Welcome to Allendale

[Belvino]

(Closed for Veroe)​

Josephine Shepard

For Josephine, or Jo as she was most often called, policing was in her blood. Her father had been Sheriff of Allendale and his father before him. The town knew the Shepards all too well and when Jo was born she was scrutinized and all her little mishaps carefully recorded because they knew that she would become what her father had been. She was the brightest and smartest of all the Shepard children and clearly had the most drive, therefore the town had come to the conclusion that she would carry on the line. Of course she could have had the opportunity to change her mind, but whether it was the unconscious pressure from the town itself or the reverence she had for her father, the apple did not stray far from the tree and she took up the position willingly.

However, what no one really knew was the constant internal battle which plagued Jo on many an occasion. Her father and grandfather had been such inspirational men to her that she feared letting them down and the town down. She was young still and Sheriff of an entire county, responsible for the lives and safety of its citizens. The collapse of the economy hit Allendale hard with many of the business on Main Street shuttering their doors to patrons forever. That was until a mysterious, wealthy benefactor came and purchased many of the closed down buildings. For a while it seemed that the businesses would stay closed but then things started to happen, things that would forever change the town and the people inside it. When the existence of supernatural beings was proved by this same mysterious benefactor, Allendale became a place of great interest for curious humans and supernatural beings alike. The businesses opened and boasted to be safe havens catering to a variety of interests and with it came touristy shops that brought in visitors hoping to catch a glimpse of the new supernatural scene in Allendale.

Jo was unsure of all this change. As a young girl she loved to read stories about supernatural creatures, and would sometimes secretly fantasize about them coming to take her away to their world. Thrust into the middle of it, Jo was cautious and concerned of all the new attention the town was getting. While nothing serious had happened yet, there was still so much to deal with and so many unanswered questions she had.

Josephine’s boots crunched in the gravel road, each sound an abrasive echo that bounced around with the pain already pounding in her head. The headache had started about mid-day and she knew it was due to lack of sleep. There had been an increase of crime most recently, first small things, petty thefts of the supernatural-owned shops to much larger things, and now this… The call had come just after lunch when she had finished talking with the Smiths about the vandalism of their home.

“Sheriff, you need to go down to Round Midnight.. there’s…. oh god those poor boys..”

“What’s going on Hailey?” Jo questioned her dispatcher. The call had come through her cellphone which was unusual in and of itself. It meant that Hailey had not been at the station or else she would have used the radio first.

“They’re dead, the boys! They’re dead!” dissolving into hysterical sobs Jo could get nothing further from Hailey aside from asking her to call Shay off duty and send her to the club herself. Jo climbed into her classic mustang and felt the roar of the engine as it started up. She was supposed to drive the precinct’s truck on duty, but she had been expecting to go home after the talk with the Smiths. Besides, it wasn’t like the entire town of Allendale didn’t already know what she drove, much less what she did. Jo felt her nerves beginning to throw her headache dangerously close to the realm of migraine territory as her foot pressed the pedal to the floor and the cobalt blue car raced down the road away from the Smith home.

***********************
Shay O’Connell

Of two things Shay was aware in the throes of her hangover that the light was bright and glaring through her windows, and a noise had disrupted her from sleep. There was a muffled groan escaping from the puddle of blankets beneath which she was buried. She flung them back suddenly her green eyes opened wide and her blonde locks in disarray. It was her phone that had woken her from the depths of her dreams, and there was only one reason to which it would ring—she was being called in to work.

She reached across the bed towards the nightstand and raised the phone to her ear just in time, “Hello?” she inquired. The voice that met her on the line was hysterical but familiar. Hailey the dispatcher was calling through her personal cellphone, but what she told Shay sent a chill down her spine.

“I’ll be right there,” Shay launched herself out of the bed and began picking up pieces of clothing that had been strewn haphazardly across the floor the previous night. She glanced back at the rumpled sheets and a small smile traced across her lips. The beds other occupant had long since gone home but the reminders of their intense evening filled her with warmth and a delightful ache between her legs. Her partner for the evening had been a supernatural being, a lycan, or werewolf much like herself. She hadn’t been with her own kind since she had left her pack, but that was another thing that she’d tried to put away and Allendale was her little slice of heaven.

Shay tossed her dirty clothes in the wash and pulled a fresh pair of pants from the dresser. She buttoned a blouse over her frame and grabbed her bag on the way out the door. The drive to Round Midnight was not long. The whole town could be driven through every street probably in less than an hour. This did not deter the tourists who found the small town charm of the place appealing and were always eager for a glimpse of the supernatural world that had begun to flourish here.

