It felt like night. I was awake, so that made sense. Was it the same night, though? My head was groggy. Pain throbbed. I could hear electricity buzzing through a too bright light overhead. I squinted, trying to take in the room around me. Tile. Lights. Stainless steel. I tried to turn to see behind me. I couldn't move. I felt heavy. I tried to shift. Chains rattled. Oh. Well that explained why I couldn't move. Chains were looped over my shoulders. Around my waist. Legs. Everything. 

 

“So,” a voice behind me spoke, “the child awakens.” The venom she put into the word child made me think she wasn't talking about a young human. 

 

I licked my lips, trying in vain to moisten them, “where? How?” I croaked through a parched throat. Fuck. I was hungry. I felt a hand touch my shoulder as the person attached to the voice circled in front of me. 

 

“Pig blood.” She said “left to rot. Quite debilitating for our kind.”

 

Our kind. So I was dealing with a vampire. I tucked the detail about pig blood away. Might be useful for Dawn and her— shit. Dawn. “Where's Dawn?” I asked. 

 

“Who?”

 

“The one who was with me.”

 

Tess appeared in my peripheral, “she's not in range. Searched as far as I could go.”

 

Shit.

 

“The hunter?” The woman asked. 

 

“My girlfriend.”

 

“Your—” she threw back her head and laughed. Or cackled, really. 

 

“Answer the question.”

 

Her laugh cut abruptly short, “bold words for one chained to a chair.” 

 

I shrugged as best I could with a hundred pounds of chain weighing my shoulders down. “Don't get anywhere with timidity.”

 

She slammed her hands against the empty arms of my chair. She leaned in close, looking into, seemingly through my eyes. “After all the problems you've caused. The kin you've killed. You have the audacity to make demands of me?”

 

“Yup.” I said, “and whatever you're keeping me alive for, I guarantee I'll be a lot more cooperative if I'm not forced to carve a bloody path out of here.”

 

“Demands first, and now threats? You are being kept alive, for now, to watch your sire pay for your indiscretions. They are supposed to be responsible for keeping their children on a—” she spoke slowly, driving a finger into my chest with each word, “short. Fucking. Leash.”

 

“Sorry, leashes and collars aren't my thing.” I winked, “buy me a beer first, though, and we'll talk.”

 

She back handed me across my face. My cheek stung. Worth it. “Do you have any fucking idea who I am?” she hissed.

 

“Probably a target? We'll see. Jury's still out.”

 

“I am Queen fucking Allysondra.”

 

“Vampires have royalty? Damn. Gonna need to redo the declaration of independence.”

 

She looked apoplectic.

 

I kept talking, “circle back around, though. You mentioned punishment for my sire?”

 

“Who, exactly, is your sire, child?” Surprisingly calm, given the obvious fury of a few moments ago. 

 

“Timothy Collier. Probably. Might be using an alias. Trying to find him myself.”

 

“Oh.” Was all she said, taking a step back. She turned and grabbed a phone off a table to my left. My gun was there, too. She stepped from the room and closed the door.

 

Tess aside, I was alone. Probably. Couldn't see behind me, but Tess assured me it was clear. I flexed, and shifted as much as I could trying to knock the chains loose. No dice. Moving my hands around as much as possible, I felt at least two locks securing the chains behind me. Chair was bolted to the floor, too. Goddamn. These people didn't fuck around. 

 

The woman, Allysondra, returned. She held the phone up to my ear, “uh, hello?” I asked. 

 

“Jane?” Dawn's voice. 

 

“Are you hurt? Where are you?”

 

“Fuck if I know. Pitch black here. Not hurt, though. I—”

 

Her sentence was cut off as Queen Allysondra disconnected the call. “Proof of life,” she said, “you did say you would be more cooperative.”

 

“Sure. We’ll see. So long as Dawn stays safe.”

 

“Of course, child.”

 

“Now, what do you need my cooperation with? You’ve already got me in a rather vulnerable position.”

