Kale smelt the new member of the group, his eyes darting over his shoulder at her and then her coat. However, he didn't say a word. He continued to walk on.

It took them a good hour or so before they were at the building. It was a run down apartment building, hardly noticeable against the it's neighbors. He might have even looked over it had the smell of blood been so prominent. Belle had actually become useless to him a few miles out and the trail became more linear. Not to mention he had to redirect her several times. Still he kept her in front.

"If you are coming with, leave the cat." He said over his shoulder, "Otherwise you can stay out here with her..." He said nodding to Belle.
Belle stood very still, her eyes cast downward. "I-I'm not a vampire..." She repeated quietly to herself, her hands now holding her arms.

Following, the cat had finally calmed down in my arms under my coat and it was motionless, a light purring I could hear. She was asleep. It had been years since I had held a cat like this and Id do anything to keep it safe.

We stopped walking and I looked up. "This the place?" I said, barley audible. It was night fall now, the snow still fell keeping the city silent. I perked up when he said leave the cat and I pouted and looked around. I saw a corner market at the end of the block; the only place that was lit up and looked open. "Ill be right back." I said, running off to the market. My stomach growled as I entered. A frail woman as at the counter putting cigarettes away int heir holders. It was a cute little mom and pop shop. I waved to her.
"Hello ma'am, may I ask a favor?" The old lady nodded. "what can I do for you?" I opened my coat; the lady froze probably thinking i was about to pull a gun, but then pulled out a small cat. She immediately said aww and went to my side. "I... found her in a horrible place, and I want her to have a good life." The lady smiled and took the cat into her arms. "Say no more. This looks just like my Angel who disappeared from here a few months ago." The cat purred and seemingly smiled with delight. I was relieved and was about to leave when the lady handed me an envelope.
"Take this, as a thanks. I was growing lonesome." I smiled and pet the cat. "Thank you." I ducked out of the store and hurried back, holding the envelope. I stared at it, then shoved it into my pocket. We had no time to spare.
"Lets go." I said to him, confidently.

Kale turned and looked to Belle, "You stay here..." He growled. Before opening the door. Inside didn't mirror the outside at all. It was... luxurious in a modern kind of way. A woman must've done the interior... he turned his attention to a small couch off to the side. Throw pillows... definitely a woman. He looked back up to see a woman walk down from the stairs. She was an older woman, yet still had a beautiful air to her. Her blonde hair was pinned up in perfection while her face needed little make-up. She wore a simple suit with a pencil skirt. All brown with a forest green buttoned shirt.
"How may I help you today?" She said with a sweet but professional smile. You would've never thought this place sheltered death.
"We are looking for a young girl by the name of... Tina... We heard that she might've come here."
The smile faltered on the woman's face before being pinned back at the corners of her cheeks. "I see, and you are?"
"Kale and this is Sophie."
"Last names?"
"Are irrelevant." He said bluntly.
A man came down, obviously having heard the woman speaking with someone. He was built, not muscle man built but had Kale been human he wouldn't have picked a fight with him. His dirty blonde hair was cut short, while his face held some gruff to it. "Well! What have we here?!" He said, his voice was... jolly. A wide grin spreading over that muscled face. The smell and by the look of his hair he had just gotten out of the shower.
The woman piped up before Kale or Sophie could answer. "They are looking for a girl named Tina."
"Oh...?" Again, their smiles faltered. "Friends?" He looked to Sophie first then to Kale.

I looked around, this place seemed very cozy... I wondered what it could be. Nothing like the outside at all. I stayed behind, but beside Kale as he led the conversation. The older woman had captivating beauty, but didnt recognize her, or the male that had come down.
I responded to the man.
"Yes, shes a very good friend, please, have you seen her?" I asked politely, stepping from behind Kale to respectively bow. Kill 'em with kindness, maybe they'll give her with without a fight... I thought.

The man stared at Sophie for an uncomfortable moment, before smiling. "I see. Come with me..." The man said, as he started up the stairs again. Kale was about to follow close behind him before the buff man turned again. "The girl only."
Kale was about to argue when he caught sight of the gun at the man's back. "No problem..."
Satisfied with Kale's answer he started back up the stairs again. "How do you know Tina?"

