure.

"And how old are you, anyway?" the author continued. "Thirty-five or so?" .

Jennie watched Lisa's mouth quirk in a rare crooked smile.

"Or so," she answered. "And no, I've never been married."

"Why not?" Jodi apparently had no problem in being nosy. Much to Jennie's amazement, Lisa seemed more amused by the question than annoyed. It seemed Taehyung was right. Lisa was loosening up.

"Who would have me?" she asked lightly. There was a wicked glint in her eye.

Wendy glanced at Jennie then, and Jennie felt herself flush. Had the woman picked up on her attraction to Lisa? Dear God, she really had to be more careful.

"Here we are," she announced with determined cheer. Ahead was the sign to the room with the psychic and astrological readings.

A number of small tables were distributed around the room. Each table was assigned to a psychic or astrologer, their signs and paraphernalia set up around them. There was only one chair at each table besides that of the reader. One client at a time, thank you. There were also tables where one could buy crystals and such. It was rather like a psychic fair.

"I'm going to have my astrological chart done," Wendy announced. "Then I'm going to have an astrology reading, too. And a psychic one." The writer's brown eyes were shining. She was obviously excited.

Jennie had never been to a psychic in her life, and she didn't have a clue where to start. One glance at Lisa showed her looking bored, so Jennie nodded at Wendy and smiled.

"You're a very young soul, light and bursting with love and enthusiasm to experience all the world has to offer."

Lisa remained silent as the supposed psychic batted her eyelashes at her, but Jennie snorted with derision behind her. The psychic stopped fluttering over her hand long enough to glare at her, then went on, "You have lived many, many lives."

Jennie snorted again. "When has she had time?"

"I beg your pardon?" The psychic sneered up at her.

"I thought she was a young soul," Jennie pointed out. "How can she be a young soul who has lived many lives?" She touched Lisa's arm. "Come on. This is a waste of money."

Lisa was on her feet at once, ushering her and Wendy away under the psychic's baleful gaze. She was steering them toward the exit when Wendy stopped, forcing Jennie and Lisa to stop as well.

"No, wait. I want a reading from her." The author pointed toward a table where a white-haired lady sat alone, without a line like at the other tables. Jennie supposed it was the lack of a flashy display that had made her less popular. The rest of the psychics wore bright clothes and had dramatic signs and flashy tablecloths; this woman hadn't bothered with a tablecloth, and wore a beige outfit guaranteed to fade in a crowd, and a plain sign.

"Her?" Jennie asked doubtfully. The woman didn't look very successful, if she did look serene.

"Real talent doesn't bother with flash," Wendy said. They all walked over.

Jennie and Lisa watched solemnly as the woman took Wendy's hand. She said Wendy was a writer which Jennie didn't think was hard to work out, since this was a writing conference. It was a fifty-fifty chance that Wendy was either a writer or a reader. The woman next said she was quite successful at it, which wasn't that big of a revelation either. She might have recognized Wendy's picture from the back of her books.

The next statement surprised Jennie. The reader said Wendy was still suffering from a painful loss she had endured some time ago, the loss of her soul mate. Jennie felt the hair on the back of her neck prickle. It wasn't common knowledge, but Wendy's husband had died four years earlier, a year before she'd been published. Jennie also knew Wendy still wept for him. She claimed he had been her one true love.

The psychic rubbed Wendy's hand soothingly and told her that her love was there with them now, and that she was always nearby. But she also said she wanted Wendy to continue living. Someone would come into her life soon, and while she wouldn't be a soul mate as her first love had been, she would be Wendy's dear friend, lover and companion for the rest of her days and the psychic said Wendy's first love wished for it to be so.

Wendy's eyes glazed with tears. She stood and turned to Jennie and Lisa. Jennie was trying to think of something to say to lift the mood, when Lisa suddenly commented, "So, looks like you'll get laid before you die after all."

Jennie turned a horrified gaze on her. She had never heard the woman speak so crudely. She'd never even heard her use such modern terms. She turned to Wendy in shock, but the author just burst out in peals of tinkling laughter.

"Yes, it does. Isn't that nice?" Wendy sighed and touched Lisa's arm. Then she explained to Jennie, "The women were talking about sex, of course, when it got slow back in the hospitality suite. Beth was bemoaning the fact that her characters had better sex than she did, and I snorted and said that at least she was getting some, I doubted I ever would again before I died. But now it sounds as though I shall!"

She smiled at Lisa, then urged her toward the chair. "Your turn, my friend. I want to hear what she has to say about you."

Jennie watched the older woman badger Lisa into sitting. For a moment, she felt a touch of discomfort. It was obvious that the pair had developed something of a friendship this morning, and Jennie was ashamed to realize that what she felt was jealousy. Shrugging off the petty feelings, she turned her attention to the psychic, who had claimed Lisa's hand and was now running her fingers lightly over it. Her eyes were closed in concentration.

"You're very old," the woman said in hushed tones. She blinked her eyes open to look at her beautiful young face, frowned in confusion, then closed them again. "It's your soul that must be old," she corrected. "Very old. You have had many loves."

