I take a look at my room and I can’t seem to make my feet take one step through the sliding door. That’s right a sliding metal door like in those sci-fi movies. I watched Edge walk to the little pad next to the door and slide my room key to open it.

He steps in and drops my bag on the floor next to door. “Close your mouth and come it.” He says with a smirk.

“My common ass is instantly going to make this place look cheaper.” This place is like an expensive suit at a hotel. It’s got a luscious dark couch by floor to ceiling windows. The couch is pointed to a giant TV that’s bolted to the wall. There is a small kitchen in the far corner from what I can see and on the other side of the room is a bedroom that I was sure was just as luxurious. There was even a vase with flowers on the table in the living room. I didn’t even want to know what the bathroom looked like. Actually, I do. I step in and I still can’t believe what I am seeing.

“Are you sure we have the right room?”

“Yeah, usually you would have to earn a suit like this, but since partner have to live closely together you got this one.”

“This has to be the first time I feel any joy of being stuck with you.” Edge smiles and hands me my new key card.

“I guess this was Mark’s old suite?” I ask and Edge nods.

“It was and my place is the door opposite.” I look to the identical door.

“I want a tour of your place some time.”

“Not a chance.” He snaps and I smile.

“Willing to use me for my body, but won’t even take me to your place? How ungentlemanly of you.” I say clutching my chest.

Edge scowls at me and I smirk back. “You know I am harmless right?” I ask walking to the couch.

“I doubt that.” His tone was so sharp it could cut glass.

“A big bad vampire can’t handle a little harmless flirting. That is the strangest thing I have witnessed today.” His eyebrows clench even harder.

I walk to the couch and unlock the handcuff from my wrist. I place Jolene gently on the little coffee table. I look at the vase of flowers and spot a little card in the centre. I pick it up and read it.

Welcome to the team.

Gerald.

“What made you so angry?” Edge must have sensed the shift in my mood.

“Gerry, sent this. Do me a favor and point me to the nearest bin. Or better yet, pass them on to Camila before I shove them up his ass the next time I see him.”

“You know I was the one who ordered you to shoot Winch.” He points out helpfully.

“On his orders. I wouldn’t hold it against a soldier to follow an order.”

“Even if it was the wrong decision?” He asks quietly.

I turn towards him and take a deep breath. “Trust me. I killed a few targets when I knew it was wrong.” Edge looks at me stunned.

“Don’t look so shocked. I follow orders like the good soldier I was trained to be. I bet there are a few bodies behind you that you knew deserved to live.” Edge looks away in shame.

“Sometimes, killing my own kind leaves a bad taste in my mouth.” I felt like that a few times I was told to shoot members of a resistance. They were defending their own land, so why were their lives collateral?

“I’m sorry.” I couldn’t think of anything else to say.

“I’m sorry too.” Edge responds and I smile sadly.

“Well, well, you’re not a complete twat, are you?” Edge smiles back at me.

“And maybe you’re not a complete bitch either.”

“How dare you, sir? I will have you know I am a bitch down to my boots.”

“Good thing you acknowledge it I was just being nice.” His smile was genuine and sweet. Suddenly, I felt uncomfortable so I turned away from him.

“Damn, this place is fantastic. Do many people chose to live off the premises?” I ask to distract us. I don’t understand why, but I needed to change the subject. I felt vulnerable in front of him and it wasn’t because he could kill me in seconds. It was sad that the first person I found who understood me was dead.

“Only those with families.”

“Families?” I ask.

“Yeah, don’t forget most of the staff is human. What did you expect them to not have lives?”

“Well, yeah. This isn’t exactly the safest line of work.”

“Ainz, there isn’t any rules that says you can’t have your own life. But, for women there is an extra rule.” I scowl at that. I had enough time to go over that fucking contract thrice and that stupid rule never changed. “Female soldiers, will not be permitted to have children.”

“You know I don’t consider myself a feminist, but that is such a sexist rule. Gerry is an ass for enforcing it. By the time women retire they are passed their prime. And that test he put me through, makes me wish that bullet had hit him.”

“I know you don’t like him, but that’s a test that we make all of the new recruits take.”

“And how many of those recruits have failed?” I snap.

“Almost 90%.” He says brazenly.

“What do you after you have them shoot a loved one? Just erase it from their minds?” Edge looks unfazed.

“Yes, after we heal them of course.”

“You fucker.” I halt in my advance to him and he smiles at me knowingly. “Did you just say heal?”

“Who knows?” He evades my question. Vampires can heal people too? So, Winch was never in actual danger. None the less, it was a sick test regardless.

“You never had to take that test. You don’t know what it puts you through.”

“What makes you think I have never had to kill someone I cared about?” I freeze and his statement. “Camila never got a chance to tell you, but you can’t have a weapon in your room. You have to drop it off in the armory.”

“I do that in a bit.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow at 6 in the morning. For now, use your time to get used to the place.” With no more words to be said he walked down the hall. I could have apologized, but I didn’t think that would be enough.

“Hey!” I shout to him. Edge shoulders tense and he turns to me slowly. I had gotten his attention, but I didn’t know what to say. “Where is the armory?” What a stupid thing to say at this moment.

“Ask Cam. She’ll tell you.” I try to speak to him again, but in the blink of an eye he was gone. “Damn, that is going to get annoying.”

I changed into some casual clothes and after dropping off Jolene and her paperwork at the armory I had plenty of spare time. I was also getting hungry and I had forgotten to ask Cam where the cafeteria was. This building had so many floors and no map in sight.

So far, I had found a very large gym, two indoor swimming pools, the infirmary, a lounge area that had a fire place and my personal favorite a gun range, but no cafeteria in sight or scent.

