"Okay, now that that part is out of the way, TJ, Tad you will need to stay here until Tad finishes high school and has turned eighteen." Timothy tells the two brothers. 

As expected they aren't happy about being separated from Melissa. No claimed likes being separated from their master for long periods of time. But this time it is necessary.

"I know you don't like it, and if Tad were older it wouldn't be necessary. But if you continue to live near her, you will inevitably be drawn together sexually. I can't allow that. We will be under close scrutiny for some time, likely years because of my decision to turn Melissa. My seethe will have to follow the laws of the land even more tightly than they normally do.

"Melissa, all seethes have their own rules they follow besides the two vampire laws. In my seethe we just follow the laws of the land or if you prefer the humans."

"I understand." Melissa tells him with a slight smile. She isn't liking the separation order either.

"I know that it will be difficult. I have been in a similar situation before. It's not ideal and if there was something I could do to make it easier I would. The best I can do is allow for her to visit you or for you to visit her a few times each year. Those visits will have to be approved by me before they happen. 

"I'm sorry, Melissa, you will be allowed to go with out me around in the seethe and in the city that our seethe claims, but outside the seethe you will need to have a guard. At least until you are able to master your abilities and use them to protect yourself without draining yourself completely.

"After Tad turns eighteen and has completed high school  you both will be welcome to move into the seethe. There will be chambers set aside for you once we return home. Those will be your rooms for when you visit us and if you decide to move in with us after you come of age.

"Travis, you have the option of staying here or transferring to the city. Should you decide to transfer, well, I can always use another contact in the police force that knows what to look for and keep an eye out for supernatural problems. Those problems will need to be brought to my attention as soon as possible so that I and my vampires can take care of the problem.

"If you choose to turn I will be able to use you on my vampire guard. Basically it's a police force of vampires. Just let me know what you decide before we leave. A room will also be made available for you to use any time you choose to visit should you decide to stay here, or if you decide to move back with us."

"Thank you, I'm not trying to be rude or any thing, but what exactly is the relationship between you two. I really don't want to cause any problems."

Timothy looks over at Melissa and smiles warmly. "That would be hard to define really. I created her, or turned her if you prefer. That would normally result in an automatic bonding, but because she is a psychic vampire and also because she was turned against her wishes there was no bond. That is why she had to ask to join my seethe. Other wise she would have automatically been a member and one of high standing since I turned her.

"We, like you, have been lovers. I am sure that  you realized that when you came over this morning." Timothy said rather dryly. Travis colors and looks down as he nods. "But unless she chooses that is all we will ever be. I cannot nor would I, force her to be more. I also realize that since you three are bound to her that she will eventually be with all three of you sexually. There are no true monogamous relationships in the vampire world. The closest that would come close would be when two vampires claim each other. That is like a marriage among our kind. It is also permanent. So before two vampires enter into such an arrangement they make very sure that it is truly what they wish. But still, if there are humans that become claimed, the vampire couple will be with their claimed ones.

"If the claimed human desires to be turned and survives the turning, it is almost necessary for them to be sexual with each other upon occasion. That strengthens the bond between the two. Again, things were different for Melissa and I, we didn't have the bond to be strengthened. For  you three she would and very likely will.

"You must understand that there is no such thing as incest among the vampire kind."

"I see, so don't get icked out when you see me with my brothers." Melissa says with a straight face but a twinkle of laughter in her eyes.

Travis gives a short bark of laughter, "Who am I to judge? No, I won't be reporting any acts of incest that I see. I wouldn't report any acts with Tad either, even though he is under aged."

Tad looks at Melissa with hope. "No, I'm sorry Tad, but I can't put Timothy in more danger than he already is. He put his life on the line trying to save my life. To give me a new life, I won't repay him by going behind his back like that. Besides you should stay here to finish your schooling. You can apply to my university there and I'm sure that you will be able to get in without much trouble."

"Melissa, please, don't make me stay here for three more years." Tad says piteously.

"I will allow you to visit her during summer vacations or she will be coming here. Perhaps you can all go on vacations together as a family. That will have to do, I'm sorry Tad, TJ, but that truly is the best that can be done for now."

There is a knock at the door, they all go silent as Melissa goes to open the door.

"Yes?" Melissa asks as she looks at the stranger before her.

"Is that any way to treat an old friend?"

TJ goes up to the door and gently pushes Melissa behind him. "Melissa doesn't have any old friends."