Jennie felt something tighten in her chest before the woman corrected herself again: "No, not loves. Lovers. You have had many. Many, many," she added, sounding surprised again. Then she blinked her eyes open to ask with some vexation, "When have you had time to sleep?"

Jennie's lips twitched. She supposed Lisa had been with many women. She was a healthy female of over six hundred years. Even if she'd only had one lover per year, it meant six hundred. If she'd had more than three a year the mind boggled. In dismay, she decided she would have to ask her if vampires could get and pass on STD's. She hoped not, but really, it was something she needed to know.

"You had begun to weary of life," the psychic went on, grabbing Jennie's attention. "It all seemed so hard, and the cruelties of man had begun to wear you down. But something no, not something, but someone someone has reinvigorated you. Made you feel it might be worth living again. That there is still joy to be had."

Jennie's tongue seemed stuck to the roof of her mouth. Someone? Who? Some secret part of her hoped it was she. At the same time, the idea terrified her. She was attracted to Lisa. She had even come to like and respect her, but

"Hold on to her." The woman was staring deeply into Lisa's eyes, "You will have to fight for her, but not in the way you are used to. Weapons and physical strength will do you no good in this battle. It is your own pride and fear you will have to fight. If you fail, your heart will shrivel in your chest, and you will die a lonely, bitter old woman, regretting what you didn't do."

Lisa jerked her hand free, then stood and walked away. Jennie turned to follow, but the psychic suddenly latched onto her hand. "Wait. Your woman will be all right for a minute."

Jennie stiffened. "She isn't my woman."

The psychic's expression suggested that Jennie wasn't fooling anyone. The woman said, "she is special, your woman. But to be with her you will have to make a choice. You will have to give up all. If you have the courage, everything you ever wanted will be yours. If not" She shrugged and released Jennie's hand. "Now go to your woman. Only you can calm her."

Jennie hurried after Lisa, aware that Wendy was on her heels. The skin of her wrist still tingled where the psychic had touched her, prickled as if she had been shocked. Jennie rubbed it absently, her thoughts scattered. She would have to give up all, but would gain everything she ever wanted? How was that even possible? She shrugged the concern away as she rushed out of the room and spotted Lisa disappearing around a corner.

By the time the two women had caught up with her in the YG Publishing hospitality suite, Lisa was seated at a table, surrounded by fans.

Jisoo was gesturing for Jennie to join them across the room. Jennie glanced uncertainly from her boss to Lisa.

"I'll see if Lisa's okay. You go see what your boss wants," Wendy suggested, giving her a push toward the head editor. "We haven't much longer here, anyway. They're closing up early to allow everyone time to prepare for the Renaissance costume ball and banquet."

Oh, yes, Jennie thought as she moved toward her boss. Tonight was the costume ball.

Lisa nodded solemnly as the reader she had been speaking to stood and went to speak with Wendy. she was becoming used to talking to readers. she had tried her best not to at first, but Jennie's lecture in her home kept popping into her mind how, without them, she wouldn't be published. That she touched their lives, and that they only wished to tell her so. She'd learned to respond in somewhat of a pleasant manner to the embarrassing compliments they gave, but had found that with this little effort the readers opened further to her. They told her things, gave her parts of themselves she didn't know how to handle.

One woman had told her she'd just lost her young son, that life seemed bleak and endlessly cruel to her but that she'd found escape and hope in her books. Perhaps life would be good again someday. Then she had forced a laugh and told her she only wished that vampirism were true, that if she had believed in it, she would have searched the earth for a vampire to save her child.

Lisa had ached for the woman. She'd felt her pain reaching out to her and seeping into her body. She knew it was wrong, but she hadn't been able to let her just walk away. She'd slipped inside her mind and not removed her pain, but veiled it somewhat, easing it for her so that the good memories were stronger than the bad. She'd walked away smiling.

She had met many wounded people today. Once she'd opened to them, she couldn't seem to close them out. But she had met many people who were just fine, too. she had found the whole experience interesting, to say the least. she had written her books for purely selfish reasons, to record the truth. But now she saw that the books were touching the lives of many others. It made her want to try her hand at genuine fiction, something she had never considered. She had started her life as a warrior. After a hundred years of that, she'd been something of a rakehell. When she had tired of that, she had donned a scholarly persona and buried herself in history. Perhaps it was time to turn to more creative pursuits. But would she be good at it?

"Okay. Time to go." Jennie suddenly appeared at her side. "Jisoo is closing the hospitality suite early so everyone has plenty of time to prepare for the Renaissance ball."

Lis breathed a sigh of relief. The other writers seemed to echo it. While it was rewarding to speak to readers, it was also wearying. Lisa was surprised at how exhausted she felt.

As she walked with Jennie to the elevator, she reminded herself to definitely remember to feed before the ball. It was imperative. Which brought her thoughts around to the matter of the ball. A Renaissance ball.

Well, she had very fond memories of that period. For that reason, Lisa was sure the night's ball would be fun.