Hailey was standing on the corner her feet just at the edge of the curb when Shay arrived. She could tell Hailey had been crying the girl’s face was splotchy and her eyes appeared swollen. She barely acknowledged Shay as she emerged from her vehicle. Her fingers trembled, fumbling with a cigarette she raised to her lips. Hailey was having just as much trouble with the lighter it rolled over once, twice and then slipped between her fingers almost crashing to the curb, but Shay caught it just in time.

“T..T…Thanks,” Hailey mumbled around the cigarrete as the flame burst to life and Shay raised it to the end of the cig. Hailey drew back several times, small clouds of smoke puffing from her cheeks until the end of the cig glowed a cherry red.

“Hang in there Hailey,” Shay said handing back the lighter. Hailey nodded saying nothing. Shay’s attention finally turned towards the club and she headed inside with a determined grimace on her face.

Jo was leaning against a counter inside and seemed absorbed in her thoughts, but the sound of Shay’s shoes on the floor brought her gaze up to her deputy. She waved her hand behind her, and Shay could hear the clicking of a flash and a splotch of bright light.

“They’re in there. It’s the Robinson boys,” Jo stated rather somberly as she followed Shay back to the crime scene.

Shay paused in her steps when she became aware of the two small frames laying crumpled on the floor of the club. They were far too young to be in this club. Shay’s nose curled and her lips pulled back from her teeth in an unconscious gesture as the evidence techs buzzed around the boys like a pair of flies their lights flashing intermittently. She felt anger rippling in her belly and a deeper more primal thing beginning to unfurl itself. Shay shook her head focusing on quelling the beast inside her. Shay glanced at Jo noticing that the sheriff was preoccupied with the boys and hadn’t noticed the change that had swept through Shay.

Jo was squatting on the floor now a pair of gloves pulled over her slender hands. She gestured to a spot on the neck of one of the boys, “Do you think this was a werewolf?”

Shay inhaled sharply and shook her head again, “No, look at the neck. The flesh was torn but you can clearly see two puncture holes.” Accustomed to semi-darkness and with the eyes of a wolf Shay had been able to see something Jo could not. She squatted near her, suddenly aware how close their bodies were as she pointed to the deep puncture wounds which were buried farther than the tear in the flesh.

“I don’t think they died here, or else there would be some blood spatters, but in either case it appears the boys were drained.” The boys in fact were pale as ghosts. There was no blood left in them. “Who owns this club?”

“Rafael Esposito, the vampire.”

**********************

By the time the evidence techs had finished gathering all the clues they could and Jo and Shay had done their bit, the boys were carted off by the town coroner. It had taken him nearly two hours to arrive since he had to drive from the next town over. Night had fallen, yet Jo and Shay were not yet finished with their investigation. The two of them climbed into Jo’s car and headed over to the Allendale Hotel where Rafael lived on the entire top floor.

The two women were met at the door of the penthouse by a young gentleman smartly dressed, courteous, and human Shay noticed. She could smell the faint metallic scent of blood within him and his heartbeat was prominent against his throat. Shay’s brow raised, but she said nothing instead choosing to wait for Jo.

“Hello, my name is Josephine Shepard. I’m sure you’re aware we are from the Allendale Sheriff’s department,” Jo smiled and shook the doorman’s hand, “Would you please send your boss down to see us we have a matter to speak with him about?”

The doorman nodded and gave Jo a little bow, “Of course ma’am I’ll send him right down. In the meantime would you ladies please have a seat in the sitting room?” The doorman did not wait for them to respond, but instead lead them both to a room off to their right. The furniture in this room was decorated with something of a modern touch yet still maintained an air of classy traditionalism.

Shay plopped down on one of the sofas and Jo sat down quietly next to her. They did not have to wait long before they could hear the doorman again and another set of footsteps closely followed behind him. Shay spotted Rafael walking behind the doorman his steps careful, measured and graceful. Her eyes met his and for a moment they stared at one another before Shay broke the contact and whispered rather loudly to Jo, “Holy shit! You didn’t tell me he was the sexiest man in this town.”

