Kierra

"Your sister is the one in the Vampire telling?"

I nod slowly, tilting my head at Shade. While his brother is outspoken, he's more reserved, shy. At first I thought he was giving the cold shoulder, but as I've seen him interact with us at the bar then the others since being here, it's more obvious.

"And you're both being targeted so 'change' is prevented?"

"By certain factions, yeah. Those from today being from a couple I'd imagine. Not sure yet just how many in the undead community knows about her. Benjamin does, he was here when we were all told. Him I trust, my sister I trust. The one who turned her I clearly do not and will slaughter him the first chance I get."

With Faline being in love with him it complicates things, but I already told her I can’t forgive him for what he's done. Any opportunity I have, I will take. Have already told the others that they’re not to touch him, that he’s mine.

"The humans, however, I have no clue what their deal is. Could either be mixed up in the Flesh ring or with one of the paranormal groups who have it out for us."

"Flesh ring?"

Oops. Oh well. If they stick around, even in town, they need to know. Drawing in a lot of air and releasing, I begin laying it out. When they make glances at the boys, I just smile.

"They are mine, if any touch them they are instantly dead. I also want them aware of what's going on, so they know to be watchful. Bastion especially, since there is a specific man looking for him and claiming familial ownership. Calling himself his uncle. He isn't, and when I find him, I plan on making his death very painful."

I look over to Bastion, my eyes going yellow as I reinforce my promise to him.

"I gave my word he would die, and I will make sure it happens. Like I told Alarico, the Red Pack Alpha, this man will be killed, even if I have to make a bloody swath through the city to do it. I’m not bloodthirsty, not that much, but he needs to die."

The brothers watch me carefully, so I turn my eyes to them.

"The man looking for him is part of a human trafficking ring that deals in all species. The reason I was at the bar was 'cause he had gone in looking for a pale wolf. Alarico had at first thought I had kidnapped him, but that was quickly rectified. Orion, who's a Clan lion, has been looking for those missing, my sister had found one who went to the bordello..."

"Your sister is at a whorehouse?"

I glare hard at Zypher. His outspokenness is gonna get him into trouble if he’s not careful.

"Yes, she's at a 'whorehouse'. She'd been held captive there and became friends with many of the people within. A few Vamps will keep watch over her as well as humans and animals. As Orion put it, she is a favorite there. Not because she opens her legs, but because she helps care for the ones there."

My voice is hard, anger picking up. His gray-blue eyes drop as he gives ground. I can detect no anger in the movement and they've both been blocking me from reading them.

"As I was saying, Faline had come across a man there who was trying to rape a child, she strung him up and found out that he was also part of the ring. She didn't know much about it at that point and gave him over to the lion I mentioned."

Shade's nodding, really thinking about everything, his brother had looked back up when I started speaking again. The younger brother’s eyebrows draw together.

"You said 'was', I take it that means he no longer lives?"

My smile tells him all he needs to know, his head inclining.

"Real messed up part is the man was a lawyer. Faline had found out that not only was he part of the ring, being one who scouts out those who are to be taken, but that there are several city officials and other high members of society that are as well. Lawyers, judges, cops, and a priest."

They both scowl hard. Good, glad to know they find it just as fucked as I do.

"The lawyers in the ring work to recruit pedophiles, murderers, and drug dealers, or participate in the flesh retrieved. Judge to get their sentences changed or revoked, technicalities that get them released. Cops buy or rent what's offered. She had pulled back before she could get any more, so I'm not sure what the priest is doing."

Just the thought of someone supposedly of the church wanting to have anything to do with this is upsetting. I don't believe in any one specific God, being more... Spiritual, I guess.

Can't even say that since Vampires and Werewolves are real that the devil is too because we aren't made by the ways the movies and stories predict. Well, sort of. I haven't actually asked where each race comes from, and I've yet to see any from Above or Below.

We aren't demons, just a different species. History wise, I'm sure many years ago it was safer for Vamps to be in coffins, so that's how that one would have gotten started. Same with needing to be underground or sleeping during the day.