I looked to Kale and nodded, then followed the man up the steps, keeping a good distance, just in case. I saw the gun, too. I held on to the railing for safety and responded, "shes a coworker of mine. A very good friend. The...only one I've got, to be honest." I said sadly, and with all honesty. My eyes began to swell, thinking of her and what could have happened. The floors creaked as I climbed the steps slowly, wondering if this staircase would ever end.

"Well,..." He started, pausing in a hallway and allowing her to pass him before speaking again "I'm sure you'll find many friends here.... Including Tina." He said with a small glimmer in his eye. He opened a door, his smile growing. "Please." He said allowing her to go in ahead of him.

I walked pass him, finally on the second floor. I was starting to get hot with my coat on, so I unzipped, removing my scarf and shoving it into my pocket; I pulled up my turtle neck up to my chin. I looked up at him as he said id find many friends and my eyes grew large as I watched him open the door, my heart rate tripling and I held my breath.

His smile stayed on his face, as he pushed her into the room. It looked harmless enough. However it was obvious what the room was by the smell. Sheets lined the floor while pillows were scattered about. The room itself was dim, the only light coming from muted lamps in the corner. Several women sat there looking up to see her. Pity on their faces, others almost looked hungry however those were chained and restrained to a certain area of the room. "This seems up your alley." He said, his grin turning dark as he closed the door behind her and locked it.
One of the women stood up, her red hair was cut short and messy as if she had laid on it for too long, while an eye patch covered one of her green eyes. She had a near empty bottle of booze in her hand and her clothes were askew as she approached Sophie. She walked past her to look at the door "Stupid bastard." She said with a drunken slur. "Never leaves the door unlocked..." She turned to look at Sophie again, "... Sorry kid. You're gunna be here for a while from what I am told. At least some of them are good in bed." She said patting Sophie on the shoulder.

I looked around happily, then my smile faded rather quickly. I was frozen with fright and I looked at the women, hearing the door slam behind me. I didnt know what to do but stare as the woman approached me, smelling of booze and I looked to her. "Is... this a concubine room?" I stepped in, trying to find the good in this situation when I saw her.

A woman slept in a corner under a few blankets, her jawline seemingly familiar, her back to us. I dropped my coat on the floor and ran to her, rolling her over. My eyes lit up. "TINA! I yelled, hugging her. She smiled weakly and hugged me back, wearing only a bra and panties. "I thought I'd never see you again.." she responded weakly. "This place..." she shook. "We need to get out of here... the men..." tears fell from her eyes and I held her close to me. "Shh... we'll find a way."

The drunk woman turned and followed Sophie in before plopping down on one of the pillows. "Yeah... I guess you could consider it that..." She said, taking another long drink from the bottle. "However, the men here only consider themselves royalty." she said with a snicker. "Think they are big shots for taking down a couple of vampire hovels and were dens."
"How can you be so calm?!" One of the girls sobbed glaring at the girl with the eyepatch.
The red head hiccuped. "Because unlike you goons, I have friends on the outside with a keen sense of smell. Plus... the men ain't that terrible. Just a little lonely. Give em what they want and they'll leave ya alone." She said with a playful drunk smile.

I looked over at her as Tina sat up, putting her clothes back on. I looked around; the rooms windows were boarded up tight, the only way out was the door. I sighed, wondering if Kale sensed anything yet. I looked to the red head woman. "Are you a vampire, or werewolf?" Tina stared into space shivering a little. I sighed and looked to her.
"I dont want to be a concubine... I want to choose my partner..." Tina furrowed her brow and looked over at me. "Youve been paid before..." I sighed. "I only do so as a last resort... when I don't have anything left before rent is due...I dont like doing it one bit..." I said sadly, and ashamed. Just then a large man entered the room. He was tall and smoking a cigar. Burly and he shut and locked the door behind him.
"Good evening ladies..." he scoured the place, looking at all of us.

"Do you see me in chains, love?" She said with a snicker, "Nope. Not a bloodsucker or a mutt. Just got good friends in good places." She said with a wide grin. She let Sophie and Tina talk to one another before she turned her attention to the door as the burly man entered the room. Her smile faded as she stood up again. She hadn't seen him before and would be able to play him easily "Private resort pal. No men allowed. Didn't you read the sign on the door?" She said sipping at her bottle again and pointing at the door. Letting her free hand touch his shoulder. She took another sip finishing off the bottle.

