Yuko ran the white cloth across the top of the picture and glanced at it.

  Clean.

  “So,” Eve continued, her hands on her waist. “Why are you cleaning again?”

  Yuko turned to consider her friend and sighed. “If I have nothing to do, my mind runs scenarios about what might happen should Michael arrive and it isn’t perfect.”

  “You think he will care about dust on top of a picture frame?” Eve asked.

  “No… Yes…” Yuko blew out a breath of air. “Eve, how long have we been waiting for him?”

  “Exactly—” Eve started.

  “Stop!” Yuko put up a hand. “That was meant to be rhetorical, not a request for exact information. I have no need to be reminded of how old I am.”

  “Which is why we celebrate your twenty-sixth birthday each year.”

  “Yes, that was a good year,” Yuko admitted.

  “What was his name?”

  Yuko eyed the AI. “You know what his name was, but you are fishing for Akio’s name for him.”

  “Available,” the AI answered.

  “Sometimes, for a wonderful friend you can be such a bitch.” Yuko huffed and started towards the living quarters.

  “Perhaps,” Eve said. But you aren’t thinking about Michael arriving right now, are you?

  Antigrav Ship ArchAngel

  Jacqueline grabbed Mark’s hand and held on tight as she shielded her eyes from the constant barrage of searing light.

  “Stop it, Michael” she yelled for what had to be the hundredth time. She cried out in frustration and gave up, rolling into the crook of Mark’s arm. She sobbed into his chest. “He’s going to die!”

  Mark couldn’t see anything just then, his irises were regenerating after he made the mistake of trying to watch what was happening without eye protection. With one hand clamped on the pirates’ skiff and the other arm holding Jacqueline, he had nothing left to cover the brightness.

  Then his curiosity got the better of him, and he tried to blink quickly to catch just a small glimpse of what the Pinnacle of Vampires was doing. It burned his eyes out in a flash… literally.

  He sure hoped nothing happened to the ship in the next few moments while his eyes healed.

  Mark wasn’t sure if Michael would truly be killed, but he sincerely doubted it. Michael had yet to seem impulsive. Mad, angry, irritated, short of temper, impatient, infuriating, incensed, enraged and occasionally annoyed.

  But never impulsive.

  “He’s just having a good time,” Mark yelled back to Jacqueline, hoping he got close to where her ear was. Moments later he could see her outline, and he smiled.

  An outline was better than sheer white.

  “Well, for having a good time, he’s scaring the hell out of me!” she snapped back.

  “C’mon Jacqueline, it isn’t every day you get to be in the center of a storm,” Mark replied, his voice calming as he realized that the claps of thunder and other sounds resulting from Michael’s struggle had dropped off. He looked around, his mouth opening when he saw huge gaps in the clouds and swaths of blue showing everywhere.

  Mark saw Michael with his arms crossed like he was daring someone to do something. Mark smiled as he turned to see who Michael was looking at, and his smile faded.

  He nudged Jacqueline. “You need to turn around, J,” Mark urged. “We got more company.”

  “What?” Jacqueline turned to see what Mark was talking about, the ringing in her ears annoying the shit out of her as they healed.

  That’s when her mouth dropped open as well. “Mark, why is there a black spaceship facing off with Michael?”

  “Fuck if I know,” Mark whispered. “But as badass as that ship looks, I’m still going with Team Michael.”

  Jacqueline nodded, not noticing her subconscious effort to keep her body pressed against Mark’s.

  Akio, long time, Michael sent.

  Hai, Akio replied.

  Is there something you need at the moment, or are you just planning on hanging out there off the side of the ship? More to the point, where is Bethany Anne?

  She took the fight to the Kurtherians.

  Michael pursed his lips. How long?

  Over one hundred and fifty years ago, My Lord.

  Michael raised an eyebrow. My Lord?

  Akio’s smirked for a moment. It seemed appropriate, considering all of the power I just registered inbound to this ship. It doesn’t look damaged, though.

