Darting between the myriad of snowflakes slowly tumbling to the ground, Vivienne had been making a game to see how many her little bird form could avoid or move out of her way. Poor little birdie.- Her blob of darkness taunted. Flapping her dark wings harder, Vivienne internally groaned and spun her tiny form higher. -No you can’t hide.- Trying to push the voice from her head, Vivienne spotted a tiny opening in the falling flakes and would lead her to a branch of an oak. Beating her wings a final time, Vivienne shot through the imagined tunnel like a bullet and landed on the bough hard enough to shake the caked snow to the ground.

How had things gotten so bad in just a few hours, Vivienne wondered as she mindlessly preened her feathers. Wiggling her feathers back in place, Vivienne started playing the events since the group arrived at the bazaar. Casually meeting everyone, Having a fun time and then out of the blue.. -Was it really out of the blue?- The dark voice echoed once more.

‘Of course it was out of the blue.’ Vivienne rationalized.

-You said it yourself, you’ve been slipping.-

Emitting a little squawk, the raven shuffled along the branch as though she were pacing. Vivienne knew that her inner shadow would wrap parts of the truth in its lies. ‘Indications were that this was safe. Typical events for a city of this size.’

-Keep telling yourself that, little birdie.-

Frustrated with her inner demon taunting her, Vivienne spread her wings and vaulted back into the air. Circling high above the flashing blue and red lights, Vivienne let herself get mesmerized for a few seconds. ‘I couldn’t have foreseen holy water or Faye being hit with a stake.’ Air currents lifted the small black bird higher in the air, ‘Faye was perfectly safe, she had my blood to heal her wounds.’

-You failed her. These are excuses and you know it.- The dark voice laughed.

Vivienne felt the sting of the words bouncing in her head and her upward lift stalled. The tiny bird plummeted down and didn’t care to stop her gravitational fall. ‘This isn’t happening.’ Vivienne told herself as she crashed through branches and hit the ground with a heavy thud. Numb to her situation, Vivienne didn’t feel herself change back to her human visage and create a small crater where she’d impacted like a meteor.

-Talk to me, Vivienne. We can work this out together.- the thing cooed. -You know the answer to all of this is just to disappear again. Without you there, none of this would have happened.-

Vivienne reached out and squished the soft soil between her fingers and laid in the hole of her own making. Closing her crystal blue eyes, Vivienne could see Faye’s warm smile, Faye’s nervous look on her face when they met. Vivienne subconsciously gripped her chest. ‘What if I hadn’t gotten involved and just let her die? What if I had just ignored Drake?’

-The sin of pride.- The ghostly dark mimicked in French.

Vivienne sat up as though almost resurrected. ‘I would have only had that one kiss.’ Vivienne brushed the wet dirt from her dress and stood up. ‘No. Feeling guilty doesn’t help right now.’ Sensing a few people closing in on her location, Vivienne desired the blood in their veins. ‘Blood is everything.’ She told herself. She saw a pair of flashlights scattering their light along the trees, scanning for whatever had fallen.

“Don’t be so scared.” a man’s voice teased.

“It is a little too dark out here, let’s just go home and wait until the power comes back on.

Whatever fell is going to still be here in a few hours.” a second man urged. “Chicken shit.” The first man commented dryly.

Vivienne swiftly bolted between the trees, avoiding where the lines of light shone. Grabbing the second man, Vivienne drilled her fangs into the frightened man’s neck, draining him in a few heavy pulls. Blood poured down her throat squelching the flame of hunger in her throat. ‘Blood will give clarity.’ Pushing the growing anger and anguish growing inside her, Vivienne leapt on the first man and pinned him to the ground. Before the man could utter a sound, Vivienne pressed her lips to the man’s neck sending him into a blissful catatonic state. ‘Blood provides reason.’ Vivienne said to herself as she drained the man dry.

-Killing is always your answer.- The demonic voice kept up its pressure.

Indignation flooded within Vivienne as she angrily questioned her decisions over the last few days. ‘Why did I miss the signs? Coffee, how did I fucking miss coffee?’ Vivienne swung out and hit a tree, splintering the trunk. ‘Damn you Franco, why did you send Drake here and start this crap?’ Vivienne finally felt the blood coursing in her body, refreshing her cognitive thoughts, bringing back rationality. ‘Inquiries such as these serve no purpose.’ Vivienne reassured herself.

-Temper, temper little vampy.- The darkness chuckled. -You are nothing but a destroyer. Look at the dust in the snow from your…meal.-

While the blood now flowing freely in her veins kept her mind rational, Vivienne knew that the anger was a hair's breadth from resurfacing. ‘Correction, I am not a destroyer.’ Vivienne looked up and smiled after seeing the beauty in the silver lining from the moon’s rays on the snow clouds. ‘I am a hunter.’

-Hunters kill, you know.- The deep oceanic voice churned into Vivienne’s mind. -She will come to hate the huntress. Your very nature got her killed, you took her life.-

Wanting to feel the breeze in her wings once more, Vivienne shifted back into her raven form and fluttered back into the emptiness of the sky. Thoughts of Faye’s simple smile and warm green tigress eyes warmed Vivienne’s heart, filling her with joy. ‘My Tigerlily.’ Vivienne recalled the cute pet name she’d given to her partner. ‘I am disinclined to agree with that assessment of my partner.’ Vivienne spread her delicate black wings and with a swift stroke, climbed high enough that the city of Petersburg’s lights almost jumbled together. ‘Faye self confessed that she is more alive now than she ever was.’ Vivienne replayed the past few days and stopped with the soft light of the couple in the bathtub sharing blood. ‘Drake cast the die and paid the price.’ Vivienne once more felt the mix of love and devotion in Faye’s blood. ‘I tasted love once, I will have it again.’

-You didn’t even try to save her. Now look at you. Flying in circles around where you last saw her. Weak. Helpless. Love has weakened you. Tiny steps toward my oblivion.-  Vivienne’s inner blackness whispered.

Swooping down towards one of the flaming trucks left behind by the Ripped, Vivienne let the feeling of the cold breeze wash away the taunts flooding her mind. ‘I admonished myself for missing the signs once. I will not miss them again.’

