Fangs and Cuffs

It had started out as a fairly decent and normal day, Amber did her errands as usual. Stopped by work to drop off her reports, went to the laundry mat to pick up her dry cleaning, took her dog to the vet and once that was done she went home to shower and reapply her sunscreen before heading out in the late afternoon to go see her donor. Amber was one of the many millions of vampires who walked the Earth. Humans had been aware of them from the darkest part of history til now. It was only since the last 1990s however that Vampires had rights as citizens. Before any vampire suspected of killing a mortal was simply killed. No trial, no burden of proof. Just a silver stake through the heart or worse, left out in the sun to burn to death.

Most still kept their lives private, in the dark. Amber however after years of living in the darkness and hiding, enjoyed walking out in the low lights of day thanks to a special sunblock that had been developed. Stronger than anything humans wore it couples with sunglasses allowed her to walk out during the day. Twice a month she saw her human donor, a break from synthetic or donated blood. There was just something about drinking from a live and warm body that could never compared to drinking from a glass or bottle. The bond between vampire and donor was special, close even. Closer than what most couples had.

She was an old vampire, having lived during Roman times. Her name had changed through the years, but in the last 300 she had stuck to Amber. Amber DeGaul. Standing 5'11 with short red hair cut and curled close to her head, she was striking sight, even with out the pale skin and the piercing green eyes. Pushing the blue round shade up further she headed into Vincent's building.

Being a donor was profitable to be sure. They were given a subsidy from the goverment, but they were also taken very well by their vampires. She had known Vincent since he was a boy living on the streets and hustling. Amber, soft hearted as she was had taken him in, given him a home. When he had offered his blood to her she had actually refused not wanting to take advantage of the boy she had helped grow into a fine man. Of course he pressed and pressed until his 22nd birthday when her will finally broke and given in.

That was 7 years ago. Today was his birthday and like every year they shared a nice dinner, caught up on what had been going on and then he let her feed. Today was different though. Vincent had requested she dress extra special. So she had. The dark blue dress was short and not too tight. On the way to the elevator she saw the look his doorman gave her. Even with rights there were still human who hated vampires for what they were, how they lived. "Evening Bruce." She waved as she stepped into the open car and then headed up to the 8th floor.

Vincent's door as unlocked, something he only did when she was coming. Walking in the first thing that hit her were the low lights and the smell of candles. "Vincent?" Amber walked in to find a his table set with candles and wine.

"I'm in the bedroom. Pour yourself a glass." His rich voice came filtering to her. Closing the door Amber fixed herself a drink and sat down. There was a small cad on the table with her name written on it. Turning it over she read the small note. Have a glass and then come back into the bedroom. No dinner tonight. Ok that was strange. But she had her glass and after pouring one for him she made her way into the bedroom to find Vincent standing before his bed wearing nothing but one of the many robe she had bought him over the years. He had gone from thin and frail to well muscled and handsome. The last 12 years under her care had been good for him. Amber had been the friend and parent that he needed.

"Is everything ok Vin?" She walked over, setting the glass down and reached out to stroke his face. He nuzzled into her hand as he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into his strong embrace.

"Perfect now that you are here. Amber, I.." He licked his lips slowly. "I want my birthday to be special this year. Better than it has ever been." He smiled and pressed his lips to hers, kissing her as he always did, but there was more behind it and when she felt the press of his cock against her, she stepped back.

"Vincent, we've talked about this, I can't be with you like that." On his 22nd birthday he had asked two things of her, to let him feed her and to be his lover. The first she had given, but not the second.

"Please Amber. You have been the best thing in my life. I love you. Let me love you fully. You know I don't want to sleep with you because of what you are. I am not a fangslut. I just want us to be fully satisfied. I can fell how you get when you feed. How long has it been since you've spent the night with someone who really loved you?"

Her eyes burned at him through her shades. Vincent had lived with her long enough to know she didn't date. She fucked, but never dated anyone. Human or vampire. She watched as he moved closer, took her hands in his, "Please, let me have this one time."

She didn't know why she nodded her head, but she did. Amber let him peel her dress off, watched him take his robe off before he pulled her to his bed. "I'm not a boy any more Amber. I'm not some teen hustling for cash any way I could. You've made me better than that." He kissed and stroked her body, raising her lust. When he kissed her this time it was a real kiss, one she met with her own passion. Something she hadn't really felt in many, many years. "I love you," he breathed against her neck.

"I love you too Vincent, always." They lay int he bed, kissing, touching and teasing until they both gave in to what they wanted. His thick cock spread her open, made her moan and close her eyes. Hands grabbed her hips, lifted her up as he began to drive into her. The entire time Vincent thanked her, gave her sweet words she knew he would never speak to anyone else. It was slow at first, gentle even. Then as the need grew Vincent began to pound into her, pushing them both towards their orgasms. He shocked her when he bit down on her neck. Not hard enough to break the skin be enough to leave a mark behind. She ran her nails over his body, moaning, gasping loudly.

