"Where do you think he is now?" I asked John, one evening in early December. A log fire was roaring in the grate – not strictly allowed as the smokeless zone laws introduced after the terrible smogs of the 1950s were still in force. John had told me all about those days, with more than a hint of nostalgia. Thick, choking smoky fog had been a feature of London life since the industrial revolution, and a great gift to vampires allowing them to move about freely after dark and select their prey at will.

We were talking about Appius, again. The plane which had transported him out of London had crash landed in the arctic wastes of northern Finland. There were no human survivors found, only two bloodless corpses and an open coffin.

"He won't disobey the King, he will lie low," John said confidently, ignoring the fact that the two statements didn't automatically go together. "If he has any sense he will stay there, at least for the winter while the nights are long."

"Let's hope so." I forced a smile. There were only a few weeks to go until the revelation, and I was counting them down on a calendar which Julian had given me. It had a new word to learn every day – he thought it would help me to improve my vocabulary.

Everyone who knew about it was nervous, it was impossible to predict how people would react. Would there be mass panic, or riots on the streets. A whole new department was set up to co-ordinate plans, and naturally I was seconded to it. My colleagues regarded me with an odd mixture of jealousy and awe. Julian and I were the only ones who actually knew any vampires, and I was certainly the only person who was in a relationship with one.

Our work was completely hush-hush. Even within the organisation we had a cover story – something to do with international terrorism and the millennium bug. Our plan was a subtle one. We looked for every opportunity to either plant or encourage stories which, if not entirely positive towards vampires, at least made them intriguing and sexy. There were already novels and TV shows out there, it wasn't hard to ensure that as many as possible got published, and when they were, to get them to the top of the best-seller charts. For once we worked happily in harmony with the US authorities.

There were a select few who shared our secrets, bound by the strictest confidentiality. The Government was keen to use any opportunity to boost the economy, so new product opportunities were being identified. A secret auction of the distribution rights for the synthetic blood products, crucial to enable vampires to live openly, had been hotly contested and there would be at least two rival, fully tested and approved versions on the market.

Light-tight fixtures and fittings to convert buildings and homes into places of safety were going to be another big seller. That was great news for me, and I managed to get my little mews house as a test installation. Thick black blinds were fitted to the inside of every window and door, carefully hidden between exterior blinds, and curtains so as not to be too obvious. The effect was amazing, even with the brightest winter sunshine outside, the rooms were so dark that I had to feel my way around.

It meant that John could spend every evening with me if he wanted. He pretty much moved in on a permanent basis. His small selection of clothes found their way into my wardrobe, and if he had needed to use a toothbrush I'm sure it would have ended up in my bathroom. I insisted that he buy his own cleaning products though, fed up with my best shampoo and shower gel getting used up so quickly – I'd discovered that cleanliness was the one human bodily function that vampires really cared about.

"How are you?" I would ask him every evening when I got home from work.

"I'm fine, how are you?"

"I'm fine too, thank you."

"Good, then we are both fine."

It was a silly little ritual, after all vampires don't change, but it was the kind of thing that made us feel like a real couple.

It got dark so early that he was always awake when I got home, and even started to try his hand at cooking for me. He was fine with meat, not so good with vegetables, but an iron-rich diet suited me, as I was letting him feed from me regularly.

I didn't mind, in fact to tell the truth I found it strangely enjoyable, particularly the times when we shared blood. That was usually combined with spectacular sex. There was nothing at all old-fashioned about John's enthusiasm for that, and despite my sheltered upbringing I easily matched him – perhaps it was the fairy blood.

He had discovered a second hand copy of 'The Joy of Sex' in a charity shop, and insisted that we work our way through all the positions. I'm glad to say he wasn't as hairy as the man in the illustrations – I've always found facial hair a real turn off – but he was every bit as inventive and probably more flexible.

King Edward had ordered all of his subjects to keep a very low profile in the remaining weeks, fearful that any further unfortunate incidents would inflame public emotions. To my disgust the Police had found a suspect to pin the Madonna murder on. An ex-alcoholic who lived on the margins of society, in and out of homeless shelters, he had already been given an Anti-Social Behaviour Order for harassing Jordan and Victoria Beckham. It wasn't too hard for them to make a case against him.

Disgusted and outraged as I was, there was nothing I could do. I extracted a promise from Julian that we would find a way to get his case reconsidered once things were out in the open.

