The next few nights were very irritating for Calla. Not only had she been unable to get any of the other four newborns, but since she'd listened in on that phone conversation there was marked increase in vampires wandering round. They tried to appear inconspicuous but the whispers warned Calla of the surrounding danger.

So Calla came up with a new plan, though it was risky. She'd engage one of the newborn pairs in a two on one, using the element of surprise to get the jump on them. She'd been tracking the small and big one as they continued to search for her and discovered that they fed every couple of days in the red light district.

Knowing where the pair were, she set herself up in an alleyway, arms with her sledge hammer and a couple of knives.She paid one of the prostitutes on the street to come with her and they walked hand in hand to the alleyway away from prying eyes.

"What do you want to do?" the woman asked Calla in sultry voice, thinking the young woman was probably inexperienced and wanting a good time. Calla had acted embarrassed as she handed over the money to the woman and she kept her eyes lowered as the woman spoke to her.

"T-take your shirt off." she said shyly as the woman stood with her back to the wall hands on hips. The prostitute chuckled and pulled her shirt off over her head, but as her vision disappeared behind the polyester being drawn up, a blade found its way into her neck.

She struggled with her arms still in her shirt, unable to scream as the blade was twisted and pushed deeper into her throat. A couple of minutes later she was dead, choking on her own blood. Calla steadied herself and tried to subdue her hunger before retreated into a doorway and keeping an eye on the body.

The smell wafted out and both the men she was following smelled it. Calla only had to wait a couple of minutes before the newborns were overcome with bloodlust and stumbled upon the woman, oblivious to their surroundings. The blood haze had them snarling at one another and grappling to the floor, neither wanting to share.

Calla suppressed a laugh as she stepped out from her hidden spot and swung the sledge hammer down. The one on top managed to dodge out the way but the lower one found a new friend in the concrete ground.

The small one was quick enough to survive and snarled at Calla in a rage. She was small and tiny and his life experience told him that women were much weaker than men. She wouldn't stand a chance against him.

Unfortunately that was human logic. Striking out at Calla, she swung her head back to avoid it. She kicked up which made contact with his chin but he held his ground and swiped out continually. Calla in her clear state of mind, was able to avoid the rage filled movements of the bloodlust driven vampire.

Knocking him back with a kick to the chest she turned and ran and he made to follow, only to realise he had a meal to attend to.He calmed slightly and allowed rationality to seep back in. He crept closer to the dead prostitute, drowning in her scent but he remained cautious.

The newborn waited and waited until instincts took over and he began to feast on her body in a flash. Calla had crept up to the railings above the vampire and once he began his feeding frenzy she silently leapt over the side and landed on his back.

He tried to throw her off, thrashing about the alleyway and slamming her into the brick buildings but she tightened her grip and bit hard. He clawed at her hair, trying to get hold of it to throw her off as he continually smashed her into the surroundings.

Calla groaned as she felt something pierce her side but her mouth clenched tight and continued to drain the small vampire. It took a couple of minutes but his movements became slower and less harsh until he was a twitching mass on the ground. When Calla was finally done with him he was immobile and still.

She looked down at her waist and saw the bleeding had stopped. Glancing round she saw her blood on a sharp piece of railing and she muttered curses in her mind. Why was this small vampire such a tenacious bastard? Now her scent was spreading. The cut on her waist was still sore but the pain and wound promptly disappeared when she drained the larger vampire.

Her gag reflex wasn't even kicking in with vampires these days.

'Maybe it's an acquired taste?' Calla thought to herself as she stripped off the two men and dragged their bodies to where the sunlight would hit them. She wiped herself off and then groaned again when she realised she'd have to buy new clothes and a body suit.

'Don't think about it now. Move quickly.' and her idea was met with a hum of approval from the whispers. Calla could be forgiven for what happened next. She was still a newborn and had no idea. As she stepped out of the alleyway, without any detection of scent or movement, the whispers screamed at her and she flung herself out the way.

Where she had just stood was a lean looking male and female vampire.

"Turlin." the female snickered.

"Don't say it." he said sternly. Calla couldn't make out their faces, they were covered in whole body coats and completely concealed.

"But Turlin." she lightly clutched her stomach as she laughed. "You got dodged by a newborn." The man, Turlin just growled at the woman and Calla stood very still. The whispers told her to stay put, running away would make her game. Vampires loved the chase and not running would show them she was surrendering.

"Hey girl." the woman sauntered up to Calla and placed a hand on her shoulder. "You're the one we're looking for. You've got a bit of a bounty on your head y'know." she stroked Calla's cheeks and the whispers were furious but they didn't make to act rashly.