Vivienne’s mind flashed to their first real kiss and how Faye gave up almost all of her living force to do so. Obsessed at the time with the taste of her lover’s blood and determined to preserve Faye’s life, Vivienne had missed the effort it took for Faye to move, let alone wrap her broken arms around the ancient vampire. Faye’s soft and silky lips, doused in blood. Faye’s lips grazing across her own ashen lips, gently committing what memory and life she had left within her. Tremulous yet beautiful, with only one purpose. A single kiss. With the sight of Faye’s lips partly open, Vivienne played the heavy tune, “Sex on Fire” in her mind, settling on a small stanza.

"Soft lips are open
Them knuckles are pale
Feels like you're dying
You're dying
You
Your sex is on fire
Consumed
With what's just transpired
Hot as a fever
Rattling bones
I could just taste it Chased it..”

-Fester in your grief, Doctor.- The dark voice echoed and laughed once more.

Vivienne landed on the roof of what appeared to be an unused office building and shifted into her voluptuous form. ‘Grief?’ She blinked her crystal blue eyes and shook her head in disbelief. Vivienne doubled over laughing, her spirit lifted for the first time since she witnessed Faye being carted off by her enemies. “You…you helped me.” She walked to the edge of the roof and placed her hands on her hourglass hips. “I am a doctor and I didn’t see it.”

-Did I? Perhaps I want you to myself.- It ominously responded before falling away to the far reaches of Vivienne’s conscience.

“Minutes instead of a millennia of torture, I think that is called help…” Vivienne stopped talking to the air around her and felt an odd sensation much like the coffee she’d smelled in her Virginia Beach home. Vivienne looked down and noticed that she happened to be standing on one of the buildings where a truck was burning and disabled, blocking the road. “No way this was an accident. I know that sensation.” Vivienne closed her entrancing blue eyes and concentrated on the prickly feeling that seemed to be bouncing from the truck below. The ancient vampire peeled away the years of her existence and snapped her fingers. “I got it.” Vivienne smiled wide and looked in the direction she felt Faye. “I have felt this magic before, but it was years ago.” Vivienne snickered and kept talking aloud to herself. “Mon amour, the answer to this is in the past. Alas, the past never rests.” Shifting once more into her raven form Vivienne headed for Ravenstead manor.

Richmond, Virginia. Spring 1995.

“I am unsure why I allowed you to talk me into this ridiculous meeting, Miss Addison.” Vivienne called out from her bedroom, while hastily removing her dark bodysuit. “Unlike the others, I have one final exam tomorrow night, and it is prudent that I study.” Vivienne casually lied.

Heather looked around Vivienne’s oddly decorated apartment. “It is like you live in a dungeon.” the young woman mentioned as she looked at the decorations on the shelves. “I knew I had to corner you just before it got dark..” Heather walked over to Vivienne’s rather large computer desk with half written and half typed pages all around it. “I have tried multiple times to come by when it was early evening, but you are never home.”

Sliding on a pair of old stoned washed jeans, Vivienne fastened the buttons gluing the pants to her shapely frame. “I have endeavored to explain to you on multiple occasions that I am busy at night, before and after class.” Vivienne grabbed a purple v-neck tiny blouse and hastily pulled it over her bare breasts. “Which leads me to my next inquiry.” Grabbing a couple hair bands, Vivienne quickly started braiding her long black hair. “How did you get my address, Miss Addison?”

Walking over to the shelves in Vivienne’s small living room, Heather picked up the various medical instruments and inspected them. “I followed you last week.” Heather spun and jumped when she saw Vivienne standing less than two feet from her. “Ahh!” Dropping the item she held, Heather’s frightful brown eyes wide. “I..I…” Heather took a couple moments to get her breath. “I..we..all of the other g-g-girls wanted to know more about our valedictorian.” After regaining her composure, Heather bent over and picked up the metal rod. “I have never…um..ever held a real orbitoclast.”

-How did this human follow you?- Vivienne stood unmoving and considered Heather’s words carefully. “I have informed the various deans that I have refused the elaborate title and so called honor of being valedictorian. I will not be attending graduation.” Vivienne pointed to the orbitoclast. “The hammer is beside it. They belonged to..” Vivienne swiftly and gracefully walked to the shelf without making a sound. “...my father. He was a rather macabre doctor and worked in a mental facility.”

Heather looked at her watch nervously and then replaced the items on the shelf. “I..I know you aren’t attending. The dean offered me your spot on the podium.” Still feeling a bit nervous, Heather almost felt the temperature in the room drop. “I turned it down as well.” Tucking some of her brown hair behind her ears, Heather side-stepped away from Vivienne and headed for the apartment door. “The others will be meeting us down at the diner on forty-fifth street in like thirty minutes.”

“You are welcome to keep the items, Miss Addison.” Vivienne picked up the twin instruments and gave Heather a warm smile as she handed them over. “Consider this a keepsake, an heirloom if you will.” Vivienne studied the young woman’s features for a couple seconds. Vivienne noted that Heather was a head over five feet tall and estimated that she weighed about one hundred and thirty pounds. Slowly taking a deep breath, Vivienne looked hungrily at the pulsing veins in Heather’s neck but quickly dismissed the idea of feeding. “Why did you turn down the dean’s offer, Miss Addison?”

Heather quickly stuffed the two parts into the bag she was carrying. “Why?” She nervously repeated and opened the door to the well lit hallway. “I didn’t want to slide into first place.” Heather almost sprinted to the elevator. “If I was going to be valedictorian, I would have liked to actually earned it, not just become a substitute.” Her nerves still on edge, Heather quickly changed the subject and focused on Vivienne’s blood red fingernails. “Please..” She stammered and grabbed Vivienne’s hand. “Heather. Please c-call me Heather…I um…Wow, that shade of red is amazing.”

“What are you doing..Heather?” Vivienne asked and raised one of her black, slender eyebrows and politely pulled her hand away. “The red..” Vivienne looked at her hand briefly, “A custom color that my family had made in France.”

Looking at the numbers on the elevator, Heather took a step forward when the bell chimed on the first floor. “Sorry.” Heading for the spinning door, “When I get nervous, I start touching things.” Heather walked into the angular door and playfully walked around in a circle a few times before exiting on the city street into the cool night. “That was fun. Have you ever done that?”

“No.” Vivienne said flatly and pointed to the parking deck. “Unless you want to pay a taxi, we can drive.”

Heather waved down a taxi, “In case we decide to go out or have a few drinks.” She climbed in the back seat of the yellow car that stopped. “You just might decide to have a good time.” Tapping the cabby on his shoulder, “Corner of forty-fifth and Patrick Henry, please.”

