Nick ended up staying the whole night. I didn't sleep a wink. Most of the night, he was up on his radio talking to some officers. To my knowledge, he did not sleep at all, either.

Tired, I sit down in what used to be my cubicle. Nick offered me my job back so many times. I decided to take him up on the offer. It's weird working here with Will in charge of things. For the time being, the MSSL has decided to fly back to Mississippi. Things still aren't quiet right with all the people outside screaming and rioting all day.

They don't want the vampires running the show now that the cold cases are still hanging in the air. They were supposed to find the truth before leaving, but Will told everyone he could not convince Gregory to go to the other realm again.

Put simply, I think they are afraid of Nick. It doesn't make sense that they know he's used illegal magic around here, which, they did find proof of, and that he's still allowed to hold a position at the department. I think he's threatened the MSSL, somehow, and scared them off again. I don't believe this time it was a bribe, which, Will had admitted about the last time they left. Nick never told me much, but, I don't think the last time they left was purely due to a bribe, either.

It's just about time my shift is over. My plan is to follow them to their meeting tonight. I'm pretty sure they are still meeting on the farm.

Abruptly, someone taps my shoulder and I turn away from my computer.

"Hey, Valerie," Will greets. He looks out of his element in his new police uniform. He has a special purple badge on his shoulder indicating his role as both a coven member and the police commander. The badges are new. "Your uniform is in my office. Don't forget to pick it up on the way out. We're implementing a new policy, to help civilians know what we are, during patrols."

"Patrols?" I say in disbelief. Some police officers are ushering in and out of his office with the new uniforms. I'm not a police officer, though. I don't patrol. "I don't usually wear a uniform, Will. I'm just an editor. Nick would give me the reports and I'd enter them into the system."

"Well, the computer says your title's actually 'private detective'," Will reveals with a smile. "I guess Nicholas never made that clear. No wonder why he got away with paying you twenty dollars below what you should be making. Were you aware of any of that?"

"No, he'd been paying me under the table. I didn't think I was in the system. It's just a temporary job-"

"You should be a lot more aware now. By the way, if you haven't seen David walking around here, you will soon. Believe it or not, the decision to bring David back onto the force was Nicholas's idea. Not mine. I've disowned David as my familiar - he belongs in jail as far as I'm concerned. Now, thanks to Silvet, he's free to terrorize you again. It's only a matter of time until I get each and every one of the nightcrawlers removed from the force, Valerie. And, I'll make sure you get paid what you deserve!"

With a gulp, I hold onto Will's final words as he turns away. I know he means well, but there is also a darker meaning behind his final statement that I mull over in my mind. I'm sure he didn't mean it that way. He was talking about my wage. Why am I ruminating over it?

A few officers approach him with updates. Super odd how I dreamed about this day happening. Somehow, my mind knew he would end up leading the police and I'd be working under him. Whatever. At least, I can earn some money again.

For the most part, I think Will will be too busy to really interact with me much. I'm not sure how I fell into a romantic relationship with him, but, those feelings are certainly gone after finding out what his parents did to my family. I still do care for Will in my own way. Before dying, I never did have a boyfriend. He was my first. Maybe, that's why it was so hard to finally end things with him.

I hear a door open and look up. My cube is still outside of Nick's office. Someone familiar walks out the door and passes by my cubicle. It's a shock to see David after he locked me in the furnace downstairs. It seems like he's headed to the kitchenette in the back of the department room. My stomach twists into a tight knot as I remember being locked in the furnace. What makes me feel even more ill is his anger that I witnessed. The way I see it, he did have a right to be upset with me for exorcising, and killing, his mother. I had sent her and two other witches to hell. They didn't get any due process of the law. At the same time, though, they were hurting me when I did nothing bad to them.

Feeling nauseous, I head into the bathroom. The door swings shut behind me. I go over to the sink and splash cold water onto my face. When I look up, I see my reflection in the mirror. A shriek escapes me as my skin has turned charcoal-black with only the bones of my skull visible. My facial features are gone. My witch sight allows me to see the new dim haze of red emitting around me.

When I look down at my hands, however, they still appear normal.

The next time I look in the mirror, my appearance is normal, well, as far as normal goes. My hair is still growing white. The dye job Stella does each month only lasts so long. I don't look my age at all. I look older or, at least, I certainly feel older. My body hasn't aged right, but, at least, I don't look like a ghostly skeleton.

This morning, I had to decided to wear my mother's necklace. I figured it would stop glowing when Nick left. However, it still is glowing. Maybe, I was just seeing things in the mirror and my mind was playing tricks on me. I could just be freaking myself out by wearing something related to the coven. I'm not really sure how involved with the coven my parents actually were. Probably better not to wear the necklace.

After leaving the bathroom, my body feels like it has calmed down a good amount. I put the the necklace into my purse for safekeeping. Then, I turn off my computer for the day. Today didn't go so bad - outside the weird ghoulish appearance thing in the bathroom. I pack up my things and leave my cubicle to find Will's office empty. There's a box of uniforms on his desk. I rummage through the pile until I find the plastic bag with my name on it.