"Why?" Calla asked flatly with a tilt of the head, to move it away from the woman.

"Aww the little one doesn't know. That little shit Farrow is looking for you." she pulled her hand away sensing that Calla didn't like the contact. "Now, we Swarmers are very interested to hear what has got him so upset."

"You don't want the bounty?" Calla asked cautiously.

"Meh," the woman responded as she rubbed her stomach. "We want to have fun. Now you'll be coming with us yes?"

"You're not going to compel me?" Calla enquired of the woman.

"Of course not! I despise the act of taking someone's freewill. I'm giving you a fair choice right now, come with us or die. It's as simple as that." the woman smiled as her warm gaze met Calla's. "You didn't try to run from us when you dodged Turlin there, so I know you're not stupid."

"Okay." Calla sighed and dropped her head, lifting herself out of her protective position. "Do you want to lead or?"

"Sure thing. Turlin will be behind you though. By the way, I'm Leena."

"...Calla."

"Well no time like the present, let's go!" Leena turned around and began stomping off down the street. Calla felt Turlin nudge her shoulder and made to follow Leena.

They didn't walk very far but it took a long time to get to the Swarmers' base, mostly because Leena stopped to flirt with any attractive person she could find. Calla could feel Turlin's bubbling anger behind her and was worried about her immediate safety.

Still, they made it to the base without incident and Calla found herself guided into a hallway with a couple of guards. She was made to sit down at a small table and Leena sat opposite her with her legs crossed. Taking her helmet off, Leena gave her head a shake to free her hair from where it had sat for a few hours prior.

Calla idly noted that Leena was quite a beauty and her red hair and eyes against her pale skin made her appealing. But the whispers soon quashed Calla's thoughts before they went further.

"Now Calla. We're going to have a little chat." Leena said with a smile, sliding a glass of blood before her. Calla inhaled from the glass but didn't drink and Leena quirked an eyebrow at the newborn. "You've good control." she noted.

"Thank you." Calla responded gently before sliding the glass back to Leena. "But I only drink from my own hunts."

"Fair enough." Then two other men strolled into the room. One wore the same clothing as Leena, he looked to be in his early thirties with a gruff appearance and black hair. Calla guessed he was Turlin but couldn't be sure yet. The other man had the appearance of his late twenties, clean shaven and a handsome face. Calla wasn't sure what it was but the whispers were very afraid and warned her off from offending him.

"So we've got some questions for you and we're going to start with the basics. And we'll know if you lie."

"Please." Calla maintained her stoic face.

"What age were you turned?"

"Twenty three."

"And how long have you been a vampire?"

"A couple of weeks?" Calla responded hesitantly and Leena's eyebrows shot up and she looked to the two seated men. The unknown man just nodded and she looked back at Calla.

"That's remarkable. Only a couple of weeks old and able to sniff fresh blood and not act like a beast. How do you do that?"

"Self-control. My mind tells me not to so I don't. It's hard but I always manage to restrain myself."

"Have you actually drunk human blood before?"

"Yes."

"Was it frenzied or aggressive?"

"No?" Calla thought back to her first kill. "When I was turned I was under a bridge, I spent some of the daytime that I was stuck there planning how to go about it."

"Really?" Leena seemed fascinated and Calla nodded in response.

"My instincts told me that the sun was dangerous so I have no choice to stay where I was."

"You must of drunk something." Leena pressed on. "The thirst is nigh unbearable for a newborn."

"I did drink, yes." Calla confirmed.

"From?"

"My Sire." Leena's eyes went to the side again and confirmation was given.

"Your Sire let you drink their blood?"

"No." Calla responded with a shake of the head. "They were already dead."

"How?"

"There was an island in the middle of the bridge, when my Sire attacked me and I struggled and we went over the edge. He broke my fall and his brains spilled out." Calla smiled as she remember the scene she saw upon waking.

"So you drained his body?"

"Yes."

"Okay that's enough." the unknown man interjected. "Leena, whilst I appreciate you wanting to know everything, can you please stick to the topic at hand." Leena pouted at the man before turning back to Calla.

"Tell us about Benedict Farrows."

"What about him?"

"Why does he want you badly enough to put a bounty on your head?"

"Ah..." Calla started. "I don't know the relation to him but when I was in Lillypud I met this heavenly little girl and an adorable couple of twins. I took them to where I was stayed and fed from them." Leena's eyes darkened in anger.

"The girl's name?" she said lowly.

"Lisa. She was so angelic. I'd already had my fill from the twins and figured I could use a portable lunch, so I wrapped her in a bag and drained her slowly, collecting the blood in jars." Calla's face had a euphoric look at the memory but Leena was disgusted.