Jo’s elbow shot out and caught Shay in the ribs. A small gasp of surprise escaped Shay’s lips and a pained expression settled momentarily on her features. Josephine rose to her feet biting her lip in an unconscious gesture of worry. She hoped Rafael hadn’t heard her partner as she extended a hand out to him in greeting though she could not fault her thinking. He was very attractive and Jo was surprised she had not seen him before in this town. Of course there could be a very good reason for that. A smile pulled up the corners of her mouth hoping that if he had heard his partner he could forgive her small indiscretion.

“Hello my name is Josephine Shephard, and this is my partner Shay O’Connell.” His hand had closed around hers as she was speaking and Jo was mildly surprised by its coolness.

“I’m sorry to bother you at this hour, but we have come here to ask you some questions. There has been a crime committed in your club.” Jo noticed the look of surprise across Rafael’s face and then he questioned where it had been committed.

Shay’s sigh seemed to break Jo’s concentration but afforded Shay the opportunity to speak, “The Robinson boys have been found murdered at your club, Round Midnight.”

“Where were you last night Mr. Esposito?”

 

[Veroe]

IC: Rafael Esposito

Rafe was not asleep even though the sun had been up for hours. He had sat at his desk at sunset yesterday and waged the eternal struggle against the dreaded pile of paperwork for the rest of the night. Bills, permit applications, remodeling proposals, maintenance orders for his new properties. The finances must be combed through meticulously. He would not let his people's precious treasury be squandered or swindled.

He pinched the bridge of his nose in tired exhaustion sitting back in comfortable-or rather was still comfortable a few hours before-office chair. He was trying. He was working harder at this than he had ever at anything ever before in his long long life. He hadn't wanted this responsibility. He had been completely unprepared for it, but it had fallen onto his shoulders. The weight of leadership was crushing him but he was honestly trying his best to do this right.

Jeremy, his man at the door, gave him a buzz. Sheriff Shepard was waiting to question him over something. Resignedly he got up from the pile of papers that was his particular stone of Sisyphus, and walked into the penthouse bathroom to splash some water into his face. He would've checked to see if his hair was straight, but in the restroom's mirror there was no reflection staring back at him.

As he was would just have to do.

Straightening his tie at least he walked down the hall to the sitting room. There he found two women sitting down on his sofa in police uniforms. He sauntered into the room like he owned the place-which was true. He looked over them both casually as he lounged in a chair across from them.

The Sheriff was a stunning beauty. More than likely she was prettier than she realized. Before the reigns of being a responsible leader had snared him he would consider pursuing a tryst with her. The other was interesting. She was not human. One sniff of her scent told him that. Werewolf. How many had immigrated to his town? He needed to keep better track of that?

"Holy shit," She whispered to the young Sheriff, "You didn’t tell me he was the sexiest man in this town.”

"Sheriff," He said with a smile while choosing to pretend that he had not heard the exchange between them, "I am pleased to meet you face to face at last." He offered her his hand to take.

“Hello my name is Josephine Shepard," She took his hand and he noted how warm it felt in his own. She took the difference in their body temperatures in stride and nodded to the deputy beside her, "And this is my partner Shay O’Connell.”

He eyed the Werewolf, she too was ravishing. Centuries of sizing up and pursuing women told him he'd find her easier prey than the sheriff. She'd be receptive to him if he propositioned her. Her previous remark to the sheriff pretty much confirmed that much. "And how, my dear Sheriff, may I help you today?"

“I’m sorry to bother you at this hour, but we have come here to ask you some questions," She continued, "There has been a crime committed in your club."

"A crime," He repeated. His eyes widened in surprise at the thought, "Where did you say this happened?"

He had told his people to behave themselves here. If it turned out to be one of them...well, he'd prove he was every bit the real-life monster from some horror movie some of the ignorant locals have already begun accusing him of being.

"The Robinson boys have been found murdered at your club, Round Midnight.” Rafael felt a ice cold fist punch him straight in the gut. He knew precisely who had done this-well, he could guess.

He had hoped for more time. He had hoped his ploy here would grant them some form of protection, and now...innocents were being caught in the middle of their war.

"The missing children from the news," He asked as if he wasn't as responsible as he felt right then.

“Where were you last night Mr. Esposito?"

The question took him off guard. Did they think he was the one who would do such a thing?

"I was here doing paperwork surrounded by at least a dozen people as I was the night before and the night before that when the children were reported missing," He replied coolly.

"Also I'd like to point out that if you just found them at my club then they must have been moved there within the last few hours," He continued raising one finger then another, "My club does not close down until 4 AM. There would've been too many witnesses around for the true monsters that did this terrible thing to do so at any time before then." A third finger was raised, "Also I'd like to point out that while I own the building I have leased it out to another to run 'Round Midnight'."