"Vincent," Amber licked his neck. Her body already starting to tighten, ready to snap at any moment.

"Do it Amber. Feed, take what I have to give." Again he bit her neck, pushing her over the edge. Her fangs pierced his neck just as she climaxed. He never stopped moving, never stopped making love to her as she fed. Vincent let go of her neck, grunting her name loudly as his cock spasmed inside of her. Pulse after pulse of his cum filled her body. Careful not to tear his flesh she pulled back, screaming as her orgasm hit harder, pulling her down with him, until they both lay panting on the bed.

Amber licked his neck, the blood stopped flowing and the neat holes began to close. It would take a full day to heal, but then he was never ashamed of them. Feeding her and cumming, made him sleepy and Amber simply pulled the sheet over him. After cleaning up and dressing the vampire kissed his forehead and brushed his hair back. "Happy Birthday, Vincent. I love you." She truly did. Making sure she locked the door behind her Amber left. Feeling both satisfied, but also guilty.

The sun was starting to set, more vampires came out of their homes. Amber didn't care, everything around he was a blur as she walked home. Even the headline on the newspaper as she walked past went unnoticed, "Fifth Vampire Donor Found Dead."

Hours later in the full swing of night Amber sat in her living room, going through her old photo albums, chronically her life and Vincent's once he came to live with her. The last thing she expected was the sudden pounding that came at her door. Getting up to see who it was she was even more shocked to see two detectives from the Spook Squad on her doorstep.

Once vampires gained rights their former executioners were replaced by police detectives who specialized in deal with vampire related cases. Opening the door a crack she asked, "Yes? What can I do for you?"

"You can come down to the station with us Ms. DeGaul. We have some questions for you."

"What sort of questions?" Amber gripped the doorknob tightly. She had no intention of leaving her house without knowing why.

"Just questions about yourself and your donor, Vincent Baptise." It was obvious they weren't going to tell her everything. Against her better judgment Amber began to slip her shoes on. Grabbing her purse and keys she opened the door fully.

"What does Vincent have to do with anything?"

"He's dead," the keys fell from her suddenly limp hands. Vincent? Dead? There had to be some mistake.

"You're lying. There has to be some mistake."

"Ms DeGaul, please, just come down to the station with us. I doubt you want your neighbors hearing all your dirty laundry." The older of the two men didn't hide the distaste in his voice.

Unlike with humans, when it came to Vampire related murders there wasn't much leeway for her to refuse. Nodding she walked with them to their car. Half an hour later she found herself sitting alone in an interrogation room. It couldn't be true, Vincent was alive. He had to be.

Both of the detectives walked in, the older one holding a file. What politeness that had been on his face before was now gone as he dropped the folder in front of her and flipped it open. There in horrid color was Vincent. The sheets were stained with blood. There were bite marks on his neck, and thigh, his eyes were open in shocked death. If it was possible for the blood to fall from her face it would have.

"So why did you do it? He's been your registered donor for nearly 8 years. Why kill him?"

Amber's head snapped up from the photos, "I didn't do this."

"Sure and yet you were the last person, human or vamp to see him. What was it an accident? Get too worked up in the bed so you drank him dry why you'll fucked him?"

"I..would..never..hurt..Vin." She bit out at him, trying to maintain her control. Her eyes went back to the pictures. Her Vincent was dead. It couldn't be possible. He had been alive and sleeping so peacefully when she left.

Roderick Jones was a fairly weary detective on this night. He was fighting a headache, hadn't been laid in several weeks, and had been stuck with the most bigoted asshole in the department. Suffice it to say, he was having a very bad night.

Roddy, as he was generally called, was a fairly young detective, but was incredibly bright. His goal was to become a profiler for the government, and he'd diligently studied behavior patterns, profiles, crime scene analysis, anything he could get his hands on that would help him. For the time being, he was stuck in the Supernatural Division, or Spook Squad as they were referred to. It wasn't his first choice, but was getting him experience.

It was that lack of experience that his current partner held over him constantly. Never mind the guy wouldn't be out of place in a Klan march, or playing the racist in any given cop film, or being the drunk guy in a bar, he had 15 years and damned if he would change his ways, think off his established track, or listen to advice.

"God, he's got all the subtlety of a horny moose," Roddy's comment was made to no one in particular as he watched the old man interrogating the vamp. He was behind the two way glass, hating the role he'd be stuck with. He didn't mind playing the "Good cop", he hated that his partner thought it would work.

"She's centuries, possibly millennia, old and he thinks this stupid tactic will work?"

He shook his head, this guy was an oaf. That worked fine on ordinary people, or the stupid, this one was different. She was smart, carried herself well, practically oozed sophistication and class. Plus, she could tell what he thought of her, wouldn't confess to this guy in a million years. Of course that was the point.

He knocked on the door, motioning with his head, his partner shot another look at the vampire, then left.

