Hey guys, welcome back. This will be a pretty busy chapter, so enjoy :p Get ready for a bit of background info. For who, I wonder?

Chapter Eleven: Welcome to the Clan

A Few Days Later - Serana and Max's Apartment

Waiting for nightfall, Serana grabbed her jacket and went to find Max. It didn't take her long, the young fledgling sprawled on the couch reading. When she heard her older companion, she looked up from her reading, frowning slightly. "Are you going somewhere without me again?"

"I have things I must attend to. Behave while I'm gone," Serana demanded, asserting her authority.

"Okay," Max mumbled, looking like a kicked puppy.

Smiling, Serana cupped the young vampire's cheek. "Oh, Max. Don't look so lonely. I'll be back before you know it. When you're stronger, I can bring you with me. For now, it's too much of a risk. I don't want anything happening to you."

Still looking disappointed, Max nodded. "I understand."

"Good girl." Giving her head a quick pat and a brief kiss, Serana left the apartment once more into the night.

She didn't like leaving Max alone, especially after the last time, but it was safer there than where she was going, much safer than being around a vampire like Mark. She had met many people, both supernatural and human, like him before. He was as common as they came, even if he believed differently. She could see right through his facade, having spent a long time observing others.

Of course, she didn't trust him, and she probably never would, but she needed him - his movement more specifically. Whatever she planned to do next, she would need loyal minions to act on her will, and lots of them. It would be easy to get people onside using her charm and extensive practice of manipulation. Compared to how she used to be as a human, she had come a long way. Living as long as she had changed people.

As she approached the meeting point, still a neutral ground for the time being, she could see him there. When he saw her, he stepped forward. "Serana, glad to see you accepted my invitation."

"I know a promising opportunity when I see one." It didn't hurt to stroke his ego every now and then, enough to keep him wrapped around her little finger.

He grinned, pleased with himself. "Oh, everyone will be joining soon enough, or dying. Either or. I'm just glad my business associate is such a charming beauty."

Serana simply smiled. Empty flattery made her skin crawl, especially from someone like him. She didn't trust him. Not one bit. "Speaking of business…"

"Ah, a straight to business kind of woman. I can respect that," he stated, running his fingers through brown hair. "To business then. A while back, my family's numbers were drastically lessened. So, I have been… recruiting. That is the bulk of the plan for the moment. Whoever wishes to join. As well as those who don't in some cases. The council would have a metaphorical heart attack knowing how many unofficial, unregistered sirings we are performing."

"I'm sure they would." The council wished to control every single action carried out by supernatural beings, a herculean task for control freaks.

"Surprisingly, we have also received a fair amount of interest from various werewolf packs," he almost sounded amused by the notion. "Unlikely allies, I know. There have been a lot of territory problems the council doesn't want to sort out, among other things, something I have hinted we can resolve. Although, the bulk of my forces consist of vampires - some experienced, others fledgling and even some ferals in the making. They act as good cannon fodder."

Ferals were mindless killing machines with an unquenchable thirst for blood and chaos. Letting loose even one of these relentless beasts could lead to unfathomable destruction. The only known reliable way to stop one was to kill it, and that was no easy task. Until the very last drop of life had left them, ferals were continuously driven by bloodlust. Pain only deterred them for a moment or two, making them fight with unwavering and violent tenacity.

Now, for the important question. "And where do you see someone like me fitting in?"

"First and foremost, having such experienced vampires can only help the cause, give it credibility and force. Secondly, I suspect you are well-versed in the art of persuasion. Thirdly, you strike me as a powerful vampire, call it a gut instinct. I'm sure you have many… skills to offer the cause." Something about the way he said that set Serana's teeth on edge. She had to set the boundaries from the get go.

"If I were to join, it would be as an equal. I am not some lackey for you to deploy." If she had her way, which she always did, she will have far overtaken Mark, dethroning him. For the moment, she had to work with him. Or at least, present herself as such.

"Of course, I would not suggest otherwise." He spread his arms out, eyes flickering red. "Welcome to the Clan."

Meanwhile...

Once again left alone in the apartment by herself, Max tried to distract herself, failing miserably. Whenever Serana went off on her own, the young fledgling felt… uneasy. It was silly really; the elder vampiress was more than capable of looking after herself and then some. Those visions she had been getting recently didn't help at all, only making her more anxious.

