Bryanna had been here before. However, she only explored one hall before as she walked to the basement. The nice tile was the same in every room, but the house was quite a bit larger than she remembered it. It wasn't a mansion. She knew that from before, but it was still large, cozy, and very welcoming.

Andrew invited Bryanna to sit down on the couch with Patty. 

Bryanna sat down, noticing the beautiful shade of the walls. "Should I have brought Monique?" 

"Your roommate?" 

Patty laughed. "Of course not. The vampires are going for whoever is a werewolf tonight. A vampire died, and a werewolf died. This could mean war between just the two races." 

Jude rolled her eyes as she walked in with a tray of chicken and vegetables. "I doubt it. The vampires don't exactly have a society or anything. They're just random pieces of shit that act of their own will. If they attack another werewolf tonight, it's because they're afraid."

Patty's brows furrowed. "Then why are we here? We just finished healing. We can take them. Especially if they're by themselves."

"Not all of us are healed. My ribs are still bruised." Jude served herself a tiny plate of chicken.

"The scratch I got keeps on reopening. It's getting smaller, but it's going to take a little more time to heal entirely," Bryanna said.

Kyle sighed. "Garth shouldn't be out there. Last time, he got several slammings to the face. Who knows what he'll get this time." He crossed his arms and continued looking out the window. "Same with Clyde. We should all be here."

Andrew rapidly flipped Kyle off.

Bryanna let out a small laugh. "Why are we all here anyway?"

Jude swallowed some of her food. "In case a vampire gets our scent. If they get it, they'll come here. They never travel together, so we'll be fine if one comes along."

Bryanna nodded. "That's cool."

"Isn't, it?" Andrew leaned forward to grab a tiny plate of food, and he winked at Bryanna. "We're like each other safe zone."

"Garth and Clyde better get back soon." Kyle stepped away from the window. "We don't know how many vampires are out there or how many Clyde and Garth can kill."

Andrew rolled his eyes. "They know what they're doing."

"That's probably what those other werewolves thought."

"Just shut up. They were victims. It wasn't a duel to the death or anything." Andrew began eating.

"How do you know," asked Patty.

Kyle rolled his eyes. Bryanna took a deep breath. "Can we patch my wound again? It's been bleeding a bit."

"Sure." Jude stood up. "We'll have to hurry so a vampire doesn't smell it from ten miles away."

                                                      ~~~~~~~

Monique was not even close to shooting her mark tonight. She continued shooting, but everything was taking her out of focus. The night before, she had a rough time sleeping. She woke up to Bryanna walking in and asking questions she did not have the answer to. Bryanna wanted to know Monique's answer to the deal, and she didn't have one. Now, Dimitri was going to arrive soon, and she wasn't prepared. 

She took a deep breath and tried to concentrate. She let go of the arrow, but she hit just above the base of the tree. She sighed.

"I told you, you weren't that brilliant."

Monique didn't even bother to be phased. She aimed her another arrow. "Are we here to talk about my aim or the deal?"

Dimitri smiled as he walked toward her. "A little of the first, but most of the second." He unrolled a long pouch beside Monique's feet. "Do you have an answer?"

Monique let go and grabbed another arrow. "What are those weapons in the pouch for?"

"Archery isn't your best skill. Something else has to be." Dimitri behind her. "However," he adjust her, "I can help you with that."

Monique let go and hit close to her mark. She glared at Dimitri.

Dimitri stepped onto the other side of the weapons. "I can also help you with other skills of attack and defense."

Monique looked over the weapons. She grabbed the throwing knives. She began marking her target. "So you're going to help me become a killing machine?"

"I can't answer until you make the deal."

Monique threw the knife. "That's getting a bit annoying." She aimed again and threw the second knife.

Dimitri smiled. "It's a little of the bait I have."

Monique inhaled sharply and turned to Dimitri. "Why me?"

"You were raised by a soldier."

Monique's brows furrowed. "How did you know?"

"That same first time I saw you, you were on the phone. You said ten-four. You were either the daughter of a bus driver or a soldier. Because you were shooting arrows and mentally fighting well to stay awake, I chose to believe you were the daughter of a soldier." Dimitri locked his gaze with Monique. "And you comfirmed my suspicion."