"Sorry about him."

Roddy sat opposite her, forcing his disgust for his partner, his unsated sex drive, all of it had to go. He had to be in this room, in this moment, nothing more.

"For what it's worth, I don't think you did it."

A little truth into his act, his partner could fuck himself.

"You strike me as smart, I mean, why would you kill your Donor? You're registered to each other, your DNA is all over him, you've got history together, it's just stupid. Now, it could be a crime of passion, that's plausible, possible even."

He locked his eyes with hers, a glimpse into eternity.

"So, tell me what happened tonight with Vincent. You saw him tonight, that much we can prove, tell me what happened. The faster way is to let us measure your bite and see if it matches."

Amber leaned forward somewhat, because it was night she didn't wear her shades. "I'm older than the good cop, bad cop routine. I would never hurt Vincent. Today is...was his birthday as I am sure you know. I see him twice a month for feedings. He asked that I dress special for the night. Different, but hey it was his birthday. I have never really been able to say no to him on his birthdays." She wiped at her eyes, the pink tears were refusing to be held back. "He uh...he wanted to make love. I've always turned him down before this, but I gave in this time. We slept together and I fed on him, but Vincent was alive and well when I left. I wouldn't have pulled him from the streets, gave him a home, a life something your own human social services failed to do just to turn and kill him in the prime of his life."

Sitting back and crossing her arms over her chest Amber focused on the Detective because if she didn't she would keep looking at those pictures. That was not how she wanted to remember Vincent. The man across from her couldn't have been too much older than Vincent if at all. The five o clock shadow, the slightly tousled hair. Classic detective look of someone who worked more than they lived. She blinked taking her eyes off him. The last thing she needed was someone saying she had been trying to control his mind. That was a very rare gift amongst their kind and usually passed from maker to fledgling.

"Let you measure my bite huh? And I am supposed to trust members of the Spook squad not to lie to me? Not manufacture evidence? You all are still the Executioners only with suits. You want it? Get a warrant."

"Nicely said Amber," The door pushed in as another vampire walked in. Unlike Amber who had obviously been made in her 20s he was older. The touch of gray at his temples pegged him at late 30s early 40s when turned. He was still as handsome as the rest. Vampires were more vain than humans in some respect. Those who were considered t be ugly were hardly if ever turned.

"Roman D'Argentine, Amber's legal counsel." He walked around the table soundlessly and sat down beside her.

"How'd you know I was here?"

"Someone saw you being brought in and called me. Something you should have done in the first place Amber." He looked at the pictures, emotion filled his eyes, but it never showed on his face as he closed the envelope and pushed it back to the younger man. "I'll assume this wasn't some tactic to try and pull a false confession from my client. Now if you don't have any more questions to her that pertain to this case and this one alone I'll be take her home..."

"Now wait jut a minute," The older detective came in, "Roddy and I are not done questioning her about tonight."

"It appeared to me that you had. She saw her donor as she routinely does at his home."

"His doorman says she left earlier than usual and that she seemed upset."

"Amber?" Roman looked her way carefully.

"We didn't have dinner this time," she leaned over not wanting to repeat what had happened aloud and whispered in his ears.

Nodding Roman looked back at Roddy and his partner, "It seem Amber has already explain to you both fully what happened and does not wish to speak about that part of things further. You already know that she was there, what they did and that she left. You can't prove she murdered him or anyone else at the moment. And as she said if you want to measure her bite, get a warrant. Now will there be anything else? She has funeral arrangements to make."

Lawyers, nothing changed about them. Vamp, human, old, young, talented, or mediocre, they were all virtually the same. He resisted the urge to snap at the guy, arguing with him wouldn't serve any purpose.

"Of course not counselor, we'd never engage in such under handed tactics."

Truth was, he was well within his rights to ask, such things had happened before. Despite all the myths, once you knew how to push a vampires buttons they were just as easy to manipulate as humans. Especially when it came to strong emotional attachments, like those between vampire and donor.

"That's all we have for the moment, don't leave the city though."

Roddy had no desire to push this thing, not like this. He was mostly sure she hadn't done it, pestering her wouldn't help anything, and would probably do more harm than good.

His partner shot him a venomous look, but Roderick ignored and jogged after the two.

"Ms. Degaul, my sympathies for your loss. I'm sorry about that, if you think of anything, give me a call." He passed her his card, hoping she'd take it.

He walked back to the squad room, his partner was currently arguing with the Captain.

"She did it, she's hiding behind her lawyer, and will skip the country as soon as she's out of here."

Roderick had had enough of this guy.

"Oh yeah, let's listen to this guy. If, and that's a damn big if, she's our killer, why the fuck would she kill her donor? Whoever this killer is, they're smart, sophisticated, and righteously pissed at something.

Now, according to your theory, she's killed five other donors, then decides to off her own when we've been sitting here with our dicks in our hands. She's done this, just to make you look like an idiot, something you need absolutely no help doing.

