Never Ham

Collinsport, Maine. A small village where the strange and inexplicable rather than being merely the strange and inexplicable imaginings of a sensitive few – are found too often to be commonplace. Nicole Collins and the members of Collins Investigations have just returned from London, where they have been given information that a group of powerful and sinister necromancers are plotting their return to Collinsport. And yet, before they can fully comprehend the import of this new information, one of their own, Esther Friedman has quite unexpectedly come under attack. The forces seeking Esther are also looking for a young man, Noah Mankowski. What remains to be determined is whether this attack is based on an ancient cult know as Starry Wisdom, or is it perhaps the work of those mysterious necromancers of whom Nichole has been warned.

{Viewer Discretion is advised: This episode contains Adult Content and extreme Soap Opera Situations}

In the moonlight the fine fractures of the windshield seem like hairline fissures along a glacier. Cold and brittle – as if she could place the tip of her slender finger against it and push and the safety glass would crumble. Of course the bullet had struck at an angle and so it had only cracked the glass. Nikki opens the door of the black Ferrari and steps out into the chill Maine night. A hint of dampness – but snow is not yet in the forecast.

Her sapphire eyes, enhanced by vampiric mutation, scrutinizes the storefront business district for any movement –since the night before she is wary of gunmen slipping out of the shadows. There is only Ed Flager, walking away from his antique shop across the rotary.

The office windows are dark – Esther having apparently departed earlier in the day and not left a light on Nikki concludes as she approaches to door. Only, putting the key in the lock she finds it is not necessary as the door is unlocked.

A push and the door opens revealing Nikki’s silhouette in the moonlight.

Esther would never have left it this way.

Predatorily, she enters, feeling herself giving way to her instincts. She is aware that her fangs have distended.

She closes the door behind her casting the room back into the dimness of the moonlight falling through the tall, dirty windows.

Nikki’s head cocks as she hears breathing—the languorous breath of slumber.

Her bright sapphire eyes darken.

Behind Esther’s desk, oddly curled, almost fetal, in Esther’s chair, Samantha Brook is sleeping.

Nikki slowly steps over to the desk. Her heels on the hardwood floor soundless; her approach feline—she casts no shadow.

Sam in her slumber mumbles incoherently almost saying the word—Nikki.

Her vampiric nature having been given full reign, Nikki pauses for a moment looking now at the young woman sleeping – dear Esther’s deers are sufficient to the need – but having all but exhausted the Romanian supply provided by her mother, the desire for the taste of human blood grows exponentially as she looks upon Samanatha.

The young woman curled up deliciously in the chair moves a bit and the collar of her coat opens and the low curve of her nearly worn out, threadbare olive t-shirt exposes the hint of her cleavage and the smooth flesh of her long neck. It is the exposed flesh of her throat that draws her attention, even in the dim light of the office, the moonlight cast down through the high dirty windows, Nikki can see the steady throb of her pulse.

Nikki closes her eyes and stands, raising a hand to cup her mouth, fingers absently rubbing her lips.

She feels the fangs, feels the ever growing desire, always strongest in the hour or so after she arises—and she knows what she needs – what she wants to do – can visualize her mouth opening, descending, the sharpen points of her eyeteeth touching the flesh, thrillingly, before she bites, sending them deep into the soft flesh of Samantha’s neck feeling . . . feeling the warm gush of crimson filling her mouth, swallowing, drinking the lovely, wonderful taste of her, mixed with the slightly coppery taste of her blood— She places a hand on the back of the desk chair, bends so close that her soft breath whispers into Samantha’s ear, “Samantha . . . Samantha dear, wake up.”

Samantha lost in some deep slumber, some dream in which she is lost, far away, on some distant island, the sky gone all magenta, feeling that something is watching her, sleepily stirs, and her eye half opens, aware of the figure of a woman bending over her, recalling an even older recollection, “buh mommy,” She complains.

“Are you all right, my dear?”

Awake, blinking, Samantha sees Nikki leaning so close, can feel her breath upon her, sweet, honey-sweet(1) and Samantha suddenly blushes, “Umm . . . ye-yes . . . just a bit tired.”

Outside the office the sound of a familiar car engine can be heard. Rhyaad: Nikki thinks, aware that her fangs have not reverted. Aware that she still wants to lightly lick her tongue across the smooth flesh of Sam’s neck – wants to sink her teeth into her, to taste the warm, sleepy glow.

Rhyaad makes his way up to the door, wipes his boots on the mat, and enters. He stops, seeing Sam lolling on the chair, but more importantly he sees Nikki bent over her. He immediately recognizes Nikki’s reversion to her vampiric state.

Nikki’s melodic voice seems very soothing, her eyes brightest blue, as she can’t help continuing to stare at the pulse of the artery running up along Samantha’s lovely throat, ‘Tired?”

Rhyaad is aware she is ignoring him.

Samantha nods looking up into those sapphire eyes, “Had to cling to the airplane tire in the wheel well all the way here . . . .

Just behind him now, Rhyaad feels Esther arriving at the door. She had left earlier in the day to arrive now to find this strangeness going on – something odd, what with Rhayyad just standing inside the doorway looking at Nikki, who is bent very, very close to Samantha Brook – who is in her chair!

“Ahem—“ Rhyaad clears his throat, quite unnecessarily, as he, with some insistence by Esther behind him pushing at his back, enters into the dark office.

Nikki turns at the sound, her eyes very bright blue – the sharpness of her eyeteeth cannot be concealed as she speaks, “Rhyaad, so–so good of you to arrive.”

“Hey!” Esther says as she moves into the office, pushing past the unmoving Rhyaad, to stride over to her desk, not at all concerned with trying to conceal her irritation.

Nikki steps back and for a moment Esther gives her a look, as Nik seems far too distracted.

Samantha looks up at Esther, ‘What—?”

“My chair,” She jabs her thumb off to the side, ‘Out!”

“Yes—quite good timing, I see, “ Rhyaad’s remarks, his own eyes having grown dark fixed as they are upon Nikki, his voice taking on a very strained and serious tone.

Esther walks over to her desk unbuttoning her coat, unaware at the moment of what is transpiring between Nikki and Rhyaad – nor has she noticed Nikki’s fangs.

Nikki straightens and talking a few steps back tries now to regain some composure, “So—Sam, how did you get back home from England – as I am sure you did not have a passport.” There is a very perceptible lisp to her British accent, which could be discerned if one where to pay some attention – and Rhyaad of course was the one to notice.

