Smoothing my hands over the white linen of my dress, I checked myself once more in the mirror. Michael was sat on the bed behind with clenched teeth. He didn’t want me to go. Ignoring his black looks I picked up my purse and glanced at the clock, “I’ll see you later.” I said throwing Michael a brief look over my shoulder.

He didn’t reply. He just watched me walk out the bedroom. I guess it was his way of saying ‘please don’t go’. I didn’t try and comfort him or make him feel better because he was a killer. My whole ethos towards Michael had changed in that moment when I found out he was the Cumbria killer. There was part of me that wanted to go straight to Duncan and tell him everything, but there was another part of me that was terrified of losing Michael. He was a killer but he was my mate and if anything happened to him I wouldn’t be able to carry on, although currently our relationship wasn’t much of an existence. Michael thought I was being unfaithful to him and god forgive me I did play on that tonight.

As I walked out the apartment door Sheldon was standing in his doorway down the corridor. He didn’t say hello or attempt to make conversation he just gave a quick curt nod in my direction as if to say ‘good luck’. I walked to the elevator and descended upwards into the foyer to a familiar scene. There were hotel guests, the staff, the government slayers and the vampires all minding their own business- except the slayers who were once again staring at me touching their ear pieces as I glided past. Keira was stood by the glass entrance with a bored expression next to her were five security guards looking very official. She spotted me and sauntered across the foyer looping her arm in mine.

“Come on.” She whispered.

We left the hotel to a waiting limousine. The chauffer jumped out and held the door open the security guards ushered us in. I sank back into the leather seats. Keira banged on the limousine screen and snapped,

“Take us to Camden.”

“Camden? I thought we are going to Portsmouth?”

“We are, but we can’t take this car, it’s being tracked.”

“Fuck. Have they put..” I worded ‘microphone’ just in case someone was listening to our conversation.

“No, Sheldon checked the limo over and only found a tracker.” Keira replied.

“So how are we getting to Portsmouth?”

“I have some friends who can give us a lift. I’ll drop you off at their place while I go and pick up our special gear for breaking into the boat.”

“Shit, I can’t believe we’re doing this.” I said.

The limo stopped outside a boarded up pub called the “The Swan”, Keira pointed to the door and said, “Knock three times and say Keira sent you.” She said flatly. I got out the door and Keira yelled after me, “Don’t piss them off- their all vamps.”

I gulped- oh crap.

Stepping out I ran to the door and knocked three times. Glancing back over my shoulder I watched the limo speed away.

A man with a Mohawk the size of a small child answered the door dressed in tight leather. He stared down at me and laughed, “What the fuck? Are you lost?” He asked.

“Um…no. Keira sent me.” I replied.

The man eyed me up and down incredulously and opened the door, “Come on in darling.” He smiled.

I walked in and was hit by an angry onslaught of screaming, drums and guitars. Looking around I saw a sea of black, piercings, weird haircuts and tattoos. Punks. London Punks. Keira couldn’t be serious. The man with the giant Mohawk picked up a cigarette and indicated to follow him. I walked carefully through the derelict pub catching the attention of everyone I walked past. The man kept looking back at me then turning and laughing to himself. Uncomfortably I shivered wondering what the hell Keira had gotten us into. The Mohawk punk went up to a door that was signed men’s toilets and yelled,

“Skull, you’ve got a visitor!”

Skull! Who in god’s name calls themselves Skull!

Behind the toilet door I could hear banging and the sound of a woman’s high pitch moaning. Ewww- gross. The punk smiled at me rolling his eyes and banged on the door again, “SKULL, VISTOR!”

The banging got louder as did the moans, the punk shrugged, “Guess you’ll have to wait in the office until, he’s erm, finished.”

“Charming.” I replied flatly, following him into a sideroom that was converted into a make shift office. I sat on a chair and waited patiently. A few minutes later about five punks walked into the room. They positioned themselves around the room flashing knives and baseball bats menacingly at me. I looked forward staring at the desk.

“Who the fuck wants me?” A man yelled walking into the office, I stood up and turned round and was greeted by chest. Craning my head back, I looked up to pretty blonde hair, blue eyed angel face man who stared down at me. He looked like a male model- nothing like a punk. He wore the same leather and even tried to spike his hair a little with gel but he didn’t achieve the same effect as Mohawk guy.