  Michael saw that the vampire and the werewolf were still clutching each other. “This is Akio, one of the Queen’s Bitches.” Michael walked towards the skiff they weren’t holding onto. He yanked up the canopy, looked at the controls, and reached in to flip one of the switches.

  Nothing.

  He grimaced and looked a second time. He moved two switches to the left and pulled up on the red one as well, and felt the small magnetic connectors disconnect from the decking.

  Michael called, “Mark, Jacqueline, come here!”

  They pulled away from each other and jogged over to where Michael was squatting beside the small ship. He pointed Mark to the back and Jacqueline to the front.

  “On three,” Michael told them. Both reached to grab a portion of the ship, then Michael spoke.

  “Three!”

  The three nanocyte-modified humans tossed the little ship into the air, easily missing the larger airship as they heaved it off the deck.

  Mark watched it tumble out of sight. “Sure hope we don’t need that.”

  Akio, come, Michael sent as he turned to the other two. “Akio needs to land, so let’s move away from this part of the deck.”

  “Akio?” Mark asked.

  “The Dark One?” Jacqueline demanded.

  Michael raised an eyebrow at Jacqueline as she watched the silent ship turn in the air as it worked to settle on the deck.

  Jacqueline and Mark carefully didn’t ask Michael how much it hurt for half of his face to be regenerating. She could see the white of bone on his skull and along the left side of his jaw as he talked.

  Whatever Michael had just done, she imagined a large part of his body was being rebuilt, she for one was glad he hadn’t been killed.

  But God, it just had to have hurt.

  “Captain,” his first mate whispered as those on the bridge stood transfixed, watching the umpteenth strange occurrence in the last week float about the height of a man above the deck.

  Captain Miles O’Banion turned to look at the screen, then glanced through the port window to see how the clouds were dispersing.

  “Just consider it par for the course,” he answered.

  “What?” The first mate turned to see the captain gazing out the window. “No sir, look at the batteries, sir.”

  Miles looked over to his right and raised his eyebrows in surprise. The banks of batteries were both in the green.

  Miles reached over and hit the call switch. “Engineering?”

  “Aye sir,” the male voice answered. “I thought you might be calling.”

  “I am,” Miles replied. “The readout up here says we have enough power to make it to Europe.”

  “We do, Captain.”

  “Thank you.” Miles let go of the switch, then bent to press it again and asked, “How are those two we sent you working out?”

  It took a moment before his answer came back. “I’m not sure how you got ‘em, but I aim to keep ‘em so keep your captain hands off of ‘em, okay?”

  Miles smiled. “I’ll take that under advisement.”

  He released the call button and started towards the hatch. “I’ll be back. I’ve got to see this up close.”

  Michael waited patiently as the sleek black Pod kept pace with the antigrav ship and landed on the deck. He smirked to himself.

  He could feel the muscles in his jaw knit back together as he waited for Akio to exit the Pod.

  Jacqueline was having a hard time not staring at Michael’s body in fascination, and Mark was busy examining the black ship.

  Mark had a choice between watching a human rebuilding himself from the atoms of the Universe, a hot girl standing right next to him, or a black ship with weapons. He chose the ship.

  He was a geek for sure.

  Michael’s face was completely healed by the time Akio jumped out of his ship, walked over and then bowed to him. Michael returned the gesture. He noticed Mark bowing too, and elbowing Jacqueline to follow suit.

  “Akio,” Michael said.

  “My liege,” Akio replied, gaining a smile from Michael.

  “Still trying to figure out how to address me?” Michael asked the younger man as he turned to point to the two youngsters. “The one focused on the ship is Mark, and the one focused on you is Jacqueline.” Akio exchanged pleasantries with them as Michael added, “The one coming out of the hatch in a second is this ship’s captain, Miles O’Banion.”

  Mark, Jacqueline and Akio turned as the door opened. Miles found three sets of eyes on him. Everyone’s except Michael.

