Music of Souls

"Well, I'll be damned," mused Sam. "I have never known that dog to do anything but growl at vampires."

A smile spread across Elisabeth's face as Jackson crooned, "Nice dog." He brought his attention to Sam. "So, where's Darren, golfing with Larry Tate?"

Samantha slapped his face gently. "If you weren't so damn hot I'd make you pay for that." Elisabeth had closed her eyes, ready for a tirade. When she opened them, incredulous that Jackson had gotten away with his joke, he grinned innocently and shrugged.

Sam put tea on and said, "Let's sit and see if we can get to the bottom of what is going on with you two."

Elisabeth related their story starting with the night they met straight through yesterday. When she finished, she turned to Jackson. "Did I miss anything?"

He thought about the redhead, but felt too ashamed to mention her, and reasoned it was not pertinent to the situation. "Just my dream." He told Sam about the dream and how it had changed.

"Hmmm, I think the first thing we need to do is see what your blood does to Elisabeth's." She went to a cabinet and returned with a metal tray and a knife. Jackson thought, Does she want Elisabeth to taste my blood?

"I'm going to have to cut both of you. Who wants to go first?" Jackson held his hand out. She sliced into his palm and held it over the tray. When she was satisfied with the amount of blood, she handed him a napkin. Then she turned to Elisabeth and repeated the process. Elisabeth's blood was a lighter red, and for a moment the two swirled together in a dance of sorts, then all of a sudden started to bubble and burst into flame. All three stood amazed at the sight before them.

Jackson rubbed his chin with his thumb and index finger. "That can't be good."

Samantha didn't take her eyes off the flame, "That's not necessarily true. Fire can be good or evil, depending on where it comes from."

"And if it comes from blood?"

"I'm not sure. I feel like I have read something about this." She went to one of her bookcases, searching the many leather bound volumes. Elisabeth followed.

Jackson watched the two women for a moment, still dumbstruck. He turned his attention back to the blood and what he found made his jaw drop. "Uh, ladies, I think you better take a look at this." There in the middle of the tray where the blood and fire had been, sat a brilliant diamond.

The women turned to the table and gasped. Sam finally spoke, "Well that settles that."