The man starts chuckling, "She has friends older than you can believe TJ. I think your father was right about you. Oh, look, you let Melissa place her protection on you. Smart boy, is your brother as smart?

The man looks at Melissa and gives a delighted chortle. "Good, you chose Timothy, he'll protect you just like your father wanted, Melissa."

Melissa sighs. "Move out of the way, TJ, he won't hurt us."

"What do you want to be called at this time, sir?" Melissa asks the middle aged seeming man.

"I think I'll go by the name of Cliff Richards for a bit. It's going to take some time to get all my info changed over so I'm going to be taking a vacation. I think I'll go talk to some dumbass idiots that keep trying to put traitors on the council. Don't worry, I'll make sure that the council is aware that she is under your protection boy. You won't be having any trouble with them, especially not when they find out that she is also under MY protection and has been for years. Have I thanked you yet for turning her?"

"Yes, I believe you did, sir." Timothy hesitates before continuing, "Sir, if I might..."

Cliff smiles and Timothy is hit with a barrage of information. "It's all there. You will need to find it and figure out how to use it. You are old enough now that I believe it will come in handy. You will be needing to move again if you don't use it soon. Good genes only works for so long." Cliff warns.

"Thank you, sir."

Cliff nods and smiles. "Well, young Tad, you are certainly shaping up to be a far better man than your biological father ever was. He is currently sitting in a jail cell awaiting trial for murder of your father that raised you and took care of you. Marissa turned herself in last night, or was it early this morning?"

"It was late last night, sir?" Travis says more than a little confused.

"Oh, yes, my manners certainly seem to be lacking lately. Cliff Richards, you know my brothers or know of them, TJ and Tad. This is Detective Travis Mason and as you already know he was in charge of your murder case.

"Detective, boys, this gentlemen until recently was known as Trevor Lister, my lawyer here." Melissa makes the introduction to them all. Travis turns white.

"If this is Trevor Lister than who the hell was killed in the fire?" Travis demands to know. Now more than a little sick.

"Oh, that would be the schmuck that was there to kill me. I didn't have any wish to die at that time so I traded places with him. After he shot himself like he shot me he wasn't in any condition to complain about the freaking fire he started. Dumb ass nearly killed me after all with that fire."

"I don't understand," Travis says weakly.

"It would likely be easier just to have Cliff show you than to tell you," Timothy says trying to hide his amusement.

"Very well, if you insist."  Cliff says with a fake put upon air. He drops his disguise and the power he holds is felt by all.

"Cliff is one of the oldest vampires still living. There will be no reason to mention anything you see or hear about him to any one else, ever." Timothy instructs the three humans and they all nod, too scared to do anything else. Cliff is terrifyingly beautiful and powerful.

"Oh, no need to be scared of me. You don't mess with me, I won't bother with you." Cliff turns to Timothy and Melissa, "Just how did you get that bitch to admit to all those murders?"

The two boys look at him blankly. "You, better than anyone knows the abilities of a psychic vampire. We didn't do anything to her, but Pimpernel came to visit her last night." Timothy tells Cliff and doesn't quite succeed in keeping the smirk off his face.

Cliff smiles brightly at them, "Brilliant work you two. Now, Melissa did you have any questions in regards to your new will?"

"Not really, I didn't have a whole lot of time to go over everything, but it looks to be all in order, you know what I want done."

"Wonderful, take a closer look and give me a call if you do have any questions. In the meantime I'll be off terrorizing those idiots that put Tavistock into the council. Have to make sure something like that doesn't happen again. Later boys, Melissa, let me know when you two decide to claim each other, I want to be there at the ceremony."

"Yes, sir, if we ever get to that point we will be sure to invite you to the ceremony." Timothy assures Cliff as he walks with him to the door.

There is silence in the room until Timothy comes back alone. "Ceremony?"

"Two vampires claiming each other is rare, like I told you before. So when it does happen there is a huge deal made out of it. Rather like a very formal, very expensive wedding. It is generally held somewhere in the land claimed by the seethe, but with permission from whichever seethe the venue exists on, it can take place elsewhere. Vampires from all over are invited, the who's who among vampires will all want to see something that spectacular.

"Just like if you were to get married?" Travis asks Timothy not so innocently.

"Yeah, only for my marriage it would be a circus event of humans and I'd have to be very careful of which vampires would be included amongst the guest list. Not very many would be allowed, too much temptation for most."

For some reason the thought of Timothy getting married makes Melissa's heart hurt. She silently excuses herself and leaves the room.