Without a sound, Vivienne slid into the back seat with Heather. “I will politely pass on the drinks. I indicated that I have one final exam tomorrow night.” The cabby froze when he saw Vivienne’s sparkling blue eyes. “Good evening sir.” Vivienne politely commented and smiled. “How long will it take you to get us to our destination?”

Coming out of his stupor with the sound of Vivienne’s French accent, the man’s cheeks flushed and he wiped his forehead. “Um..I think.” He flipped the meter on and looked at his watch. “P-probably twenty minutes, depending on t-traffic. Ma’am.”

Vivienne turned to Heather, “You said we would have to meet them in thirty minutes, correct?”

Chuckling lightly to herself, Heather nodded. “Right, about thirty minutes.” She leaned over to Vivienne’s ear. “I think he is staring at your nipples.” Heather made a quick little gesture as the cab pulled into traffic. “You did get dressed fast.”

Spotting a myriad of colors on Heather’s wrist, Vivienne reached out and held Heather’s arm. “Interesting choice of a tattoo.”

“Oh, that is my comet.” Heather giggled and twisted her forearm and opened her hand to give Vivienne a good look. “I turned eighteen when Haley’s comet passed over. It was my first real, adult act.” Heather stated while making air quotes for the latter half of what she’d said. “I had a wicked scar on my hand from something that my mom told me I did with a window when I was about four years old.” She shrugged. “I don’t remember much.” Heather instinctively rubbed her palm and the meaty part of her thumb. “Thankfully I am left handed, because sometimes my right hand doesn’t work right.” Looking up, Heather connected with Vivienne’s entrancing expressive blue eyes, “Blue.” She stammered, “I..I think your eyes match the blue on the i-ink.” Leaning closer, Heather felt herself suddenly dreaming of kissing Vivienne.

“Miss Addison.” Vivienne cleared her throat and poked a thin nail into Heather’s forearm, breaking her from her enamour. “I was unaware that a tattoo artist could make silver paint.”

Sucking in through her teeth, Heather straightened up and jerked her arm. “Ouch.” She softly commented and shook off the attraction she’d been feeling. “Sorry about that, Vivienne.” Heather looked at her forearm. “That isn’t real silver.” She shrugged, “According to the guy who did it, the ink is something fancy that makes it look metallic.” Turning her arm so it reflected with the night lights, the silver illusion seemed to sparkle. “When the artist showed me this, I knew I had it right.” Heather curled her eyebrows, “I don’t know what came over me.” She leaned over so the cab driver couldn’t hear, “I almost kissed you.”

“Alas, Heather. I am not the one you want to kiss.” Vivienne released Heather’s arm, “Trust me. It is in your best interest to clear your head of that thought.” The vampiress pointed to the window, “Perhaps a breath of fresh air will help you clear your head.” Coming to the conclusion that it was just her natural ability that made Heather follow her, Vivienne dismissed the concern she’d had in her apartment. “Miss Addison.” Vivienne touched the cab driver on the shoulder, then held up her finger. “Due to recent events, I have rethought this gathering of friends.” Vivienne opened her purse and handed the cab driver two hundred dollars. “Be sure to take Miss Addison where she wishes to go.”

Wide eyed and smiling, The driver tucked the money in his shirt pocket and pulled to the side of the street. “I am good with that.”

Seeing Vivienne reach for the door handle, Heather grabbed the vampire’s hand. “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. I would really like it if you stayed.”

-Humans are all the same.- Vivienne heard her dark voice taunting her. -Kill them both and walk away, why leave without feeding?- Pushing the voice back to her subconscious, Vivienne shook her head. “Miss Addison, rest assured that I am not offended.” She pointed to her apartment complex. “I indicated before your subtle attempt at flirting, I have another exam.” Vivienne flashed her pearl white and comforting smile. “I have just reassessed my priority this evening.” She patted Heather’s arm. “Consider yourself lucky.”

Heather opened her mouth to speak when the sound of gunfire erupted, followed by screams from all sides. Dropping to the floorboard, Heather started breathing heavily and pulled on Vivienne. “Get down!” She screeched and started to mumble.

Darting her blue eyes across the scene, Vivienne watched a car drive by firing various guns out of the windows, striking people on the sidewalk. Once the spraying of bullets finished, the car sped off and promptly crashed into another car, flipping over in the process. Vivienne noted the chain reactions after the car flipped. There was return gunfire and a couple more cars wrecking into one another. Vivienne felt her hand being pulled and squatted down with Heather. “It would appear that there are a great many people hurt out there.” Vivienne smelled the abundance of blood from the injured people around the scene. “I am going out there to see what I can do, Doctor Addison.” Knowing that her eyes would start forming a red ring around them, Vivienne looked away and pulled on the door handle. “Aren’t we sworn to help?”

Holding her hands over her ears and screaming, Heather could only see that Vivienne’s lips were moving. She shook her head and lay on the floorboard, shaking. It was only after Vivienne opened the door and slipped out, that Heather peeked up and out of the window.

Heather happened to look in the front seat and see the cab driver slumped over. “Oh god!” She screamed and pointed to the man, “V…Vivienne…” Near frantic, Heather yanked hard on the metal latch of her door and tumbled out of the cab and into the street. When Heather landed on her butt with a hard thud, she let out a heavy grunt that also broke her out of her state of panic. “Vivienne, The cab driver…um..” Heather felt herself get hefted up and turned to face Vivienne’s elegant blue pearl eyes. “I think he is de…”

“Miss Addison, We don’t have much time.” Vivienne grabbed Heather's purse and opened it quickly, digging out a couple of colored lipstick and eyeliner pencil. “Mark everyone you see. You remember the codes right?”

Heather quickly thought about her lessons on triage, “We don’t have the tags.” She closed her eyes and thought about the tags. “Black..expected, Red..Immediate, Yellow…Serious, Green…Minimal.”

“Correct.” Vivienne kept the eyeliner pencil and handed the lipstick back. “We don’t have colors, but you can write a letter on their foreheads for each color.” The vampiress patted Heather on the back, “You can do this, doctor.” Then headed for the overturned car that started the entire scene.

Vivienne managed to hide herself from view and looked into the car, counting four in the back seat and two in the front. Confronted with a massive pool of blood, Vivienne felt her fangs lock into place and her own body craving the delicious treat that was currently pouring uselessly into the street. Vivienne heard the hearts of all six instigators still lightly beating. Vivienne carefully scanned the area for onlookers a final time, before quickly feeding from the driver. Drinking until the girl's heart barely beat, Vivienne took the pencil and marked her with a large “B” on her forehead. Wiping her lips free of blood, Vivienne stood up and made her way over to the other passenger in the front seat.

