Its 9:00 pm the next night and I am in a very similar situation like I was on my first day which will most likely be even more normal as time passes. After checking every part of my gear and putting on the amazing uniform Cam had made for me I decided that I couldn’t sit still for half an hour waiting for this mission to start so I picked up my stuff and came down to the lobby.

I still had no idea what on earth we were getting into all can hope is that Gerry wakes up in a better mood and gives us more information today. This isn’t a normal mission even with my inexperience I can understand that much. Where are we eve going? The desert? A warehouse? A remote village? A busy town? Another hotel? Something tells me that I could stand here for the next hour guessing and I still wouldn’t get close to figuring it out, but I am still trying regardless. It’s better than imagining all the possible ways that this could go wrong.

I wonder if I can call Winch and ask him for some advice.

“You’re early.” Cam’s voice pulls me out of my thoughts. She looks down at the watch on her wrist. “You’re not due for your missions until 10.”

“Sorry, I just couldn’t sit still there’s too many things going on in my head.” She smiles and rubs my arm comfortingly.

“A distracted soldier is often one that makes the most mistakes.” She points out wisely which makes me smirk. I can almost hear Winch telling me the same thing although his words would be less polite. Get your head out of your ass and focus on the mission. I don’t want the hassle of telling your Dad you’re dead.

“Wise words Cam.” She tried to give me a reassuring smile.

“I’m sorry Gerald has you doing this.” I sigh in defeat.

“Please don’t apologize you will just make me feel worse than I already do. Any news on Valentine?” Cal shakes her head sorrowfully.

“Are all Type B’s like that?”

“Sometimes I suppose. I haven’t met that many myself they seem to be a rather new mutation.”

“Is that what vampires are a mutation?” I ask weakly.

“That seems to be a rather large debate in the supernatural world. Witches have said that vampires are failed attempts at necromancy, but the same can be said for ghouls some say that perhaps it’s a virus. Others say they’re demons taking on human form. You’ll get a different answer depending on who you talk to.”

“They all seem to be very melodramatic answers.” She giggles.

“I don’t really know what you expected by asking a question like that.”

“I don’t know either.” I answer honestly. I think on it for a moment and reply. “I guess sometimes hearing the logic behind something makes it less scary.” Cam rubs my arms.

“I know Dear, but sometimes understanding something doesn’t make it easier to swallow. Look at your life and tell me if I am wrong.”

“What about Witches?” I ask changing the subject. Cam sighs disapprovingly.

“Witches are as old as the earth itself. We are descended from deities and beings of myth.” My eyes bug.

“You’re descended from literal God’s?” I ask my amazement very apparent in my voice. She smiles and nods.

“Witches take a vow to serve humanity and the earth itself.” I snort.

“No offense, but you aren’t doing a very good job.” She purses her lips and smacks me on the head with her clip board.

“Don’t be rude!” She chastises. “You think a few thousand witches can do much for over 7 billion people. Our job was easier millennia ago now we help were we can. And it would benefit you to keep those rude comments to yourself.”

“I’m sorry Cam. My mouth works on its own some times.”

“You mean all the time.” I nod agreeing with her and we laugh.

“Why do I keep hearing you asking about witches?”

“I’m just star stuck ignore me. I grew up loving stories about Witches and Wizards. The vampire thing that’s played out and all over the movie scene, but witches and the lore that comes with it now that where the real excitement is.”

“Please don’t let any vampire in here hear that or you will be on their shit list.” My mouth opens in faux surprise.

“What language is that coming from a lady with a royal’s name?” She giggles mischievously.

“I do it when the mood suits.” Her cheek turn pinkish and in this moment I had decided. I loved Cam. “Now off with you. Go get some rest and food before you leave.”

“Won’t I just smell off food after that? The last thing I need is someone smelling Earl Grey on me from miles away.” Cam looks taken aback for a moment and her lips form a very odd smile.

“When was the last time you ate?”

“Yesterday morning.” Her eyes open wide and her taps her fingers on her clip board.

“All that bravado and talk about hating this place, but you take this job seriously.” I raise an eyebrow at her statement.

“I kind of have to I don’t want to be food.”

“Don’t worry, where you’re going you won’t even be anywhere near the enemy’s noses. Off with you, make sure you go find something solid and hot.”

“Yeah, but I don’t think I will have enough time to eat after that.” Her mouth opens in shock and she slaps me over the head again.

“You’re so rude!” I walk away laughing aloud maniacally.

“You’re late.” Edge remarks annoyingly as I was up to him at the doors.

“Wrong. I was an hour early I just took a break from waiting.” I reply making him snicker.