You're blinded by prejudice and frustration, and I'm not dealing with it anymore."

The captain stepped between the two, several other uniforms restraining the two before it came to blows.

"That's enough out of both of you. Stephens, take the night off. That's an order."

The older detective stormed out of the squad room.

"As for you, get a fucking grip. You can't just go off on your partner like that."

Roderick took a few deep breaths.

"Sorry Cap, I'm just beating my head against this case, and he doesn't help."

The captain was sympathetic, their pairing hadn't been a good idea from the start and had only gone downhill in the interim.

"Take the night off, you could use it. Come back on Monday looking a little less haggard."

Roderick nodded, it was a good idea. He had copies of everything at his place anyway. He took the file they had on Amber Degaul as well, couldn't hurt to look it over.

Five hours later, he stood outside the door to her apartment. He must be out of his mind.

That didn't stop him from knocking on her door.

Everything had been a blur, leaving the precinct, Roman's lecture about not calling him sooner on the ride home. All of it. It wasn't until she was safely back home, Roman having realized that now was not the time to offer his comfort, that Amber finally broke down. She screamed, cried, threw a few things until she had collapsed onto her couch sobbing until her throat was raw and all of her tears were gone. The one thing she truly had in this time that she loved and treasured was gone...killed.

God why had she left? She should have stayed with him, protected him. No instead she had fled because she felt guilty for giving in to him. Pink tear stained tissues littered the floor around her. She was going to find his killer and she would make them pay. No one touched here Vincent. The last person who had hurt him, some dreg looking for some action had learned that night you don't touch what belonged to her.

There was a knock at the door, god who could it be now? She ignored it until the second round of knocks had her up and walking to the door. "Roman if that's you I said I would be fine." Opening the door she was surprised to see the detective at her door again. Alone this time. Not caring about how much of a mess she looked like Amber looked at him.

"What do you want now Detective?" Her voice had more edge to it, despite the fact she knew how badly she sounded from crying for so hard and so long. She was honestly ready to slam the door in his face. "You know I shouldn't be speaking to you without Roman here."

Roderick wasn't taken aback by her appearance, it was only natural to have vented the emotions. He was surprised she'd waited this long, though his partner didn't lend himself to that act.

"I know, and technically I shouldn't be here alone. I'm here unofficially, so unless you confess I can't hold anything here against you. I wouldn't blame you if you threw me out, but I came to apologize."

He waited, letting her digest that. He took the time to admire her, despite being grief stricken, she was beautiful. He could only imagine how he looked, his dark blond hair tousled, hadn't shaved in a day or two, his frame was taller than hers, standing about 6'2, and he kept in shape.

Despite all logic, Roddy suddenly, briefly, imagined them fucking.

"My partner is an asshole, unfortunately I'm stuck following his lead most of the time. I know you didn't kill him, and if I had my way you wouldn't be a suspect at all."

He locked eyes with her then. He had no idea if it was true that vampires could tell truth from lies, but he knew he wasn't hiding anything.

"He's more than an asshole. He's a massive prick who needs to be working human cases. I'll accept your apology, but you might as well come in. Most of my neighbors are humans." Amber moved back letting the door swing open and letting him step in. Closing the door behind him she combed her hands through her short hair trying to bring it back to order.

"Excuse the mess. I've never been much for contained grief." There was a broom by the broken vase, but it hadn't been used yet. Even from a distance it was clear it was old and probably worth more than what most people made in their lifetimes.

"People like him are exactly why no vampires trust you. We'd rather police ourselves than trust in humans who are supposed to help us." Amber sighed as she leaned against one of the pillars in the living room. "I shouldn't have left. I just..panicked. Vincent..Vincent had been a like a friend and son to me since I took him in and today..today just threw me off." She wiped at her eyes unwilling to cry in front of him.

Then she remembered something, "Wait..five other donors have been killed? I don't really pay attention to the news these days and I don't really spend much time amongst the others. This...oh gods if I knew. I would have made Vincent move back in."

Roderick listened to her, grief was universal. Didn't know the boundaries or race, religion, nationality, or human and vampire. Everyone responded the same. A testament to the inherent humanity in all living things.

"Yeah, Vincent makes six. Whoever this is, they're targeting donors. One or two might be dumb luck, six means it's deliberate."

He sat on the couch, pushing a hand through his hair. His eyes felt like they were too big for his skull. He locked eyes with her again, pushing his emotions back for the moment.

"We aren't getting anywhere with the investigation. Most vamps have the same feelings as you, not that I blame them. We don't have the best reputation, and pricks like my partner don't exactly help you guys, or anyone really, feel like sharing."

He looked at her again, sighing heavily as he did so.

"Whoever is doing this is very good. They don't leave evidence that we can detect, have no profile beyond donors, no discernible time table, and no motive that we can find.

It's a nightmare. I can give you broad strokes about who it is, but nothing specific. I need help, information I can't get because I'm a Spook with an asshole partner."