“Ple…” He coughed up blood and dropped the hand he had reached out for Vivienne. “Unlike the others you shot, you won’t feel a thing in a few moments.” Vivienne offered before crawling into the wreckage and feeding from the young man until his heartbeat matched the shallow fluttering that the drivers did. Vivienne had just started to sedate the bloodlust she had on the four in the backseat when she felt a quick prickly feeling. -Blood is life- She told herself and quickly finished off the four gunmen so that they wouldn’t survive long enough for EMS to arrive. Marking them all with the ominous black letter, Vivienne left the six and made her way over to Heather. “The ones in the car are not going to make it.”

Heather had just written a letter ‘G’ on a gentleman with a bullet hole in his lower leg. “Most of them here have minor injuries. I just wish I had something else other than this lipstick.” Heather looked at the man and tore a couple sections off his shirt. She folded a bigger section into a thick square and then pressed it to his wound, before wrapping the dressing tightly with the last section of the torn garment. “Keep your hand pressed on the bandage.” Heather lightly tapped the man’s cheeks to get him to open his eyes. “Stay awake, and hold pressure.” She tapped her own ear, “Hear that? Emergency is coming, just stay awake.” The man half smiled as tears started to roll down his cheeks and he simply nodded to Heather.

“You are doing just fine, doctor.” Vivienne mentioned as she started looking over a woman with a few injuries. She marked the woman with the letter ‘Y’ as she discovered a couple bullet wounds on her patient. Vivienne looked up as she started smelling the scent of gasoline and pointed in the direction of the secondary accidents. “Heather get dow….” Vivienne didn’t have the time to get her warning out before the car caught fire. Vivienne grabbed the woman she was looking over and dragged her further up the street to the cab she’d been in minutes before. Vivienne quickly blew a heated breath across the woman’s nose and spoke clearly above the crackling of flames. “You will make it, Keep your eyes open for me, Yes?” Entranced, the woman shook her head and smiled. “Once you are in the hospital you won’t remember a thing.” Vivienne watched as the woman feebly nodded in apparent bliss.

Heather had managed to get most of her patients that were able to move to relative safety and in a small semi-circle. “I think we have everyone marked, Vivienne.” she flatly commented and walked over to the cab, checking the driver again. “Wait, He’s alive…what a miracle.” After opening the door, Heather reached in and started probing the cabby with her fingers. “Two shots hit him in the right side of his chest.” Heather took her blood soaked hand and ran it along his back, “I have the exit wounds. He can’t breathe.” Desperate to keep the man alive, Heather shook the cab driver until he groaned and opened his eyes. “Stay with me and only shake your head for yes or no, okay?” Heather marked the man with the letter ‘R’ and spotted a cellophane wrapper balled up that once held a quick mart sandwich. “When I tell you, breathe out and hold it the best you can.” Heather tore the wrapper in half, “Okay, now.” When a weak huff escaped the man’s lips, Heather twisted the plastic into the holes the best she could and created a small barrier that allowed the cabby to breathe a little easier. “It isn’t perfect, but the best that I can do right now.”

Pointing to the lights as they reflected blue and red off the buildings, Vivienne took a deep breath and tapped Heather on the shoulder. “Look there, Your relief will be here shortly.” The vampiress winked her crystal blue eye once, “You will be a great physician. You should consider doing something for the military, they could use a quick thinker.” Vivienne strode over to Heather and blew lightly in her face. “I was never here, Heather. Let them all think you did this.” Vivienne darted off into the night as the first police and EMS workers arrived.

Ravenstead Manor, 2022.

Circling her manor one time as she finished scrolling the memory in her head, Vivienne dove quickly from the night sky and shifted immediately in front of her twin heavy wooden doors. Pausing for a moment, the ancient vampire heard a slight commotion going on just beyond her threshold. -What in the stars?- Vivienne thought to herself and let herself into the foyer.

While she expected something due to the commotion that she’d heard moments before, Vivienne wasn’t prepared for what she saw upon entry. There were no less than a dozen people spread out over the blue marble, some of them resting on stretchers, some fidgeting nervously on piles of blankets and others wiping themselves off with towels. Watching as one of her servants scuttled over and closed the double doors, Vivienne made her way up the first flight of the grand staircase then faced the group.

One by one the people huddled on the floor started to become aware of Vivienne’s presence and dropped to their knees in reverence. A rather large built woman with tattoos of violets on her cheeks approached the first stair and knelt down. “Raven...” The woman cleared her throat, nervously. “...We followed the Blood servants here, they assured us that we’d be welcome.” She bowed her head, “Our Masters and Mistresses were taken from us.” She pointed to a few others, “Most of us are injured and barely made it to the safety of your manor.”

Vivienne glanced up the stairway and noticed Casey walking down with a box full of medical supplies, “I couldn’t reach you. It seems that the cell coverage is spotty around here at the moment, Viv.” Casey handed the supplies to the woman kneeling at the base of the stairs. “This should help the wounded.” Casey noticed that the woman didn’t move and then focused her chocolate eyes on Vivienne. “Viv? Are you okay with this?”

Turning to the other ascending staircase, Vivienne nodded to Sylvie as she approached. “You seem to be doing better, Miss Miakoda.”

Blinking her serene full moon eyes, Luna affirmed the comment by shaking her head slowly. “I was blessed by being able to feed from the blood bunnies in the living room. Their blood is allowing me to attend to my injuries slowly.”

“How are you, Casey?” Vivienne asked while still pondering what to do with the small encampment of people in her foyer.

Casey bolted over to Vivienne and hugged her tight, breathing in the rosemary scent of her mistress and started to cry softly. “I’ve never been so scared in my life…even more so than fighting Drake’s people.” Casey muttered through soft sobs. “I thought for certain I was going to lose you.”

Content to let her ward hug her tightly, Vivienne didn’t make any attempt to move away or stop Casey from crying. A twinge of regret crossed over Vivienne’s blue eyes, “My ward.” Vivienne’s French accent softly reassured, “I apologize for letting you worry like you did, that was never my intention.” Vivienne let her hands brush through Casey’s curly auburn hair. “I was fulfilling a promise to Faye to save the others.” She looked over to Sylie, “Thank you for saving Casey. I didn’t witness the battle she was facing.” Vivienne took a heavy breath,

“If I hadn’t gone back in, perhaps the outcome would have been different. As it was, I didn’t save anyone.”

