Michael was furious, how dare that lawyer make a fool of him. After he left the restaurant, he made his way to a local bar. As he was on his second beer, a bleach blonde in a skimpy outfit sidled over to him.

"Hey baby." She cooed. "You look like someone who could use some special company."

"Not really." he told her." As he continued to nurse his beer. He pretty much was ignoring her, but that didn't stop her from continuing her advances. She placed her hands on his shoulders, leaned in, and whispered in his ear.

"I'll make it worth your while." She told him. "I'll do anything you ask." As he turned his head to look at her, she had a coy smile upon her face. He then looked at her, and returned her smile.

"Anything?" He asked.

"Anything." She replied in a sensual whisper.

"Well in that case." He said as he kept smiling at her. "I want you to get your bleach blond, Botox injected, fake titted, bony assed body, the fuck out of my face!"

His face went cold, as he turned away from her, and continued to drink his beer. She had a look upon her face that showed how stunned she was, and just stayed silent. Obviously feeling dejected, she just silently walked away.

Stupid whore! He thought. I can't stand women who act like that!

After he finished his beer, he threw a twenty one the bar, and went home. He wasn't much of a drinker. So only after two beers, he had a slight hangover when he woke up the next day. Well at least he didn't wake up next to the bimbo from the bar last night.

Michael took a couple of aspirin, and hopped in the shower. He had to try to get a hold of Hope, and apologize for his behavior. Although, it was that damn lawyer who started it. He knew the lawyer was a powerful man, but he also knew that he too was someone you never wanted to anger.

As he got dressed, it was about 11 AM. He soon heard the doorbell ring.

Who the hell can that be, maybe it's Hope?

The thought of it put a smile on his face, as he answered the door. But the smile soon faded when he saw who it actually was.

"Mr. Davenshire." Said John with a smirk on his face, as he just walked into Michael's home. "I hope I didn't come at a bad time."

"No not at all, please do come in." He replied in annoyance as he slammed his door shut. "How my I help you Mr Beckmann."

"This is an interesting place you have." said John as he looked around. "It's very—quaint. Nothing at all like the large Chamberlain estate."

"It's home, I like it." Replied Michael as he crossed his arms. "It might not be much, but its mine. I've earned it. I haven't made my fortune off of my wealthy clients."

John just let out a sarcastic chuckle. "Let's just cut out the bullshit, and get right to the chase. Stay away from Hope!"

"Well you see, I really can't do that right now." Said Michael. "Hope is my niece, she needs me right now. I'm the only family she's got."

"Right." Said John as he threw a file down on a table that was close to the front door.

"What is this? He asked John while feeling quite confused.

"Just some interesting reading material for you to look at." John replied. "Go ahead, read it."

Michael picked up the file and began to read what it said.

"Where the hell did you get this?" Michael asked.

"I'm a powerful man, with powerful friends." John told him. "As I told you last night, I don't know what game you think you are playing, but it's a very dangerous one. I am not going to let you hurt Hope."

"I have no intention on hurting Hope!" Michael exclaimed. "If anything my only desire it to protect her, especially from someone like you."

"Well then let me put it to you this way!" John spat. "That file is just a copy. The original is in a safe, and I have a lot more copies I can make anytime I want. Now you are going to get on the phone, and you are going to call Hope. Then you are going to explain to her, that you have to go out of town for awhile. Because if you don't, I will not only give a copy to her. I will also send a copy to the many different law enforcement agencies, from around the world, that consider you a person of interest."

Michael began to seethe with rage, as he stared down John.

"Be careful who you're dealing with, counselor." Michael replied. "You aren't the only one who can be dangerous."

"Maybe." Replied John. "But I'm the one who's holding all the cards, and I have no qualms about playing my hand."

At that moment the phone rang, as Michael froze.

"You should answer it." Said John. "It's probably Hope."

Michael's blood continued to boil, as he thought about how much he wanted to slap the smug look off of his face. He then made his way over to the phone, and picked up the receiver.

"Hello." Michael said as he answered it.

"Uncle Mike." Hope replied. "I hope this isn't a bad time. I need to talk to you, about the bottle. I have so many questions. Is there anyway you can come over?" Michael looked at John, who kept staring him down while he had his arms crossed. His heart raced, as he wanted more than anything to go to her. But he knew that John wasn't bluffing, when he threatened to expose his past.