"So what now?"

Dimitri pursed his lips and stepped forward. "I suppose we go over the deal."

Monique nodded. "Go on."

Dimitri lowered his eyes. He adjust his glasses and locked his gaze with Monique for the entirety of the conversation. "Your werewolf friend is right. I am a vampire. I have killed people, but it is all misunderstood. I do have a violent history because of these misunderstandings. However, I have survived because every few hundred years I have someone who gives me access to blood."

Monique froze. "You mean, I become your blood supply."

Dimitri stayed silent for a moment. "It will never get crazy, and if it does, you will know how to kill me."

"That's why you didn't want to say anything. That's why you chose me. I'm just another woman falling for a deal that sounds too good to be true."

Dimitri nodded. "Women due tend to fall into deals before actually reading the fine print if you know what I mean. However, you're smart, and I need that. So your deal is going to be different."

Monique glared at Dimitri. "How?"

"I know a place where they will hire you quickly as one of their many positions are open. You'll get higher pay, you'll get fed more--"

"You'll get more blood."

"--From the hospital."

Monique paused. "I'm going to steal blood from the hospital."

"Yes. I need a supply of it. I'll let you know what to steal and not steal."

Monique glared at Dimitri for a moment. "How do I know I can trust you? The werewolves don't."

"The werewolves don't trust any vampire, but we are a race whom they truly know nothing about."

 "My best friend's pack doesn't trust you. Why should I?"

"They have misunderstandings. They believe I am violent for no reason like other vampires. If that was true, why have I made deals with women? Why would I make a deal with you instead of just easily taking from you right now?" 

Monique paused. "You're taking blood--" 

"Willingly and civilized." 

Monique stopped and thought. According the werewolves, Dimitri just killed women and then took their blood. But here he was trying to make a deal to obtain blood from her in a civilized manner. If that could be counted as so. She also need a cure for Bryanna, but taking the deal could mean she would have to be stuck here with Dimitri.

 Monique took a deep breath. "If I take this deal--"

"I will not say more. I've already more than I usually do." Dimitri stepped forward. "Will you answer me when I need you?"

Monique wasn't ready. The truth was she never would be. But she knew she couldn't make the offering of the deal linger on. No deal was offered for a long time. "Yes."

Dimitri smiled. "Let's get started." He rolled up the pouch and picked it up. "The car's this way." He walked toward Monique's used arrows and picked them up.

                                                        ~~~~~~~

Monique raised a brow as she looked at the red brick building. "You live here?"

"Yeah. Why?" Dimitri closed the car door behind him.

Monique shut the car door and walked with Dimitri to the building. It looked new and expensive, but it also looked like a business building. "What kind of business do you run?"

"None. It's just a loft home." Dimitri unlocked the door and gestured for Monique to enter.

Monique paused as she looked around the beautifully blue and grey living room, kitchen, and dining room. She looked around. "Why do you live in such a big place by yourself?"

"I don't."

Monique raised a brow. She jumped at the sound of another man's voice.

"Why is she here?"

Dimitri looked at the man sternly. "She's a friend, Benjamin."

Benjamin's eyes narrowed. "A friend or a doté?"

"What's a doté," Monique asked.

A dark-skinned girl began walking down the spiraling stair case near the back wall. She paused as she spotted Monique and looked Monique over. She began glaring at Monique, and then she glared at Dimitri. "You better start explaining this."

Monique raised a brow at the girl's voice of tone. She looked at Dimitri.

Dimitri took a deep breath. "Get April."

The girl narrowed her eyes more and walked back up the stairs, practically stomping her way up.

Benjamin began circling Monique, looking her over. "So a friend or doté?"

Dimitri glared at Benjamin. "Sit down, Ben. I'll explain once everyone is almost here."

Benjamin rolled his eyes and sat down on the white couch. April and the girl from before began walking down the stairs. April paused and stared at Monique for a moment.

Monique turned to Dimitri. "Are you going to explain what a doté is in a bit?"

Dimitri nodded. "April and Sandra, please sit."

 April gracefully took a seat as Sandra sat next to her and continued glaring at Monique.

