“You mentioned something happened to your brother?” Paige asked.

“Yeah. Tony and one of the dudes from the Roamers held some of our family members hostage to force us to fight. When the PPM dudes rocked up they completely overwhelmed everyone, they freaked and used the kids as hostages to escape. We chased them down to the 64th floor, but the Scout I was with told me to head back up. Hopefully he’s enough to rescue my brother.” Nick explained.

Paige’s face then softened. “Oh I’m so sorry Nick. That must be incredibly stressful for you.”

Nick sighed. “Yeah it is honestly. My family is quite stressed about it all. I certainly haven’t responded well, I mean look at me.” Nick gestured at his appearance.

Paige then picked up her teacup and sipped, Nick followed suit and took a sip of his own tea. It was a wonderful brew, he already felt significantly calmer as soon as the tea entered his system.

“How did you end up in such a state?” Paige asked.

Nick explained how he had run off to the wasp challenge to vent his frustrations, how that had led to him biting off more than he could chew. Then he brought up the fact he’d almost been killed by the bandits but was saved by Frank and his crew.

“Oh my, you certainly went through quite the ordeal. It was a good twist of fate that that team was there to save you. It would have been a real shame to lose such a promising bit of talent.”

“Yeah I could say it was pretty lucky.” Nick said with a slight chuckle

“So what are your plans moving forward Nick?” Paige asked.

Nick sat and thought about it for a while. What were his plans? Nick found himself sinking into the armchair, immensely comfortable. His thoughts started drifting away. Plans? Who needed plans right now? Nick was simply enjoying the moment.

“Nick? Are you alright?”

Nick lazily shook his head. “Hmm? Yeah I’m alright. My plans? I’m roaming with Frank and his team tomorrow. Got some long term stuff in the works you know? Gotta talk to some Explorers, find some martial artists, really on that improvement grind right now.”

“Certainly sounds like you’ve got some things in the works Nick. That sounds quite stressful though, what are you doing to stay relaxed?”

Nick hadn’t noticed it before, but Paige had a really soothing voice. He felt like he could just get lost in its warm embrace.

“Nothing really, always found that violence was my favourite way to vent. Different strokes for different folks is how I’ve always seen it.”

Nick leaned back into the chair and let out a relaxed sigh. He turned his perspective inwards and noticed something odd. His internal energy that was usually floating around was sluggish, unnaturally so. The energy usually moved around carelessly, a free floating form unconstrained by anything. Right now it was slowly moving around, its carelessness absent. As he watched it he felt a pervasive sluggishness radiate from it, each of its movements was dulled. Before Nick could get concerned he was distracted.

“I certainly enjoy a bit of violence to blow off some steam. Though I also like the finer things in life now and then.” Paige’s voice flowed like honey, capturing Nick’s attention.

“Finer things?” Nick asked.

“Hmm, like spending time with pleasant gentlemen such as yourself. Good company is so hard to find these days.” She said with a sigh.

Nick felt the need to console her, Paige deserved good company. Nick also agreed with her, he was quite the pleasant gentleman! Of course he was.

“I’m glad I could help you then, Paige.”

Paige giggled in response which caused Nick to blush. Paige’s giggle sent tingles down his spine. He really wanted to keep feeling those tingles.

“Is there anything I could do to help you Nick? To help my friend?” Paige purred.

There was that word again. Friend. Nick felt a warmth rise up inside of him, it felt good to be called a friend by Paige. He really wanted to be her friend. What could he ask for? He didn’t want to ask too much, but he knew that asking things of people improved relationships. So what was something not too serious that he could ask for? Nick desperately racked his mind for something, but the thoughts were flowing like molasses. Suddenly it clicked, something Paige herself had mentioned earlier. Nick almost felt smug at how good a request this would be!

“I’d like to meet some other Explorers, get to know some like minded individuals. You said you knew some?”

Paige flashed a radiant smile. “Of course I could do that for you Nick. I can introduce you to some of the best Explorers the Complex has to offer.”

Success. Nick felt a rush of pride, he had done it! The perfect request that wasn’t asking too much, but still required something that only the other party could offer him. Nick’s mind then turned to a more pressing concern of his. Benny. He felt his mood drop as he imagined the hardships that his brother must have been going through right now. He felt his own mind try and tug him back towards a more positive direction but he resisted. His brother deserved his concern right now. He looked over at Paige and saw a slight frown cross her face before it was quickly replaced with a gentle smile.

“What’s wrong Nick?” She asked.

Nick sighed. “I’m worried about my brother. He’s going through such a hard time right now, and there’s nothing I can do to help him. All I can rely on is the random dude from the Parklands People’s Militants or whatever they’re called. I just have to hope he’s enough to rescue my brother.”

“Parklands People’s Militia.” Paige corrected with a giggle. “How about this Nick. If the Scout from the PPM fails to succeed, I’ll personally call in some favours to get a team put together to rescue your brother.”

Nick’s eyes lit up. “You’d do that for me?”

Paige’s eyes shimmered. “Of course dear. Though…” Paige then stood up and sauntered towards Nick. “Do you think you could do a little favour for me?”

Nick’s heart started pounding, he could feel the blush spreading across his face.

“S-Sure, what do you want?” He stammered out.

Paige sauntered right up to him, her pale yellow eyes maintaining steady eye contact with him. She gracefully folded her dress and placed herself down onto his lap. Nick’s breath quickened as she looked up at him. She moved her face closer until it was merely inches away from his own.

In a soft voice she whispered. “I want you to stay very still for me, okay?”

Nick gulped and nodded his head. He felt his body lock up, even if he tried to move he didn’t think he’d be able to. Paige then slowly leaned her head to the side, away from his face and closer to his neck. He heard her lips part and his heart beat now pounded so loudly that it was all he could hear. He felt her soft breath against his skin and it sent shivers down his spine, goosebumps raising across his body. Her soft lips made contact with his neck, he almost gasped as the sensation sent tingles across his body.

