DAY 1

C

onnie sat at her desk writing her report on the previous night’s events, she paused for a moment listening to the movement of feet up and down the hall outside the office, she heard Daniel’s footsteps coming to the door, three minutes later the knob turned and Daniel walked in, he looked better, and a little flush which meant that he had feed recently, unlike her she knew she was pushing it she hadn’t feed in three days and now that the moon fever was raging within her body she was not doing herself any favors she needed to find a willing donor and fast.

“Good morning” Daniel said, she nodded. She watched him as he went around the office tiding then pouring a cup of coffee from the perk machine. She watched him closely, the way every muscle rippled and flexed under his skin tight shirt when he moved his arms to reach the files on the top shelf, imagining how they would feel wrapped around her waist, pulling her close, and those hands that handled the intricate detail of office work, handling the intricate details of her body… “Connie are you listening to me?” Daniel asked her, snapping her out of her daydream of Daniel’s arms wrapped around her body. “Um no, sorry” “Are you ok?” she knew what he meant with that question, he wanted to know if the moon fever was effecting her, the truth she thought ,was she need to get it back under control and stop dreaming of Daniel  and her together as if there was any possibility of that. “Yeah I’m great.” She lied.

There was a knock at the door, “Come in” “Daniel, Connie” Jimmy the head of forensics for the PEC greeted them as he came in holding a file in his hand. “Is that the forensics for the last body?” Connie asked “Yes and I have some interesting news” Jimmy said, he handed the file to Daniel, and Connie went to his desk and read it with him. The file specified how the woman died the time of death and a detailed description of the body. “Look at what we found under her nails” Jimmy said, they read the excerpt then looked at each other. “This is very interesting” Daniel said “Yes seeing this is the first lead we’ve had in weeks.” Jimmy replied. Just then there was a beep announcing that the head of PEC was on line via satellite, Connie touched the intercom button and their fae boss Connor O’Neal’s face filed the screen. “Good morning sir” “Connie, Daniel, Jimmy, what is the latest news?” “The results are in sir and we have our first lead for weeks” Daniel said “Good, what did we get from forensics’?” “We were able to extract some DNA from the skin captured under the young woman’s nails, and the test results said it is from a vampire about two to three hundred years old.” Jimmy said summarizing the important details from the file. “Good that should narrow down the field considerably, what else do we have?” Daniel and Connie exchanged looks, and she nodded. “Well sir there is something else. Last night at the scene we were attacked…” “By some kind of ghostly looking thing, it smelled of death and decaying flesh…’ “But neither Connie nor I was able to get a read off of it.” Daniel commented. “Hum very Strange indeed. Were you able to get a good look at it?” “I believe so sir” Connie relied. “Good send a detailed description and I’ll have Edna do some research see what we are dealing with.” Connor disappeared.

Bringggggggggggggggg! The phone rang then, Daniel answered it. There was a long silence as he listened to the caller; if Connie wanted to she could have easily heard what the caller was saying by using her werewolf hearing but she waited until Daniel finished the call. “We have to go there’s been another murder.” He announced, “What!” “Where?” “Illaro Court” oh no Connie thought,”Not the First lady?” “No, the mistress apparently.” Daniel and Connie gathered their field gear and went down to their designated car. They were silent as they drove to the Prime minister’s residence in. When they got to the scene the police had already cornered off the scene, and forensics and the CSI team were already in place. She and Daniel put on their booties and cloves and pulled on their blazers and made their way over to the crime scene.

Within three feet of the scene Connie stumbled, and doubled over with pain holding her head, she cried out as she tried to block out the emotions from the murder invading her mind and her very soul. “Connie, Connie can you hear me?” Daniel asked kneeling in front of her, he reached out to touch her, “No don’t, please don’t touch me.” Connie pleaded with him, as tears streamed down her face from the force of the emotions forcing themselves in and saturating her mind and senses; they overflowed into her pours and her being, making it impossible for her to be touched. “Have you fed recently?” “What?” “I asked, have you fed recently?” Connie tried to shake her head, no. “You should have, it would make your shields stronger.” She cried out in pain again, and she began to shake, “no not here not now Connie.  Keep it together now is not the time to change, you hear me, pull it together.”Daniel demanded, with all these people around now was not the time for her to shift, Connie nodded her head that she understood. “I’m going to give you some of my blood ok.” “No!” Connie shouted. “Why not? It will help you.” “No, we will be linked forever.” She forced through her clenched teeth, she held her head in her hands again, the pain was becoming excruciating, if she didn’t get blood now she would have to change and right now with the moon fever burning within her it would not be the best thing to do, but very dangerous. “Is that such a bad thing, you need blood Connie, right now. Now stop arguing and drink.” Daniel demanding, he bit into his arm and lowered his wrist to her mouth, Connie pulled away shaking her head no, “Dam it Connie stop being so stubborn. Drink Now!”