Maybe it was because Serana was the only thing she had right now, the only person she had experiences with, memories of. Whoever she used to be, that had all gone. That Max, she was dead, erased from existence. There was no way to go back. Even if she remembered things, what difference would it make? She was still a vampire, still unable to regain what she had lost - her humanity. Whenever Serana went, Max realized just how empty she was.

Serana would tell her she was being melodramatic, and maybe she was a little, but that's how it felt.

Curling up, Max let her eyes close, wishing the time away. She felt the now familiar tug of an oncoming mixed up vision in her mind. When she was alone, looking for answers, they seemed to come to her. Instead of resisting it, she tried hard to focus. Sooner or later, she would have to master this aspect of her power. May as well start sooner. She had read up on it a little at Serana's instruction, trying to figure out how it worked exactly. Conjuring up the vision, that was the easy part, getting it into focus enough so she could understand it… that was another thing entirely.

Slowly, a blurred scene came into view, too hazy to distinguish the terrain. It could be a natural setting just as easily as it could the middle of a city. That wasn't what she was interested in, anyway. She had figured out that, if she concentrated hard enough, certain aspects could be amplified at the cost of others. Something seemed to glisten in the middle of the unidentified space, some sort of chair, no… a throne? That didn't really matter, what did matter was the person sat there. It took a moment or two for the scene to focus up, Max really trying hard to decipher the details.

While the end result wasn't perfect, it was clear enough for her to know who it was… Serana. She definitely looked like she belonged on there, very regal and refined. The elder vampiress was looking down at something… or someone by her feet, Max couldn't see who right now. Shifting focus, she worked on getting the lower half of the image cleared up. She got a slight shock when she figured out just who it was. Herself. She was kneeling, cheek cupped loosely by one of Serana's hands as she looked up at the older woman, totally transfixed. Max wasn't quite sure what to make of it.

When her attention wandered, the scene faded back into the pooling shadows. Wanting to explore further, Max stayed vigilant for the next thread. Eventually, another decided to present itself, drawing her in. This time, there was a small group of people, four give or take, features plunged into darkness for the time being. Again, she tried to focus, finding it much more difficult this time. She saw flashes of color, the most distinctive a vibrant blue. The figures seemed to be discussing… something, their words too muffled to really understand. Curious, Max now tuned into the sounds more than visuals.

"...stupid… never get anywhere… enough," a commanding voice seemed to demand. Whatever they were trying to get across, Max couldn't work out yet.

"...not giving up… out there somewhere…" another voice entered the fray, just as adamant.

"...where?! ...waste of time… gone!" the first voice shouted, angry and frustrated.

"Don't…" There was a dark, threatening undertone to the second voice now, "you're wrong."

The first voice didn't seem to agree with that, whatever they were arguing about. "...delusional… search forever?"

"If that's what it takes, yes." This response was surprisingly clear compared to the rest, unbroken. Something about the voice almost seemed familiar, although she couldn't place it. A person from her past, perhaps?

Just as it started to get more focused, she was pushed out yet again. Maybe there was a time limit on actively searching out visions to look into until she got more practice in. Before, they had just come to her, no warning or anything. This was the first time she had pushed harder, traveled deeper.

Undeterred, Max continued on until she found another tendril to follow. Concerned about the time she could spend here, she began scanning for anything that looked important. Something unexpected happened then. She was suddenly propelled straight into a very blurred first person view, running. It felt like a hunt. Whoever she was chasing smelled… really good, that's all she could really take from it. Her pace picked up, feeling the wind whip past her.

Just as she was about to catch up, pounce on the prey she had been chasing down, the vision swirled around her like mist, engulfing her. Cursing the poor timing, she desperately searched for another possible snippet. She had to find more.

Soon she was rewarded with another. Eager to explore, she latched onto the vision and waited for it to become clearer. This one seemed to take longer to materialize, Max willing for it to take form. It took her a while to realize what she had stumbled into this time, something that probably wasn't meant for her eyes. That flash of blue yet again, hazel eyes tinged with red - enticing, pointed fangs running along bare skin before piercing, hands gripping on tight to whatever they could find, sounds Max was becoming familiar with from her strange dreams… not the vision she had been expecting at all.