-XoXoXo-

In mid-December, all of the English vampires were ordered to present themselves for registration in advance of the revelation. The authorities had been surprisingly calm about the prospect of one of humanity's greatest fears living openly in society, but they wanted to know exactly what they were dealing with.

It sounded faintly biblical to me – a vampire census. I was surprised they weren't all expected to return to the place where they were first made, but that would probably have been too complicated. Instead MI5 set up a number of reception centres in Police headquarters or other secure buildings – GCHQ in Cheltenham, Menwith Hill in North Yorkshire.

Along with all the London vampires, John had to report to MI5 HQ. I was allowed to come with him, although because of our relationship Julian would be the one to sit in on his interview. Unfortunately the night of his interview co-incided with a bus and tube strike. We were quite happy to walk, but the powers that be insisted on a car. John would be the last to be interviewed that evening – he wasn't scheduled until 5.00am and they were worried we would get caught up with the drunken, late-night party crowd.

I wasn't best pleased to find that they'd sent Joe as our driver. He had moved in with my friend Amy, and she was now pregnant with his child. I'd been to their engagement party, which was not an enjoyable experience. They'd hired a comedian, or at least that was how he described himself. Most of his so-called jokes were at the expense of black people or gays which Joe and his friends seemed to find quite hysterically amusing. Personally I didn't see it.

Joe was late, with some odd excuse about being delayed at the American embassy. I knew he was a strong broadcaster, so I closed the security screen between front and rear seats, not wanting to hear his thoughts about my true love - I could be one hundred percent certain they would not be pleasant.

I reckoned we had about forty-five minutes but with hardly any traffic on the roads that gave us plenty of time to get to the safety of the underground car park. To my surprise though, just as we approached our destination he pulled up in a side street.

"What do you think you're doing," I yelled, "we need to be there in five minutes."

Joe turned in his seat, his face a mask of hatred and anger. "He is an abomination," he said coldly, his voice completely emotionless, sounding clearly through the speaker as he stared at my lover. "He must be destroyed."

"No," I yelled, "please don't do this."

Even in my fear and panic there was something odd about his voice that nagged at me.

I rattled desperately at the door handle, but we were in a security car and the rear doors can only be opened from the outside. I tried to lower the bullet proof screen, but he had locked it in place, leaving us trapped. There was nothing I could do, even the extra strength I had from sharing blood with John wouldn't help – these cars were designed to be bomb-proof.

"Please, take us to safety," I begged again, banging desperately on the screen, "Just drive us on, and I'll say nothing." The sky was beginning to lighten and soon the sun would rise.

He was facing forward now, but I could see in the mirror that his expression hadn't changed. I fumbled in my bag for something I could use as a weapon to threaten him with. Julian had got me permission to carry a gun, equipped with silver bullets, ever since we'd heard about Appius' escape, but even holding that to the screen, Joe didn't react. Instead, he took the keys out of the ignition, wound down his window and quite calmly dropped them into a drain at the side of the road.

All this time, John was sitting perfectly still. After what seemed like an age, he spoke. "Do not fret, my love, it is my time. Meeting you has made my existence complete."

I could see that his skin was already starting to blister, and smoke. I winced, imagining the pain he must be in. He didn't react at all, just turned to me with a wistful expression.

"Never forget that I loved you."

I turned away, unable to watch his existence end in front of my eyes.

It was too early for many people to be out on the streets, but I caught a glimpse in the wing mirror of a figure approaching. From the gait I could tell it was a man, but his long coat and wide-brimmed hat hid every feature of his identity. As he came closer I banged on the window to attract his attention. It worked, as he slowed his pace and moved closer to the car.

Thank God, I thought, all I had do was to get him to open the door from the outside and we would have a chance of making it to safety. The he raised his head so I could see his eyes under the brim of his hat. They were narrow, red and snake-like: an all too familiar creature who offered no hope to either of us. Everything clicked into place. This was his doing. He had fascinated poor Joe to do this.

What kind of evil monster would sacrifice his own child, his own creation? I hoped I would never find out. Appius tipped his hat to me in a sarcastic gesture and disappeared down the street. It was too late to save my vampire lover, who had disintegrated into a pile of dust. It was only the adrenaline of anger which had stopped me from collapsing. Now I felt the bile rise in my throat as despair washed over me, and I threw up over my own shoes.

"So should all the blood-sucking scum perish," Joe intoned, lowering the security screen now that it was no longer needed.

