Where Secrets Lie

Kara managed to finish her work just before morning. With drowsy eyes, she shuffled to Michael's room and peeked inside, afraid of what she might find. Luckily, Michael and Kate were not back. She slipped inside and placed the folder where Michael would easily find it.

As she turned to leave, a door she failed to notice before caught her attention, and her curiosity got the better of her. She looked around again, to ensure she was truly alone and then crept toward the door to investigate. She reached out her shaking fingers and grasped the cold brass knob. It started to turn but immediately stopped.

"Damn, it's locked," she said.

Whispers and footsteps echoed from down the hallway as they returned, and Kara fled the room. She slipped back upstairs to her own bedroom as her heart nearly beat out of her chest. She quietly crawled into bed to avoid waking Amy, but her mind raced. What are you hiding, Michael? she thought.

Downstairs, Kate dragged Micahel along, "Come. Let's go to your room. I'm feeling feisty." She winked.

Normally, Michael returned her teasing, but he hadn't felt right all evening. However, he did allow her to grab his hand and lead him back to the room. As soon as she closed the door behind them, Kate began undressing him, but it all felt too mechanical and routine for him. He looked at her, annoyed more than anything, "I need to take a shower, I smell like sweaty mortals." He shoved her aside.

"You are a vampire; you don't sweat," Kate said, raising one finely plucked eyebrow.

He ignored her statement and walked into one of his bathrooms. Kate tried to follow him, but he locked the door. She called to him, but the whooshing of the shower was his only response.

"Sometimes, you're a jerk," she said through the door, knowing he couldn't hear her.

She considered leaving but assumed Michael would feel better after his shower and be ready to play with her. She removed her dress but left on her stockings. Looking around the room, she hunted for the best place for Michael to enjoy her, and she decided the rug in front of the fireplace was the best option.

She sauntered over to the fireplace, but as she passed Michael's desk, a folder caught her eye. There was no way Kara could have completed that job already. She suggested Kara do her work, knowing she wouldn't be able to complete it. With a grunt, she tossed it into the fire just as the shower stopped.

As Michael exited the bathroom, a calm feeling washed over him. The fire that roared made him feel more inclined to succumb to Kate's advances. She lay on the rug, naked and she grinned, giving into the stirring between his legs. He crawled over to her, like a predator stalking their prey. Michael pushed her hair aside to reveal her long tanned neck. Her blood trickled down as he bit into her soft flesh. Within seconds, they were locked in a passionate embrace. Rolling around, in front of the roaring fire.

After their fun, Michael lay on the rug beside her, but he suddenly remembered the assignment he gave to Kara. He stood and searched through the papers on his desk, but it was nowhere to be found. Just when he thought she was beginning to understand her role, she chose to defy him once more. He pulled on his pants and marched to her room.

The sun shined with brilliance through the windows, promising a beautiful morning, but instead of waking to a lovely scene, Kara woke with a startle. Michael jerked the comforter from her bed. Had it not been for her training, she would have landed smack on the floor, but instead, she jumped to her feet, alert and ready to fight. "Michael!" she exclaimed upon seeing him. He never came to their room. She had a few more things she wanted to say, but she bit her tongue.

"Where is the portfolio?" he yelled at her. His gray eyes seemed to be glowing.

Amy walked up behind him, rubbing her eyes. "What's going on?" Upon seeing Michael, she woke completely, shocked.

Kara realized she was in her underwear and attempted to cover herself as she replied to him. "I know for a fact that I left it on your desk near dawn. I stayed up all night working on it. I nearly fell asleep while putting it there."

Kara felt tears of anger swelling in her eyes. "I'll show you!"

She stomped down the hallway to his room. He trailed right behind her, just as furious. Without waiting for him, she burst into the room to find Kate wrapped in Michael's sheets, her skin glowing. Kara glared at her for just a moment and then immediately turned her attention to the dancing flames. She didn't need to look for the folder. She knew exactly where it was: in the fire.

She looked at Kate and smirked, which surprised her. Instead of arguing, she walked to the desk and opened his briefcase. She retrieved another folder and tossed it at Michael, mentally laughing as he fumbled to catch it and dropping papers to the floor.

"You're lucky I made two copies. That tramp in your bed must have thrown the other one in the fire."

Kate jumped out of bed, clenching the sheets, her mouth gaping. "Are you going to let her talk to me like that?" she asked.

Michael simply pointed at the door. She hesitated a moment before fleeing the room, the sheets fluttering behind her.

Kara began to follow. "Wait." Michael had returned to his usual calm self.

Kara turned to look at him, expecting another command, or at most, a backhanded compliment. "What?" she responded, her voice more intense than she had intended.

"Thank you"