Before she could get a better take on who might be involved, she was pulled out and back to the limbo space. Determined, she ventured deeper, finding another unraveled thread to follow. Without a second thought, she plunged herself into the vision, eager to see what it would uncover.

This time Serana was there again, with Max and at least one other person. The young fledgling could feel someone clamping down on her wrist, holding her back, probably the elder vampiress herself. The person in front of them was drowning in shadow, although one thing was very clear… they had a weapon pointed straight at Max's mentor. There was no context, no reason. That didn't matter, not now. All that matter was someone was trying to threaten or hurt Serana, and that was all she needed to know. An overwhelming desire to tear whoever it was to shreds bubbled up inside the younger vampiress, teeth bearing and body tensing. She felt a low hiss escape her mouth, staring down the unknown assailant.

"Max." At first, the young fledgling couldn't tell whether the voice was coming from inside the vision or not. The hesitation was enough to pull her out of the vision she had found herself in, letting it fade into nothing. "Max… come back. Now."

All thought of chasing vision after vision gradually dissipated at the familiar voice, following the instruction on instinct. When she finally returned to the here and now, her body slumped, someone there to stop her from falling to the floor. She felt weak, having pushed herself too hard. It took her a few moments to re-orientate herself, a wave of nausea and fatigue surging through her body. When she finally opened her eyes again, she saw someone she knew staring back. Serana was back. She seemed equal parts concerned and irritated at the state she had found Max in on returning.

"Ah, finally back with us, I see." Something about that almost seemed like scolding, something Max involuntarily flinched at. "Now, just what were you doing, hmm?"

There was something very intense about her stare right now, and Max was unable to look away. "I, uh…"

When the young fledgling didn't answer straight away, something hardened in the older woman's normally warm and soft amber eyes. "Max, when I ask a question, I expect a prompt answer. So, what were you doing?"

"I had another… vision," Max answered tentatively, checking Serana for her reaction.

The elder vampiress showed no obvious emotion, reserving judgment. "Just the one?"

"No, not really," Max began, choosing her words carefully. "One at first, then…"

"Then?" Serana prompted, getting impatient.

"It ended kind of abruptly, so I… tried to find more," the younger woman admitted, feeling a little guilty.

Remaining stony-faced, Serana pressed for further detail. "And did you?"

Giving an uncertain nod, Max continued. "Yes, I did. I got kicked out each time before I could see what was really going on and… I guess I got caught up in the flow."

Her brow twitching ever so slightly, Serana replied in as calm a tone as she could manage. "Letting yourself get lost in a power like that is very dangerous, Max. It can get addictive, not to mention a huge drain on your energy levels."

"Guess that would explain a lot." Max hadn't felt this hungry in a long time. Not quite at the level from her first few days as a vampire, but the closest she had been to that since meeting Serana. Worse, she didn't have the energy to move much.

"What am I going to do with you?" Serana gave her dazed companion a long, hard stare, lying her down on the couch. She was in no state to hunt for her own food. "Wait here."

As the elder woman stood, she felt something tug at her wrist. She glanced down to see Max hanging on, still fairly strong despite her fatigue. "Why do you always leave me alone, like a child? I don't like it."

"Maybe when you stop acting like a child, I'll stop treating you as one," Serana snapped back instinctively, feeling pretty angry right now. Normally, she was pretty good at controlling herself but she just couldn't right now. That was the effect Max seemed to have on her sometimes. "You have a lot to learn and this is not a game, Max."

"I know."

"Do you? I suppose you know everything." There was an awkward silence, Serana trying to calm herself down. "I'll find you something to eat and we'll discuss this when I get back."

Without waiting for a response, the elder vampiress disappeared off into the night. Getting angry wouldn't help. Soon enough she found a target, managing to coax them all the way back to the apartment. Normally she wouldn't risk it, but Max couldn't really move right now. The young fledgling's eyes shimmered blood red as she hungrily tucked into her meal, Serana waiting for her to finish. She would deal with the clean up later.

Max refused to catch the older woman's eye as she finished, scared at what she might find. She heard footsteps, her chin tugged upwards forcing her head up so she was looking directly into Serana's eyes.

"You're a pretty messy eater," Serana commented as she leaned in to lick the remaining blood from the corners of Max's mouth, making her shudder.

"Are you mad at-?" Before Max could finish her question, Serana silenced her with a kiss. It seemed more desperate than before, less controlled.