Connie could smell the blood, it smelt warm, rich and full of life, the pull was too strong to ignore for long, she grabbed Daniel’s wrist and put it to her mouth. She inhaled deeply then drank. Daniel’s blood poured into her mouth warm and smooth filling her body with the nutrients it needed to survive.  Daniel hissed from the contact and pull of Connie’s fangs on his skin. She moaned as the blood coursed through her body, filling her with warmth and life, Daniel’s blood was rich and strong. Connie could taste his desires, and see his past and his thoughts as clear as day. She knew now that they were forever linked, there was no turning back. After a few moments she forced herself to stop and pulled away from Daniel’s wrist. She closed her eyes and breathed slowly to get her heart and pulse under control, and then she concentrated hard and erected her shields to keep out the onslaught of the emotions from the crime scene.

“How do you feel?” Daniel asked, she opened her eyes and looked into his, she could get lost in those eyes she thought, so much warmth and unrevealed love were held in there depths, she closed her eyes shook her head and mentally kick herself, keep focused she told herself, she opened her eyes and looked at Daniel, “I feel better, thank you.” He nodded “You’re welcome, do you think you can stand?” “Yeah, sure thanks.” He took her hand and helped her to her feet, she swayed a little and he gripped her arm firmly in his after a few more deep breaths she was good. They walked over to the body hand in hand.

“Detective Malone, Agents DaVel, McGuire” the officer greeted them, they shook hands cordially. “What do we have?” Daniel asked, “Seems to be the same MO of the previous murders, it is obvious we are not dealing with a human here.” Malone stated “No we are not. It is a vampire and an unknown species.”Daniel said, silence followed this statement, everyone became solemn as they looked at the young woman brutally murder in front of them, she was carved down the middle with both her breast severed from her chest and bite marks littered her body, there were also pucker marks along the right half of her body. “Do we have more flesh for DNA analysis?’ Connie asked Jimmy who was crouched by the body taking samples from under the nails, “It would seem so, hopefully it should confirm the first analysis and test results.”  Connie nodded. “Is it here? Can you feel it?” Daniel asked, she knew he was talking about the creature, “I don’t know I haven’t tried to see if it is here.” “Do you think you can?” Connie nodded, she took a deep breath, closed her eyes and concentrated, she thought peaceful thoughts as she begun to take down shield after shield, then she surged forth allowing her senses to resonate from her, touching and tasting every feeling with in a hundred yards from the, the she went out further to a mile, but there wasn’t anything there. Connie replaced the shields around her mind but not before briefly catching a glimmer of thought that passed through Daniel’s mind.

“I didn’t feel anything.” Connie told Daniel, who stood closely by her side watching every move she made with care in his eyes.”I couldn’t sense anything either.” “But that doesn’t mean it is not here, remember we still don’t know what this thing is” Jimmy stated, and that was the fear factor to this case. After they finished analyzing the crime scene Daniel and Connie made their way back to the office to write up another report. They were driving back when Daniel broke the silence, “Why didn’t you want to take my blood?” he asked taking his eyes of the road to look at her, not that he need to watch the road with his vampire senses Daniel could navigate any road without seeing it. Connie didn’t answer him at first but she looked in his eyes and decided that he deserved to know the truth. “After my twin brother died I haven’t allowed anyone in to my head. For years it was just me and my thought with no intrusions. I built up multiple shields around my mind and conscience to keep people out; I didn’t want to feel that kind of pain again.” She replied then sat silent for awhile, “I wasn’t there when he died, but I felt it I lived the horror, I experienced everything he went through, all the pain and anguish and hurt, and it damn near killed me as well, if my mum and dad were not there to pull me out of his agony and the abyss of his death I would be with my brother now, but I am not, I am here, forced to live among the agony and suffering of others. And now that I have drunk your blood I will be able to feel your pains, your joys and your hurts, and I’m not sure if I am strong enough to live this way again.”

Daniel looked at her and watched her as she explain her hesitation, he could see the pain in her eyes read it on her face and could feel it in his soul, he could understand how she felt living through a similar horror, but with twin siblings who were also empathic and telepathically linked feelings would be intensified, he could sympathize with her, but he wanted to do more than that, he wanted to be the one to comfort her, to hold her to his chest and tell her that everything would be fine, that he would be there to protect her, but he wasn’t sure if she was ready for that, ready to love again, so he would wait.  “Now do you understand why I didn’t want to drink from you” she said breaking through his train of thoughts. “Yes, I understand and I am sorry about your brother, however I think it may be time to break down a little of those shields.” He saw her open her mouth to interject but spoke before she could, “You can’t be alone forever Connie, eventually you are going to have to let someone in.” she didn’t reply but remain silent for the rest of the ride to the office.