Sylvie’s eyes rotated to half-moons as she walked over to where Casey was gripping

Vivienne. “Doctor Moreau.” Sylvie rubbed Casey’s back softly, “It was the fact you tried.” She then pointed to the dozen people knelt down in front of Vivienne. “They went from fearing you to revereing you. Just look.”

“Faye is lost and gone, who knows where…” Casey kept quietly crying and turned to clutch Sylvie. “I know I said it before…but…” Casey sniffled, “..thank you for getting me out of the mess with Brian..”

“Shhh…we saved each other, Casey.” Sylvie reassured.

Watching Sylvie and Casey settle their recent affairs, Vivienne realized the situation in her foyer needed to be addressed. Traversing the few steps from the first platform, Vivienne reached the marble floor and touched the woman who’d spoken first. “Please. No need to bow to me.” Vivienne knelt down and helped the ex-thrall to her feet and held her hand. “All of you are welcome to stay here, like my blood bunny…” Vivienne half smiled, “...blood bunny friend offered before.” Digging through the box of medical supplies that Casey placed on the floor, Vivienne filled a small bag and started walking through the group. “Sadly, I do have bad news for all of you.” Dropping to her knees, Vivienne inspected an arm of one thrall. “With the loss of .. well your sponsor, or Master, your enhanced abilities have been removed.” Vivienne cleaned the long laceration she’d found and started stitching it up. “It is why you are all lethargic..and..” Vivienne stitched up the cut in a few seconds and applied a bandage. “..unable to regenerate.” Vivienne stood up and kept walking, “I will not be taking any of you into my personal service. Casey is my only ward, a promise I made to her.” Vivienne looked up and winked at Casey. “However that doesn’t mean you are unable to assist the manor or myself in different ways.” Vivienne slowly turned in a circle. “You do possess knowledge of who we are, that makes you a liability to the council.”

One of the ex-thralls spoke up, his voice half quivering. “Liability? How? Can they still sense us even when we don’t have our abilities?”

Vivienne walked over to the man and looked him over for injuries. “I can.” She smiled at the man and finished her brief inspection. “If I can, rest assured that they can. All of the vampires of the council are close in age to the former Mister Tarsey.” Vivienne scanned the group with her radiant blue eyes, “They won’t challenge The Raven.” She paused and pointed to them all, “You are safe.” Vivienne looked over her shoulder to Sylvie, “My welcome extends to you as well, my friend.” Vivienne felt the first of the de-powered thralls hug her. “Oh…” Vivienne snickered, “Really, no need for that.”

Sylvie chuckled to herself as the group kept hugging their new sponsor. “It was my pleasure to assist you and your lovely Faye.” Sylvie kissed the top of Casey’s curls, “When I see something, I have to find out what it means.” She laughed, “It was easy in your case. Sexual repression.”

Once the hugs had stopped Vivienne handed the medical bag she’d been carrying to one of the refugees, “Another promise to Faye, Miss Mikoda. If that promise weren’t in place, that outcome would have been much different.” Vivienne heard a rush of footsteps coming from her lavish living room and saw three of the blood bunnies that she’d offered quarters before, drop to their knees. “Please stop doing that.”

“Mistress.” they all spoke in unison then stood up. The one named Jessica looked at her buddies and took the initiative to speak, “We heard you speaking and got the sweet smell of rosemary, so we had to come see you.” Half out of breath, Jessica paused. “We didn’t know where to go or what to do you..and…” She pointed to everyone, starting with her fellow bunnies, “We just collected all the people we saw and knew, and brought them here.” Jessica gave Vivienne a flurry of kisses on her hands then twirled her hair back to expose her neck. “I remembered you said we were welcome and figured they would be too.” Jessica inched closer, “If the lady is hungry…”

Vivienne felt the burn in her throat and sensed the red ring appearing in her otherwise startling blue eyes. “Jessica.” Vivienne paused and waved her hand over the others, “My endeavor is not to insult you and since I am rather hungry, I will partake of your little indulgence. One one condition.”

“Anything mistress!” Jessica hopped up and down excitedly. “Name it.”

“Confer with Casey and take charge of the others in the room. Please do this for myself and the manor.” Vivienne raised one of her long eyebrows and waited for an answer.

“Yes!” Jessica and her fellow blood bunnies answered almost at the same time.

Vivienne shook her head and rolled her eyes, “Very well, you two help out as well.” Wiggling her long and elegant finger at the other two, “Just let Jessica take the lead, Casey will figure out more for you to do along the way.” Vivienne pulled Jessica to her closely and let her fangs slip into place so the woman could hear them. “A promise is a promise.” Sinking her teeth into Jessica’s slender neck, Vivienne heard her willing devotee breathe in quickly and then let out a happy purr from her chest. Her reserves low from the activity of the night, Vivienne’s parched throat relished the thick rustic fluid as it rushed into her belly. It was after feeling Jessica’s arms fall from her waist that Vivienne stopped and licked the four holes closed. Opening her crystalline blue eyes, she saw the other two blood bunnies smiling and holding their friend.

“Jessica typically passes out after a feeding, Mistress.” Veronica offered and grinned. “If you are still hungry, might I be allowed too..”

Swirling her tongue across her lips to remove the last vestiges of blood, Vivienne shook her head. “Appealing offer, Miss Veronica.” Vivienne shook her head. “Alas, I am content right now. When she awakens, please tell her that her blood is as fresh as a summer rain and thank you.” Vivienne pointed to the third floor. “Pick any of the rooms up there. You are welcome to stay in one or have your own private chambers.” Vivienne then scanned the others. “That applies to you as well. I have plenty of room in the manor, feel free to make yourselves at home.”

Pulling herself out of Sylvie’s arms, Casey walked down and stood beside Vivienne as the others began packing up and ascending the stairs to the appointed third floor. “That was nice of you, Viv.” Casey leaned against Vivienne’s arm. “If you are honestly still hungry, you know, I…”

Gazing over her shoulder at her ward, Vivienne softly brushed a few curls away from her wards brown and soulful eyes. “You are still recovering.” Vivienne paused, “Rest assured, I am content.” Handing Casey off to Sylvie once more, Vivienne placed her hands on her hips. “Yes, Casey, it was nice.” A set of green cat eyes burned in Vivienne’s mind. “Faye would have wanted me to do it.”