Samantha wants to curl back up into the chair, “But I’m comfortable,” she sleepily whines not wanting to be disturbed.

“Out!” Esther’s voice is flat and marked with irritation—the woman’s back and she is already f***ing with her.

“Clung to a wheel?’ Nikki asks sharply, removing her overcoat and striding over to hang it on the coat rack.

With a sleepy shake of her head to cascade her red hair, Sam sits up and stretches, and says, “Y-yes—I stowed away in the wheel well—“

“What?” Nikki turns to look at her from the coat rack.

Samantha looks across the room now rather sheepishly and nods.

As he catches this new bit of information, Rhyaad’s concentration based upon his disappointing stare at Nikki is broken. Instead, he now turns his darkening eyes upon Sam, “What?” He mimics Nikki shock.

With a motion of her hands to indicate hydraulics and wheels, “You know – where the landing gear goes.”

“I don’t care if you teleported here. Get the f*** out of my chair!” Esther demands, resisting the urge to add bitch.

Defiant, Sam looks up Esther, “Make me!” She snaps.

Oh, now that is it, and Esther reaches for and draws her gun, “Do I have to say this again!”

“Esther . . . “ Rhyaad looking up from the insolent Samantha to the angered Esther, “I’d like to have a word with your privately,”

Rhyaad was becoming now more and more aware of the disturbance Samantha Brook was bringing to Collins Investigations as he turns and cuts an annoyed glare at Nikki, “Sam will be all right with you—yes?”

“It is my f****** chair!” Esther, hand on her gun, protests.

“Esther! Please!”

“Fine!” Exasperated she re-holsters her revolver.

Nikk moving back across the room toward the desk refuses to acknowledge Rhyaads glare and instead turns to Samantha: her eyes still very blue, languorous, and captivating, “Samantha, now be a dear and please let Esther have her chair.”

Sam sighs and just rolls off onto the floor in a ragdoll lump.

Rhyaad moves over to the door of the second office, the one he had of late been using as his own– the one which had de facto become his. He opened the door and invitingly gestured for Esther to join him, even as he looked over to see Sam now falling to lie sprawled on the cold planks of the old hardwood floor. This whole situation with Samantha was getting out of hand—

Across the desk, Nikki puts her hands on the back of the green and brown antique chair, invitingly, “Here—this is a very nice hair. I think you will find it most relaxing.” She tells Samantha – her voice still highly hypnotic.

Rhyaad at the door to his office stood a moment and stared at the woman sprawled on the floor, shaking his head — he turned to look at Nikki – well aware she was still very much in the thrall of her vampire nature . . . could he trust her.

Nikki turns her head ever so slowly toward him, “It is alright Rhyaad.”

“I’ll be right out Nik,” Esther tells Nikki as she walks past him – giving him a look that says do not even start. Once inside she turns to him, “And so—what is it Rhy?”

Rhyaad closes the door and pulls out the chair for Esther, “Samantha. You saw—she has become worse than I thought she would ever be.”

Wearily, Sam crawls across the floor over to the chair. She can feel Nikki’s eyes upon her, both unapproveing and yet voluptuous. She felt an odd sense that she was about to be admonished and seduced at the same time . . .

“I had hoped to help her and that with a little kindness, her insane behavior would diminished, But it has only gotten worse.” He said disheartened.

“Well – you where the one that got her a clean bill of mental health.” Esther reminds him as she takes a seat.

Nikki’s voice now seems to have become so very soothing. It makes Sam suddenly feel, listening to her, that the one thing she wanted to do most was to do whatever Nikki asked, because, hearing her lovely voice, it made you want to please her – to do anything she asked you to do. And as she takes a seat in the chair Nikki indicated, she finds herself helplessly staring into those lovely blue eyes . . .

He cringed at Esther’s admonishment, as he knew he had intervened in taking her to be examined, “Did you scheduled an appointment for her? I think I understand that you had. And, yes – I will admit, my taking her for an evaluation was obviously an error. Sane women do not cling to the wheels of airplanes.”

Esther looks at him seriously; “Sane people do not teleport to London for the half hour and teleport back without a passport.”

The tip of her index finger lightly rubbing along the gloss of her lips, Nikki stands now beside Sam, her attention, her gaze still drawn to the smooth, soft flesh of her throat – the throb of her pulse so visible to her. Oh, how she wanted a sweet taste. Her hand drawn to Samantha as she straightens the collar of her overcoat – she can feel the warmth of her – sense the blood within her, smell her hair. In the darkness of the main office – no one having yet turned the lights on – Nikki once more moves over close to Samantha. She puts a hand on the back of her chair and leans forward, “How did you really get back from London?”

“If anything, it was probably the sanest thing she had done thus far.” Esther flatly tells Rhyaad and then looks at the door of the office.

As close as Nikki is now, Samantha, looking up into those lovely blue eye, suddenly makes up her mind and does what she has wanted to do since the day she first saw her at the Harker funeral service, and so, reaching up, she grabs Nikki and pulls her down into a kiss.

“Perhaps.” Rhyaad still distracted between his concern over the mental state of Samantha Brook and his knowledge of Nikki’s vampiric intent for the young woman’s throat, “Nevertheless, I think we need to get professional help for her.”

“Like I have not been saying that.” Esther says with a sarcastic grin, “But to answer your question, yes, I was able to talk to a specialist in Bangor. He’s scheduled an appointment for her on the 15th.”

‘The 15th? I don’t suppose it could be any sooner? The woman needs to see a psychiatrist. She is swallowing random bottles of pills.”

Nikki is suddenly surprised to feel Sam’s lips pressed to hers . . .

“He couldn’t schedule sooner. But he is one of the best.” Esther explains.

Sam holds her for as long as she dared to hope; her lips pressed ardently to Nikki’s, the tip of her tongue pushing to enter into her mouth, before letting go.

“Well I hope he is. The woman is going to get herself killed if she goes on like this. Clinging to the outsides of boats and airplanes, standing out in the rain, eating bottles of unknown drugs—I’m sorry, Esther. I had no idea she was that crazy when I brought her here.”

Their kiss breaks off. Sam sits looking at Nikki, uncertain how she will react. Nikki, her blue eyes look down at Samantha. “I have wanted to that for so very long,” scared and exhilarated, Samantha whispers demurely to Nikki.