He leveled Sheriff Shepard under a cool even gaze. "So tell me, why do you think I am a suspect here?"

 

[Belvino]

Shay observed the proceedings with careful measure. Her eyes studying every nuance and subtlety of expression that Rafael possessed. She knew that Jo would be doing this too. It was part of their job after all to pick up on the lies that people told them. For the first time in Shay’s life in Allendale she would be investigating a murder. The town would grieve for these boys, hell, the nation would grieve and all eyes would be turned on Allendale. Not that they weren’t already. Shay squirmed uncomfortably, frowning, her brows furrowing together for a moment. Allendale was supposed to be her sanctuary, what would become of it now?

“Where were you last night Mr. Esposito?" Here Shay witnessed a flickering of emotions across Rafael’s face. She guessed he too was bothered by the news of the boys. A tightness in his jaw and the subtle lift of his brows seemed to indicate this. Though whether he was genuinely troubled about them or the investigation itself remained to be seen.

“I was here doing paperwork surrounded by at least a dozen people as I was the night before and the night before that when the children were reported missing.” Jo said nothing yet, and Shay glanced over at her. She was sizing him up waiting for him to say something to reveal himself. Shay slipped a notepad from the pocket of her pants and turned to a blank page, scribbling a brief notation of what he said.

“Also I'd like to point out that if you just found them at my club then they must have been moved there within the last few hours," He continued raising one finger then another, "My club does not close down until 4 AM. There would've been too many witnesses around for the true monsters that did this terrible thing to do so at any time before then." A third finger was raised, "Also I'd like to point out that while I own the building I have leased it out to another to run 'Round Midnight'."

“So tell me, why do you think I am a suspect here?”

Jo smiled widely her annoyance hidden behind a simpering charm, “Thank you for that information Mr. Esposito. Anything you can provide would be of great service to our investigation.” Shay noted that Jo had not answered his question and this momentarily diverted her attention away from the notepad as she glanced first at Jo then at Rafael.

“I’m sure you can understand that the effect this is going to have on the town will be devastating. The consequences will be great for all, and I’m afraid the club will have to be shut down for the duration of the investigation, perhaps even longer…” Jo paused her voice trailing off, “The club may not be run by you, but you own it and you do have a vested interest in it.”

“We must consider all possibilities and unfortunately, Mr. Esposito that includes you,” Jo declared lacing her fingers in her lap carefully. She was sitting up very straight and had not relaxed back into the chair. A knife of pain was slicing behind her eyes, the migraine was still clinging on despite the pills she had taken. Jo was beginning to feel nauseated, but was fighting through all the same. She had a duty to do, for her town, for the boys and for the truth she must now find.

“We will need all the contact information for those who can corroborate your story and for the current manager and staff of Round Midnight.” Jo gritted her teeth and Shay glanced over. The sound could not have been heard by a regular human, but of course Shay was not human. She could see the tension in her boss’s body though she did not know what was causing it. She wanted to ask if she was alright, but it seemed a strange thing to do in front of Rafael.

“I’ll gather this information from you now, if you will Mr. Esposito,” Shay said, deciding to take over for her boss who was in some obvious discomfort. Jo shot Shay a grateful look, but still did not relax into the chair.

 

[Veroe]

IC: Rafael Esposito

He leveled Sheriff Shepard under a cool even gaze. "So tell me, why do you think I am a suspect here?"

The Sheriff smiled with a charm that didn't quite manage to hide her annoyance at being spoken to so briskly by him. “Thank you for that information Mr. Esposito. Anything you can provide would be of great service to our investigation.”

Rafe noted that she had not actually answered his question. He didn't think she knew enough to actually suspect him. She was fishing here. She had nothing, but the most tenuous connection. He glanced over to her deputy, the werewolf, to gauge her reaction. She too seemed to have noticed and had lifted her eyes from the notepad with her notes to her partner.

“I’m sure you can understand that the effect this is going to have on the town will be devastating," She explained, "The consequences will be great for all, and I’m afraid the club will have to be shut down for the duration of the investigation, perhaps even longer…”

"What," He exclaimed at that when she paused, "But it just now started turning a profit."

She pressed onward, “The club may not be run by you, but you own it and you do have a vested interest in it. We must consider all possibilities and unfortunately, Mr. Esposito that includes you.”