 

“You say you're trying to find your sire. Why?”

 

“Going to stake him. Cut his head off real slow.” 

 

“To what end?”

 

“Why do you give a shit? Payback? Maybe it'll make me feel better? Maybe I just don't fucking like vampires.”

 

“Most children are grateful to their sires. The embrace is a gift.”

 

“Who in their right fucking mind would be grateful for this? My life has fucking sucked since the day I got turned. Living in a goddamn hole, drinking blood from goddamn bags, and hiding from the goddamn sun all fucking day.”

 

“It doesn't have to be that way. That miserable. That lonely. Our society thrives on community.”

 

“Your majesty,” I said, tone dripping with sarcasm, “with respect, go fuck yourself. Go fuck your community. I'm not part of your society. You were going to punish my sire for my transgressions? Great. That's good. But I would've appreciated y'all  being a little more fucking proactive about taking out the goddamn trash.”

 

“Has anyone told you that you're a disrespectful cunt?”

 

I grinned, baring my fangs, “from time to time. But I can tell when someone wants something, and that means I can be a little disrespectful. As a treat. I think I have an idea what you want, but I want to hear you say it.”

 

She inspected her nails. Obviously considering hitting me again. “I am familiar with your sire. I would imagine he didn't tell you much about how our society is structured?”

 

My turn to laugh, “fucker didn't even tell me I was suddenly on a blood only diet. Had to learn that and everything else on my own.”

 

She pursed her lips, “I am, genuinely, sorry that that was your experience with the embrace. I look back on mine fondly.”

 

I leaned forward as far as I could. Which honestly, wasn't very far given the chains, but I did try. “Well good for fucking you. Can we cut to the chase? I'm a busy bitch.”

 

She nodded, “our society is complicated. Politics. Factions. Alliances. Your sire is old. Very old. Even by my standards. That affords him some protections against moving openly against him.”

 

“I know why I'm after him, but why are you?”

 

“The kin, our society, relies on secrecy and discretion to exist. Imagine if vampires were common knowledge. We would be hunted by every human. We'd never be able to feed. We'd die. Either to starvation or stake.”

 

“Sounds like fucking paradise,” I said, “a city of hunters might've kept me from becoming goddamn dinner.”

 

She scowled, “be that as it may, that is not the situation at hand. Your sire threatens our secrecy and safety with every victim he turns and sets loose.”

 

“And—”

 

“And I want you to kill him.”

 

“Do you not have royal intelligence? You're asking me to do the thing I was already gunning for, and pissing me off in the process.”

 

She put on a show of sighing heavily, “my information resources are vast, but you have been rather illusive, despite the waves you've made since your embrace.”

 

“So,” I said, counting the points on my fingers, out of sight as they were, “one, you didn't know who my sire was. Tune did a 180 when you found out. Two, you can't put a hit on the guy openly. Politics. Three, you want me to be your royal assassin. Undercover, of course. Plausible deniability when I merc the fucker. Four, that's plausible deniability you need to maintain your power base without making more enemies. And—” I grinned wider still, “that plausible deniability is in my hands to keep up. A noose around your neck. I think—” I paused to rattle the chains, “despite my current circumstances, that leaves me in a position to name some conditions.”

 

“Astute.” She said, tone filled with thinly veiled disgust, “name your conditions.”

 

“First, Dawn. Released safe, and unhurt with all her blood where it's supposed to be. And no targeting her after. If you try to loophole this, I'll stake you first.”

 

She nodded.

 

“Second, you owe me. A favour. Third,” I said, “never pull that pig blood and black van shit again. I have a phone, call me like a normal person.” I paused a moment to consider, “or rather don't. Fourth condition is to fuck off. After Tim is out of the picture, I'm going to keep hunting your kind. Do not interfere.”

 

“Our kind, but I accept your terms.”