The elder vampiress suddenly pulled back, amber eyes fixated on blue. "Yes, I am mad at you."

"Oh…" Max was pretty confused right now, not knowing what the right answer here was.

Serana continued to stare at her. "Never do that again, you hear me?"

Biting her lip, hesitating, Max managed a soft, "I won't."

Noticing the doubt immediately, Serana shook her head. "I don't believe you."

"I really won't, swear," she insisted, wanting her older companion to believe her.

"I believe that a little more." Serana felt the flare of rage dampen slightly. "I'm only doing this to protect you, Max. Like before, when you went off on your own unattended. We both know that ended poorly."

"I just… I get lonely when you aren't around…" Max knew it sounded like a pathetic excuse, but it was true.

Now that had been established, Serana moved onto more pressing matters, what Max had actually seen. "And what exactly were you looking at to ease the loneliness, hmm?"

Max hesitated, feeling almost compelled to relay what she had seen when she looked into Serana's eyes again. The words came tumbling from her mouth, leaving no detail out. It seemed she couldn't hide the truth.

"That wasn't so hard now, was it?" Serana coaxed, cupping Max's cheek with her hand and watching the fledgling's eyes fill with uncertainty.

This was exactly the kind of thing Serana had wanted to avoid, unbridled vision jumping. Such vague possibilities made her feel anxious in a way, especially given the last one Max explained to her. There was no way of knowing the context or the timescale, where these mismatched ghosts of the future came in the sequence. Would someone try and take Max away from her? Where? When? Why? How? Who? All these unanswered questions were driving her crazy.

And there she was, the person who was making Serana so uneasy, right in front of her. For how much longer? That thought was all it took for her to snap, logical thought pushed aside in favor of primordial instinct. There was only so much she could take, even after many, many years of practice. A vampire was a vampire at the end of the day, ruled by deeply embedded urges. Right now, she had very little patience or reason to resist.

Without saying a word, she grabbed Max by the wrist and dragged her off the couch. Confused, nearly tripping over her own feet, the fledgling had very little time to register what was happening, even less time to ask questions. Serana was on the warpath, and she would be taking no prisoners. It took a second for her to make it across the lounge, nearly taking the bedroom door off its hinges as she pushed it open. She was way past the point of caring.

Roughly, she pulled Max along, practically throwing her onto the bed. She watched her fall back, looking thoroughly confused by what was going on. Before she could ask any questions, however, Serana was on her. This was no time for talk and Max would understand that. Playtime was over, this was the real deal.

Wasting no time, Serana kissed her, deeply and passionately, her tongue exploring the younger girl's mouth. Max didn't resist at all, as expected. Every so often, the older woman nipped her tongue or lip, earning a sound of approval. Letting her instincts kick in, no longer keeping a clear head, Serana impatiently tugged at Max's clothes, demanding immediate removal. She had no desire to draw this out longer than necessary, not anymore. Another day, perhaps, but not today.

Complying, Max moved accordingly as Serana all but tore her top off and bra, immediately began biting, sucking and scratching at bare skin, marking. It was a shame the marks would heal up almost as quickly as they had been made, encouraging her to make them deep, as visible as possible. Even if it was just in this moment, Max would remember, Serana would make sure of that. Max was hers, and nobody else's.

Max really didn't know what to do with her hands, not wanting to piss Serana off by doing something she wasn't supposed to. Right now, she really didn't seem in a forgiving mood. As tough as it was, she kept her hands by her side. This was all happening so fast, Serana almost seeming possessed. It was a little scary… but exciting, too. The older vampiress always came across as composed, in control of herself. Now couldn't be more different, letting her bestial side completely take over.

Serana's eyes roamed over Max's exposed upper body, bite marks and scratches staining the pale, freckled skin. It would never be enough. Moving on, slender fingers moved down to the waistband of her jeans, popping the button and undoing the zipper as quickly as possible, removing them completely. Only one thin barrier left… Before she tackled that, Serana made sure to thoroughly mark the newly mark the newly exposed skin, focusing on the inner thigh.

Gripping on tight to the sheets to keep her hands busy, Max did her best to remain as still as possible, something that was becoming increasingly harder. The venom from the numerous bites marking her body helped a little, gradually kicking in. Her whole body relaxed, lightheaded. Through the haze of pleasure, she could feel fingers at her underwear waistband, vaguely registering the last of her clothes being removed. She half-expected Serana to stop now, like she always did - both in dream and reality - and add some teasing comment or something.

