The scent, a unique mixture of pure male musk and rose water, alerted Napoleon Solo that he was no longer alone in the spacious livingroom ofthe opulent apartment.

"Hello", came the soft accented voice slightly to his right.

Solo looked in that direction and encountered a face which could only be described as beauty personified: the lips, though thin, were sensual; the features definitely Slavic from the prominent cheekbones to the high forehead; the eyes - Christ! - they seemed to pierce his very soul.  All this was topped by a ful mane of pale blond hair that spilled over broad shoulders.  "Hi", he whispered.

"Is my presence disturbing you?"

Although he knew it was impolite to stare he couldn't help himself.  He cleared his throat.  "Uh, no.  If I may be so bold, it pleases me very much."

The vampire smiled revealing those perfect canines, then, with a rustle of silk, seated himself beside the human.  "I will forgive your boldness if I may call you Napoleon."

Napoleon returned the smile, letting it light his dark eyes.  "Only if I may call you Illya."

"So be it."

For several moments the two men spoke to each other with their eyes.  A bond was rapidly forming between them.  What amazed them, however, that it came as no surprise.

"You are troubled about what has happened, yes?", Illya asked, breaking the silence but not the spell.

Napoleon nodded.  "Yes.  Aren't you?"

"Indeed I am.  Someone wants to destroy the peace both our people have worked, and died, to maintain."  He looked over at the sheet of paper under Solo's elbow.  "May I?"

Solo handed over the paper contained the list of scenarios he had been working on and watched as the Russian scanned the contents.  "What do you think?"

Illya nodded in approval.  "We are on, how do you say, the same wavelength."

"What frightens me is that all these scenarios could fit.  We've got to discover who these madmen, by they human, vampire or both....." Suddenly he paused as an idea formed in his head.  "Illya there is another possibility."

"And that would be?"

"There is an organization called THRUSH.  Have you heard of it?"

"I have.  It is as old, if not older, than the Knighthood you now call UNCLE."

"What if.....?", Napoleon began.

".....the discontent of vampires joined, especially if they are ancients.  THRUSH would be nearly invincible, Napoleon", Illya finished.

"With your powers of, uh, persuasion......"

A high shrill beeping interrupted their conversation.  Solo reached inside his jacket pocket and pulled out the communicator.  "Open Channel D.  Solo here", he spoke into the device.

"Mr.  Solo?  Is Mr.  Kuryakin with you?"

The fear in Sir John Raleigh's voice was evident to the two men.  "Yes, sir, he is.  What's wrong?"

There was a slight pause, then.  "You'd better get to headquarters right away."

Napoleon was seized by a sudden feeling of dread.  "Sir?  What has happened?"

"Kowalski's body was just delivered to our headquarters.  There is no doubt it is the work of our killer."

The news hit Napoleon like a physical blow.   Kowalski had insisted on going back to UNCLE headquarters claiming discomfort around Kuryakin. He had let the younger man go, despite his misgivings.  Now.....   "Sir, I need to ask a question, and I need it answered", he said then he could finally force himself to speak.

"Would that question be did Mr. Kowalski have a vampire lover?"

"Yes, sir."

"The answer is yes and male."

Before Solo could reply there was a firm grip on his shoulder.  Turning he met those blue eyes but this time filled with a mixture of anger and pain.  "Stand by, sir".  He pushed the white 'mute' button.  "What is it, Illya?"

Illya guided the human out of the livingroom and pointed to what he could already see.

Solo froze as he beheld the gruesome slight: the body, headless, was suspended by chains from sliding glass doors, adored like his previous victims.  Solo pushed the white button once more.  "Sir, we have another one.  A vampire ", he announced.  "Since the killer always went after couples, especially those true in love, could he be Kowalski's?", he asked as an afterthought.
 
 
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