 

I rolled my eyes, as she moved behind me, and began opening locks. When I felt the chains loosen, I shrugged myself free and stood. I holstered my gun. I found comfort in the familiar weight. I slung my bag, and stepped towards the door.

 

“Detective,” Queen Allysondra said, “would you like a job?”

 

I stopped. I turned. “What?”

 

“You said it yourself. My royal intelligence, as you called it, is somewhat lacking. After you've cleaned up Collier's mess, and things have settled politically, I could use your services.”

 

“Are you fucking joking?”

 

She smiled, fangs showing, “I most certainly am not.”

 

“You remember I'm dating a hunter, right? Everything I know, she knows. You want to hire a leak that big?”

 

She shrugged, “how long are humans living these days? A hundred years? Less? She has maybe sixty years of life left. You need to get used to thinking in immortal terms, detective. A vampire plays the long game. I don't expect you to accept that offer tomorrow. Sleep on it, see how you feel in a few decades.”

 

That was the first time I realized I'd probably be outliving Dawn by an order of magnitude of lifetimes. I considered shooting the queen for that. “Fine. But I'm freelance. I'll draw up a contract in twenty years. Oh, and there will be a ‘I fucking hate you’ surcharge. Now which way out.”

 

“Left. End of the hall. Elevator to the surface. Follow the exit signs from there.”

 

“Great. Make sure Dawn is there when I get out. Otherwise I'm coming back down to finish the job.”

 

She nodded, “of course.”

 

Where in the actual fuck was this place? The elevator took me up several storeys, and deposited me on the ground floor with a short hall, and a steel door marked exit. Outside, Dawn waited. She was leaning on a rusted oil drum, arms folded. It looked like we were in a scrap yard. 

 

Dawn strode over, grabbed my face in her hands, and pulled our lips together in a deep kiss. She slid her tongue along mine, and used it to caress my fangs before she pulled away, “what in the fuck just happened?”

 

“Did you know vampires have royalty?” I asked, “I met the queen.”

 

“I— What? No. I didn't know that. We just assumed they lived in small pockets together. Nests.” 

 

“Factions, alliances, and politics, oh my.” I said, monotone.

 

“Well shit. But I ask again, what the fuck happened?”

 

“Seems vampires take an opposite stance on sins of the father.”

 

“Oh?”

 

“Yeah. Seems I've been a disrespectful cunt of a vampire, and it's supposed to be up to the sire to keep the kids like me in line.” I checked my watch, “we should walk and talk. It's almost dawn.”

 

“My place,” Dawn said, “it's closer.”

 

I listened, then spoke, “Tess says she's excited to see your place. Wants to place a bet that it's empty, except a mattress, and a microwave.”

 

“Tess!” Dawn held a hand over her heart, feigning hurt, “can't believe you'd think so little of me! I have a chair, too!”

 

We all shared a laugh. 

 

“God,” Dawn said, “I wish I could hear Tess.”

 

“Do you want me to, uh—” I tapped a finger against a fang. 

 

Dawn caught my expression, “sorry, not asking, just wishing. Now, what was that about your sire?”

 

“Ah, yeah.” I shook my head to get my thoughts straight, “Vampires like keeping a low profile. My boy Tim is shaking that up by turning victims, and leaving them to flounder. He's putting their secrecy at risk. But, apparently, the Queen can't take him out herself for some bullshit political reasons. And that's where I come in I guess?”

 

“Hang on. They black van vamp-napped you to tell you to keep going after your sire?”

 

“Essentially yes.”

 

“That's fucking stupid.”

 

I grinned, “hey! Not every vampire can be as smart and pretty as me!” 

 

She laughed, “fair! That's why they let us go, then?”

 

“Yeah. Once they realized I could be a useful tool for their machinations I had a little bargaining power to work with. They fucked up grabbing us without knowing who my sire was, and it cost them your juicy blood.”

 

“Is my blood really juicy?” 

 

“Would you take it as a compliment if I said yes?” 

 

“Hmm. Sure.”