Dimitri spoke softly. "This is my... doté."

Sandra formed fists. Benjamin grinned. "I knew it."

Dimitri went on. "She is not allowed to be harmed as she will provide me with blood. However, she is going to provide all of us blood from the hospital. Especially Chris."

April paused. "Is that you chose her so quickly? So Chris could recover?"

"Yeah. Also, I knew you would all feel a great craving the moment I could help him. So Monique is going to help you all also and collect enough for all of us, if needed."

Monique froze. "I don't remember this being part of the deal."

"You did. I need you to help me, and now you're going to answer me."

Monique glared at Dimitri.

Dimitri whispered, "I'll explain what a doté is later." He faced the other vampires. "We need Monique to be our eyes and ears. We don't know what other vampires are planning, and many rumors about the werewolves are still uncomfired. If there is to be a war, I want to know when and if it's coming."

"Why is she your doté," Sandra asked.

Dimitri stayed silent for a moment. "I will not tell you. You're job is to accept her. Nothing less and nothing more. She's a part of us now."

Sandra glared at Dimitri for a moment.

Dimitri went on. "I'm going to have her apply for the hospital tomorrow. In two weeks or less, she's going to help us cure Chris."

"Chris might die before then," April said quietly. "Small patches of his skin have turned to ash." 

Sandra smiled. "Why don't we let Chris drink from Monique?" 

Dimitri glared at Sandra. "She's not to be harmed." 

Everyone froze as a cry for help reached their ears.

April rushed to the window. She turned to the others after a second. "There were two and one had a cross."

"Come on." Dimitri quickly ran out the door.

"They ran in the alley down two buildings on the other side," April yelled as everyone, except her, followed Dimitri.

The two strangers were bloody, and one was on the floor getting. The hooded man on top consistently punched the other man's face. After two punches, he pulled out a stabbed the man. The stabbed man cried out in pain, revealing his vampire fangs. The man quickly and roughly cut a circle in the man's chest and pulled out a heart. The vampire turned to ash as the heart did in the man's hand. The hooded man through the ashes at Monique and the others.

The hooded man held a cross out, and all the vampires took a step back. The man laughed. "Let it be known vampire filth will die." The man made his way out as he continued holding the cross in the presence of the vampires. The cleared the alley and ran away.

Everyone began to follow him, but there wasn't any sight of him. Benjamin stepped forward, sniffing. "He's nearby."

A car then drove by, dangerously close the sidewalk they were standing on. The man laughed back at them. "Good night, filth!" The headlights disappeared.

Sandra glared. "It was one of those filthy wolves!"

"No," Dimitri said. "This one was very specific. He has a familiar smell."

                                                       ~~~~~~~

"I've been thinking, Garth," Jude said as she finished patching Bryanna's wound. "Why are we back in this building one night after I found that body?"

"Yeah, why are we," Kyle asked.

Garth looked at Kyle. "I don't know if any of you have noticed, but my house is not exactly the best place to train Bryanna. Our fight against vampires came sooner than expected."

"Really? Your basement seemed fine."

"That wasn't training. That was more of wrestling. To be honest, I thought you would actually fight her instead of messing around."

"It didn't seem fair. You said she was new to being a werewolf."

"At any rate, you're going to fight again Bryanna." Garth gestured toward the middle of the room. "This time against Patty."

Patty grinned. "Cool."

A metal door swung open. Garth stood up from his wooden box and looked at the entrance. Everyone stood in a position where they could see the double door. The doors slowly began to open, and Dimitri stepped through. 

Garth glared. "No one move." He began walking through the crowd.

Dimitri looked around. He smelled something and looked at Bryanna, pausing.

Bryanna raised a brow, angrily. Kyle stepped in front of her.

Garth stood multiple feet in front of Dimitri.

Dimitri locked his gaze with Garth. "Garth."

"Do you think you're going back home tonight?"

Dimitri glared as Jude ran toward him. He blocked her kick and flipped her, making her twirl to the ground. He stepped back from Clyde's punch and avoided a few punches, blocking Clyde's last punch, bringing Clyde closer to himself and throwing him against Jude. Dimitri turned to the remainder of the pack.