“Keira sent me.” I replied dryly.

“Sit down then.” He snapped.

Awkwardly I sat down nervously pushing out the creases of my white delicate white dress while Skull eyed me up and down. Flicking the burnt out match across the office he reclined back into his leather chair and lifted his feet onto the desk. I looked at him unsure if he was pissed off or curious. Maybe both. 

“Why the fuck are you here little girl?” Skull hissed blowing a haze of white cigarette smoke in my direction.

“I’m trying to find someone for my Uncle.” I said trying to be indiscrete.

“Bullshit,” Skull said slamming his hand against the table. “Duncan wouldn’t send a pretty little girl to do a man’s work.”

“He entrusted me-”

“You’re lying again.” Skull almost sang impatiently blowing another cloud of heavy tobacco smoke into my face.

I didn’t reply, I didn’t know how. Being polite seemed to piss these guys off and if I pretended to be intimidating they would probably laugh at me. This definitely wasn’t good and the body guards around me were exchanging knowing glances with Skull who was now smiling back at them.

“Say, does your mummy and daddy know you are here?” Skull asked.

The question hit me like an arctic blast and there was a sudden realization that I was a little lamb sat amongst a den of very hungry wolves.

“Oh course they know.” I snapped.

Skull looked at the other guards and laughed, “You are a shit awful liar. Duncan’s girls never leave their pretty palace without an escort.”

My stomach turned and my intuition began to scream- RUN. Skull stood up and leaned over his desk,

“Tonight, I’m gonna teach what happens when you go running about this city unescorted.”

“Don’t you dare threaten me.”

“Or what will you do sugar?” Skull moved around the desk like a predator stalking prey.

I stepped back and immediately hit a wall of flesh. Two guards were stood behind me blocking my retreat. My eyes fell forward and met Skull stone cold stare. He indicated to the guards who seized my arms with bone crushing strength. I cried out in pain and Skull laughed sadistically. Catching the nape of my neck he found Michael’s mark.

“Oh goodie,” He said, “I would love to be a fly on the wall when you tell that boy what I- or rather what we are about to do to you.”

“Fuck you.” I spat.

“What was that you dumb yankee bitch?” Skull’s grip tightened around my throat.

The office doors suddenly exploded opened and a blur moved past the guards and hit Skull side on. Skull let me go and was carried away by the force of whatever hit him. I blinked and for a split second thought Michael would be pinning Skull to the desk preparing to annihilate him in some bloody and brutal way. But to my surprise, Skull was being pinned to the desk by his throat by someone wearing a very short silver sequin dress.  Keira bared her fangs at Skull as he struggled against her grip. The body guards stepped forward to help Skull but he calmly said,

“Everyone get out.”

The body guards reluctantly left and when they did, Keira released Skull who staggered back over to his chair and lit another cigarette with trembling fingers. Keira retracted her fangs and straightened herself up.

“You were going to sleep with my cousin?” Keira asked.

“See that’s what I’m talking about. You take the littlest thing and blow it up three fold.” Skull snapped.

Keira leaned over the desk and snatched the cigarette from Skull’s mouth and pointed the burning tip towards his crotch.

“Don’t you dare fuck with me!”

“I wasn’t going to sleep with her! I swear!”

“You lying sack of dog crap!”

“Holy shit, Keira, point that end somewhere else.” Skull whimpered like a wounded dog.

Keira remained poised for a few seconds and then dropped the cigarette. Skull breathed a sigh of relief.

“Stop jerking about.” Keira sighed walking out the room.

Skull sat up and asked me, “Do you want to go back? You could go to the opera, go and have a drink maybe a dance then go back home. You don’t have to go to that ship tonight.”

I shook my head. Skull chuckled to himself. “Look at her dressed in white likes she going to fucking church,” He said to one of his guards before turning his attention back on me, “You might not like what you find on that boat, honey.”

“I don’t care.” I replied.

“You’re just like Pandora, opening the box that’s not meant to be touched.” He said.

I ignored him. Keira came in and handed me a pile of black clothes. “Put these on.” She said.

I went into the ladies toilet and pulled on a black jumpsuit, a balaclava and a gloves. I joined Keira who had also changed.

“Are you ready?” She asked.

I nodded and we set off.