 

“Then yes, your blood is very juicy. Where do you live, anyway?” I asked, side eyeing the lightening horizon. 

 

“We're almost there.” She pointed out an apartment complex, “there. That one.”

 

We rode the elevator to the fifth floor. I could feel the sun rising. I'd drop in a few minutes. Contrary to Tess’ guess, Dawn's apartment was well appointed with a modern chic look.

 

“I haven't totally sun proofed this room yet,” Dawn said, “but I'll tape you into a sleeping bag for today.”

 

I nodded. Then listened as Tess spoke to me. “Tess says she wants to spend some time with you today. Are you—”

 

She tilted her head to the side, revealing her neck, “better question is are you?”

 

“I—” I stammered, “I'll manage. We've all agreed it's a complicated aspect of our relationship, but it would be unfair to keep you two apart all the time just because I want to watch my intake of Pinot Dawn. Besides, I know I can count on the two of you to make sure I don't fall off the wagon for real.”

 

She nodded. I reached forward, and gently pulled our hips together. I kissed her forehead. Nose. Mouth. I let my lips brush down her cheek as I neared her neck. She took in a sharp intake of breath as I nipped her flesh, then bit fully. Once again I was awash in vitality. Why would I ever go back to the bag when— no. I told myself. I had to keep my shit on lock. When I had taken enough for the connection between Dawn and Tess to manifest, she tapped my shoulder. I sealed Dawn's neck with a wet kiss. Bloody lip prints the only evidence of her wound. Despite the desire to draw more, it was much easier to pull away this time. Given my current lack of grievous injuries, no doubt. Outside, the sun crested the horizon, and I collapsed. My last thought before darkness hit was ‘oh fuck, I hope the two of them can shove my body into the bag.’

 

—*—

 

I almost panicked at dusk. In the crib, I slept in a normal bed. I wasn't used to waking up sealed in a nylon coffin. I fumbled, and managed to find the zipper to free myself. It appeared as though Tess and Dawn had taken the time to change me into pajamas before sealing me away. The hot pink pants and tight top festooned with cartoon rabbit faces was very much not my regular style. No Tess. She must still be with Dawn. I could hear quiet talking outside the door. How long had Dawn's blood lasted last time for Tess? I opened the door, and stepped into the hall. Dawn was in a quiet, if heated argument with Greg, her dad.

 

“Oh f—” was all I managed to get out before Greg leveled a crossbow at me. The bolt hit just below my jaw and punched through my throat, and out the back of my neck. I fell to my knees, clutching at the bloody wound. How in the ever loving fuck had I survived mortality as long as I had? 

 

Bless her, Dawn wound up and clocked her dad with a right hook that would've made any boxer proud. The old man was knocked on his ass. “WHAT THE FUCK, DAD?” she yelled. 

 

I made a gurgling noise, words beyond me at the moment. I tried to cough on reflex, and the motion just shredded my throat further. I reached behind my head, and felt the tines of the broadhead. My fingers cut against the edges. 

 

“THE FUCKING VAMPIRE IS MANIPULATING YOU.” Greg yelled. 

 

I tried to speak to defend myself. A gross wet sound was all I could manage as more blood leaked around my fingers.

 

“LIKE HELL SHE IS.” Dawn yelled back. 

 

Greg made a visible effort to quiet his voice. Yelling about vampires in a thin walled apartment was a sure fire way to join Henry Smith as a patient. “It's what vampires do,” he said, “they manipulate, and feed. They're fucking animals. How many times has she fed on you?”

 

“She—” Dawn started, jabbing an accusatory finger at her dad. The heat and fire left her voice. Her hand dropped. “Three times,” she whispered. 

 

Greg scoffed, “You're nothing but a walking blood bag for her.” The smug tone in his voice was unmistakable. 

 

“Hhhggggmmrrrgl,” I said. 

 

“She never asks for it,” Dawn said, “two of the times were because she was really hurt. I offered.”