Damn. She had him on that. He smiled with his most becoming nod to her, but he was beginning to notice something in her posture and terseness. He had been too preoccupied before to notice it but now it was clear to him.

“We will need all the contact information for those who can corroborate your story and for the current manager and staff of Round Midnight.” The Sheriff concluded.

“I’ll gather this information from you now, if you will, Mr. Esposito,” The deputy put in.

He got up and gestured to the hallway, "Yes, of course. I can get what you need in my office, Ms. O'Connell."

He led her out and to his office door and the never to be sufficiently damned pile of paperwork he toiled under every night. "May I ask a question, deputy? Is the Sheriff feeling ill or something?"

He took a sheet of paper and began jotting down names, addresses, and phone numbers of the people that would vouch for his alibi before holding it out for her.

 

[Belvino]

"Yes, of course. I can get what you need in my office, Ms. O'Connell."

Shay smiled briefly as she rose to her feet and followed Rafael out of the room. Though her lips curled up at the corners the smile was tight, “Please, Mr. Esposito you shall call me Deputy O’Connell, or Deputy” His head inclined to her for a moment though she couldn’t be sure that he had agreed.

They rounded a corner after passing through a long hall and Shay’s nose was filled immediately with the scent of old books, parchment, and ink. She eyed the walls surrounding her noting the shelving which stood from floor to ceiling and contained books, some of which seemed far too fragile to read. The desk in the center of the room held several stacks of papers and a large computer screen sprouted from the center of the paper nest. Shay’s brows raised in surprise and her eyes flickered over to Rafael—a man who was neatly and impeccably dressed defying all appearances with this cluttered office.

“I think you need a Secretary, Mr. Esposito, or at least someone willing to organize this mess for you,” her hand waved over the mass of papers as her eyes leveled with his.

"May I ask a question, deputy? Is the Sheriff feeling ill or something?"

A single brow raised in question while Shay stared at Rafael debating the wisdom in responding. Her hands trailed over the leather furniture, fingernails rapping the dark wood.

“I suspect that she is not her best today,” she answered both hands now gripping the chair before her. Rafael watched her for a moment with a curious expression upon his features. Shay did not press him and chose to look away as he began scribbling notes onto the sheet. She was thinking instead of his presence here and the feeling she was beginning to get that he was not in the least responsible for what had happened at his club. It was with this thought in mind that she returned her attention to him and found that he was watching her again and this time seemed to have a note in hand. He passed the sheet across the desk and she took it glancing momentarily at the list of names.

“Mr. Esposito, who have you angered that would be willing to murder innocent human boys and frame you for the crime?” Shay questioned.

**************************************
Jo watched Shay leave with Mr. Esposito. She sat for a moment her eyes blinking slowly before she crumpled with a stab of pain. Her hands cupped her head as her fingers pressed into her skull. She felt the intense wave of nausea wash over her once more and it was all she could do to avoid emptying her stomach on the polished wood floors. She staggered to her feet groping the walls as she walked.

Bathroom, where is the bathroom? Without the pain Jo would never have considered exposing so much weakness in the presence of a potential suspect. She couldn’t think clearly anymore and her greatest concern now was getting to the bathroom. The thought of spilling herself all over his floors was more humiliating than the violation of her own values she felt she was doing.

The halls seemed to dance about in her vision and the floors were alive beneath her feet. She crashed into the wall, groaning audibly as her shoulder hit first. Her fingers fumbled along the walls feeling the edge of paintings, her eyes blinking, blurring, and clearing with each shot of pain. The wall disappeared and she fell into the next room. Her knees collapsed beneath her and a hand clamped over her mouth. She crawled as quickly as she could having spotted the porcelain bowl she was seeking. Her head popped over the rim and her stomach heaved with the next stab of pain. She felt everything release and her body gave way.

When Jo came to again a little while later it was to the gentle touch and voice of Jeremy the doorman. He was gripping her shoulder and his eyes held an expression of deep concern.

“Sheriff? Are you alright?” he asked.

Jo pushed herself up to a sitting position before responding, “No, not really but I’ll be fine eventually.”

He seemed unconvinced and his mouth was turned down in a frown. He sat back against the wall across from her and began patting his pockets feeling for something she could not see. She watched him warily and he pulled out a small container dropping a red tablet into his palm.

“Take this, it will make you feel better,” he pushed the pill into her hand. She stared at him with incredulity, shocked by his gall.