Vampires can be up, they're weakened and can't go into the sunlight, but they can move around. Okay, so there are some magics mixed in with all of us, but I'm sure that is residual from magic being a big thing thousands of years ago. Hey, it's possible.

Silver does not hurt Vamps or Weres, it's just metal, nothing to do with the silver coins of a traitor. It's platinum, actually, that can seriously injure us. That whole thing of not being originally from this planet or whatever, not entirely sure.

Stake through the heart? Uh, we are living beings, you try to live with your heart being full of anything, let alone wood, and see you not die.

I'm sure the very old vampires and even Weres could actually survive it if they're powerful enough. Wolfsbane would probably cause issues since it is toxic. Am I missing anything? Probably. There's a lot of bollocks going around.

Blinking, I realize I've gone off into space again. Whoops. Clearing my throat as my cheeks tinge pink, I get back on track again.

"Benjamin has been working on getting more from his end. Just has to be careful with his hacking as well as Vamp rules. He's technically not allowed to interfere, but he's doing it as a personal favor for me."

Not to mention I kind of screwed with his head. It wasn't intentional by any means, was a new ability manifesting and having a weird effect on the living impaired.

One of my abilities is to call a supernatural’s animal to the surface, making them shift. When it happened to Ben, it created some kind of link between us. I think it's my scent that triggers it, too much of it and it's like he's drunk. But again, I'm not sure. Would probably be safer just to stay away from him, but he's a friend that's done a lot for me.

"Each member seems to have an alias, but many know each other in public circles so I'm not sure what the point is. Frank Mallory, the one looking for my Imp, is referred to as the 'Banker'. Not sure if it's because he's an accountant in public or if it's because he deals with the finances of the ring that works in this area. Either way, that's something else Ben is doing; steadily draining all the accounts; sending the money elsewhere or just deleting it."

Can money be deleted? If it's electronic it should be able to, right? Eh, whatever. Getting rid of it one way or another.

"Another thing Alarico wanted me for, was my help with the same thing. He's been collecting information on those taken. He has a stack of file folders that are probably all that's left of many of them. Going back fifteen years at least. Shifters, Weres, and a few humans in the ones he's collected. Instead of the amount going down with technology getting better, it has increased."

That's one thing that's been confusing me. With all of the modern-day cameras, satellite pictures, forensics, and computer tracking, why is this getting progressively worse? Breaking eye contact with them all, I start pacing from one bookshelf to another.

This side of the house, the living room, is filled with wall to wall shelving, at least pretty close to anyway. Outside left corner has Tigger's cat tree, the three windows on this side are also open spaced. Books, DVDs, games, and knick-knacks fill the shelves.

A single bookshelf to the right of the desk fills the wall space between it and the door to the basement. It's lower shelves I'd cleared for Bastion to keep the assorted stuff I've gotten him. For right now though, I'm basically pacing from cat tree to inside right corner of the living room.

Not a very large space, especially with the television stand in the way, but enough to work as I think aloud.

"For the body count to have gone from a dozen or so a year to what it is now, is quite a leap. Population increase? Higher demand? Only kept for a span of time before they're killed, animals are able to last longer but spirits can still be broken. Crime rate? High crime rate could be a cover for the abductions. I didn't see on any of the files that bodies were found, even human ones."

I go from walking flat-footed to the balls of my feet. The habitual thing I usually do randomly, moreso lately.

"Plenty of bodies come out of the river each year, let alone from the state parks around. The bordello is in a wetlands area... Which is probably flooding all to hell right now if they're getting the same downpour we are. His files weren't just from here but several counties surrounding this one."

Considering I didn't know there was a wetlands forest preserve right here in Winnebago, that should tell you just how much I've gotten around. I've been into some areas of Wisconsin, but that about covers my travel knowledge.

"From what I've seen on media and read about, human trafficking is usually done in cities like Los Angeles, New York, Vegas, or some other larger populated areas. We're in a central state. Lots of prostitutes down in Rockford...would they be part of it? Plenty of state lines around, are they peddling drugs to?"