 

“And the third time?” Greg asked. “Midnight snack?”

 

“I— No,” she said.

 

I could practically see the gears turning in her head. Greg wasn't handling his daughter's relationship with a vampire very well. How was she supposed to explain that the other participant in the relationship was a ghost? 

 

Speaking of, Tess touched my shoulder, “how did you ever survive as long as you did before? This is what? The third? Fourth lethal injury in the last few months? You need to be more careful.”

 

I tried to respond that I had been thinking the same thing, but all I said was “ggglm.” 

 

Apparently the sounds of my dying annoyed Greg. He shoved past Dawn, and stormed up to me. He grabbed the shaft of the arrow. I frantically tried to unscrew the broadhead before he— He yanked unceremoniously, and the arrow, broadhead and all, tore through my flesh the other way. Okay. Fucking ow. On a scale between a stubbed toe, and nearly being bisected by an axe, the pain was less than the axe. That didn't stop the frenzy from rising inside me. The little vampiric voice inside my head screaming at me to rip out Greg's throat as he had ripped out mine. To bleed him and feed. To use his blood to fuel my recovery. To— No. I couldn't let that line of thinking cascade. Kind of a dick as he was, killing my girlfriend's dad was a surefire way to make her hate me. He had pulled a stake from somewhere, and was winding up for a stab.

 

“DAD!” Dawn yelled. 

 

I lunged forward from my awkward position on my knees. I wrapped my arms around Greg's legs. I simply stood. I lifted Greg, stepped forward, and slammed him into the ground. I retrieved his dropped stake and held the point under his chin. I used my free hand to point a ‘wait’ gesture. Nobody moved. Except Tess, who tended to pace in stressful situations. I coughed and choked as my shredded flesh knit itself together again. The hunger rose further. I ignored it. 

 

“Christ, Greg.” I said, spitting out a chunk of what I was pretty sure was esophagus. “Dawn is a grown ass woman. She can make her own decisions.”

 

“Can she?” Greg snarled the words, "Vampires use hypnosis all the time to get compliant prey.”

 

I stood, and held out a hand to help him to his feet. He ignored it, rolling to his side first to get to his feet on his own. Show of good faith, I held the stake out to him. Point first, I wasn't stupid. Didn’t want a repeat of the axe handle incident.

 

“I've been a vampire for less than half a year. I haven't figured out how to do the hypnosis trick yet. Even if I could, I wouldn't. When I got turned, it was violent and bloody. No one involved asked for it to be like that.” I jabbed a pointed finger into his chest, pushing him back, “I know first hand how much it fucking sucks to lose everything to the hands of a vampire who took without asking. I would never,” I jabbed his chest again, “and I mean NEVER, put anyone else through the shit I've been through.”

 

Greg was silent. I felt all eyes in the room on me so I continued, “Greg,” my tone softened, “I'm here because I love your daughter. And I really fucking hope she loves me back. You love your daughter, too. I figure that's why you're here? Found her jeep? Came to check in?”

 

“Cops did. Called me. It looked like a kidnapping.”

 

“It was,” Dawn said. “Vampires picked us up.”

 

Greg turned back to me, “you! You're putting her in danger from your kind!”

 

Dawn crossed her arms, “fuck off, Dad. I'm— we're vampire hunters. We're always in danger from the vamps. If it wasn't for Jane, I'd be bled out by now.”

 

“Yeah,” Greg said, “and we minimize the danger by avoiding goddamn blood suckers like her.” 

 

I rolled my eyes, “well, I've had worse meet the parents. Tess’ dad was homophobic, you only shot me in the neck with a crossbow!” 

 

“I—” Greg looked at the floor, “sorry.”

 

I broke the minute long awkward silence, “we could use your help, anyway. As long as you don't shoot me again.”

 

He glanced at Dawn first, then at me, “help with what?”

 

“First, we're going to save a thrall. Then, we go on the hunt. I have a sire to kill.”