I looked to her and nodded, looking back at the other women, who seemed dead inside. I looked up at the man, both me and Tina sunk in our spots, wishing we'd disappear.
"Haha really funny, sweetheart..." He out his cigar out in ashtray on the stand beside the door. He caught a glimpse of me and pushed the red head aside and began to walk forward.
"Why are you two fully dressed, cutie?" My eyes widened and I stood up, not realizing all the other women around me were in lingerie, underwear or completely naked, except Tina who now was dressed. I held my breath and stood up, stepping in front of Tina. He smiled.
"Take 'em off..." He demanded. I shook my head. "Sorry I have other things I need to do..." I helped Tina to her feet. He lifted his eyebrows in surprise. "Other things? Like what?" He said taking a grip on my neck. I winced and let out a cry as he took the collar of my shirt and ripped it right off my body. I wrapped my hands around his powerful wrist and scratched. I screamed. Loud. The girls winced and stared.

The red head stumbled and caught herself. "Alright, suit ya'self." She said standing up again and dusting herself off, before turning and looking at the man go for the new girl and Tina. She raised an eyebrow, a new life breathing into her vivid green eye as the man gripped the girl by the neck. She walked up behind the man and smashed him on the head with the bottle, breaking it before picking up a sliver of glass and pressing it to his neck. "Now look, love. If she don't want to show off her goodies there's no reason to force her, yeah?" The slur was gone and there, the girls realized that the woman was an actual threat to the hunters. "Now... I'd hate to kill a dumbass such as yourself... But if you don't leave, I might just have to," She pressed the glass to his throat drawing up blood, "give you over to those nice ladies over there. They look hungry..." She said motioning to the vampires at the back corner of the room. "Get my drift, Love?"

The man stood like a statue as the bottle smashed and he glared over at the red head, his blood dribbling from his throat and from cuts on his head. His tightened his grip on my neck and I tried to gasp, I stomped my feet, hard on the floor. Tina pulled at my arm to help, but she was weak. The lady vamps started to get excited, licking their lips and expressing their fangs, pulling at their chains.
He dropped me; I fell to the floor with a thud and looked up at him as he swiftly motioned, elbowing the red haired girl to the floor and stepping on her hair so she couldn't get up, the glass flew from her hand as she fell.
"You need to learn your place, b***h" He said. I growled and grabbed up another piece of glass and jumped on him from behind, wrapping my legs around his waist, pushing the glass into his jugular.

There was a loud scream that echoed from the other side of the door. Before the building rattled from several small (what sounded like) explosions. The scream echoed through the hallway again. As several footsteps ran through the hallways.
The red head fell to the floor, her breath being knocked from her forcing her to the ground. She held her gut before she was anchored down by her hair. With her good eye she looked up at the man before looking over to Sophie. "Cut the sod, love!" She said through gritted teeth.
She fell silent again as she heard more small bangs from where the steps should have been. "OY!" She shouted holding onto her hair.
Another bang that was now even closer as several more footsteps of men made the floor tremble. "Son of a..." She reached for a shard of glass before plunging it into the man's foot.

The man gasped for air as I jumped off him. I stood, breathing heavily my hand covered in blood. Tina stared, covering her mouth as he yelled in pain as he fell to the floor, holding his throat. The vamps cried and begged. I spit and grabbed him by one arm, Tina got up and grabbed his other arm, and we dragged him to him doom. The vamps swarmed him; weakened, he had no chance.
I was stunned by what I had just done and I stared at the gaggle of vamps and looked to my left then right. I helped the red head to her feet. "Thank you..." I wondered what was going on as I heard the footsteps and explosions.

The red head grabbed Sophie's hand as the vampires feasted on the burly man. "Oy... Well they shouldn't be hungry any time soon..." She said before turning back to Sophie, "Ain't nothing but a thing, love. Are you alright?" she asked, pushing her hair back and out of her eyes. There was another loud bang followed by another scream. "Sounds like my friends are here..." With that Kale broke down the door only to see the women in there. "...Kale?... Suddenly I'm thinking my friends hate me..."
"Nice to see you too, Pixie..." He growled. He looked past the red head to see Sophie. "Are you okay?"