In the end I gave up on blindly wondering. I walk to a group of three men talking. One of them was a beast. He was so tall I wouldn’t be surprised if he measured over two meters and the muscles on him looked deadly. He had a bright red head of short hair and when he turned my way, I saw that he had bright green eyes. The other two looked tiny in his presence and I allowed myself a small internal chuckle.

The man to his left was a dark blond and he had his arms crossed on an equally well-built chest. The third man was the shortest and he wasn’t as built as the other two. He had brown hair and was wearing glasses. He was standing next to the red head and unlike the other two who radiated intimidation he gave off a safer vibe. He must be human.

“Sorry, to interrupt you gents, but could you point the way to any food?” I ask and the red head smiles brightly at me.

“Aye, darling. The cafeteria is on the seventh floor.” I smile hearing his deep brogue. It was strange, but his brogue didn’t seem modern if that made sense. No, it sounded older than that.

“Where on the seventh floor may that be?” I ask back.

“It’s the entire floor.” The one in glasses offered.

“Of course, it is. Where’s the spa?” I ask sarcastically.

“On the fifteenth floor.” I smile woodenly.

“Really?” He smiles and nods. I shake my head and beret myself for being surprised that this place has a spa.

“That accent, ye’ a Brit lass?” The red head asks me.

“Born and bred in Yorkshire.”

“Can ye’ drink like a Brit? How many times have you let the Queen drown?” He asks me with an expecting look. “Cause these two are damn pathetic.” I laugh at his question. He was talking about the save the queen drinking game. I haven’t played since I was first allowed into bars and was drinking like all the alcohol was about to run out date. I remember an old mate dropping the coin into my beer and he would yell “The Queen is drowning. Save her!” and every time I would drink the pint to get the coin out. God, I hated that prick.

“Not once did I let my Queen drown.” His smile widens and he pulled me in for a hug,

“Good lass. My name is Ian, but the folks here call me, Highlander.” He points to the blond next. “This is Clark or Tokyo.” He nods his head as a greeting, but doesn’t speak or smile for that matter. Ian then points to the man in the glasses. “This is Lewis. He is my human partner.” Well, that answered my question if Ian was a vampire.

I greet them all. “You’re new so you must be Edge’s new partner, right?” Ian asks.

“Yeah. But I forgot to ask him where the cafeteria was. He might be sick of me already. I tend to let my mouth work without the aid of my brain.”

“Don’t ye’ worry, Lass. Edge has a stick up his arse.”

“One that is deeply wedged.” But, I still felt guilty. I didn’t know anything about his life and he didn’t know anything about mine. I would suggest a heart to heart with him, but Edge didn’t seem like the type for that. Good, confrontation was never your strong suit either.

“Very true.” Ian lets go of me and I feel relieved to not have his weight on my shoulder. “Follow us, we were just about to go to the cafeteria ourselves.”

“No need. I’ll take her.” My heart rate spikes for a second and I know the vampires around me noticed it. Tokyo shifted as well listening discreetly letting me know he was vampire too.

I turn to Edge and take a deep breath. “I’m good, boys. I know where the lift is. I don’t need an escort just directions.” I walk around Ian and thank them for their help. I felt a soft whoosh of wind on my back.

Edge’s hood was down. I had never seen him with it off for long. Even when we where in the building back in my camp, he still kept it on. I guess he must feel comfortable with it on. He was a very handsome man, but one that was going to throw a lot of tantrums my way in the near future. Working with Edge isn’t going to be easy and I doubt he will make it easy.

“Is Ian an actual Highlander?” I ask to break the tension.

“What do you think?” I shrug.

“Is it strange how it’s your ages that I am having a hard time accepting?”

“Not really. Being over 200 years old myself is strange for me as well. We don’t age so time doesn’t matter for a vampire. As long as we don’t get killed, we get to live as long as we want.”

We approach the lift and Edge presses the button for it. We wait for in silence, but I don’t like it. So, I break the ice first.

“I’m sorry. I opened my mouth without thinking. Winch has been more of a Father to me than my own. The idea of me being the one to hurt him is a bit hard to swallow.” Edge doesn’t answer. “I’ll tell you what, when training starts. I’ll let you have the first punch.” I nudge him, but he doesn’t respond. His silence is cutting me deep. “How about I let you stab me?” I offer with a smile. His eyes turn down and I expected to see some playfulness there, but they were just cold. They lit up in warning and I backed away.

“Got it. Not in the mood.”

“Let get one thing very clear. I don’t care how much you run that mouth of yours as long as you do your job. Don’t get in my way on a mission and in the event that I take a hit you’ll be my snack. That’s all. Unless, we are in the gym training or out in the field you don’t have to talk to me or come close to me.”

I clench my fist and I stare at his cold, glowing eyes. I didn’t feel the same confusion and weight in my head like I did during the test, so obviously he wasn’t trying to mesmerize me, he was just trying to intimidate me.

“Fine. Works for me. If you’re going to act like this, I don’t want to be anywhere near you unless we’re working either, but mark my words.” I get closer to his face and usher my own threat. “If your shit attitude is what gets me killed, you will wish I stayed dead.” His eyes never stopped glowing, but their coldness dissipated slightly. “I have a reserved burial plot I would like to use when I am in my golden years.”

“Be a good girl and you won’t need to use that grave anytime soon.” He remarked. I smile snidely at his stupid, not threatening purple glowing supernatural eyes.

“You know, your mouth really does ruin the package. What a waste.”

“Please you and I both know it doesn’t.” He smiled darkly. I walked ahead of him throwing over my shoulder the only retort I could think off.

“The brooding vampire trend is over friend!”