The thought didn't even cross the older vampiress' mind, too deep in her own urges to bother with playing games. As her finger found its mark, Max let out a soft moan encouraging Serana to continue. Fuck her planning and mind games, this was what she wanted, needed to do. This way, Max really would belong to her, both in mind and body. That's all she wanted right now. She watched the younger girl's expression change, taking great delight in each and every slight shift. It was all her doing.

Somehow, Serana seemed to know exactly what to do to make Max unwind. It was getting harder and harder to think straight, her body starting to overtake her mind in priorities. A warm, coiling sensation was building up inside her, getting more difficult to ignore by the second. She caught Serana's eye, the older vampiress watching her intently, gauging her reaction. All this was a little embarrassing but Max was so caught up in the moment that she didn't really think much about it, or anything for that matter. She did briefly manage to wonder whether she had ever felt like this in life, the thought soon crushed when she felt herself reaching the brink.

Having plenty of experience, Serana noted the shift in reaction, picking up her pace. She continued to focus on Max's face, ready to burn the image into her mind. Any second now… Sure enough, her prediction was correct. She made sure to take hold of Max's jaw firmly with her free hand so she wouldn't turn away at the crucial moment.

The unbearable pressure building up in Max's body suddenly released as she was tipped over the edge, her cry swallowed by a kiss from Serana. As the fledgling laid there, her mind trying to catch up with reality, the older woman settled down beside her, taking her in her arms and tracing the various marks now covering pale skin. They were still there, for the moment. Doing this had helped put Serana's mind at ease, a little.

After some time, letting her companion process this, Serana pressed a kiss to her cheek before whispering in her ear. "You know what this means… you're mine now, Max. Nobody else can do what I just did. Ever."

Dana and Juliet's House

Chloe looked over all the information they had been able to gather over the past few days, not as much as she had hoped. Of course, she hadn't been expecting the answers to just jump out at her the second she stepped foot in LA, but something more solid would have been appreciated. Everything they investigated had been a dead end or led to even more questions.

"C'mon, Max, where the hell are you?" she muttered under her breath, eyes scanning over the various pieces of paper and photos.

There was a knock at the door, Dana popping her head around the door with a mug in hand. "Figured you could do with a hot drink."

The bluenette sat back in her chair, sighing. "Thanks, Dana. I really could."

Dana stepped inside the room where Chloe and Rachel had been staying, setting the drink down. Kate and Victoria were across the hall since the young werewolf refused to sleep in the same room as a vampire, or a Witcher.

"So, how's it going, Sherlock?" Dana asked curiously.

"Slow," the bluenette replied, taking a sip of the coffee she was offered.

Giving her a sympathetic look, Dana revealed what she had heard. "I've heard several rumors of new vampires in town. There's one I think you'll be particularly interested in, fairly recent. A fledgling accompanied by a much older vampire. Someone in the city had a hostile run-in with them."

"Anything else?" Chloe asked, desperate for any kind of lead.

Dana shook her head. "That's all I've heard so far. There have been one or two solo vampires, but it's more likely your friend is traveling with her sire. As a rule, fledglings don't last long running around on their own."

It was a better lead than any Chloe had found. Being a Witcher closed off certain avenues of investigation, most supernaturals very reluctant to talk to someone who slew their kind. "That's something at least, thanks."

"Don't mention it." Dana waved away the thanks with her hand. "The sooner you find your friend, the better. Otherwise… well, vampires are a sly, manipulative breed by nature. Even I'll admit that. I'll keep an ear on the ground, get Juliet digging around too. Maybe literally."

Taking another sip of her drink, Chloe tapped her fingers on the desk she was sat at. "I just hope we can get to her in time. After all these months… I can't give up until I find her."

"If I know you, which I like to think I do, you'll find a way," Dana stated confidently. "That stubbornness of yours will ensure that. You never did give up, even when it seemed impossible. Why else do you think you have such a prolific reputation?"

Chloe managed a soft chuckle. "That's part of it, yeah."

Several Years Ago

This was the moment Chloe had been waiting for, a chance to prove herself. She had spent so long training, put through grueling trials which pushed her body and mind to the limit. Many of her fellow trainee Witchers had fallen to madness or death, unable to withstand the transformation to elite monster hunter. It hadn't been an easy road, but now she had finally made it to the other side.