Roderick locked eyes again, letting her pick up on what he was saying.

"You want me to help you?" She tried to keep the laughter out of her voice but it was hard. Amber knew he was sincere, but he was crazy. Or maybe not.

"Most vamps? Try 90%. The 10% who don't are newbloods. Those changed over in the last 50 years. Those who aren't jaded and well aged. Those who don't remember the days when we had had to blood bond our donors to us so they could protect us during the day as we slept and even then that wasn't always enough."

Amber picked up the tissues on the floor and coffee table and went to throw them away in the kitchen. One of the albums was still open from earlier, pictures of Vincent when she first met him. He looked like a street kid even with clean clothes on. There was a faint smile on his face as he stood next to her while Roman stood on the other side.

Coming back in she looked at Roderick as he sat there, "You do realize even with my help no one may talk to you right? Hell I will be lucky if they talked to me after all of this." Amber stopped in front of the coffee table and bent down to close the album.

"Whoever did this is old. Someone who never come out of the shadow to be amongst humans other than to feed off them. To kill someone's donor is the most painful thing you can do to another. You are killing the one person they trust most in this life. Someone they would die for, kill for." Another tear fell, "I'll help you, only because you have information I need as much I have information and contact you need. You're going to have to not dress like a cop though. The suit screams detective."

He nodded, listening to her explain. He never blamed vampires for their position when it came to law enforcement, despite his frustration at it, it was more than justified. In their place he'd be paranoid too.

"If you're profiling a vampire you're correct, a total predator, almost feral in that sense. If it's a human trying to set you people up, he's probably more out going, needs attention, but very disciplined."

Roderick shook his head, clearing it.

"Thank you, whoever this is, they're seriously renting space in my head and I'd like to evict them."

He chuckled wryly at her observation on his clothing.

"Policy is policy, and my salary doesn't give much leeway. I'm open to your expertise, you know what I'll need to look like."

Despite it all, he found his eyes tracing her figure, imaging what she'd look like without the clothes. Her figure was dynamite, perfectly proportioned, lovely hair, shocking eyes, she was damn near perfect.

He shook his head again, what the fuck was he thinking? She just lost someone very close to her, and he was ogling her. He was about to go into a darker side of the world and he was fixated on her ass.

God, he needed to get laid.

"Off the top of your head, any information that would be helpful?"

"It has to be a vampire. I can't speak for the others, but Vincent wouldn't have been caught off guard by a human. You've seen how Roman walks, soundless. Vincent was a street kid, he sleeps better than he used to but he still carries that paranoia. I also locked the the door when I left. He would have fought back unless he had been drugged. All it takes is one second," She went from her standing position to sitting next to him in the space of time it took him to blink, "to be caught off guard."

Amber shook lightly, "He probably thought it was me until it was too late." She thought, "Could be a man, or a woman. The thigh is very intimate and the older of us have lost or never had the taboos against same sex partners."

"If he or she is human then they either have naturally long canine or had dental ones made. They would have to work at the Donor Registry or have access to it. As well as being able to pick locks." She sighed and sat back, "This is only going off of what I know on his attack. We'd have to see if the vampires connected to the others would speak to you."

His looks didn't go unnoticed, but from her vantage point he was imply studying her, sizing her up rather than having dirty thoughts about her. "What about the others?"

Roderick was caught off guard by her speed, in so many ways he felt so damn inferior to them. Still, no sense bitching about it, he'd found ways to compensate during his work with the Spooks.

"Sorry, I never really learned to apply Occam's Razor."

Something he'd been trying to work on, stay focused, look at the evidence, don't guess beyond what you have to. Basic principles really, he just had trouble tunneling his vision.

"Well, as to the others, I can tell you a few things. If you want the visual you'll have to come back to my place. All were killed the same way, Exsanguination, or bleeding out. The bite locations differ, some thigh, some neck, one was to the wrist. Different sides, nothing was the same except size of the marks and that the vic's were Donors."

He slumped backwards into the couch, rubbing his eyes with his fists.

"If you're correct, about placement implying intimacy, it would have to be someone he knew. Unless he was hypnotized or something similar. Did he have any bisexual leanings that you knew of?"

"By choice or necessity? I'm surprised you didn't pull his record. Vincent used to hustle when he was on the street. When you're hungry you can't be picky and you don't complain when they mess you up. As far as I knew Vincent wasn't seeing anyone, man or woman. You don't let someone near that area to feed unless you trust them, you've got this rosy view of vampires or you're a blood whore. It too easy to kill someone that way. Whoever did this knew Vincent and I had been together today, knew that it would look as if I had fucked him and bled him dry." There was anger in her voice now. "He was already tired, two more bites would have kept him from even putting up the weakest of fights. I had already tended to my bites with my saliva before leaving. They reopened those."