“Faye…what are we going to do?” Casey pulled Sylvie’s arms around her waist. “What if she’s….”

Vivienne shook her head and started walking into the eastern wing of the manor, “She is still with us, Casey.” The flair from her evening gown wafting as she strode through the various hallways, Vivienne finally stopped in front of a very large door with another combination lock. “I can feel her, Casey. Faye is in pain, but she is still with us.” Punching in the code on the panel, Vivienne heard the doors locks start hydraulically sliding and a few seconds later the steel door cracked open. “I have missed this place.” Vivienne pushed the heavy door to her armory open, then looked at her two shadows. “I am going to get Faye back.”

Gracefully gliding through the entrance to the armory, Vivienne found herself in front of her newest Ravenesque suit. “I had this commissioned just before I met all of you.” Vivienne ran her hands over the thick material and tapped her fingernails on the hardened fabric. “Kevlar, polyethylene and steel woven in, almost a reminder of chainmail.” Etched feathers adorned the body suit, mimicking the bird she adored so much. “I wanted it to look almost like the other suits that I once hunted in.” Vivienne pointed to the old black leather suit to the right of where she was standing. Vivienne ran her fingers down the length of the arms, inspecting the joints and covering. Satisfied that the suit was flawless, she began to unbuckle it from the stand it was on. “My primary concern was honestly wooden stakes that could have been augmented somehow.”

Snickering lightly, Casey nibbled on her lip for a moment before speaking. “I was curious when it arrived.” She turned to face Sylvie and shook her head, “I tried to put it on, but…” Casey grabbed her large chest, “My boobs are way too big.”

Sylvie let out a little chuckle and started prying into the rest of the gear that lined the walls. Picking up a small vial she held it between her thumb and index finger. “Is this the mixture that you told us about using in Spain?”

Having already removed her elegant evening gown and donned the inner layer of her armor, Vivienne had started snapping the leg plates into place when Sylvie asked the question. “Indeed. It is a variation of it, so be careful.” Vivienne smiled and grabbed the torso of her suit. “It would be unfortunate if you happened to paralyze yourself.”

“You’re Batman.” Casey laughed. “All you need now is the cape and a sidekick.”

Curling up one long eyebrow and looking at her ward odd, Vivienne shook her head. “I can only ascertain that your allusion was another pop culture reference, much like my beloved said on the way to the manor.” She held up one blood red fingernail. “I also protest the use of the word bat. Although a great many of my brethren do use that form.”

“Yeah, that's what it was.” Casey let the light comical moment pass and walked behind Vivienne and helped to snap the body armor in place. “You must think the situation is pretty bad to wear that. I mean you went into the hotel without anything.” Casey fastened the shoulder guards to Vivienne. “I can only guess this is going to be a trap.”

Vivienne stopped what she was doing and slightly turned to face Casey, “Yes, Casey. Beyond contestation, this is a trap.” Vivienne reached up and pushed the curly hair from Casey’s eyes.

“I suspect a magical one as well.” Glancing between the two in the room, Vivienne confessed. “The reason it took me so long to get back was that I recalled a feeling associated with the attack on Phantasmagoria.”

Sylvie scanned the vials on the wall and took note of a different colored vial, one with purple contents. "What do you mean? After the meeting we all agreed that it was human magic like you explained to us." Sylvie's eyes crossed into the blackness of twin new moons, "What is in this vial?”

Stomping her feet into her protective boots, Vivienne buckled the straps and continued. “Yes, human magic but it isn’t what I experienced before. It isn’t based around anything of a religious tone, it’s manifestation even feels different. I am fairly confident that it can do something to me, I just don’t know what.” She paused, “Yet.” Blinking her blue eyes, Vivienne tilted her head. “Miss Mikoda, if the other vial was bad, that is worse.” Vivienne stood up and flexed her muscles in suit to get the feel and balance. “I created that substance after other doctors had discovered what the function of blood was. If my testing is right, that would render our brethren unable to do much of anything. It isn't paralytic, it is a way to break up the blood platelets that we have ingested.” Vivienne smiled, “Hopefully rendering blood useless.”

“Do you mind if I take some of these?” Sylvie shrugged before picking up three of the vials. “It is just a feeling, I don’t know if they will be useful at all.”

Vivienne watched Sylvie carefully tuck the vials into the beaded wristbands on her arms, “I haven’t tested those.” Vivienne pointed to the set of darts and accompanying metal blow tube. “I would suggest that you take them as well, in case you need to administer the drug.” “Viv…” Casey tried to speak and her voice cracked.

Vivienne walked back over to her ward, “Casey?” Vivienne’s blue eyes shined with concern and empathy. “Oh..” Her voice softened and Vivienne wiped away a single tear making its way down Casey’s cheek. “I know.” Vivienne sat down and hugged her ward tightly. “I love you as well.” Softly running her hand through Casey’s soft curls, Vivienne lightly rocked with her ward on the bench. “Strangely, I never knew what I was truly missing, even though I desired it.” Vivienne took a breath, “Using a metaphor, once you uncork that bottle, you want to drink its contents.”

“I..” Casey started to say and once more buried herself into Vivienne’s side. “I..I..love you both.”

Sylvie walked over to the second stand that held the old and well cared for leather armor.

“Will this still work?” Sylvie took a few seconds to breathe in the scent of the ancient armor. “Now I get why it lasted so long.” Sylvie pulled her feathered headdress free of her silky hair. “Preserved by vampire blood, though I don’t want to know how you did it.”

“I have watched others for centuries, stayed in the shadows and existed.” Vivienne’s French accent echoed lightly in the metallic room. “I have heard those three words uttered more times than I can count, Casey.” Vivienne gently nodded to Sylvie, “Only now do I understand the true meaning.” Vivienne gently lifted Casey’s chin so she could see into her ward’s brown velvet eyes, “It’s bond is as strong as blood. I assure you, Casey..I love you as well.” Vivienne watched as Sylvie started trying to fumble with the buckles and snaps of the leather armor. “Perhaps Casey can help you with it.” She looked at the couple. “I assume you are coming with me to save Faye?”

Sylvie shook her head and pointed to Casey. “This isn’t for me, it’s for her.” Sylvie pulled

Casey to her feet and started trying to fit the armor. “You might have a tough time breathing.” Sylvie started undressing Casey. “Vivienne, do you want us to help?”