I stop at the window in the kitchen, the lower half has been painted over so Faline can be up and around in here if she wanted. The upper half is covered by both blinds and drapes. Several other windows have been painted as well, either looking like stained glass or some wildlife scene that I could do quickly.

This one, weirdly, is fish. Had left the small window that the cat tree is next to uncovered for the cat to have his kitty T.V. and sunbathes. I'm not all that big on fish, last time I had one I killed it from me keeping my room so cold. Wasn't intentional, just didn't think about it.

Besides, I like color, and most of the time the ones with a lot of colors are saltwater based and need specific care. The whole point of having a fish is that it's a minimal care animal. Sealife critters are not minimum care whatsoever.

Staring out the window, I hear them chatting behind me. Mostly block it out though as I think of other things. Plenty of other things to think about.

Like fish, apparently.

"All those taken were either kids or young adults, ones who can't fight as hard as a full adult can. At ages where submissiveness is more often common than not. Teenagers can be hotheads but it's mostly bluster. Are the Vamps against my sister and I part of this?"

I scowl at the little motionless fishies on the window since they provide no answer.

"You know, this is what pisses me off about all the animal groups and even the Vampires. If you'd actually communicate with each other, shit like this would either not happen or have a lot fewer victims. But nooo, you all have to be silent, unsocialized, tight asses. Even if it's just talking between the animals and not the undead, it's something. Best believe if it were my kids I'd be talking to every beast out there."

Turning, I glare at all of the adults. Eyes doing the flip-floppy thing again; going from yellow to green several times.

"What's the damn point of having a ruling council if they do nothing for those they're supposed to be looking over? I've already mentioned to Alarico that after this Ring is taken care of, I plan on having chats with these people. If I'm supposed to affect all this change, then they are who I will start with."

Stunned surprise is shown on every face, even pick it up from Asher. He more than anyone should want this, just because he'd gone to them for help and was brushed aside. When he'd first told me what happened, I wanted nothing to do with them, but seeing just how bad it is, I can't just stand here and do nothing.

Bastion has a look of pleased excitement on his face that I'm not sure he even realizes he's showing. Rewinding my words in my head, I find that I had said 'my kids'. Ahh. Well, he might as well be with the way I treat him.

Since the guys have yet to say anything, my heart sinks just a little, but I stiffen my spine.

"None of you have to do this with me, I've claimed it as my own thing. If you're uncomfortable with it though, I'm going to have to ask you to leave. I can't have anyone here that will flip fences on me."

Sure they all know that if they did, I would try to kill them, even Asher. Would kill a part of me to do so, but to protect those with me, I'll do what I have to. Would hurt with Xavier as well, after all the help he's given me up to this point.

Warmth fills my head, pride, and a lot of love slip in from the black wolf. Don't think he meant for me to feel the love part, so I hide my shock of it. Eyes go from him to each of the others, not exactly lingering, but showing them that I'm very serious.

Xavier recovers next, his grin wide and a glint in his eye. I know that glint. He's always up for causing trouble with me. With me, not for me. His and Asher's acceptance releases a large amount of my anxiety.

Looking back to the brothers who have yet to say anything, I try reading them without intruding into their heads. Their thoughts are their own, I just want them to be honest with me. Zypher and Shade's expressions change just about the same time, similar looks to that of Xavier's. Gotta love that about wolves; always up to dish out some trouble.

Upon seeing their expressions, I relax fully and give them a small smile, pretty sure the relief is plain on my face. Emotion gathers behind my eyes that have finally settled to my normal bright green, but I blink it away, hiding it by looking out Tigger's window.

The rain has let up, still coming down, but it isn't a solid shower. The brothers stand and come to me, so I look back to them a bit warily. Something awkward is about to happen, I can feel it. Both kneel down in front of me.

Oh yeah, really awkward.

"I think I speak for both of us in asking if you'll let us stay."

Double entendre there I'm sure. Since I kind of already figured it'd happen, I had prepared mentally for it. Wasn't expecting the kneeling thing though.

Looking into each set of eyes, I finally nod. It was Zypher that had spoken, and his brother shares his same conviction. With red cheeks, I motion for them to stand.