She shook her head trying to get the image out of her head, knowing she never would. "I worked so hard to keep him safe and I still failed him. Someone wants to hurt us, to stir up more hatred of humans amongst us."

"I'll need at least a day to think of someplace I can take you that won't be inflammatory. Jeans and a nice shirt will do." The phone rang, she didn't move to pick it up though and the machine clicked on. Vincent's voice filled the air, "You've reached Amber DeGaul's phone, which means she's either not home, at work or outside with the dog. Leave a message and she'll get back to you eventually."

"Amber," a thick Russian accent came over the speaker, "Amber I know you are there. Misha and I are worried. We heard what happened. If we don't hear from you by tomorrow we are coming over. You need your family right now." The called sighed heavily,"Amber please, don't do anything foolish. Don't give the Spook Squad a reason to bring you in again, kotyonok." The call ended and she sighed.

Roderick chuckled without humor at her speech, mostly a dry sympathy for doing what you must. He'd been there, not the same way as some, but with the same options.

"There's no hurry, I'm supposed to take the weekend off and cool my head. So I'll be totally available for the next two days."

He didn't mention how he'd probably be spending those two days alone in his apartment, looking at the case file again. Still, right now his private life was his own, she didn't need to know that. He lived a rather miserable existence by human standards, to a vampire it must be like abject squalor.

"This wasn't your fault Amber, unless you killed him. Blame it on the person who took his life, not on those who made his life worth living. At any rate, you've given me plenty to think about and maybe a few new ways to look at this."

He was about to leave when the voice came over the machine. The accent was Russian, or at the very least Ukrainian. He silently raised an eyebrow at her as the voice clicked off.

"That's a good idea, you shouldn't be alone tonight. I can drive you there if you want."

Amber shook her head slowly, "I want to be alone right now. I know Sasha and Misha mean well, but I just need to be by myself." She got up to talk him to the door. "Knowing Sasha he will be here in the late afternoon. He never was one to wait really. He know how I can be in regards to Vincent, if his killer is human and I even had a clue to who he/she was the Spook squad wouldn't have a chance to bring him or her in." She wasn't going to lie, given the chance she would make Vincent's killer pay in ways that were harsh cruel and ugly.

"I'll give you a call when I have an idea of where we can go. Thank you for coming by. You didn't have to, but you did and that means much to me right now." She held the door open for him. "Safe driving Roderick."Amber fully intended to drown herself in wine a hot shower and then fall into bed. There wasn't much else she could do right now.

Roderick nodded, smiling at her as he stepped through the door.

"Thanks for your help. That card has my home and cell on it, one of those two will always get me. If you need anything I can help with, just give me a call."

He hunched his shoulders, it had started raining while he was in her apartment. Oh well, it fit his mood. He jogged to his car, climbed in and got it running. He drove in silence, his radio was in a bad mood and wasn't working. He found that atmosphere annoying, he loved background noise, helped him think.

As he entered his apartment, he was filled with a sudden desire to act out violently. His apartment wasn't in shambles or anything, but it seemed to represent everything that was wrong with his life.

The urge passed though, and he sat on the couch, staring at the opposite wall. On it were pictures of the victims, crime scene analysis, witness statements, everything pertaining to the current case. It was his reminder that whoever was out there didn't punch a clock, they just killed people.

"Fucking sadist is what you are buddy,"

Despite knowing almost nothing about the killer, he had a rough mental image of him, or her. Just a grey outline that he could conjure up and speak to should the mood strike him.

"Which means one of two things, you came that way and have been killing a lot longer than this, or something happened recently that righteously pissed you off."

He spent a few hours applying some of the information Amber had given him, it helped flesh out the outline, but nothing more. Nothing interesting, nothing that would give him a solid angle to track down, or even a general direction to look in.

Days like this were days he wished he drank. Instead, he had to settle for a couple of pills that would deaden his headache and help him sleep. He stripped to his boxers and flopped onto his bed.

Tomorrow, he'd look again tomorrow.

Just as she predicted Sasha and Misha were there bright and early by vampire standards. At first a very haggard looking Amber thought about not letting them in, but eventually she did. The two Russian men swept her into their arms, Neither said anything they could say would make it easier. It was one thing when a donor died of old age, but murder? That wasn't something that had happened in centuries. They were some of her oldest friends next to Roman and so she let them comfort her.

There was a scratch at the back door and Sasha went to go let the wolfhound in. Amber had left the dog outside all night, something Vincent would have been on her ass about. The our of them filled the couch while Misha filled her in on the other deaths.

"They have all been taken at home, shortly after their vampires have left. We are being stalked by one of our one, Amber. No human is this good." Where Sasha was light Misha was dark, he was also the more quiet of the couple.

"I really wish I had known about this."

"Amber you pushed Vincent to be independent as he got older. Do you really think he would have come home on the off chance something might have happened? No he would have stood his ground, not let someone run him from his home." Sasha was right it would have come down to an argument and Amber forcing Vincent to come with her.