“Are you ready?” He asks rubbing his stomach in small comforting circles.

“What’s the matter with you?” He bends over and groans painfully. I rub his back worrying that he was looked… more dead. He couldn’t go on a mission like this we needed to get him to the med bay. What virus could be so strong that it made a vampire ill?

“Do you need to go see a doctor?” He shook his head burping into closed fist. He began rubbing his chest in comfort and my eyes thinned. “What is wrong with you?”

“Too much blood.” I grimace.

“Don’t you think it’s very irresponsible to be overeating before a mission?”

“I had too.” He bent over again groaning. “Normally there’s only enough blood in my system to keep my body working, but I can’t have it slowing me down on a mission. I need fresh blood in my system.”

“So basically you’ve got heart burn?” He nods pathetically and I try really hard not to laugh. “Need a tum?” I say supressing my laughter.

“Fuck off. This isn’t fun. I didn’t even have enough time to digest.” My eyes started to water from my supressed laughter, but I still kept stroking his back forgetting the awkward interaction we had yesterday.

“This will make it easier for you too in case you need to drink my blood.”

“Why?” I ask grossed out.

“Have you ever seen or smelled old blood?” I nod and my shoulders tense. Oh God, I think I am going to be sick.

“Well, now it’s flushed out and it’s fresh.” He kisses his fingers like he had just prepared an amazingly tasty meal. “Only the best for you.”

“Just let me die.” I say solemnly. “I don’t care if there’s a giant chance you can save me just leave me there. I’ll bleed out slowly.” He wraps his arm around my shoulder and drags me to his side.

“If I let that happen who would entertain me?”

“I’m sure you can amuse yourself. You don’t need a play mate.” He chuckles and his fingers begin to draw circles around my arms. It was a small friendly gesture that I am sure he was doing subconsciously, but I didn’t like it. I didn’t like that I was ok with him touching me like this. I shake his hand off which startles him. I lean down pretending to look over my things.

“Ainz are you ok?” He asks sheepishly.

“Yep.” My tone was short and clipped.

“That’s a lie.”

“I’m just nervous.” That’s not a complete lie so I was safe.

“It’s going to be ok.” He promises and I laugh.

“Yeah sure it is. Just like this entire situation is going to be ok. I didn’t believe you then and I don’t believe you now.” Edge’s features darkened and he didn’t answer. I bite my lip turning back to my bag keeping busy. I know that was harsh and I felt like crap, but I couldn’t deal with whatever was brewing under the surface. I don’t like unnecessary attachments and I certainly dodn’t need something like this bothering me during a mission.

I stand up pulling my bag over my shoulder and I stare ahead at the door. Right now only one thig mattered and I have to leave everything problematic here it can’t be brought with me.

“I’m sorry Ainz.” He murmurs. I didn’t want his apology and I didn’t deserve it which only made me angry. Whatever this familiar comforting emotion was it needed to go away. I clench my fist because I knew of only one way to do that. Its sick, but I knew exactly how to hurt him.

“Do me a favour and keep your cold hands to yourself.” I try and make my eyes as detached as I could. “I don’t know what wrong idea you may have, but last night I saw what you were thinking. You better not step over that line.” His eyes open wide and he mouth becomes tight. He takes a deep breath and clenches his fist. “Don’t get me wrong I’m flattered, but I prefer my men breathing.” His eyes tighten and his lips frowned. Good. “I’m here to be your meal and if we get along that just makes this process a lot easier, but don’t delude yourself into thinking we are the same species.”

“Trust me. It was a lapse in my judgement too.” He snarled.

“You bet it was.” His eyes began to glow and I smirked. I revel in the relieved feeling his anger caused. If he hates me he would stay away from me.

“Are you both… Zeek turns those off!” Cam chided.

“You heard the lady. Be a good boy.” Cam took us both in worryingly.

“Whatever this is you leave it here and pick it up when you get back. You don’t have time to be fighting so listen well.” She raised her hand in our view flashing us a piece of paper with the word “Fence” on it with a capital “F”. I assuming that was this mission’s extraction code. We memorize it and it burns before our eyes. Cam hands us our phone and flips through the papers in her hand. “I’m sending you to Monteverde Cloud Forest. Have you ever heard of it?” I shake my head. “It’s in Costa Rika and at the moment it’s raining and cold. Your cloths will keep you warm enough, but it’s also dark so you need to be careful of the terrain. Although it is a tourist spot you should be safe at night, but do make sure you keep your eyes open stupidly brave civilians who may decide to go out on their own without a guide.”

“Understood.”