Days ago, Vivienne would have felt the sting of pride and her inner darkness demanding her to confront the looming battle alone. Countless times the huntress within her had planned and executed other vampires, beaming with the idea of a successful hunt afterwards. Gorged on the blood of humanity in that glory, knowing that she’d done it all without help. Alone. Closing her soulful blue eyes, Vivienne flipped through the innumerable wins once again and felt nothing. “I do not wish to be alone.” Vivienne reopened her eyes and smiled at her friends, her heart filled with love and admiration. “I am intrigued by how a single act can change that which took thousands of lifetimes to mold.” Vivienne started helping Sylvie, “Saving you..” Vivienne buckled a shoulder strap to Casey’s form, “...Started this and provided the companionship I was missing. I wasn’t aware I even needed it, Thank you.” Vivienne took a few steps away from her friends and then turned to face them. “Will you help me save Faye and resolve this?”

“I got your back, Viv.” Casey grimaced as her breasts were smashed into the tight leather bodice. “Ugh…here I thought a mammogram was awful.”

Sylvie weaved snickered lightly, “Yes, Vivienne I will go.” She stopped dressing Casey for a couple seconds to ensure that the darts and tiny blow gun were weaved in her opposite wristband. “I want to see where this leads.”

A simple grin spread across Vivienne’s lips, “Thank you.” She walked over to the wall once more and picked up three metal lighters. “Casey.” She tossed the first one to her ward, “I added these to the armory after the hotel.” Vivienne winked and tossed another to Sylvie. “It is about time we spring that trap you mentioned, Casey.”

“There’s only the three of us, Viv.” Casey added and giggled when Sylvie tightened the armor to her shapely thigh. “If you go any higher, I might be pulling this armor off.” Casey winked and laughed.

Vivienne paced the floor of the armory as she thought about the situation. “When they fled through whatever magic door they employed, I counted five of them. Not including Faye.” Vivienne raised her eyebrow upon hearing the tiny flirt that Casey expressed. “I believe that I saw the leader of the group, and it wasn’t the male that staked my beloved.” Vivienne pinched the bridge of her nose, “She had yellow eyes, like the inquisitors told me that our brethren have, Sylvie.”

“Curious.” Sylvie started attaching cloth padding to Casey’s arms. “Can vampires use magic?”

Clasping her fingers together, Vivienne tapped on her lips in thought. “I have witnessed alchemy, but not magic as we have experienced this evening. Concoctions have always been part of the world, regardless of who employed them.” Vivienne sighed, “Alas, It would be something else that I am not privy to.” She shrugged, “Thus proving that I do not know everything.”

“That must have hurt to say.” Casey ran her hands down the front of her armored body. “I got the impression that you knew everything when we met.” Casey flexed her shoulders in the attempt to get comfortable. “Next time, I want something that fits.”

Sylvie walked around Casey to make sure that the armor was fastened the best it could be.

“Looks perfect.” Her eyes shifted to the smile of a Cheshire cat and illuminated softly, “Maybe there won’t be a next time.”

“That would be boring.” Casey stretched her arms and legs like she was doing warm-ups for swim practice. “What’s the point of being a ward if I don’t get to play around sometimes?” Casey considered picking up one of the swords attached to the wall, “The crossbow was easy.” She plucked one of the blades to make it echo lightly, “I don’t know how to really fight or use those.”

Rubbing her chin, Vivienne closed her eyes and turned in the direction that she felt Faye the strongest. “West. We will need to go west of here.” Vivienne pulled out her Iphone and opened the map feature with topography. “Farmland.” Vivienne walked over to Casey,

“Training. That is something that you and Faye both will require once we have finished here. Unfortunately, you will have to learn the old fashioned way.”

“Trial by fire never goes well, Vivienne.” Sylvie sighed and walked behind Casey and placed her hands gently on the young woman’s shoulders. “That is where I come in handy.” Sylvie smiled as her eyes rotated back to full moons. “I will fill in as necessary for you both.” Sylvie peered at Vivienne’s phone. “You mentioned farmland?”

Vivienne tucked away her phone and pulled down a pair of daggers from the walls that were wrought from cast iron. “One of the oldest and true weapons of all time.” Vivienne wrapped the twin sheathed daggers to her ward’s waist. “Aside from the spear, these are the easiest to use.” Snickering to herself, Vivienne reached for a small canister of pepper spray. “This is just as easy. Let’s just hope that things aren’t so bad that you need the knives.” Slipping Sylvie her phone, Vivienne pointed to the open landscape she’d looked up. “Faye is both my first real love and my first created vampire. I am getting used to having her in my senses and thus it is difficult for me to estimate range. It does feel like she is on one of those farms.”

“An opportunity for me to teach The Raven something?” Sylvie walked over to Vivienne and took her hands into her own. “I accept.”

Vivienne smiled and attempted to relax by shaking her head back and forth. “I assumed that it would come naturally like everything else, but I cannot seem to pin down the exact place.”

“You are not far off.” Sylvie explained. “The connection goes both ways for our protection. The stronger the bond between you the easier it should be.” Sylvie shivered as a flash of insight crossed through her vision of Vivienne and Faye dancing slowly under a full moon, surrounded by grape vines. “Oh..” Sylvie giggled, “The bond you share is incredible. I wish I was as fortunate.”

Casey sat and tugged at the bodice in an effort to give some relief to her big chest. “So do I. I thought Brian and I were that close.” Casey grunted and gave up, “I have seen the way they look at each other. It is like no one else exists.”

Sensing that Luna was going to get into an actual teaching lesson, Vivienne quickly shook her head. “Perhaps I should articulate what I feel is happening.” Vivienne took a deep breath and focused her mind on the first time she’d hunted with Faye. “I sensed her and found her without even really thinking about it.” Curiosity shone in her diamond blue eyes, “I assumed that distance wasn’t a factor, but it is clear to me right now that it seems to have an impact.”

Casey adjusted the little belt that held the twin daggers. “So cool.” Finishing up her warm-up, Casey walked over and stood with Vivienne. “I feel like I am in a video game.”

Sylvie winked one of her half-moon eyes at Casey. “Vivienne.” She paused and closed her hands a little tighter. “Please, let me explain what I know and see if that helps.” Luna waited for affirmation from Vivienne before speaking again. “Thank you.” Sylvie smiled, “I am going to add something that I am certain that you know well…but…perhaps are not considering right now.”

“Which is?” Vivienne spoke flatly.

Sylvie looked over to Casey, “We are more human than you are considering right now.” Sylvie blinked in confusion for a moment, “Vivienne, you are more pressured and stressed than you have been in quite a long time. It is blurring you.”