"And there is the chance they would have struck here, or caught him outside. Nothing he's done had shown any sort of reason that any of us can recognize." She nodded slowly.

"How did they treat you yesterday?" Misha's soft voice filled the air.

"One of them was a complete asshole. I wanted bend his ears back a few times. His partner, he's young, Vincent's age. He wasn't as bad. I really think he wants to help. Not just let this get pushed aside." Both men looked at her and Amber quickly explain about the later half of the night.

"Amber are you crazy? They will eat him alive at the clubs. It won't matter that he's with you. He's still Spook squad."

"That is why I need you help." She shot them a small look, "Roderick looks too much like a cop. If anyone can really make him look non threatening its you. And I was thinking maybewecoulduseyourclubforallofthis." She got the reaction she expect both men started to yell and swear going between Russian, English and Ukrainian.

"No."

"Absolutely not."

"Please. Not for me, but for Vincent and the others. Someone had a grudge against our people and is using the ones we love most against us. What if the twins were next?" Unlike Amber Sasha and Misha were fully intimate with their donors and had blood bonded the twins to them. Both men had the goodness to look ashamed for a second.

"Ok, but we meet him first." Amber nodded and picked up the phone. It was the afternoon so he should be up. "Roderrick? Its Amber DeGaul. Could you come over?"

Under normal circumstances Roderick wouldn't take drugs before bed, they really fucked with his dreams and made him feel like shit all day. But, between general lethargy and a pulse pounding headache, he'd take the lethargy.

Another downside, the phone ringing roughly resembled a very thing razor blade lancing through his temple. An optimist would point out that made sure he got up, but not being an optimist he simply cursed the whole situation.

"Hello?"

"Roderrick? Its Amber DeGaul. Could you come over?"

"Sure, just gimme a few minutes."

The hot shower started out as torture, then slowly became relaxing. His headache, his sluggish feelings, his frustration with life in general, the steam pulled it all from his pores.

He arrived at her door a few minutes later, his electric razor had left a faint stubble but not much else, his hair was combed, black jeans, a blue t-shirt and a jacket, trying to look normal.

"Here goes nothing."

He knocked twice on the door, trying to get himself to relax.

Amber opened the door, looking over her shoulder before giving him a faint smile. "Sasha and Misha are here. They have agreed to help with all of this." She let him inside and closed the door. Sasha was about the same height as Roderick, Misha he'd have to look at. The two other vampires hadn't moved from the couch though their eyes gave away the fact they were sizing him up.

"Behave you two," Amber said under her breath. "Sasha, Misha this is Det. Roderick. He's handling the Donor murders. Roderick this is Sasha and Misha they have if a bit reluctantly agreed to let us use their club to try and gather information." She let him sit on the other side of him. Somehow she didn't think he would be fin sitting between three vampires. Petrov slid of the couch, shaking his thick coat before waling off the dog catching the hint that he wasn't going to get much attention at the moment.

"Hmm well you weren't kidding, even now he does look a little too neat. Sasha don't you still have that leather bomber jacket? I know you aren't happy about this neither do I, but he's got to stand out as little as possible. Well as much as he can being with her."

Sasha combed his hair with his hands, a very human action really, the blond locks falling back into place. "That should help, as well as some sunglasses. No one is really going to notice that its night time. So Roderick is it? Have you ever set foot in a vampire club before?"

Roderick nodded at the two seated vampires, not knowing if a handshake would be acceptable or not. He sat where indicated, despite the incongruity of the situation he wasn't that nervous.

"Nice to meet you, and thank you for your help."

He looked too neat? His appearance was rather shoddy at the moment and he had little idea how to look worse. Their suggestions made it slightly more clear, it was more about the attitude and less about the actual look.

"Not really, especially during business hours. I've been in a few, but only for stuff related to the job. For safety reasons we avoid large crowds as a general rule."

He glanced at the two again, a weary smile parting his face.

"Thank you again, I know this can't be easy. I wish we didn't have to resort to this, because it puts you in an awkward position and reveals our current inability to get this guy."

He was talking too much, but didn't care. They were trusting him, holding out of them would be rude. Besides, he wasn't saying anything they didn't already know, or could figure out easily enough.

"So, what should I know or do while in there?"

"Stay close to Amber and just listen for the most part. She does not mingle much and even when she does Vincent was usually with her. I think it best we pas you off as one of Vincent's friends from before Amber took him in. It will be just too...out of place or her to show up with a new human jut after his passing."Sasha said. He smiled at Amber. "There is nothing wrong with how you live hun, but we all know that when it comes to being rather reclusive you do it best."

"We had already planned a small wake of sorts for those who have died. Their partners will be there as well." Misha then shot a look at Sasha who just nodded, "One of the first killed was Soren's donor. He's been a bit...off lately. I know you two have never been friendly so it'd probably be best if you two avoid him." He then turned to Roderick, "Our club is very open. You will see more than a few things that might unsettle your human sensibilities. If for no other reason than out of respect for the dead and our rules, please leave them at the door."