If her dad was still alive, he would have been proud. He was the reason she had pushed herself so hard, following in his footsteps, well actually taking it a step further. William Price had not been a Witcher, more a human peacekeeper trying to protect both his own kind and supernaturals. He made quite a name for himself, earning respect from almost everyone he crossed paths with. Maybe if he had been a Witcher, he would have survived. Unfortunately, he did not have the extra abilities: superhuman strength, speed, reflexes, healing, and endurance; nor was he able to use various forms of magic to combat and track his targets.

Sighing, Chloe pushed thoughts of her father out of her mind for now. She would get revenge for him, one day. For the moment, she had to focus. This was her first solo mission and she couldn't fuck it up. She would disgrace herself and her father's name, neither of which she wanted to do. Her task: track down and eliminate a reported feral roaming around in the nearby forest.

She had been tracking the beast for an hour or so following a very recent sighting. On guard, she pressed ahead going deeper into the trees. Hopefully, she could wrap this up soon. As she moved through the forest, she listened out for any suspicious sounds. Vigilance was key. Her fingers hovered over the hilt of the silver sword sheathed on her back, just waiting to be drawn. In the distance, she noticed a figure shrouded in shadow, most probably her target. Swiftly and silently, she advanced almost getting knocked off her feet as the figure darted towards her. She dodged out of the way, readying her sword as she spun out of harm's way.

Sword held in guard, she cautiously sidestepped around the small clearing. Out of the corner of her eyes, she noticed movement. Grip tightening, she got ready to strike, surprised when nothing happened. Odd...

Then, something unexpected happened, a voice called out to her. "Hey, you there, Witcher."

Chloe turned, trying to figure out where the voice was coming from and who it belonged to. Ferals weren't known for their great conversation skills, but that didn't mean she should drop her guard. Whether they were in control or not, supernatural beings should be treated with great caution, hell maybe even more so if they were in control of their faculties. Humans should, too. The voice was on the higher end of the pitch scale, pleasant to listen to with a subtle hint of amusement.

"Not much of a talker, huh?" the voice asked.

Continuing to circle the clearing, eyes darting around to check for any telltale signs of company. "Not when I can't see who I'm talking to, no. You'll have to forgive me."

There was a soft, lilting chuckle from the darkness. "I tend to avoid face to face conversations when a sword's involved. So, if you lower it, I'll come out."

Still trying to figure out just where the hell the voice was coming from, Chloe simply steadied her stance. "What, so you have a free shot? No thanks."

A deep sigh rang out. "Stubborn, I see. Fine, if I come out, will you lower that very large and threatening sword, please? I don't have any intention to get skewered today, or any day for that matter."

Not sure whether to trust the voice or not, but curious nonetheless, Chloe called back. "Come out slowly, then."

"I'm out already," the voice whispered close to her ear.

Instinctively, Chloe spun around with her sword drawn. Before her was a young woman, long blonde hair and hazel eyes, hand held up in surrender. "Sorry, couldn't help it. I'm friendly, I swear. Maybe too friendly, that's my problem."

It was then that the bluenette made out protruding pointed fangs. This woman, whoever she was, was a vampire. So, best not to trust a word she said.

"Think you can uphold your end of the bargain now," the woman asked, motioning to the sword. "I quite like living, well… not really living I guess, but you catch my drift."

Debating what to do for a moment, Chloe sighed and slightly lowered her sword. She kept it in her hand, just in case.

"Guess I'll have to take that as a victory." The woman gave a charming smile. "Now, I wonder what you could possibly be doing this deep in the forest, hmm? Lemme guess, it has something to do with a loose feral."

Curious to know how she knew that, but not wanting to give anything away, the bluenette's grip on her sword tightened. "None of your business."

Her new acquaintance seemed offended by such a brash response. "Ouch, and just when I was about to offer assistance."

That made Chloe scoff. "Oh come on, why would you, a vampire, help me?"

Tilting her head to the side as if she were in deep thought, the vampire finally answered. "Several reasons, the most important one being that I'm tracking the feral down, too. Council business."

Relaxing just a fraction, Chloe gave her a once over. "Huh, wouldn't have guessed you were working for them."