Everyone glared at Dimitri.

"You've trained them well, Garth. Glad to see you put what I taught you into use." Dimitri glared back as he adjusted his glasses. "I'm not here to hurt anyone."

"What do you call what you just did," Patty asked angrily.

"Defense. I'm not going to just let you kill me." Dimitri looked at Clyde and Jude. "Sorry, by the way." He looked at Garth. "I'm here to warn you."

"The last time you did, my wife died by your hand," Garth yelled.

Dimitri stayed silent for a moment. "Someone is slaughtering vampires--"

"They're called werewolves," Andrew yelled. "You should know that by now. Vampires kill us, and a bunch of other werewolves kill your fucking kind."

"We're not all the same."

"Tell that to my wife," Garth said angrily.

Dimitri's voice changed to a sinister tone. "Someone is killing werewolves AND vampires. He may have been a hunter or a werewolf, but none of us are sure?"

"Why should we believe you," Jude asked, grunting slightly. "I saw a werewolf body next to a pile of ash. We are just trying to defend ourselves."

"Did the corpse of the wolf have a weapon on it," Dimitri asked quickly.

"No. But there was a gun with silver bullets," Garth began walking towards Dimitri.

"And how quickly does someone die after they've been shot?" Dimitri stared at Garth. "And why silver bullets when the werewolf is in it's human form?"

"Because he knew he was a werewolf," Patty said.

Bryanna's brows furrowed. "But we're humans at the time, doesn't that mean anything could kill us?"

Dimitri nodded at Bryanna and turned to Garth. "Don't you see what's happening? There's new hunters. If any of the hunters we knew were up to this, it wouldn't be this sloppy."

Garth stood two feet in front of Dimitri. "What are you saying?" He glared at Dimitri, forming fists at his sides.

Dimitri frowned as his shoulders fell. "You're never going to let it go."

"She was MY WIFE!" Garth rapidly swung at Dimitri several times.

Jude tried to rush forward, but Clyde held her back, shaking his head.

Dimitri stopped avoiding Garth's attacks and blocked one. Garth ran towards a wall, slamming Dimitri's back against it. Dimitri grunted and kicked Garth back. Garth slid back six feet and tried to punch Dimitri's chest. Dimitri grabbed Garth's arm and kick Garth's side.

Dimitri stepped back as quickly as possible. He looked down at his arm, spotting a scratch. He looked at Garth, sighing. "I'm not here to work with you, or harm you. I was just here to warn you. My friends will not come after you, but I can't say that I know who is trying to kill us all."

There was a loud cry of a man in pain. Sandra and Benjamin ran in. "Dimitri, it's human blood."

Dimitri ran past them. "Ben, hold her."

Garth glared at the two vampires. "He brought his friends?!"

Benjamin laughed. "Don't worry. It was just to drag his body out of here."

"Garth, we have to go," Jude said as she ran to the door. "They said it was human blood and Dimitri's a vampire." Clyde followed her as Patty did too.

Garth ran out. "Come on."

Bryanna, Kyle, and Andrew quickly followed. April and Monique slid down from the broken ceiling. "Monique, follow me."

"But..." Monique looked at Sandra who was staring at her blankly. "Okay." She ran out after April.

Dimitri and the others ran past the field of grass to the street to an alley, following Dimitri. Everyone paused as they saw a figure, hunched over with a lifeless arm by its feet. He turned to his new audience, wiping blood from his mouth. His brown eyes seemed to gain more color.

Jude stepped closer to Dimitri. "Is this one of your friends?"

Dimitri shook his head. "But no one move. He's not fully aware of what's going on."

The vampire froze, looking at all of them in panic. He rapidly turned around, beginning to run, and a gun shot fired. The bullet missed the vampire, penetrating the dumpster. Dimitri looked up at the roof. A man with a rifle looked down at him. The man looked at everyone, practically scanining their faces, and he left.

Dimitri ran to the body of the victim. His eyes widened. "He's still breathing."

Everyone ran towards him, but Bryanna froze when she saw his face. "Alex... Oh my god..."

"We have to get him some holy water, now," Dimitri yelled.