Nikki still leaning forward as she looks at Samantha, the lingering memory of her lips, steps so as to straddle Samantha’s legs, trapping her, as she reaches down, and taking Samnath’s face between her two hands, she presses her lips full upon Samantha’s.

“Don’t sweat it. Now let’s go talk about Noah Mankowski.”

Sam blinks surprised and then kisses back, her arms slowly going around Nikki’s lovely body.

“Then we will send her to a shrink as soon as humanly possible?” Rhyaad nods in agreement, “Good. Now Noah? Obviously the Starry Wisdom cultists want him, and they think you can lead then to him.”

Nikki’s lips break the kiss as she whispers into her mouth, “I am very concerned about you.”

“Why?” Sam whispers back, her tongue aware of Nikki’s fangs.

“Let’s go,” Esther rises from the chair, “I want all three of us to discuss this.”

She opens the door.

Rhyaad nods and gets up, following her.

They both stop in the doorway as they witness Nikki and Sam kissing.

{Commercial break}

{Viewer Discretion is advised: This episode contains Adult Content and extreme Soap Opera Situations}

Nikki aware of Ester and Rhyaad observing her does not look away from Sam, but continues to look longingly at her – and she bends once more to lightly kiss her soft lips – to trap her lower lip now between her own and to pull slightly so as to part her lips, open her mouth as she whispers, “Because I know how intelligent you are – I know you would not have received an admission to Harvard when you were 15 if you were not very brilliant . . . but, you are letting some horror, some incident in your past dictate your future. You have to stop.”

“Oh—“ Rhyaad says, seeing what they have interrupted.

Wide-eyed, Esther looks at them, this can not be happening, the woman is a loon: “What’s all this then!?”

“It seems they were smooching, Esther.” He tells her.

“I’m trying to Miss—“ And suddenly she stops, freezing now at the sound of voices.

Nikki very languidly turns to look at them – she seems unconcerned that she is standing over Samantha, her legs astraddle Samantha’s as she leans forward once more to very lightly kiss her, “You only want to listen to the sound of my voice. There are no other distractions – it is just you and I, alone.”

“I’m trying Miss Nikki.”

“One Sam for another? Eh?” Esther whispers dazed.

“I didn’t know she fell for the crazy ones, “ he whispered back.

Sam’s attention is drawn now way from the voices of Rhyaad and Esther.

Nikki’s voice seems irresistible, “Trying – yes, what were you going to tell me?” Her lips lightly dusting Sam’s now with very light and gentle kisses.

Esther needs a drink. She very quietly slips over to the old, olive green Frigidaire, opens it, closing her eyes against the sound of the latch, which seems so loud in the darken office – in some odd way not wanting to disturb Nikki, while at the same time wanting to grab her and shake her and ask her just what the f*** she was doing with this . . . insane, impertinent, irreverent madwoman – she grabs herself a beer and then, letting the door close back, softly retraces her steps to Rhyaad’s office, not wanting to watch, but can’t help cutting glances to see the two women kissing.

She goes back into the office and closes the door.

“I-I’ve been trying to pull myself together—“ Sam says into Nikki’s kisses.

“Yes – you have. I have notice that you have.” Nikki places her fingers under Samantha’s chin, “What is it that holds you back?”

Rhyaad sitting once more behind the desk shrugs, “Well . . . just when you think you have someone figured out . . . or maybe it’s not so strange.”

Nikki’s blue eyes are all that seem to matter, she feels lost in them, as she replies, “It’s like . . . like there are these islands . . . in my head . . . sometimes I can cross the bridges . . . sometimes I can’t. . . .”

Rhyaad watches Esther sitting down and taking a drink of her beer, her eyes glancing over to the closed office door. He put his boots up on the desk, “After all I was trying to be the White Knight, rescuing her . . . bring her here. But, I’m a Knight with rather narrow preferences, you might say. Given Nikki’s proclivities, perhaps she is also drawn to Samantha, including ways in which I would not be drawn to her.”

“And when you get across one of those bridges—what do you find?”

“Things making sense . . . understanding.”

Nikki’s eyes hold her enthralled, “It’s alright, Samantha. There is only the two of us—and you can tell me anything. You want to tell me everything. Now—do you want to cross that bridge – do you want to stay on this side of the bridge – with me?”

“Esther looks at him so very uncertain, “Just so long as it’s not a ruse to bite her—but I don’t know how the other Sam will react.”

Rhyaad’s brow rises, “Me neither. And she did want to bite her—I knew that when I came in . . . ” He has to consider that, “Well, perhaps a little consensual biting only, I say.”

“If you have the power to look at people and control them, then how far does consensual go?” Esther asks and takes a long drink.

‘I . . . I don’t know.” Sam replies.

Her legs having straddled Sam’s all this time, Nikki now slowly sits on Sam’s lap, looking deep into her eye –“Sam—do you want to cross that bridge?”

“I know that you’ll like me more if I do—but . . . “

“But what?”

“But will I still be Sam . . . “

“I mean . . . it’s nothing I haven’t done—recently even . . . OH!” Rhyaad muses and then sits back to ponder his own statement in light of Esther’s comment. “Well, I suppose having such powers does stretch the issue, doesn’t it.”

Esther looking at her beer, “Uh Huh.”

“I’m just worried about her ability to pull out. You have to know when to stop.”

Esther looks up at him, “And we left them alone?”

Nikki’s long, slender, sensuous fingers reach out and lightly touch Samantha’s cheek; she bends forward, her lips ever so gently kissing her, “If you cross that bridge you will still be Sam.” She looks at her: Nikki’s blue eyes heavy-lidded, “You will be the Sam that has been too long on the other side of that bridge.”

‘How . . . how do I cross it?”

Rhyaad shakes his head undecided, “Do you think we should be worried? And what if I do go and watch them? Does not that send a message that I don’t trust Nikki not to be sinking her fangs into a supple neck without me watching over her?”

Esther just looks back at him, a nail idly scrapping at the glass of her beer bottle, as she replies with a shrug. If she kills her – well, then she wouldn’t have to worry about her any more . . . oh, god did she even think that – she takes a another long drink of her beer.

“Listen to the sound of my voice. Only the sound of my voice.” Nikki’s lips pressing very light kisses on her kips, “Do you want to be with me?” She whispers against her mouth.

