Isolde Devereaux lit the lantern, setting it in front of a mirror to double the luminescence. She shook her head, the mane of curling red hair  danced across her shoulders as she did so. When she had visited Taverton last year, she had thought the soft glow of lanterns such a refreshing concept compared to Boston where she had lived for the last fifty years. Boston of the bright lights and bustling traffic. When Malachai had been released from this incarnation, she had been left alone. She never knew in which life time he would be back. Isolde, practical witch that she was, would not want for male companionship. Her gaze fell across the sleeping blond haired, blue eyed man who filled her bed by the fireplace.<br/><br/>Glancing out the window, Isolde frowned. The snow fell continually under the nearly full moon. She went to the wet bar and produced a one of the bottles filled with crimson liquid that lined the shelves. The cork popped off and a sicking sweet aroma wafted through the room. Wishing she didn't have to disturb his slumber, Isolde looked at the long lean muscles of his arms and the flat planes of his stomach. She sat next to him, gently shaking his shoulder.<br/><br/>"Dolph, wake up. The moon is nearly full. You need to drink this." she said softly, kissing his ear but holding the bottle well away.<br/><br/>He swatted at her and pulled the quilt over his head.<br/><br/>Shaking her head again, she sat the bottle down and tugged at the quilt with both hands.<br/><br/>"Bad boy." she scolded, in the mock irritation one does a favorite dog who digs up the rosebushes. "You must wake up and drink this. You must have three doses in you before the full moon or your blood lust will ruin you."<br/><br/>"Tastes like horse piss," came the churlish answer. "Why can't your concoctions tastes like Bailey's?" This time the arm that shot out attempted  to pull her into bed. " You smell good. I could eat you up!"<br/><br/>"And that is the problem, " she answered dryly. "You forget this and you will eat someone up. I know how badly you hate to hurt people. Remember that little girl you hurt however many years ago? You still have nightmares about that."<br/><br/>Dolph sat bolt upright in the bed, the quilts spilling onto the floor precariously close to the fireplace.<br/>"Give me that. I told you to never bring that up. I do not want to think about it. Give me that, now!" he growled. His voice taking on the rasping of a wolf.With a swift gulp that told of disgust, anger and resentment in one huge swallow, Dolph downed the foul tasting mixture.<br/><br/>He shuddered as he handed the bottle back to Isolde.<br/>"What is in that?" he asked again for the hundredth time.<br/><br/>She laughed,<br/>"If I told you, I would have to kill you. Besides, it isn't important exactly what is in it but the spell that binds it is. One more of these tomorrow night and you can run with the wolves, bringing down animal prey only, You will be strong and fearless,"<br/><br/>Isolde ran her fingers through his longish blond hair, as if she were petting a dog. He grasped her head,long fingers on either side of her head, and kissed her deeply. She could taste the potion on his tongue.<br/><br/>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br/>Later, when the fire had burned down low, Dolph rose, tucking the quilt around Isolde as she slept. He dressed quickly, jeans, boots and a thick black cable knit sweater under a down vest. He kissed her on the nose, and whispered.<br/>"I'll be back, baby. I need the fresh air.The walk through town will calm me and I will be back before the moon is hanging low in the sky."<br/><br/>Isolde murmured. Dolph smiled. She worked so hard to support them. He wasn't much good, yet. Up until now, the lycanthropy had been such a hazard for others that he had not worked a profitable job. Isolde had met him when she was out gathering herbs for her apothecary's garden. He had not know witches like her existed. She was a immortal witch, or something like that. She could die, had several times in fact but she always came back. Another lifetime, usually bound to a vampire, but for some reason, in this lifetime, she was free. And now, he was hers. Not the other way around. She owned him, heart and soul.<br/><br/>A peculiar scent was on the air and he was glad of that potion now. Blood mingled with something powerful, like magic but more. The snow was coming down so thick that Dolph could barely see his hand in front of his face and the drifts were sometimes hip deep. The road and the sidewalks were being cleared about every thirty minutes but was piling up around the houses and in the alleyway. The wind gusted and the metallic scent of blood filled his nostrils, narrowing his vision to dizzying effect.<br/><br/>He blindly followed the scent until he came to a  mound of snow in a halo of red. Dolph howled and fell to his knees, soaking his jeans and clawing at the snow with his fingers. There was a person here. He heard a faint groan. He dug faster. A face, surrounded by masses of raven black hair, lay stiffly in the snow. The young woman's face matched the snow except for the blue tinged lips. It was then that Dolph smelled vampire. He looked around, snarling, knowing that his human form was not the least bit intimidating and longing for the wolf that would emerge tomorrow.<br/><br/>The snow hindered his progress but finally he managed to clear the way for him to pick her up. Her head lolled back and her arms flopped lifelessly. He hoped to god that he wasn't too late. His keen hearing caught the faint beat of a heart stubbornly clinging to life. The blood from the neck wound was only seeping now and he knew that she had only the last vestiges of life left. Tucking her in close to his chest, Dolph headed out at a full out run .<br/><br/>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br/>Dolph crashed through the door,<br/>"Isolde, wake up. This is an emergency."<br/><br/>She was a light sleeper and sprang to her feet  before she realized her state of undress. Grabbing the quilt from the bed, she indicated that Dolph should put the girl on the dining room table. She arranged the quilt, sarong style and brought the lantern from the mantle.<br/><br/>"Just when I thought you were doing so well," she sighed as she inspected the girl.<br/><br/>"I am, damn it, Isolde. Don't tell me you can't figure this one out." he snarled. "Can't you smell it?"<br/><br/>"You know perfectly well I don't smell half of what you, OMG. Vampire bite. I am so sorry, Dolph." Isolde said softly, dabbing the wound with a soft cloth. "I'm not sure I can save her . But I will try."