“I can’t take that! I have no idea what kind of drug you are trying to feed me!”

“Please Sheriff, trust me. It is no drug and you will feel infinitely better,” seeing that she was still unwilling Jeremy sighed and shook his head holding his hand over hers that carried the pill, “I know this seems suspicious and a curious thing to do in the middle of your investigation, but I can assure you Sheriff that I mean you no harm and Mr. Esposito has done nothing but stay home for many days now. I can attest to that.”

Jo studied him carefully a moment longer before tentatively raising the pill to her mouth. She placed it underneath her tongue and felt it dissolving almost instantly in her mouth. A strange metallic taste followed and Jo cringed as she swallowed. Her pain was beginning to dissipate as he had said, but there was something else as well. She felt her vision widen, her pupils enlarging and her skin seemed to prickle with awareness of all that touched it. She lifted her arm and studied the fresh crop of goosebumps that had erupted throughout her skin.

“What is this?” she asked.

Jeremy smiled a wide smile and took the Sheriff’s elbow as he helped her rise to her feet, “Just a little something.”

Jo pulled her elbow out of his reach and brushed off her pants, adjusting her blouse and smoothing out the wrinkles. “I think it is time for my deputy and I to go, but first why don’t you tell me about your employer?”

 

[Veroe]

IC: Rafael Esposito

He got up and gestured to the hallway, "Yes, of course. I can get what you need in my office, Ms. O'Connell."

“Please, Mr. Esposito you shall call me Deputy O’Connell, or Deputy.” She replied.

He gave her a polite nod at that in response.

He led her out and to his office door and the never to be sufficiently damned pile of paperwork he toiled under every night.

Taking a look at the barely constrained chaos of his office she said, “I think you need a Secretary, Mr. Esposito, or at least someone willing to organize this mess for you.”

"You are probably right about that, though I may be well past the point where a secretary could cure this mess...perhaps a lion-tamer would serve better." He said ruefully stepping over to his desk, "May I ask a question, deputy? Is the Sheriff feeling ill or something?"

“I suspect that she is not her best today,” she said a little guardedly. He noted how her fingers seemed to tighten on the back of his chair.

"Oh," He stated wondering if he should press her for more or switch tracks. He was sensing this was mine riddled patch of ground to navigate for some reason. Intriguing.

He took a sheet of paper and began jotting down names, addresses, and phone numbers of the people that would vouch for his alibi before holding it out for her.

Taking hold of the paper she asked the bombshell he'd hoped to avoid falling on him, “Mr. Esposito, who have you angered that would be willing to murder innocent human boys and frame you for the crime?”

It wasn't framing him they wanted of course. The whole thing was a message intended especially just for him. "Is that not your job to find that out, Deputy."

"Now may I ask a question about you," He pressed, "I am a Vampire, and so I pay attention to people's necks-especially that of a very attractive woman's like yourself. That tattoo just peeking out from under your collar marks you as a member of the White Wolves pack. So I find it very interesting that someone from a pack known for smuggling drugs, guns, and other contraband would be here working as a policewoman. Does the sheriff know this about your past?"

-------------------X

IC: Jeremy Jourdaine

Jo pulled her elbow out of his reach and brushed off her pants, adjusting her blouse and smoothing out the wrinkles. “I think it is time for my deputy and I to go, but first why don’t you tell me about your employer?”

Jeremy straightened and his salt and pepper-more salt than pepper these days-eyebrows and the lips quirked under his moustache at the stubborn and stoic integrity the young law officer was showing.

"The young Sire," He mused, "He is new to his role and responsibilities as head of the clan. He has only slept and worked everyday since the day we arrived in your town. I worry shouldering his responsibilities so single-mindedly will inevitably destroy him if he cannot find a balance between work and personal time."

He shrugged, "I think perhaps if an attractive young lady like yourself were to show interest in him once more...perhaps the young and carefree man I remember will be allowed outside once more."

------------------X

IC: Charron

They had set up residence in the old factory outside the town the defilers of their long-held traditions had sought shelter within. He had led the team personally within the city limits and had found their next victims. He had no pleasure in doing what he did with children-especially the ones ignorant of why he was doing what he did to them, but he had his orders.

They had taken a family now. They lay in a drugged stupor. It would be the only mercy they'd receive. A message to the defilers needed to sent. These people will turn upon them.

He picked up a baseball bat and began heading towards the children. The others of his team noted and grabbed other such implements to deliver their message to their clan's hated enemies.