Sam whispers quietly—“Yes.”

“Then come to me!” Nikki says. “Come across that bridge and be with me.”

Rhyaad looks at the closed door. “Well . . . If I hear a scream—or worse, it gets TOO quiet out . . . I’m going in there.”

Samantha leans forward slowly.

Nikki’s lips on Samantha’s press harder, her tongue enters into her mouth as she kisses her ardently, as if to pull her across the chasm Samantha is trapped beyond.

“I don’t have such powers Esther. I charmed Oliver with my own real, normal attributes. Nothing supernatural there. And the last time, I was not even going to bite him, but he begged me to.”

Sam sucks on Nikki’s tongue slowly, kissing her deeply trying to show Nikki her heart.

Nikki presses her tongue against Sam’s, both of her hands full to overflowing with the tangle tresses of Sam’s hair. Something within Samantha is still resistant—Nikki knows she can reach further into her, deeper into her mind, but – Nikki stops. Their lips part and Nikki sighs, pressing her forehead upon Samantha’s “I want you. I want you to cross over that bridge Samantha – but I want it to be your decision – I want you to come across on your own. To be the Sam you want to be – to be the Sam that wants to be with me. Do you understand?”

“I understand.”

“The decision to be with me has to be yours. Do you want to cross that bridge?”

“Yes.”

Nikki’s fangs are visible in the moonlight, “Then you will let go and you will come to be with me.”

Esther growing more concerned about what may or may not be happening beyond the closed-door takes another long drink of her beer. She rubs her forehead—how can this be happening? How can Nikki be attracted to that woman? “What you do is your business, Rhy. But you remember Oskar? The last crazy person that was here? It she uses stuff like that, plus, it seems she is attracted by her,” Esther continues to rub her forehead—“I just dun see that as a good recipe—except for disaster.”

Sam arches up into the kiss and then suddenly freezes. She looks as if something within her has just broken, before she passes out.

“Oskar was quite crazy, yes. And believe me Esther I want to go out there and watch her. But what does that make me? The morality police? I hope by now Nicole Collins has the self-control to not sink her fangs into the tender morsel out there without her consent.”

Nikki sits on her lap, and lightly strokes her hair, pushing back the bangs to see her face, lost as she is now to the power she is capable of exerting . . . her vampiric nature now on full display.

“Naw, I trust Nik for that,” Esther explains, “I’m talkin’ bout long term. What basis is hypnotic control for a relationship?”

Samantha begins to regain consciousness, as she slowly looks around, confused.

“Samantha,” Nikki, sitting on her lap, whispers as she sees Samantha begin to stir, “Are you with me, Sam?”

“Hrm . . . good point. Perhaps one I’d rather not delve into. Let’s hope she does not use this sort of hypnotic influence to hold Samantha to her.”

Samantha looks at Nikki, “I’m . . . I’m here.”

Esther takes another drink of her beer, it’s getting warm. “Perhaps she can explain later. I dun think this any bit healthy.” She finishes the remainder of her beer.

‘I am not one to judge, Esther. As long as she doesn’t hurt Samantha. How can I judge her for seducing a human, when I have often done the same?”

“No . . . no . . . no . . . “ Esther shakes her head—d***it. “F*** them f***ing. Did you hear how she was talkin’ to her? It was the same voice she used on Oskar. The same voice that robed man tried to use on me. THAT is what’s unhealthy.”

‘Oh . . . well . . . I say it all depends on why. If she uses her powers to help the woman, then that’s a good thing.”

Nikki smiles – the sharpness of her eyeteeth prominent.

“But if she’s using it just because she wants to f***—“

Sam stares transfixed at Nikki for a moment, reaching a hand up.

‘The bridge? Is it gone?”

“Bridge . . . what bridge?”

{Commercial break}

{Viewer Discretion is advised: This episode contains Adult Content and extreme Soap Opera Situations}

Rhyaad rubs his chin thoughtfully, he would have never thought he would have been having a philosophical discussion tonight about f***ing. “Well . . . I’d say she should get her to –ahem—f*** the normal way—without hypnosis. But that’s just me. Easy for me to say since I don’t have that power. Would I use it if I did?”

Nikki kisses the palm of Sam’s hand reaching up now to touch her face, “Good.”

“I am here Nikki.”

Rhyaad frowns looking at the door, “I don’t hear any moaning or screaming . . . “

“That comes later.” Esther to wryly smiles over the top of her beer bottle, “Just so long as it stays off my desk.”

“Well, they might well just be doing it on your desk, Esther.”

Nikki dusts Samantha’s lips now with light kisses as she holds her face between her hands, “In a moment, you are going to wake up – you are going to awake from your past and it will no longer hinder you – you will let it all go. Do you understand?”

Sam nods loving now the kisses, “I understand.”

“Well,” Esther stands up suddenly, “I’m going to get another beer.”

“Get me a blood while you’re at it.” Esther opens the door quietly and looks out.

She sees Nikki still sitting straddle Sam in the chair, leaning forward, lightly combing her hair with her fingertips.

Esther slips over as silently as she can to the old Frigidaire, clicks it open, and grabs a beer. From a box labeled “Thin Mints” she takes out a packet of blood.

Nikki looks up to see Esther.

Esther can’t help but think of a lioness looking up from her kill.

Their eyes meet and Esther recognizes the too blue vampire eyes – eyes she had seen before with Oskar.

With her beer and the packet of deer blood, from a previous night’s hunt, Esther slips back through the partially open door – she gives one last concerned look at the two women. Esther is well aware that Nikki has given way to her vampiric nature – but how far has she gone and can she come back. She hands the plastic bag to Rhyaad, “Hope you got a cup.”

Should she tell Rhyaad – or does she trust that Nikki will regain control?

“Well?” He asks.

“Well what?”

He looks at the door.

“She’s . . . she’s sitting on her lap—“ She twists the cap off the bottle and tosses it into the small waste basket beside the desk, “Messing with Sam’s hair.’

“Ah, playing with her hair. No fangs ripping tender flesh asunder . . . see Esther . . . it’s okay.”

“ . . . I’m still not so sure.” Esther mutters to herself.

“Sam!” Nikki says a bit loudly, “Sam it’s Nikki.”

Sam looks at her oddly, “Why are you yelling?”