"You're sick, you know that?" Leena stated with no small amount of aggression.

"No, no. I'm very healthy. Your thinking is just too human. A young human to me is like a serving of lamb to their kind. So supple and tasty, you really should try it."

"I take back what I said earlier, you're a worse beast than those blood lust driven newborns." Lisa's stance was beginning to become threatening when the unknown man stood up once more.

"Just to clarify Calla, you did not attempt to attack or kill him or his newborns?" The official premise of the bounty was that she'd gone out her way to harm his interests in a vendetta.

"Not at all." she replied with a shake of the head. "His men came after me and I fought back. When these two picked me up I was just leaving the alleyway. I'd fought two of his men in the alley which is what caused this wound here," she pointed to her waist which was still covered in blood. "I didn't want a fight initially but they've come after me numerous times. I hope vampire law doesn't say I have to let myself be killed." she snorted a little but kept her words sincere and not allow sarcasm to seep in. It was true she didn't want a fight, she wanted a one sided hunt and kill.

"I can confirm everything you've said tonight is truthful and no you haven't broken any laws. Benedict on the other hand will be required to pay for a false bounty." the man growled and Calla had the desire to lower her head in submission but restrained it. "The Swarmers won't pursue the matter with you again Calla, you're free to go."

"Thank you." Calla stood but Leena began to argue.

"But Xavier she kills children!" she looked like she wanted to murder Calla on the spot but Xavier had said she could leave.

"Leena perhaps you should listen to the young girl's words. You think most vampires haven't killed a child?" Turlin said.

"But she does it actively!"

"Leena." Xavier spoke sternly. "She has broken no laws amongst the vampire race. That Benedict and yourself would get so upset over something as flimsy as human life shows your weakness."

Leena quietened after being chastised by her clan superior, she could only grit her teeth and give Calla a death glare. Calla wanted to try something but didn't know if it would net her a benefit or not, but she figured as a newborn she was relatively safe.

"Erm... can I say something before I go?" she spoke politely towards Xavier.

"Of course," he nodded, "what is it?"

"When I was being tracked I also kept track of them. You can see from my contacts and clothes that I've gone to lengths to hide myself." Xavier and Turlin chuckled, all three of them had been able to tell but Leena was too pissed to laugh.

"Anyway, I listened in to a phone call they had and they mentioned something about forest dogs." This got Xavier's attention and his previous friendly expression became ice cold. Calla thought her heart would of beat out of her chest had she been alive.

"Tell me every word." he used his compulsion and it settled on Calla. The whispers told her to accept it once again and her eyes became dazed.

"The small vampire that I got in the alleyway, he said that they'd ceded control of the western buildings to the forest dogs. That's all I was able to hear." Xavier released the compulsion immediately, seeing no need to hold her under and not being a fan of bending one's will. The coldness in his voice made the temperature of the room plummet.

"So, Benedict not only falsely accuses another vampire, he's even allowed mutts to get a hold in the city. We'll deal with this problem, and as thanks, we'll even help you kill Benedict too, if you like?" he said as he faced Calla.

"If I may say sir," Xavier nodded, "I love the hunt and my instincts and mind demand I hunt him alone."

"Ahh...newborn instincts are strong aren't they." he gave a hollow laugh.

"Yes sir." she gave a half bow robotically to him, to show her station.

"Very well. You have one week in which to kill him, that is my favour to you. If you don't....then we'll be removing him ourselves, regardless of your instincts."

"That's more than generous sir." she gave another half bow and left the room.

"Xavier, Turlin, that girl is dangerous. She's only a two week old for Christ's sake. And she has no qualms about killing children and other vampires. It's not normal." Leena still felt the need to get her point across.

"You're right Leena." Xavier said. "It's not normal, but it's definitely fun. I wonder if she can really off Farrow, it'd be a great shame on his memory if he were brought down by a newborn."

Xavier didn't dally after that and smiled as he walked away. He wondered how much havoc a newborn who lived for the thrill of the hunt, rather than the blood, would bring. Most vampires transition to that after becoming a Childe, yet she was evidently born into their world that way.

Calla made haste back to the alleyway where she was picked up and was relieved to find the two nude men still on the floor, shrivelled up and dried out. She whipped a couple of black bags out from her hoodie pouch and bagged them, dragging them to her warehouse and laying them down where they would be in full view of the sun. Hopefully no one had seen the blood-drained pair.

She spent a couple of hours cleaning herself up and was a bit saddened she'd punctured her body suit. She'd have to rely on the masking cream to keep her scent hidden until she could replace the contaminated outfit.

Calla settled down and welcomed the morning from her shielded corner, by watching her two latest meals scatter to dust.