“Since there is a lack of doors I can’t be specific with the location, you may have to run for a while. Use the darkness as cover. We didn’t exactly pin point the drop point because it’s never the same but I am sending you within the radius and Edge will sniff them out.”

“What are they dropping off?” I ask.

“We don’t know. Usually Val scouts the area and gets back to us, but we don’t have the time to wait for him to come out of his blood rage. The next drop in in 10 hours and the next one after that is uncertain. Your mission is this kill the vampires and bring back the crate.” Cam reads in the file and her eyebrows become tight and confused. “What why?” She mumbles to herself reading further down the page.

“What’s wrong Cam?” Edge asks getting closer. He takes the file off her and reads.

“What does it say?” I ask.

“It says retrieval only. Do not look in the crate and do not interrogate the vampires or humans.”

“That doesn’t make sense.” Edge says. I extend my hand silently asking for the file, but Edge ignores me and hands it back to Cam. He steps around me and walks closer to the doors.

“Child.” I hiss.

“Bitch.” He hisses back. Good, I am glad he is angry with me. I feel safe with him being angry with me.

“I trust you will listen.” She asks pointedly at me and I nod.

“Yes Ma’am.” I salute by accident.

“The second you’re done and in the clear send for me. It will take a lot longer this time to open the Door because there is no physical doorway to channel. I will be tracking you though GPS and the magic in your uniforms.” I touch my uniform smiling that I had a bit of Cam to take with me. She takes her marker and begins to draw runes across the crystal frame of the door frame.

I take Jolene out and check all my clips, knives and guns one last time. When Cam is done I hand her Jolene’s case and we wait for the magic to do its thing. Edge goes over his things as well and pulls his hood over his head tightening it at the base. He puts on a pair of large googles and lifts a bandana over his mouth and nose. I guess running and fast speeds covering your mouth and eyes would be a good idea, less bugs in your eyes and mouth.

“Oh Dear I didn’t think of goggles.” She waves her hand once again like the amazing fairy Godmother she is creating a pair of similar goggles and bandana appear hanging comfortably around my neck. I pull the goggles tightly over my eyes smiling because I didn’t even need to adjust them to my face.

“Thank you Cam, but no need to waste perfectly good MP on me I could have ran to the armoury and gotten a pair myself.”

“MP?” Edge asks.

“Mana points.” We both say at once. Edge looks at us like we aren’t even speaking English.

“Its video game slang.” He shakes his head still unable to understand what I was saying.

“There is an entire video game room in this building have you never been to use it?” I ask and he huffs turning his back to me in agitation.

The door starts to glow and pulse. I was struck with the image of a microwave beeping when it was done. “No more dawdling you both have a job to do. One final check.” We do as instructed and double check all our equipment. “The drop time is in ten hours. You will keep your distance until then and be on alert. They may be getting there on foot or via a similar magic root. Best of luck to you both and be safe.”

I hand Cam my gun case and sling Jolene’s strap over my shoulder. I lift my bandana over my mouth the same as Edge and I give Cam one final hug. “Make sure you watch out for each other. Expect anything to happen, maybe even some Type B’s.” My hands begin to tremble and Cam hugs me tighter. “If you both can’t manage I don’t care what he says you call me. There is no shame is withdrawing from a fight you know you can’t win.”

“I’ll keep her safe Cam.” Edge’s words warm my skin and I am glad no one could see my frown.

“I’ll just use him as a shield.” I joke.

“You won’t have to. I’ll already be standing in front of you.” My hair stands on end and my breath catches in my throat. I let go of Cam and turn around slowly to look at him, but his was turned away from me. You dick, whose says crap like that? How do you want to react to that? What an asshole!

I walk by his side and he doesn’t turn his head down to look at me. “Are you ready?” He asks.

I take a deep breath and square my shoulder. Leave it all here, leave the pain here. Once I step through this door I am a machine. I have no emotions just my instincts. “Yes Sir.” I say holding Jolene closer to my chest. My heart was calm and my eyes were void of any uncertainty.

“You’re going to pay for those comments.” He says darkly. “It’s obvious what you were doing too.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” My voice was muffled by the bandana, but it didn’t stop the quivering in my voice.

“You’re so lucky I like you.” My shoulders tense and I grit my teeth. What was wrong with him? I was being an outright asshole and he was still joking with me like nothing had happened.

“A thing doesn’t have feelings.” A slow chuckle rumbled in his chest.

“I will let you have your little tantrum take as long as you need to get it out of your system.” A tantrum! He thinks this is a tantrum! “But don’t forget Ainz.” He turned his head down and leaned in closer. “You leaned in to kiss me too.”