Rhyaad raises and eyebrow looking at Esther, wondering what the yelling is about . . .

“Oh, not on my desk!” Esther shakes her head.

Rhyaad tears the corner off the packet of blood and pours it into the ornate cup on the desk, “It would be better if it weren’t cold.” He mused, before looking up at Esther with a smile. “They could really be messing up that desk, Esther.”

“Nik – would not do that.”

Sam smiles as she becomes aware of where Nikki is sitting.

Nikki allows a lingering hand to rub along the line of her chin, ‘When did you last eat, Sam?”

Sam blinks and a slight protesting moan escapes her lips as Nikki rises now from her lap, “Ummmm-before I swam to the island.”

“Oh, love, that is too long.” Nikki saunters over to the refrigerator; she looks for something to eat. “We don’t have a lot to eat it seems. What about a sandwich?”

Sam turns and stops herself from answering aloud: What about you. “A-a sandwich would be good, thank you.”

Rhyaad takes a drink from his cup, “Well, I can’t honestly say I would not use such powers if I had them, Esther.”

Nikki finds a corned beef sandwich and a soda. She carries it back and puts it down on the desk before Samantha. She pulls the other chair closer, ‘Now, please eat.”

Sam blinks and takes the sandwich, breaking it in half and nudging part of it over to Nikki before nibbling on the half she has kept for herself.

Rhyaad hearing the closing of the refrigerator comments, “I think she’s feeding her now. No bloodsucking so far.”

Nikki smiles, “Oh, thank you, but –I don’t eat.”

‘Oh, okay.” Sam mumbled with a bit of a blush.

Nikki reaches over and plays with her hair, “So tell me, why did you risk hurting yourself to get on the boat?”

Samantha looks down, “I was worried—“

“Oh—what about?”

“You.”

“Me?” Nikki asks, “Aww, thank you.” Nikki holds her hand, idling playing with her fingers, “So, Samantha, do you want to be with me?”

Samantha blushes and swallows a large part of the sandwich.

{Commercial break}

{Viewer Discretion is advised: This episode contains Adult Content and extreme Soap Opera Situations}

“You have a point there, which I cannot argue with. At least I can say I seduce my men without hypnotizing them.’ He took a long drink of cold blood from the ornate cup. “Now—no sense in us wasting time while the girls play, eh Miss Friedman?” He opened the left top drawer and got out his notepad and pen. “Now . . . just who is this Noah? How did you come to know him?”

“Ah, Noah. I met Noah a while ago. Back in . . . what was it? Back when I first moved here. Was a kid in the Hebrew Faith School class at the synagogue I go to in Bangor.”

Nikki sitting beside Samantha, watching her eat, begins to feel herself slowly regaining control, her tongue aware that her fangs had begun to retract, “So, tell me about Harvard. You were accepted, weren’t you?”

“Yes—when I was 15.” Taking a bite of the half of the sandwich and taking back the half she had offered to Nikki.

“What did you want to study?”

Esther blushes a bit as she thinks about Noah, “He’s a nice guy you know.” She takes a drink of her beer.

“I didn’t have anything in mind . . . just wanted to see what would happen if I tried.”

“How familiar are you with Noah? Are you close enough that it would be known that you are friends? That someone who knew Noah would think you would know where to find him?” Rhyaad asked.

“And then someone stole that all away from you.” Nikki touches a napkin to her lips to wipe away a bit of food, “I won’t let that happen again.”

“And from that blush, Esther, I’d say you do have friends.” Rhyaad could not suppress a slight smile.

“After my Bat Mitzvah I saw him less and less, “Esther continues blushing a bit harder.

Samantha blushes profusely again watching as Nikki carefully wipes her mouth.

“Ah, too bad,” Rhyaad said taking note of Esther’s increasing blush. “Did he come to visit you after that? Here, in Collinsport?”

“No, I hadn’t seen him in a few yearsh.” Esther said taking another long drink from her bottle of beer, “Before—I found him in the bar that day.”

“That day—the day he told you the things on the note?”

“Yeah.”

Nikki leans forward and whispers into her ear, “Later. I promise, now we need to talk to Esther and Rhyaad.”

“Did he say why he as in Collinsport? Did he say anyone was following him? Did he look nervous?”

“Okay?” Nikki puts the napkin aside and looks at Samantha.

“No.” Esther shook her head, was no one listening to her. “He wasn’t in Collinsport. I went to Bangor. To get away from the cultish. That’s what brought it up.”

“Esther, Rhyaad, we can talk now, if you wish.” Nikki calls.

“Oh . . . oh . . . “ He scratches out something on the pad.

“Ummmm okay. Umm, Miss Nikki? Sam asks, “I-I . . . don’t want to turn but—“ and she lifts her arm and exposes her wrist, ‘”If you are ever hungry.”

Nikki looks longingly at the exposed wrist, the sight of it offered up only renewing the blood desires within her – but willing herself to resist the temptation, she reaches out and turns Sam’s wrist over, and kisses her hand, “Oh, don’t worry about that.”

Sam nods, “Okay, Miss Nikki—but any time if you want.”

“I’m just trying to establish why the Starry Wisdom cult would be after you, failing to find Noah, Esther. Then we need to go into more detail on Noah and his connections to the cult. Finally discuss how we might find him.” Rhyaad tells Esther.

Esther nods toward the door, having heard Nikki call out to them. “Lets go on out there—I think they’re done with whatever they were doing,” And so, she quickly rises and opens the door; she enters the main office looking to make certain her desk is undisturbed.

Rhyaad nods and follows – taking the yellow legal pad with me.

“Esther can you remember that night with Noah, what he was talking about, anything at all?” Nikki asks as she moves over to turn on the lights as they enter.

Esther sets her beer down on the desk, but keeps her coat on because even with the heating it is 21 degrees outside and the old law offices are not that well insulated.

“Well are you two . . . ahem . . . finished?” Rhyaad asks sardonically.

Esther cuts her eyes to Nikki as she takes a seat to see her reaction to Rhyaad’s question – as she had seen not only Nikki in the chair earlier, but also the released vampire that lives within her.

Samantha blushes.

Nikki gives Rhyaad a laconic smile, “Finished? I wouldn’t think so, no.”

“Let me see what I remember.” Esther quickly tells Nikki, “I went to thish bar that I knew in Bangor.”