They got back to the office and Connie still had yet to speak, maybe he was a little harsh and incentivize back in the car, he probably should apologize, he was about to when Connie stopped him, “Don’t” she said sitting down in front her desk, “Don’t what?’ Daniel asked, she gave him an incredulous look, “Don’t apologize; there is nothing to apologize for. You are right I can’t be alone for the rest of my life.” “How did you know that I was … ah yes. You can hear my thoughts now, right? ““If I wanted to.” “So you had an inclination to read my thoughts just now?” “More like feel what you were thinking, yes and I am sorry I did not mean to eardrop, a slip of concentration.” “So do you constantly have to concentrate to keep your shields up?” “No. but the moon fever burning in me and the lack of feeding is making it difficult to enforce my shields.” “I thought that vampire’s were empathic?” “More telepathic, and influential, and my gift could break through your shields any day without a problem.” “Really? I don’t think so.” “Would you like to put it to the test?” Daniel asked, challenging her to a little friendly rivalry, “Maybe, after the moon dance.”

“About that, what exactly is a moon dance?” “What do you want to know about it?” “What exactly does a moon dance mean?” “It is what it says, but it is more like an orgy, of lust and blood. Werewolves meet in one place to dance and mate with their chosen’s for the duration of the moon fever period.” “Interesting!” “Very” Connie replied with a grin. The door opened after a brief knock and Jimmy entered, “Sorry to interrupt you but you guys should read this, it’s the forensic report on the Prime Minister’s mistress, Danielle Churchill; twenty-six, healthy and obviously sexually active, now for the bad news, she died between four and five this morning where she was raped, tortured and sucked dried by our vampire from the previous murders, now the interesting freaky part, it appears that that creature you saw at Thursday night’s murder was also involved. We found the same pucker marks on the right half of her body on the underside, Reggie, our resident biologis/chemist, says that it appears that whatever that thing is, it is sucking the nutrients out of her skins, all traces of vitamins and natural oils and such are no longer present in the body.” “Is this pattern consistent with the other bodies?” Connie asked, “After going over each body yes the pattern is the same, the only difference is the mutilation of the women’s body after the process has been completed.” “We have to call Connor immediately.” Daniel said. Right then there was a beeping sound and Mr. O’Neal’s face filled the screen, “Did I hear my name called?” I wonder how he does that, Connie thought shuddering at how creepy his entrance was it was like he could hear or sense them calling his name from way over in Canada.

“Sir we just got the report from forensics and it appears that this creature is sucking the natural oils and nutrients from the victims’ bodies.” “Also their souls have been tortured somehow” Connie interjected; Daniel turned and looked at her, “When were you going to tell me this?” “I just realize why the crime scenes are so hard on my empathic skills, the soul of each victim has been there at every scene, and it is their emotions that I am reading not the vampires””Are you sure about this Agent DaVel?” “Yes sir that could be the only plausible explanation for why my shields are being so easily broached, the souls are there crying out. They are trying to tell me what happened to them.” McGuire was silent as he pondered what Connie just said, “If you are right then I believe we have a good idea what we are dealing with, I had the team do a search on the description you gave us, adding the information you just gave me I am positive that we are dealing with a species of creature that we thought was extinct and is greatly dangerous than any creature of the underworld we have yet to encounter thus far. It is called a Kite; it feeds of the body’s natural essence and adds the souls for good measure, no one knows where they originate from, and how they have come to be still alive, but we believe that we know how to destroy them. The only way to kill a kite is to blow the head off.” “How can we blow the head off if we can’t even see them?” Daniel asked, “Ah yes that is the tricky part, the only time the kite materializes is when it is feeding.” “So we have to be there when it is feeding and then blow its head off. Great that should be easy” Connie added sarcastically. “No one said this job was going to be easy, you knew the possibilities of risks when you signed up. I want you to coordinate with the defense force and get these creatures handle efficiently, we don’t want this turning into a worldwide panic, because we can’t afford it.” And with that he disappeared.

“I guess I better go and see what else we can get from DNA.” Jimmy said making his exit. Connie slumped into her chair exhausted and feverish, she shivered for awhile then took three gulps of air to calm herself down, she looked up at Daniel’s worrying stare, she raised her hands, “I’m fine.” “Really? You don’t look fine. You look like you need to feed then get some rest.” “I’ll be fine; I guess I better go brief the force.” “I think not, especially not with the vibe you are throwing off. I will do it, you go feed and  then get some rest I’ll call you and see you tomorrow.” Connie knew that Daniel was right but she wasn’t one to admit when she was wrong, she was going to interject when Daniel interrupted her, “That was an order not a suggestion” he said putting the power of his influence behind the words. She was going to argue when suddenly she felt tired and exhausted from fighting. Connie sighed, “Okay I’ll go to the dance and then go home and get some rest. Good night Daniel.” “Good night Connie” she turned off her computer then left the office, she made her way to the underground bar Papa G’s, a werewolf club especially popular around the moon dance period, after she fed, she went home and fell asleep immediately.