Am I really going to have to wear this? I wish he was in here so I could talk to him about it again. Something moves behind me. The hair on the back of my neck stands on end as I notice a mouse wiggle out of the air vent on the ground. My stomach hurts really bad. I don't think it is a mouse, it's too big and has greasy-looking long black hair. My stomach cramps up just like it used to around demons. This hasn't happened in months. This awful feeling...

"Ad infernum!"

"Hello?" I hear someone call. Someone enters the office just as I exorcise the rat. An awful burning smell fills the air. "Valerie? I thought you went home for the day."

"Not yet," I whisper with a hard gulp. "I was just picking up my uniform."

"You don't need to wear a uniform, Valerie," Nick replies while leaning against Will's desk. A smirk forms on his face. "I smell smoke. Have you picked up a new habit?"

"No, I actually saw a rat in here. To be honest, I used magic to, uh, get rid of it. I'm sorry. Am I going to get in trouble?"

"No, of course, not," Nick answers, "I don't care if you use magic. I trust you. I think you should trust yourself, too. Is there anything else I should know about?"

"No."

"Good!" he answers. With sudden energy, he walks by me and leads the way out. "Do you have a minute to chat?"

"Sure, what is it?" I ask. Nick leads me into his office.

I'm not sure what to expect. Nervous, I look over my shoulder. There are only a few police officers around now. The security system box on the wall is open. Most of the screens showcase the different rooms in the building.

Nick closes the door.

"You haven't come by my office all day, Valerie. I was expecting an update on your reports."

"Oh! I'm sorry. I thought I report to Will now. Should I report to you, too?"

He doesn't answer. Amusement shines in his eyes as he steps very close.

"You didn't sleep at all last night, did you?" he babies. I shiver when he strokes the side of my face while looking down at me. "You're too busy being worried about me that you forget how much that boy hides from you. I'm watching them all very closely, Valerie. I know David is not the only troublemaker. Sometimes, the best justice isn't immediate. David is a means to an end. He will be used to find the other rotten eggs among the coven. Don't be afraid-"

"I'm not afraid of you. I think whoever brought me back to life didn't do it for me. They did it for something else...someone else. Not me," I admit carefully. As much as I want to ask, I decide not to bring up my ghoulish reflection I saw in the bathroom. "That's what I'm afraid of. I don't see why else they wouldn't come forward. You say you want to be my family. Families shouldn't keep secrets."

"I did not bring you back to life," Nick replies. His tone tells me 'don't argue with me'. It rubs me the wrong way. It feels like he is belittling me like a parent does an unruly child. "It must be lonely living a life where you doubt the only soul seeking to protect you."

I'm not sure where this conversation is heading. Whatever direction, it doesn't feel like a good one. It feels very bad. I've spoken too much. I choose to remain quiet as he's still touching the side of my face and blocking me from walking out of the room.

Demonic symbols peek out from behind the sleeves of his uniform reminding me of the side of him I do not see in the visible world. What feels like an eternity ago, he had kissed me. Then, he said he wanted no relationship. Now, he claims he wants to look out for me like a parent would a child. I've been spun around long enough, even, if his intentions truly are for the greater good.

Working here again, this soon, really was a bad idea. There's too many unknowns. Will is a whole other source of stress, but, at least he is more predictable than Nick.

"You don't have to continue working here, Valerie," Nick says. I'm pretty sure he just used his vamp ESP to read my mind. His hand falls from my face. Feeling ready to cry, I use the moment to shuffle around him. He stretches his arm out toward me, speaking with authority, "Here, let me take that off your hands. You certainly aren't expected to wear that."

With a nod, I hand him the uniform.

"Nick, I'm trying to trust you," I say after a long moment. "I really want to. I appreciate how much you've done. Thanks for staying last night. That meant a lot to me."

"Oh!" he exclaims as I head for the door. "It meant a lot to me, too! You are absolutely adorable. How could I leave a little thing like you all alone in that house?" he chuckles. Without warning, he circles his arms around me having walked up from behind. I tense up as he hugs me tight. No one has hugged me like this before. Not even Will when we were dating. "I know you like having me around," he says in a husky voice.

"I should be getting home now!" I force out with a smile.

I'm not going to go home. I don't know how he can tap into my mind. It freaks me out. I imagine a wall around my brain. A barrier keeping him out as I consider my own plans for tonight. I'm not sure if it's working, I continue walking away from him and head toward the lobby hearing nothing but the echo of my own footsteps.

That didn't go good. I'm not sure what he expects when he continues to test what kind of relationship we are in. What boundaries I keep.

Regardless, I'm going to see what's really going on in their meetings. My plan will not change. It's not worth trusting him, in any type of relationship, otherwise. I need peace of mind and I'm finally going to get it tonight.

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