I grimaced at the sounds and slurps of the vampire women devouring the man. I looked to her and forced a smile. "Im alright, very tired... too much action for me." I laughed. I cringed when the door broke down and I smiled seeing my knight in shining armor had finally come to save me.
My eyes widened and i looked to Kale, then the red head. "You know her? Yes I'm fine." I said, wrapping Tinas arm in mine and going towards Kale and the now open door. "Lets get outta here, you coming, 'Pixie'?"

"Good. And yes, unfortunately, this is Belle's other half. The two are Emily's henchies." He said with a frown. He looked to Tina before looking to the other women. "What the hell are you women waiting for? GET!" The women who where in there didn't need to be told twice. They scattered with the exception of the vampires.
"You found Belle?" Pixie said, her face softening for once.
"Yeah. She's downstairs." He said, "She was bitten..." He said as Pixie started to move around him.
She froze, "...by?"
"Bloodsuckers..." He said with distaste.
"Did she...?"
"She said she didn't, but she was with Ebony so I can't be sure... The scent of deathdealers is too thick on her. I can't find her scent."
"Emily will be able to..." She said determined and with newfound motivation before passing him.
He turned to look at Tina and Sophie, "Let's go, more hunters are going to be here soon. We don't have time to stick around here."

I listened close to the conversation trying to follow, nodding every now and then. I nodded in agreement that we had to go, and fast, we hurried out of the room and into the debris filled hallway, bodies and blood spread all around, I grimaced and held Tina's arm tighter.
"I can't wait for this to be over... I've seen too much death in one day..." I said feeling my stomach turn and growl. I was hungry and starting to get weaker by the minute, with lack of sleep and food. The dimly lit room I could barly make out Kale and Pixies shadow as we moved along to reach the top of the steps.

When they finally were outside they made their way towards a building to rest and wait out the hunters on the other side of the street. Pixie and Belle followed without so much a word.
The building was quiet and abandoned, much like the street outside. Kale seemed to have a knack for finding places like this. He let them all in before closing the door behind them.
"So... this is where you have been Kale? Found yourself a lady friend?" Pixie said nudging him.
"She's not a mate." Kale said to Pixie while staring at Belle.
"She's not a vampire." Pixie said smacking him upside the head. "Stop being a d**k to her."
"How could you-...?" He fell silent after Pixie gave him a stare that spoke volumes. He rubbed his head, a frown on his face.
"If ya hadn't been so hasty to dub ever'one yer enemy ya might've been able to tell she didn't show the early signs of being one, idiot." She countered.
She went over to hug Belle who curled up in Pixie's arms.
Kale let out a sigh before turning back to Sophie. "I know it means shit now, but I'm sorry you had to get involved in all this..." unbelievably he was sincere in the apology, "... that being said... you really need to learn how to defend yourself..." he said with a smirk.

I sauntered in after kale and the two women followed, Tina's arm locked with mine. I sat down, exhausted, Tina sat beside me and looked at me then back to Kale. She smiled elbowing me.
"Where'd you find him? What a looker! " she said, trying to find humor in the situation. Tiredly I laughed and looked to her, then him. "It's not like that... He's...a friend." I said with some hesitation. A wolf.... Is what I wanted to say. Now that we were here, was he going to hurt us? He was a wolf after all... I sighed, eyes heavy.
" I don't want to have to be in a situation again where I have to fight." Replying to him, slurring my words a bit. I shovedy hands in my pockets to feel the envelope the woman had given me. I pulled it out and opened it. The was a ball of cash in it. My eyes widened and I counted it. 100$ even. I smiled, thinking I only needed 23 more dollars for the rent. Maybe I could find a quick buck somewhere.... My thought wandered, then I wondered how'd I'd get home.

He sighed, leaning back against the wall "You might not have a choice." He said quietly. He didn't elaborate, but instead changed the subject seeing the money in her hand. "How much do you have until you make rent?" He asked. He knew she needed normalcy, otherwise she might snap. Most humans who learned of the other races either became hunters or wound up in an asylum. Once you learned of them, you started to see them everywhere.