“Rhyaad took the opposite seat, smiling now with amusement at Sam’s discomfort. “Okay just begun, eh?”

“Yes—“ Nikki looks over at Esther, “You told me you went there to get away from the cultists.”

“I go in. I see Noah there, and he waves me over. We catch up on what’s been going on. I talk about the detective work; he talks about his college education. I talk about the cultish. Shkratch that, I rant about the cultish, all the while getting more and more drink.”

Rhyaad nods as this sounded like the Esther he knew.

“I dun remember what happened after a while, a blur, but when I came to, I’m here, with two copies of hand written notes, in my handwriting.”

“Did he know about the Interfaith, or was he talking about the Wisdom cult and it became obvious there was something similar about them?” Nikki asks as she approaches once more Esther’s desk.

“Really?” Rhayad seems surpirsed, “You normally remember something, no matter how drunk you are, don’t you?”

Nikki looks at Rhyaad, “Yes—that was of particular interest when first Esther first relayed the events to me – it gives all the indications that perhaps she experienced a moment of lost time.”

“I dun think he knew who I wash talkin’ ‘bout, but apparently he was studying this wisdom group from his hometown in Providence. He moved to Bangor around the same time I moved to Collinsport.” Esther continues. She turns now with a knowing look at Rhyaad, “Well, I have been known to get more than a little drunk . . . “

Rhyaad ponders the loss of time, or memory: “I wonder what could have wiped out her memory. And she does not actually remember writing the notes.”

Samantha listening says nothing but just looks at Esther and blinks.

“Yeah. Thatsh the odd thing.” Esther taking a drink from her half finished beer.

“But Esther, you don’t even remember how you got home. If I have it right.” Rhyaad continues to point out that something is was amiss, “That is unusual, isn’t it?”

“Well—then there’s another thing – cause when I’m dead drunk, like in ash-in-too-drunk-to-remember . . . my handwriting sucks.” Esther comments.

Samantha quitely pulls out a pill bottle and begins to rifle through it finding and pulling out a small one from the pile in the palm of her hand.

“Ash for getting home, I prolly took th’bus.” The major portion of the second beer she was now beginning to feel.

“It is all very suspect, Esther.” Rhyaad considered the facts for a moment, “I mean, could Noah have written the notes?”

Samantha sets the pill on the desk, “Roofies.”

Esther glowers at the young woman, “You get thosh things off my desk!” She waves the beer bottle at them and then takes another drink.

“So, just a moment, Noah is originally from Providence—and not from Bangor?” Nikki asks.

Rhyaad quickly snatched the bottle of pills away from Samantha and she looks at him surprised, “Hey, I’m not taking it – I was saying why she doesn’t remember.”

“Yeah.” Esther gets up and goes to the refrigerator and gets another beer—all this talk about Noah . . . she drops the empty bottle into the trash with a clink of glass upon glass as it finds another cast-away bottle below, “He moved to Bangor I said ‘bout the same time ash I moved here.’

Nikki looks over to Samantha, “You think she was drugged?”

Samantha nods, “Yes, it accounts for why she doesn’t remember.’

Nikki examines the suggestion, “So—if not Noah, then who – or did they drug Noah also?”

“Could be. The question is . . . why would this Noah person want to drug her and put these notes on her? If he wanted her to have clues, why not just give them to her?” Rhyaad asks finding there were far too many questions surrounding this odd series of events.

Esther twits the cap off her beer and puts it in the wastebasket beneath her desk, “I dun think he drugged me.”

“Or yes . . . right, so if it was not Noah, then who?” Rhyaad continues the thought.

Nikki sits down leisurely in the desk chair opposite Samantha, “Well, from the circumstances Esther describes, the resulting reactions, lost of memory, time, could have very well been from someone having drugged her.”

Rhyaad now he had the bottle from Samantha, stuffed the bottle of pills into his pocket.

Samantha looks at Nikki, “So we can’t trust the notes – they have to be faulty.”

‘”But the notes are pretty interesting and seem accurate,” Rhyaad disagrees.

“Then the question becomes, who wrote the notes?” Nikki surmises.

Esther looks over at Samantha with a hard look, “They’re my handwriting, I c’n trusht em.”

Samantha looks back, “But if Esther wrote them drunk and drugged?”

“But who would have samples of your handwriting Esther?” Rhyaad wonders aloud as it would appear to be her handwriting – they would have needed samples to produce a forgery.

‘You have them,” She waves her hand with the beer over her desk to indicate the mess of papers adorning it.

Samantha nods looking at the desk, “Anyone whose come in here would have access.”

“And at the time, back then, the Interfaith was in and out of her all the time—but were they really involved?’ Nikki asks.

“In this case, it would seem not. And it would seem that the Wisdom cult is after you, Esther.” Rhyaad answers.

Samantha looks at him, “Wisdom?’

Esther nods, “More f***ing cultistsh.”

“Starry Wisdom.” Rhyaad adds as way of explanation.

“After a drunk Secretary?” Samantha is incredulous. “Why?”

“I’m not a secretary!” Esther snaps.

“Oh, Bloody hell.” Nikki says to herself, ‘Why did I not see it?”

Samanatha curls her mouth into a very sardonic smile, “Still a drunk.”

“Shee what, Nik?” Esther trying her best to ignore Samantha looks over to Nikki.

“Yes . . . see what?” Rhyaad asks also.

“Natasha bloody Snow!” Nikki says.

“But we . . . Collins Investigations . . . she hired. Oh . . . she was involved with that Cult!” Rhyaad suddenly sees what Nikki is beginning to suspect.

“She was in here before Esther took her trip.’

Esther pauses, the beer at her lips, “Lil mishsh pornshtar?”

“Lil Miss Possessed Dead Pornstar” Rhyaad counters.

{Commercial break}

{Viewer Discretion is advised: This episode contains Adult Content and extreme Soap Opera Situations}

Nikki sits back in her chair, her hand languidly moves as she speaks, “We know that Vera was part of some cult – although at the moment we just know which—but, those sacrifices in Hollywood that ended her career. The odd craved image that was used. The history of the Snows? Yes, I would say, I would most certainly suspect them over the Interfaith – besides why would why would they point clues toward themselves.”

Samantha nods, “In the words of Ackbar—ITS A MOTHER F%^&* TRAP!”

“It would be a trap if they were behind it.” Rhyaad agrees.