  The captain took a moment to allow the door to close behind him, then continued towards them. “Sorry?”

  Michael turned. “No need, Captain O’Banion. This gentleman is an old friend of mine, who has come here under orders.”

  Jacqueline interjected, “Orders?”

  “Yes,” Michael responded. “He was ordered to find me.”

  “How does anyone know you’re here?” Mark asked, curious.

  Akio turned to the young man. “My Queen was very explicit that I was to wait until the Patriarch chose to show up.”

  “Like, how long?” Jacqueline asked.

  Akio looked at her and raised an eyebrow.

  Jacqueline tried to figure out why he was quiet. “Sir?”

  “It has been over one hundred and fifty years,” he answered, his lips quirking in a small grin.

  “Fuuuuuck!” Jacqueline turned to Michael. “What did you do to her that she sent someone to find you a hundred and fifty years later?”

  This time, Michael could sense the amusement Akio was sending his way, even if his face showed no emotions. Michael considered a new challenge in his life. He was going to get the stiff man to open up. He couldn’t stay walking around as if he had a sword stuck up his ass for the next hundred years. Especially if he was going to be around all the time. “I believe,” Michael answered Jacqueline, “that she loves me.”

  “You?” Jacqueline shot back in surprise. Both Mark and the captain put their hands over their mouths.

  “And you find this hard to believe, why?” he asked as he adjusted his left pants leg so it wouldn’t get caught in the skin as the last of his muscles regenerated.

  His clothes were going to have to be cleaned for sure.

  “Well, um.” She looked back at Mark, who was still checking out the ship, before she looked back at Michael. “I suppose she’s a badass too. Takes one to know one?”

  “You could say she’s a real bitch,” Michael agreed, “but you had better say it with deference.”

  “If I may interrupt?” The captain’s voice came from behind them and they all looked back. “It seems we have plenty of power to make it to Europe now.” He gazed at the sky. “You also seem to have taken care of the weather.”

  “I was still a bit upset,” Michael said, admitting nothing more.

  “Right.” Miles said. “Where would you like to go next?”

  Michael turned back to Akio. “Let’s talk.”

  Chapter Seven

  “Where the hell—” the captain had started to ask as he looked around in surprise. Mark moved to put his hand against Miles’ mouth.

  “Don’t say anything,” Mark cautioned. “Just because he disappeared with Akio doesn’t mean he might not be right next to us.”

  “Or a hundred yards off the ship,” Jacqueline added, as Mark turned to look at her. “Damn he can be annoying.”

  “You wanted to sneak a listen to his plans?” Mark’s eyebrows raised in mock astonishment.

  “Yup.” Jacqueline was unrepentant.

  “What plans?” the captain asked.

  “Whether he’s leaving in that plane,” she answered, pointing to the sleek black vessel.

  Mark got down on his knees and looked under the Pod. “It isn’t even touching the deck.”

  The captain bent at the waist to confirm Mark’s statement. “Have you ever heard of such technology?”

  “Yes,” Jacqueline said. “My father told me about it when I was a little girl.” She walked over to the black Pod and ran a hand along its sides. “This is some of the original technology of Bethany Anne’s team. The Queen Bitch’s stuff.”

  “Your father?” Miles asked, coming up behind her but not willing to touch the craft himself.

  “Yes. He was alive before the world died, Captain.” she whispered. “Bethany Anne is Michael’s Queen, as well as his love. She asked him to protect a military base in the middle of the old United States as she fought someone in Eastern Europe, I think. My ancient history for Michael is a bit dodgy.”

  Jacqueline looked inside the canopy, but didn’t go into the ship. She thought she knew how much she could get away with when pushing Michael, but this new vampire was different. He seemed too controlled for her liking, and she wasn’t going to test him.

  Yet.

  “Why didn’t she take him with her to wherever she is, then?”

  Jacqueline turned around. “Because he died.”

  “What?” he asked, looking around for Michael on the deck of the ship. “How many times can he die, and how did he come back?”

