Author's Note: The Dark Hunter novels and characters beolng to Sherrilyn Kenyon, and I am merely borrowing a few of them for a little while. I couldn't stand waiting till the the next novel so decided to write my own story, hope you all enjoy it. And timeline wise, it takes place after Sins of the Night. :)

Savannah, Georgia

November 2005

Acheron Parthenopaeus groaned as his cell phone rang. Again. The only time it ceased to ring was when he turned it off. Sighing, Ash reluctantly answered the phone. "What do you want Erik?"

Erik sighed heavily on the other end. "Ash, sometimes you really creep me out. How the hell do you always know it is me before you hear me speak?"

Acheron's lips twitched into a faint smile. "I just do, Erik. Besides that was the whole concept behind caller ID, you know?" A slight pause and a muttered curse was Acheron's answer that Erik felt like a gigantic jack ass on the other end. "Really Erik, what is it? Some of us have things to do."

"Sorry to bother you Acheron. I was just wondering why exactly was I just transferred to Savannah? Aren't there enough Hunters already there? I mean, it isn't even St. Patrick's Day….or the Forth of July…. Or October Fest….so, um… yeah there is nothing special going on here other than preparations for Thanksgiving and Christmas."

"You called to ask me why I wanted one more Dark Hunter in Savannah? I thought we already discussed this?"

"Well, yeah, if you consider 'Erik, get your ass to Savannah in the next three days; you have been transferred.' discussing it."

Acheron sighed yet again and rubbed his forehead. His work was never simple. None of his Dark Hunters were ever grateful and always complained if things weren't to their liking. There was only so much one could take. "Erik. How attached were you to Kentucky? I mean seriously; Kentucky!"

Another brief pause, "Well, okay. You have a point there. Can I ask why my squire and I got smacked right in the middle of a neighborhood that none of the houses have basements and there are more cockroaches out here than would sate a starving flock of bats for a year?"

"You're scared of roaches?"

"NO!"

"Then what is the problem?"

"Acheron, I'm bored!" Erik practically whimpered into the phone.

"Erik," Ash paused to control his annoyance before he said something he didn't mean. Afteraccidently cursing Nick Gauntier months back he had been trying to watch what he says when angered or annoyed. "I know there isn't that much to do in Savannah. Go see a movie or something. Go to the mall. Christmas is coming, by something for your squire. I have things to do, Daimons to kill, futures to protect. I can only do so much Erik."

"Where are you at this time, Ash?" Erik said trying to keep the oldest Dark Hunter on the phone as long as possible, not wishing to go back to walking the college campus anymore. The college was so tiny, there wasn't anyplace for Daimons to hide there. And it was only a little before eight. Gotta love winter: earliy dusk, cold, and nothing to do.

"I'm at the mall with Simi, she wants something sparkly." Simi was Acheron's Charonte demon that he raised since she was a baby. She was like a daughter to him and he spoiled her constantly.

"Which mall?" Erik asked, hopeful to have some company other than his new squire who was so antisocial it was amazing the man actually could talk at all.

"Oglethorpe." Ash relayed. "But, there is a chance we may be done by the time you get here, Simi is going to town with her credit cards, and I think it is about time to stop her before she buys the entire mall and everyone who works there as well."

"Alright Ash, I'll let you get back to Simi. Tell her I said hi. I may or may not see you there. By the way, Armstrong is a small ass college."

Laughing at that, Ash said goodbye as well and hung up. For good measure he turned the phoneoff and tossed it into his black backpack. Simi came trotting up to him with a large cup of colorful frozen ice cream balls.

"Look, akri! Dippin Dots! This one is a banana split smashed in to little frozen balls! It isn't as good as Zarek's bean popsicles, but it will do."

"I see that Simi. I'll let Zarek know you miss his food."

"Who were you talking to akri? Another one of those lonely Dark Hunters who don't want you to spend time with your Simi? What did they want?"

"That was Erik. He is on his way here now. Why don't you shop a little bit longer so we can go home and check on Alexion and Danger. I wanna make sure they stay out of the throne room next time they think we won't be back for a while. Then we'll come back and crash at Erik's for the next few days till this next 'big evil' passes over."

Simi laughed. "Poor Xirena. She still hasn'tjust dealt with the fact that humans like to get all sweaty together. She told me that when ever she returns to Lexie, and him and Danger get all sappy and stuff that his blood starts to race and heat up like he is in danger so she goes to get him out of danger only to, you know, get him out of Danger."

Acheron winched. "I really wish you didn't have carnal knowledge Sim. You make me paranoid when you start talking abut it. And with really graphic puns to top it off."

Simi sighed and pulled Acheron inside of a gift store. "You know, akri. Nicky had no idea I was your Simi. I didn't tell him because I knew that if he knew Simi was special to you that he would probably ignore the Simi, and for that matter, it wasn't even that impressing okay. So please, akri, just get over it already. Besides, Nicky was a cutie and all, but he was most definitely no Travis Fimmel."

The girl working the store glanced up from behind the counter at Simi's last statement with shock and recognition in her eyes. "Oh. Travis Fimmel. Now we are talking hotness."

Simi's eyes bulged and she trotted over to the girl, her coffin purse bouncing against her side. "You know who Travis Fimmel is?"

The girl put some paper work away and nodded. "Of course I know who Travis Fimmel is, haven't you seen that show Tarzan? Er…well, can't exactly anymore because it kinda got cancelled, but oh my GOD. That man was just plain nibbly…" She broke off noticing Acheron for the first time, "… And he looks just like him." She looked back at Simi with awe and jealousy written in her features.

Simi was bouncing in her combat boots and bright pink stockings. "Hear that, akri. She is quality people. She knows who Travis Fimmel is and isn't afraid to admit that he is the best looking man in the world. But it is okay, akri, because she also thinks you is attractive too so don't feel left out."

The girl blushed. "I…um, I never said I found him….akri you said…attractive."

Simi laughed at both Acheron and the girl's discomfort. "It's ok…" she looked at the girl's name badge, "Claire. Akri is use to being gawked at, he doesn't mind it much. In fact, he is quite flattered. The Simi on the other hand prefers Travis Fimmel's looks to his though. Not that I check akri out much, Ew, heis my daddy and all."

Claireturned twelve more shades of red. "D-d-d-daddy? He's your father! How old are you! And him? How old is he?" She sounded close to hysterical, must be due to some ind of anxiety or something, but before Simi could answer she turned to Acheron, " How old ARE you?"

Ash took a deep breath and ran a hand through his longish hair which was blue today. He noticed that Claire's gaze had ventured to and now remained on his leather pants. "I look younger than I am."

Clairetore her gaze from that body that was sheer male leather-clad perfection. She looked back at Simi. "Daddy married?"

Simi burst out laughing.