Then there was a sharp pain. He felt something pierce through his skin and into his flesh. He felt his blood slowly get drained out of him and something else began to replace it. It trickled in through the puncture and slowly crept into his bloodstream. Nick tried to move, to stop whatever was happening, but his body wouldn’t listen to him. Nick was frozen still as he felt his blood get taken from him. He watched in horror as he felt this strange substance creep through his veins. Nick mentally tried to thrash about, to scream, to do anything. That’s when his lethargic energy roared back in defiance.

The energy snapped free from whatever was holding it back. It soared through Nick's body and towards his neck. Nick felt his muscles return to his control as the energy spread through him. The energy culminated in his neck and violently shot forth against the foreign objects puncturing him.

Nick’s mind didn’t stop to consider anything other than prioritising his safety. Nick sprang up and his body acted in the way it had been conditioned to his entire life. Nick punched the threat. He swung a mighty hook into the body of Paige, who looked stunned at what had just happened. Her body took the punch with ease, Nick’s own hand feeling like he’d just punched a solid block of steel. Nick took steps backwards, tripping over the bed and falling onto it.

“Oh? Jumping to the bed so soon? You don’t mess around Nick.” Paige said with a devilish grin.

Nick’s mind cleared and he clutched at his neck. A tingling spread across his body, his skill stopping the bleeding. What the hell had just happened. Nick remembered the last ten minutes or so as an out of body experience. He had been present, but it didn’t feel like he had been behind the wheel per se.

“What the hell did you do to me Paige? What’s going on?” Nick demanded. “Why did you bite me?!”

Paige giggled and covered her mouth with a hand, Nick just now noticing that she had blood dripping from the corner of her mouth.

“What’s a little blood between friends Nick?” Her eyes danced with a mischievous energy. “Though that does explain a lot. How did you do it Nick? How have you managed to unlock your aura energy so early?”

Nick felt almost compelled to try and offer her an answer. He almost opened his mouth to tell her all about the incident with Reggie and what had happened to him. Nick had to clamp his mouth closed and tense every muscle in his jaw to distract himself.

“Awh dear, don’t be like that. I feel like we’ve gotten so close! There’s no need to go all shy on me now.” She smiled at him, licking the blood from the corner of her mouth.

Nick focused on his energy, watching the small amount of it left float around inside him with a defiant carelessness. Nick steeled himself and locked eyes with the woman before him.

“Enough with whatever skill you’re using. Stop it now.” He again demanded.

“Why Nick?” She asked with a smirk. “Feeling like you might just lose control? You won’t be able to stop yourself from ravishing an innocent lady like me?” She feigned a blush.

Nick’s brows creased. He could feel her words trying to worm their way into his head, trying to influence his own thoughts. Nick quickly realised that this was a losing battle, whatever she was using to influence him had been working earlier and was likely going to overwhelm him in a matter of time. Nick needed to change his approach.

“What do you want, Paige? Why are you doing this to me?” Nick asked.

She grinned at him, flashing her fangs.

“Other than my blood.” Nick added on.

He had been totally right. Paige was a goddamn blood sucking vampire. He couldn’t lie, part of him found the idea absolutely awesome. Actual vampires? C’mon man that was pretty sick. Being seduced and having his blood sucked, not as cool.

Paige still didn’t answer, seemingly enjoying Nick’s change of tracks.

“C’mon Paige. Don’t play coy with me. We’re both reasonable adults here. There’s things I want, things you want. Let’s come to an agreement, a mutually beneficial arrangement.”

“Where’s the fun in that Nick? When you’ve been working this angle as long as I have, you learn that you’ve got to take pleasure in the job.” She said, her smile giving way to a look of melancholy.

“Well we’ve had our fun. I won’t hold it against you. Let’s just focus on business for a bit.”

Paige sighed. “Okay then.”

She threw herself back into her own armchair and began sipping her tea. Nick got off from the bed and retook his seat in the armchair. Paige stopped him when he went to pick up his own tea.

“I wouldn’t do that.” She grinned at him and took a sip of her own. “Though you could, if you liked the taste enough.”

“What is it?” He asked.

“It’s a special brew, makes people more open to suggestion. It also has a mild aura suppressing effect, I would have used a stronger brew if I had known about your special circumstances.” She said with a sigh.

“Well, thankfully you didn’t. We all have the cards we play close to the chest. So, what do you, or your boss, want from a Latecomer like me?”

“I originally just saw you as a very promising recruit. Good fighting ability and an Explorer is always a welcome addition to most forces. When I made my report to the Mistress she told me to do whatever I could to get you on board. You’re a wanted man Nick, I’m beginning to understand why.” She then ran her tongue across her lips. “You’re absolutely delicious.”

Nick ignored the final comment, until he realised that Paimon might be a vampire as well. Did they literally just want him for his blood?

“Well I’m not too keen on becoming a blood bag. Though we both have things each other seems to want.”

“I’ll introduce you to the Explorers, that can be easily arranged. I wasn’t lying. Your brother’s issue is an easy fix. I’ll talk to the Mistress and arrange to have a high level team search the floor on their next roam to the lower floors. If he’s there, we’ll have him back in your hands in no time.”

Well that was a positive result. This meeting hadn’t gone too bad. Apart from being drugged, hypnotised and literally having his blood drained.

Nick flashed his own smile at Paige. “Well that’s great to hear. Now what can we arrange to meet your goals?”

Paige looked at the bed then back to Nick. “Well, I’ve got something you could rearrange for me.”

Nick looked at the bed and then back to Paige. He shrugged.

“When in Rome I guess.”