Acting on instinct I leant forward, gripped his head firmly and with a sharp twist, broke his neck. It was my first kill. John's blood had given me the strength and at the time it seemed a fitting response, although later I would feel a dreadful guilt. As my anger subsided I made a solemn vow; I would track down Appius Livius Ocella and I would send him to his final death, if it was the last thing I ever did.

Then I climbed over the seat, unlocked the door and ran down the road toward the office, stumbling as the tears blinded my eyes. Julian was waiting for me, pacing the floor. He knew that something must have gone wrong, even before I collapsed into his arms and stammered out my story. I told him the whole truth, even the part about killing Joe. He would have to decide what to do, I could no longer think straight

Julian carried me to his office, sat me down and made me a cup of tea. That combined with a glass of malt whisky that tasted of dirt served to calm me down. His quick brain came up with a convincing cover story, and he rang security to get to the car and clear up the mess.

Amy would be told that there had been an accident. She and her baby would be well compensated for the loss of a husband and father.

Nothing would compensate me, though. I'd lost the love of my life and I couldn't see how anyone could ever replace him.

-XoXoXo-

I could hardly bear to stay in the house that night. Everything reminded me of John. His cold, dry scent still clung to the furniture and the bedclothes. I found a shirt he'd discarded and slept in it every night, or to be more accurate tossed and turned, fighting off the nightmares.

At the same time, I didn't dare leave; for fear that Appius was out there waiting for me.

Eric's card was lying on the sideboard in a wooden bowl. I picked it up and turned it over in my fingers. I don't really know what I expected him to be able to do, but at least he would understand. Five or six times I started to dial the number, then hung up, unsure of what to say to him. With the time difference he would still be at rest, but he might have voicemail.

Finally I followed through. Sure enough, he had a message, and it was as brusque as you would expect from him. 'Eric Northman, speak after the tone.'

I took a deep breath and launched in. 'Mr Northman, Eric, this is Sookie Stackhouse, from London. I need to talk to you, something has happened and I don't know who else to call.' I added my number and hung up. John had said he was rich so hopefully he wouldn't mind calling long distance.

I was still awake when he called back in the early hours. He heard out my story in silence.

"You must take great care," he said. "Appius will come after you too, I'm sure of that. You must only leave the house in daylight hours when he cannot touch you."

That was great, in the middle of December when there were only about eight hours of daylight, but I had to agree with him.

"I have some matters to attend to, but as soon as I can I will come to London to be with you."

Guilt and pleasure battled inside me at his words. Of course no-one could replace John, but my initial dislike of Eric had worn off the more time I had spent with him. I was certain that no human could really understand what I was going through, but maybe he could.

"Thank you," I whispered, knowing that he would be able to hear me.

"It will be my pleasure; together we will avenge my brother."

I would have to wait a few days but I was satisfied with that. To tell the truth it was the only thing that kept me going. In the run up to Christmas things were quieter in the office, so I got away with working shorter days so I could travel in daylight. Everyone thought I was a miserable cow for avoiding all the office parties and I was sorry that I couldn't explain why. Perhaps after the revelation I would be able to tell the people I cared about.

Eric called me every night, just to check that I was alright, he said. Although his calls were in the early hours I didn't mind. I couldn't sleep much anyway, and it was good to have someone to talk to who understood. He didn't seem to mind me talking about John and how much I missed him.

I was thinking about Eric that Saturday morning when I popped out to pick up a skinny latte and the newspaper. I never saw the car, or at least not until the last moment. Then I exchanged a quick glance with the driver. His eyes were blank, his face expressionless. He was an automaton going through the motions, another victim of vampire fascination.

"Appius!" it was my last conscious thought.

-XoXoXoXo-

"We must return her." Dimly I heard a woman's voice, soft and melodic.

"No it is not safe. She must leave this life and find another. We have need of her skills and she must be protected." A man this time, his voice deeper, and older, I thought dimly but equally musical.

"Do you believe I cannot protect my own god-daughter, Niall," that was the woman, sounding angry now.

"Oh do stop whining, Claudine," that was a third voice, a younger sounding man.

I have no idea where I was as this conversation took place around me. I couldn't feel my own body and the only thing I could see was a bright, white light. I had no sense of heat, cold or anything else external. I couldn't see the speakers, even though I could tell from their voices that they were very close.

"It is decided. I have taken precautions to protect my great-granddaughter. Thanks to my son and his love for human women there are several lives I could have given her. This one will end, but another will take her place."

"Where?" I heard the young man and woman ask together.

"Where there is someone strong enough to protect her."

After that, there was nothing.

The end

Continued…in Louisiana