Casey saw the hungry look in Sylvie’s eyes. “What? That is the same look you gave me when I shook your hand, Luna.” Casey pointed to Sylvie’s eyes. “Black as night, or new moons.”

“Ask me again when we have some time, lovely Casey.” Sylvie blurted and completely focused on Vivienne. “Distance isn’t an issue, or wouldn’t be in a normal situation. Hunting is a normal thing that we do. There was nothing that could go wrong, other than your progeny slaughtering a dozen people.”

-You said it yourself, Vivienne. You don’t want to be alone.- The ancient vampire heard her thoughts echoing in her mind. Vivienne pulled her hands free of Sylvie’s and started poking at the map on the tiny screen of her phone. “I offer my gratitude, Miss Miakoda.” Vivienne concentrated for a few more seconds and nothing seemed to help her pinpoint where Faye was being held. “I know for a fact that we are bonded closer than normal. Raising her eyebrows as though she’d gotten a revelation, Vivienne sprinted upstairs, into the master bedroom and stood in front of the shelf. “She said closer to me…” First pointing to the damaged glasses, Vivienne continued. “Closer.” Vivienne picked up the frames and instantly felt the warmth of the couple’s first meeting. Vivienne turned to face her companions who’d followed her into the bedroom. Vivienne held the glasses in her hand and her mind seemed to lift the fog of confusion and she tapped to a section of the map. “There. That’s the farm.” Vivienne scrolled the map out a bit more. “There are three farms in the vicinity..” She shook her head and rolled her eyes in disbelief. “The others seem abandoned, look.” She handed her phone to Casey. “The barn. She’s being held in the barn.” Vivienne tilted her head and clutched the glasses in her hand, letting her sensations of Faye wash over like a gentle summer rain. “She’s…she’s in pain…but alright.” Vivienne swallowed hard and felt the boiling of her throat. “She’s not angry, she’s…Oh!” Vivienne exclaimed and felt the rush of love via a kiss that wasn’t happening. “Faye…mon amour..” Vivienne experienced and felt their first real kiss at the side of the bed. “I am coming.”

Sylvie and Casey saw blood fill Vivienne’s cheeks to replace her normally pale features. It was Casey that spoke first. “Where to, Viv?”

“I am glad you found her.” Sylvie added and walked behind Casey once more and placed her hands over the young woman’s shoulders. “Casey, dear.” Luna prompted and waited for Casey to turn around. “Faye. She will be hungry, assuming we get that stick out of her chest.”

Casey glanced up and noticed the smiling moons, “No..no sweat, she can use me if she needs to.” Casey moved her hair from around her neck. “We practiced a couple days ago.”

Sylvie laughed, “No my dear. You have been under stress yourself.” She pointed at Casey’s feet. “I think you will have to deal with your ex-boyfriend.” Sylvie pulled Casey into a light hug, “Call it intuition or a sixth sense. Having spare blood would be the best thing.”

Vivienne kissed the broken glasses and replaced them back on the shelf. “Always close, Mon amour.” She Headed back downstairs and closed the vault with the other two in tow. “There is only the main house, the barn and a pond.” Vivienne pointed to the layout of the old farm. “Well there are silos for grain, but I don’t think those will matter.”

Casey bolted off, leaving Sylvie and Vivienne to finish speaking. “Well, Raven. What is your plan, since you know they will be ready and have a trap laid out.”

Chuckling lightly, Vivienne heard the light tinkling of bottles. “I think my ward has found a solution to your concern, Miss Miakoda.” Vivienne committed the map to her memory and shut off her phone. “If they are holding Faye hostage in the barn, We could simply go to that corner and pull her through the wall.”

“We wouldn’t have to fight.” Sylvie mentioned and got a cold shiver go across her spine. “I am seeing shadows.” Sylvie shrugged, “I don’t know what it means yet.” She took a deep breath, “These things are a curse and blessing, I can’t control what I see. I just see shadows, walking shadows.”

Vivienne rubbed her chin for a moment. “How many?”

“What?” Sylvie blinked and shook off the little vision. “Oh, um..” Sylvie paused and brought the vision back to the front of her mind. “..I saw five.”

Vivienne recalled the group going through the magical doorway once more. “I saw six going through the portal, to include Faye. You saw five shadows.” Vivienne held up her index finger, “Faye wouldn’t cast a shadow.” Vivienne raised one eyebrow, “Five against four, once Faye is free.”

“Don’t forget the magic.” Casey mentioned as she joined back up with Vivienne in front of the armory door, wearing a small backpack. “Martin left wine for you. I thought it could be useful.”

Vivienne headed for the front door, “About twenty miles as the crow flies, due west.”

“What about the trap, Viv?” Casey spoke up with worry in her voice.

Sylvie curled her arm through Casey’s. “I think she plans to spring the trap, my new friend.”

Vivienne shook her head, “I can’t ascertain the complete layout from here in the manor.” Vivienne walked back and cupped Casey’s cheek. “We also have no clue what the trap is, until we get eyes on the area or actually spring it.” Blue eyes focused on Sylvie, “I want to try and free Faye first. I like the idea of just yanking her out.”

“Once we have Faye free, the odds will more or less be even.” Sylvie added. “Other than what the trap holds.” She glanced at her watch. “We still have plenty of time, Vivienne. It is close to eight.”

Vivienne swayed her finger over Casey’s cheek. “I promise we will leave as soon as we get Faye back. We do not have to stay and fight the group. Take the more peaceful approach, like you and Faye desire.”

“Funny that you think I am reckless.” Casey gave Vivienne’s hand a light kiss. “I think we are beyond peaceful measures, even though I am not a fan.” Casey’s melty brown orbs turned to look at Sylvie. “We saw what they’d do if left alone. I mean they killed the others.” She paused for a breath and tugged at the armor once more, “I bet they would just plan something else, I think we should stop them now.”

Vivienne chuckled, “I am assuming the various traits of both yourself and Faye.” Vivienne opened the manor’s twin front doors. “We shall gather close to the farm and let me scout it from the air, proceeding from that point, Keeping in mind that Faye is our first priority.” “Agreed.” Sylvie bowed to Vivienne lightly.

“Gotcha.” Casey smiled and looked over to Sylvie, “Run with me again?” Casey watched Sylvie’s eyes brighten like the moon as the vampire nodded. “Good, the last conversation was fun.”