Esther drunkenly points at Samantha, “Dun you missquote it . . . “

Samantha looks at her.

“Nik’s right, why would they put themselves in the spotlight? Why would they go to all that trouble – just to get us involved?” Esther muses.

Samantha suddenly says, “אתה שיכור”

“If they wished to get at us. Perhaps because Snow was our client.” Rhyaad suggests.

Esther blinks at Samantha and then replies, “באַרען איר”

“Unless it was in fact, Noah who did this, because he knew they were about to get him. That’s another possibility.” Rhyaad speculates, not certain what Samantha and Esther are saying to one another, but suspects it is not at all complimentary.

“That might be . . .” Esther looks over at him, “But they where lookin’ fur him lasht night—“

Nikki was still thinking, “Now, there were two sets of notes, Right? One you left for me and one you had, and then this man attacked you for the set you had. Right?”

Esther looks at Nikki, “Yeah—thish guy broke in. Tried t’get me t’look into hish eyes after takin’ th’ note from my deshk. I shot at him. He left.”

Samantha says to Esther, “באַרען איר””

“So, last night – they wanted to know about Noah, not the notes, so they must think they got yours. They don’t know we have a set still.” Nikki deduces.

Samantha looks away from Esther and over to Nikki, “But were the sets identical?

“I think we should find Noah first. Especially before they do.” Rhyaad points out the obvious.

“Well I don’t know, I never saw Esther’s – were they identical?” Nikki looks to Esther.

“Yeah. They where. The one they shtoll was the original though.”

Rhyaad outs his legal pad on the desk, “Esther knows Noah. She can help us find him.”

“It sounds also as if Noah knew he might be watched and wanted to get those notes to someone else – and when he found out from Esther that she was with Collins Investigations perhaps he suddenly decided to give a copy to her for safe keeping.” Nikki says.

Samantha looks over to Rhyaad, “She knows Noah –not the people who might have taken him.”

Rhyaad nods, “My thoughts exactly, Nikki.”

Esther looks first to Rhyaad then to Nikki, “But IF he wash taken, they would not be looking for him wish means he ish out there still – somewhere.”

Rhyaad nods to Esther. “Yes, which means we must try to find him first.”

Esther throws her arm into the air, “Where?”

“The original,” Nikki stands up and begins to walk; she turns on her heel and thinks, “Were they written on the same type paper?”

“You know the man, Esther.” Rhyaad says leaning on the edge of the desk looking at Esther, “You must tell us everything you know that might help. Think of where he might be found. Who we could question.”

“Same type of paper?” Esther thinks, taking a drink. “No. The original wash on a bar napkin . . . the copy I wrote here. I could ask my rabbi bout Noah.”

Samantha shakes her head, “Oy vey.”

“Perhaps we should visit Bangor and interview him.” Rhyaad suggests.

Esther nods, “He might keep tabsh on him? Hash he been coming to services? I think I c’n do that m’shelf”

“Maybe once your sober” Samantha mutters.

“I doubt she means right now.” Rhyaad turns his head to look at Samantha with annoyance.

Esther stands up, “Actually—“

“A bar napkin, did he – was he scribbling anything on it while he was talking, perhaps on the other side, or inside it, something that did not seem to be part of the notes on the Starry Wisdom – I know this was a long time ago Esther, but think back?” Nikki says.

“I don’t remember BUT I do remember something elshe.”

“Yes, Rhyaad and Nikki ask at almost the same instant.

“He wash not in morning servishes this morning . . . “ Esther looks at her watch to be sure what day it was, “Yesterday morning—but! I thought I saw him talkin’ with the cantor during the luncheon. It wash a nice luncheon. I brought a corned beef shandwich back with me from it.” She waves her hand toward the Frigidaire, “Anywah, the point ish that I think I shaw him after, but not during the service.”

Samantha now aware that the sandwich Nikki had given her was Esther’s, tries to hide the remains as subtly as she can.

“Oh,” Nikki says, “Esther, about your sandwich – Sam had not eaten in a while, and so, I am sorry, but I gave it to her.”

Esther glares at Samantha who now looks away. “Firsht my chair . . . and then she adreshsh my drunkenss in my own tounge . . . then my shandwich . . . “ Esther says angrily and unsteady.

Samantha looks back at Esther, “I talked to you in MY tongue.”

“Our f***in’toung!” Esther snaps back, “That better?”

“Sorry, Esther, blame me for the sandwich – I will get you another, I promise.” Nikki looks at Esther aware that she has become a bit unsteady on her feet.

Esther takes a deep breath, shakes her head as if to clear it, “It’s ok. It’s ok. It’s just a sandwich.”

“Please . . . ladies . . . let’s stick to business . . . ” Rhyaad tries to calm the situation, well aware that Esther and Samantha can not get along – and he has perhaps made a wrong decision in ever bringing Samantha to Collinsport.

Esther sighs heavily.

Sam offers the half of the sandwich she had been trying to conceal, “There’s half left.”

Esther just continues her glare.

“So, the Cantor, you think Noah might had said anything to him?” Nikki asks.

Sam now tries to pass the sandwich over to Esther only she accidently drops it, “Cantor?”

“What is it? What does he know that they are willing to try an abduction in the middle of Collinsport?” Nikki ponders.

“Well, I think so, I mean, I only saw him on a double take, and by then they had both left.” Esther explains.

Esther smirks at Sam, “And I would think you more than the rest would know wash a cantor is.” She intentionally pays no attention to the fallen sandwich.

“I think we should talk to the cantor – just in case. He might know where Noah is. Then I guess we go to Bangor and see if we can find him.” Nikki concludes.

Samantha glares back, “Well lets see how good your memory is after 10 years without temple and after a 10 hour flight clinging to a tire.”

Esther replies, “כלבה”

“Ladies! Can the two of you please keep your fangs in?” Rhyaad smirked a bit at his little choice of words. “And we should go to Bangor and interview anyone who might know of Noah’s whereabouts.”

“Gai kaken oifen yam!” Esther continues.

“Now – everyone, please.” Nikki says.

Samantha retorts, “A ritch in kop.” Then quickly looks down, “Sorry Miss Nikki.

“Oh your one to talk about Meshuginah.”

“My worry right now is that the gunsel out there might try for Esther again.” Nikki says looking at the two women.

“Pah!” Samantha responds and makes a hand sign at Esther.