"Actually, Hope." Michael replied. "Now isn't a good time. I'm packing."

"Packing?" Hope asked. "Why?"

"I'm afraid I've been called away on some business." He told her. "I'm taking a red eye to London."

"But I need you!" She cried. "You're my only family, you're all I have! You were right about that bottle, it's evil! Please, you have to tell me all you know about it!"

Michael closed his eyes, as John just continued to stare at him. More than anything, he wanted to comfort her. He wanted to protect her from the evil that resided inside the bottle. But the lawyer had him buy the balls.

"Look, Hope." He replied. "Everything is going to be okay, I promise. We'll talk as soon as I get back."

"But Uncle Mike—!" She began to cry.

"Listen sweetheart." He interrupted. " I really have to go. I promise I'll call you as soon as I get back."

Before she could continue to protest, he hung up the phone. Tears began to well up in his eyes.

"Well I hope you're happy!" Michael snapped. "She's terrified, and hysterical!"

A wicked smile appeared on John's face. "Don't worry, I promise that I'll take good care of her. I'll comfort her when she needs it. After a while, she'll forget you ever even existed. I suggest you start making your plane reservations. If your not out of this town in the next twenty four hours, your past will be the talk of it.

"Get the hell out of my house!" Michale yelled.

"With pleasure." John replied, as he shot him a triumphant smile, "I'll just let myself out. You have a lot of packing to do." He then bowed to Michael, in a sarcastic jester of false respect, as he made his way out the door.

Michael screamed in anger, at the thought of that asshole having something over his head. He then picked up the file, and threw it across the room. Papers flew every, as information on his passed fell down upon the floor. All of a sudden the door bell rang again.

Now what does that asshole want!

"WHAT!" He cried in extreme rage upon answering the door. But to his surprise, it was the mailman standing at the door. The frightened postal worker's eyes widened, as he was obviously oblivious to all that was happening.

"I-I'm sorry to bother you, sir." The mailman replied as he was obviously still taken aback by Michael's actions. "But you have an express package from Morocco that needs to be signed for."

"Oh my god." Replied Michael. "I am so sorry. I thought you were someone else. I guess I'm just not having a good morning."

"That-that's okay." Replied the mailman as he handed him the scanner, with a stylus pen. Michael sighed, as he signed for the package.

"Look, I am so sorry." Said Michael. "I am completely embarrassed. I promise to give you an extra big Christmas tip this year."

The mailman smiled at him, as he traded the package for the scanner. "That's okay, we all have our bad mornings."

After the mailman left, Michael took the package into the kitchen. He grabbed a knife, and proceeded to open it. As he did so, he looked inside. Inside were the varied items that he had been waiting for, a smile soon appeared upon his face.

"Well Mr. Beckmann, it seems that I've just been dealt a new hand.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

Hope couldn't believe that her uncle would abandon her like that. Then again she just met him, she really didn't know him. True he gave her that photo album, but other than that she knew absolutely nothing about him. In fact a couple of days ago she didn't know he even existed. Besides, John was coming over tonight. Maybe he was the one who could actually help her.

She went to the linen closet, and grabbed some sheets, and pillow cases so she could make her bed. As she walked in the room, she noticed that the bed had already been made.

What the fuck?

She placed the linens on her dresser, and slowly made her way over to her bed. Cautiously she grabbed covers, and one swift movement, pulled then off the bed.

Hope screamed in horror, as the blood stained sheets where back on the bed. She turned around to leave, but as he did, she saw the bottle was back on the nightstand.

"You didn't really think you could escape, did you?'" She heard his voice say inside her head. Terrified, Hope burst into tears.

"Please don't cry!" He whispered. "I told you, I will never hurt you! My only wish is to love, and protect you!"

"How, why?' She cried. "Why are these sheets back on my bed?"

"Because they're a reminder of our special night together." He replied. "They should be treasured, not destroyed."

"Why?" She cried. "Why are your doing this to me?"

"Because I love you, Hope." He replied. "I am for you, just as you are for me. And as tonight is the night of a blood moon, you will soon become forever mine. We will be together, even beyond time itself. And if anyone tries to take you from me, I'm afraid that they will have to be dealt with, severely. You Hope, are mine!"