Amber looked at Roderick, "Sasha and Misha get a lot of patrons who are old. Older than me even and while they have adapted they don't care what those of you who don't agree with our existence have to say. we may or may not get some helpful information, but it's more than what any of your files can tell you."

The other two nodded and got to their feet, "We will see you this evening. Things start at 9." They each gave her a kiss and nodded to Roderick. "If you managed to catch this lunatic, you will be always welcome at our club." They left leaving Amber and he alone.

"I guess if you are going to pretend to have been old friends with Vincent. I'll have to tell you more about him."

The information being imparted slid easily into his brain and was assimilated. The more he listened, the more uneasy he became. Her breaking character would be suspicious, but also might help. Vampires were just like people in many ways, and the urge to comfort those in pain was just as prevalent there as it was in human society.

"It takes a great deal to shock me, but I'll do everything I can to blend in."

The notion of a wake caught his attention. If he was right, and he had no reason to think he was wrong, such a gathering would be like a buffet line for the killer.

He thanked the two as they left, then eyed Amber again.

"I know a little from his file, but anything you can or want to share will be helpful. Also, about the service. Our killer is an emotional sadist, that's why he kills donors. A gathering of his true victims might be too much for him to pass up, so keep your eyes open."

He sank into the couch beside her.

"So, I'm all yours, anything you want to tell me or instruct me on and I'll do my best to comply."

"You'll find that many of the older ones are sadists at their true heart. Hence why they chose to be turned. Some were born that way and other were shaped that way by their makers." She gave a soft shrug, "You can't live that long and not have one flaw or another." Anyone older than 200 that wasn't jaded or a massive cynic was always a surprise.

"Vincent was a sweet boy, he just figured the streets would be better than his foster home. I think it was a draw really. He still got beat up and living on the streets meant you stole, you sold drugs or you hustled. It was raining, he was hunched under a bakery awning. I had seen him a few times, but once was enough to know he was a street kid. I bought him some coffee and a whole bag of pastries." A small smile came on her face, "He accused me first of being with Child Services and then some female pimp. It took me about a month to get him to relax. I bought him clothes gave him money. It wasn't until some guy who had picked him up hurt him very badly that I made him move in and became his guardian."

A hard edge came into her eyes giving some hint as to what might have befallen the John. "He pretty much slept here only at first. During the day he'd go look out for the younger kids on the street. Vincent would give them nearly all of his allowance. He never cared that I was a vampire. To him I was this angel sent to help him. He didn't ask me to feed from him until his 18th birthday. Vincent knew if I was going to I wouldn't think about it until he was an adult and even then I turned him down for four years."

She grabbed one of the albums, flipping to the picture of Vincent holding up his donor card. "He said it was the best gift I had ever given him besides a home. I could never get him to see that I didn't need it from him, that I would have let him stay, loved him no matter what. At first I couldn't even take his throat. A full year of feeding at his wrist," she flipped another page, in all the picture Vincent had a dark blue leather cuff on. Just thick enough to hide the bite marks.

"He liked everything, music, food. Hates..hated baseball, bad coffee. Hated it when I forgot to call in for my next blood order. I needed Vincent as much as he needed me really. We took care of each other."

Despite all the times before, all the pictures of victims, the interviews, the funerals he'd attended, everything that jaded people, seeing pictures of people now dead when they were alive always got to him. The fact that this monster was out there, deliberately severing the bond between two people just for his sick amusement got his blood pumping.

"He was lucky to have you."

Roderick closed his eyes for a bit, emotionally and mentally swallowing all the information he'd been presented with. He needed to change, just enough to be accepted by the other vampires as someone they could trust.

When he opened them again, he was surprised to find her staring at him, if only for the briefest of moments.

"Thank you again Amber, I know this can't be easy for you."

"The only reason I am not locked in my room not drunk on blood and wine or possibly throwing out every last bottle of sunblock ready to great tomorrow's sun is because I know he would hate me for giving in. I feel for the other's but in all honesty I can only think about myself and Vincent. Most people don't appreciate the lives they have and however long it may be. I've seen empires rise and fall, good men die and evil ones linger. I'm doing this because its the last thing I can give Vincent; vengeance."

Not justice, vengeance. If the killer was a vampire they would get an automatic sentence of execution. A human might manage to get one or two sympathetic ears at a jury trial, escape death for jail.

Blinking she looked at him, "So some of us are close to our donors, you'll more than likely see one or two being fed on. Some are rough and some are gentle, just remember everything you see is welcome and consented to. Despite what they may tell you all, Vampires aren't more prone to hurting people. We're just stronger and faster."

She chewed on the nail of her thumb, "Kids come and go from the streets all the time so this could work fairly well. A few might be bad if they find out, but honestly I don't give a damn. If this help you find their killer, a few hurt feelings are worth it."