Rhyaad nods trying to keep the conversation on track, “Yes, we should plan a trip to Bangor. Quickly. Before these goons find Noah and kill him.”

“I spoke to St. Clair and told her to be on the look out for anyone presenting a gunshot wound to the foot.”

“And of course we will protect Esther.” Rhyaad continues.

“A gunshot to the foot?” Samanath asks.

“She shot the goon.” Rhyaad informs her.

Esther looks at Rhyaad now with the same glare she had given Samantha, “Oh yes. Protect the poor defenseless Esther.”

“Yes, Esther shot the guman in the foot as I tried to run him over, he was shooting at us while we were in the car.” Nikki explains.

Samantha smirks, “Only in the foot?”

“I didn’t want to kill the man. It’s so hard to interrogate someone that is dead.”

“We wanted to grab him for questioning, but he – just disappeared.”

Samantha suddenly lunges across the desk and pats Esther’s belly, “Shoot here they live long enough to talk.”

Esther now gives a deathly stare at Samantha, “Touch me again and I will.”

Nikki turns to Samantha, “Sam, please.”

“Ladies! Fangs in, please.” Rhyaad admonishes them.

“Oysgeposhet.” Esther smirks and leans back.

“I was just educating her on where to shoot,” Samantha tries to smile innocently.

“And how would you know this, Miss Brook?” Rhyaad raised an eyebrow sharply at her – she seemed more lucid but why was she purposely antagonizing Esther?

“Sam. I kill things for a living.” Esther says now tired, “F*** off!”

“My gun wasn’t always broken.”

“Look. We can go to Bangor Tomorrow.” Esther says, “But I’m not going to be insulted by you Sam. I don’t care if you’re Nik’s next—but . . . you arn’t workin’ with me.”

Rhyaad looks at her, “Sam! You used to shoot people?”

“Shoot or be raped—what choice would you make?”

Esther rises, much more sober than she would like. “This meeting is over.”

{Commercial break}

{Viewer Discretion is advised: This episode contains Adult Themes and extreme Soap Opera Situations}

Along the winding, leaf carpeted road that leads through the canopied labyrinth of oak, pine and elm, Nikki drives the black sports car a bit too fast. Her reflexes, her enhanced nocturnal vision concentrating now in controlling the 4.3L V8’s 483 horsepower along the hazardous curves.

Nikki had remained to work with Rhyaad on how best to proceed on finding Noah Mankowski; but Nikki was distracted as she had read the flash of anger and bitter disappointment Esther had felt when she had left the offices. The animosity between Samantha and Esther was more than she had at first understood – and her reading from Samantha was that for her part, it stemmed from the feelings she had for her – she could read flashes of jealousy.

Nikii zoomed the car up along the access road to the winding drive and raced to the front of the Old House. She got out quickly – her mind reaching out to sense Esther’s anger that was even more heighten, as she had been alone with her thoughts. Nikki opens the front door and enters the old mansion.

“Esther! What are you doing?” She calls out tossing her clutch purse and the car keys on the table beside the curved staircase.

“Packing!” Esther, her voice muffled from the closed door of her room, answers.

Nikki glides up the stairs and over to the door, where she knocks, “Esther—we need to talk.”

”Th’ doors unlocked. Come on in.”

Nikki sees Esther as she is folding up a shirt, and placing it in a bag on the bed.

Nikki stands hip-shot, her arms crossed, watching as Esther packs, “Esther what is wrong?”

Esther moves over to the chest to remove another shirt, not looking at Nikki, “Look. If you want to be f***ing Crazy Sam over Artist Sam, whatever, it’s your thing.” She moves over to the bed to put the shirt atop the one she had just moments before placed in the bag, “But I’m not going to live in the same house as her.”

“What?” Nikki asks, stepping forward to stand at the foot of Esther’s bed, “I never said she was going to live in this house –”

Esther places a bronze menorah in the bag on top of the shirt and starts folding a pair of trousers, “That’s where people f***ing usually end-up, they eventually start living with those they’re f***ing, right? Or what where you planning? That she was going to live at the office? So that I am going to have to put up with her bulls*** every time I come to work?”

“I will find her a place, Esther.” Nikki steps closer, “I am just trying to fix her. She’s broken and I am just trying to do the best I can to help her out of the despair she has put herself into – I understand she seems to go out of her way to antagonize you. But—after you left I told her you were my best friend and that she would have to find a way to work with you.”

Esther sees her moving toward her, “No . . . None of that soft voice look into my eyes bulls*** of yours!”

Nikki is hurt by that accusation, “Esther I would never –“ She steps back and leans against the empty chest, looking at all of Esther’s clothes in the bag, and she closes her eyes. “Look Esther—I am going to be as blunt about this as I can . . . no matter who I am or am not f*****g . . . you are still the most important person in my life – above anybody that has anything whatsoever to do with sex—or anything else.”

Esther stops packing.

“I like sex, but I NEED you.”

Esther holding a pair of shabbat candlestick holders, looks at them, lost in thought.

“You are the best thing that has ever happened in my life – and I will send every bloody f***ing bitch packing if you want me to.”

Esther stands silent, her back to Nikki.

Nikki feels her throat tighten, “Don’t leave me Esther!”

Esther sighs, “Nik . . . “

“Esther – please.”

“Okay, Fine . . . I’ll stay.” Esther says and turns to face her, their eyes coming together, “But, Sam has an appointment with Doctor Smith At the Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Center in Bangor on the 15th.”

Nikki nods.

“I know you are trying to help,” Esther admits, “But please, let a professional help her.

Nikki sighs and nods further in agreement, “She needs to go – and I am the first to admit it.” Nikki pushes up from where she was leaning on the chest and holds out her hands, “I did what I did tonight to try and find a way to bring her closer to sanity.”

Esther’s anger begins to fade, as she see’s the emotion on Nikki’s face. “Esther, no one is ever going to come between us. But, you know better than anyone that I have a dual nature – my needs, my desires are – at times – far more primordial than they should be and sometimes they come out.”

Esther nods, “Nik – I know you’re not like— Okay, I’ll stay—and I’ll even try to work with her. But you owe me a sandwich.”

Nikki steps forward to place her hands on Esther’s shoulders, “Okay – I promise you I will get you the best damn sandwich in Collinsport.”

“It better not be ham.”

Nikki smiles, “No never ham!”

Cue Music End of Episode