  “Apparently,” she answered, “he had promised on his honor that he would come back to her, and she believed him. He was killed by a small nuclear explosion. My father was very insistent that he tell me the stories of vampires and how to keep my mouth shut around them.”

  Mark snorted. “He didn’t do a very good job.”

  Jacqueline’s melancholy caught Mark by surprise. “He tried, but I wasn’t a willing learner.”

  Jacqueline turned to lean her back against Akio’s craft. “Did you see what he did out here, Captain?”

  He nodded.

  “Did you see his face when you came out, and was it whole?”

  “I saw his face,” the captain explained, turning to his left to nod up at the bridge’s windows. “From up there. There wasn’t half of it left, I thought.”

  Mark added, “Well, he healed some then by the time I saw it.”

  “Yes, but the ability to regenerate that he demonstrated right now isn’t like a vampire,” Jacqueline told him.

  “Well—” Mark interrupted.

  “Okay,” Jacqueline agreed, “not a normal vampire. Even Mark can accomplish some of what Michael is doing, which is healing through the Etheric, and that ability is unique to vampires.” She was quiet a moment before adding, “I wondered how come it never seemed like he needed to eat.”

  My Liege, Akio’s voice spoke into the Myst as Michael took them up a hundred feet above the ArchAngel.

  I just wanted to get away from them for a moment. They need to calm down from the experience together, and I believe the captain is a better anchor for them right now.

  Hai.

  What were Bethany Anne’s orders to you, Akio?

  We were to wait, and be prepared to help you upon your return.

  Michael thought a moment. Are you in contact with her?

  No. We thought we would be able to communicate once they went through the Yollin Gate, but it was destroyed and we have had only very, very short communications between Eve and Adam. We are reduced to simple five-digit sends approximately every six months.

  Have you notified her of my arrival?

  No. Not until we were sure we had you safe.

  Safe is subjective, Akio.

  My King, Akio had started to speak when he felt Michael’s amusement at Akio’s search for the right honorific. We have access to you, and I will work with you now to keep you safe.

  I have a meeting I must attend in Europe.

  May I ask with whom?

  A vampire calling himself the Duke. Michael could feel Akio’s annoyance. You know of him?

  Yes, I have recently found out about his activity. It is a significant mark against my honor that it has taken me this long to realize that such a powerful vampire is working in Europe and has acquired a large number of resources.

  How many is large?

  Eve and Yuko have yet to confirm, but certainly in the thousands of nanite-enhanced, Sir.

  Apparently, Michael thought, calling him King didn’t make Akio’s cut, either.

  Akio, I’m Michael, no more, no less. I expect your obedience, I will not knowingly countermand your orders from Bethany Anne, but I will not allow this Duke to continue accumulating power. I met his daughter in New York, and his son.

  The one named Valerie, yes?

  That is correct. You have met her?

  Hai. I spoke with her when seeking you, and Yuko and I helped in New York.

  Is there something that should be done for her?

  Not at this time. She must stand on her own, or she will expect the mother bird to help her fly every time.

  Michael didn’t answer for a moment, then agreed. Standing on her own worked for Bethany Anne. Give me a quick summary of what has happened since I unexpectedly left, please.

  Akio explained the rise of TQB, space, the Yollins and the gate, the world going against Bethany Anne and how they took the fight through the gate.

  Akio waited a few moments before asking, I presume we will be taking down the Duke?

  Of course. I will not allow his dishonor to continue, Akio.

  It will be thousands against the two of us, sir.

  Michael smirked in the Myst.

  It’s four of us, Akio. And finally I’ll be able to allow Jacqueline her fill of fighting and I’ll still have plenty of fools to play with myself.

  Akio watched as they started back down to the ship.

  Michael supposed this ship might be considered ArchAngel 0, since the original, ArchAngel I, had gone to the stars and was far superior to this craft. He guessed he was being a little romantic in wanting a ship named after one his love had flown out into the beyond.