That made the other woman laugh. "You and me both. Not my intended career plan, believe me. Name's Rachel, by the way."

"Chloe."

"Well, Chloe, shall we press forward?" Rachel asked as she extended her hand towards the trees.

Still not totally trusting Rachel, but deciding to give her a chance, Chloe nodded and followed the blonde vampire. If she was telling the truth, it would make her job easier. It would be very stupid to invoke a Witcher's wrath. Unfortunately, there were a lot of stupid people around.

"So, done this before?" the blonde vampire asked as they followed the trail.

"Enough to know what I'm doing," Chloe replied, evading giving a straight answer.

Rachel saw right through the cryptic response. "I'll take that as this is your first proper mission, then. Good thing you have me around to help."

"I don't need help," the bluenette shot back, a little irritated by the assumption.

"Oh please, everyone needs help, even big bad baby Witchers," Rachel added with playful mockery.

Giving the blonde a sideways glance, Chloe motioned with her sword. "I thought you said you didn't want to get skewered today."

"Oooh, threats. How exciting." Rachel was a strange one. Most supernaturals were at least wary of Witchers, even if they tried their best to hide it. She didn't even seem the slightest bit fazed.

Shaking her head, Chloe sighed. "Anyone every told you that you're weird?"

"All the time," Rachel replied with a toothy grin, exposing her fangs. "I could say the same about you. I don't see many Witchers working with the enemy."

"So long as you stay on my good side, you won't be the enemy," Chloe reassured, keeping her footsteps light so as not to draw attention.

After another fifteen minutes of tracking, the pair came up to an abandoned building, completely run down and falling to pieces.

"Seems like the perfect place for a den, huh?" Rachel muttered, moving towards the building.

Before she could get too close, a blur of motion sped straight at her. She sidestepped it, assuming a battle stance. Chloe too prepared herself for battle, getting a good look at the feral in question. It was quite grotesque, blood red eyes flashing menacingly as it bared its fangs. Sniffing the air, it lunged straight at Chloe, who spun out of the way, managing to slice into its side as it darted past her.

The beast let out a roar of anger, snarling as the blade slashed through the skin. Before it could attack again, it was tackled to the floor by a large silver wolf, teeth ripping at flesh. The feral howled, managing to kick the wolf off before it could cause too much damage. Taking advantage of the distraction, Chloe slashed at the feral once again, this time digging the blade part way into the beast's right arm.

While this was going on, the wolf had shifted to an eagle, razor sharp talons embedding into the feral's neck. Giving the blade a firm tug, Chloe pulled it from the feral's arm, bringing it down to slice clean through. This enraged the beast, making it run around roaring with the eagle still clinging on tight. It managed to take flight, smashing the feral into a nearby tree. It lay there, crumpled on the floor for just a moment before getting to its feet. Not giving up, it once again charged at Chloe, who blasted it with fire, the smell of burning flesh filling the air. The eagle had now gone, transformed into a hissing serpent. While the feral was distracted, it coiled itself around the feral's legs like a rope, making it tumble to the ground. Taking a step forward, Chloe raised her silver sword above her head, dealing the finishing blow.

Exhaling deeply, the young Witcher sheathed her sword and turned to her right, seeing Rachel there with a grin on her face. "Have to say, I'm impressed, newbie."

"Thanks, I guess. You weren't so bad yourself." Shapeshifting was just one of many possible powers vampires could possess, a very handy power at that.

Rachel took a bow, grinning. "I do my best. You haven't even seen the best yet. I make a very good hamster."

Chloe rolled her eyes. "Like a hamster could help in combat."

She gave a wink. "Gotta think outside the box. Joking aside, we kicked ass there. Now the fun bit, admin. The council does love their paperwork. If you're ever brave enough to go with ten foot of that damn HQ, give me a visit. I practically live there at the moment."

Not all that keen on the council, but curious to know more about Rachel, Chloe gave a noncommittal shrug. "I'll think about it."

Giving the young Witcher a meaningful look, Rachel smiled flirtatiously. "You'd better. Would be a real shame if not." As soon as she had appeared, the blonde vampire left.

Feeling like she had been taken along for a whirlwind ride, Chloe ran her fingers through her blue hair and headed back to base to report her success. On the way, she made a mental note to drop in at council HQ sometime.

So, lots of stuff happening, right? Have a great day and see you next time.