Selene bit down into her tarty apple as she strode through the hallway, an open book guiding her way. She had read and re-read this book many times over the centuries. Its yellowed pages, torn along the edges, corned, crinkled, and folded from years of page turning. The leather cover was just as worn, the gold lettering on the cover so faded, the title illegible. Selene turned the corner, barely thinking.

After over two thousand years, she knew her way around without thinking about it. She hadn’t counted on Eris blocking her path, a dazed look in his glossing over her eyes. The sudden shock of his appearance made her jump.

“Hello, brother,” she said, catching her breath.

“Have you seen the news?” He stared past her as if mesmerized.

“The Vampyre killing? Yes, what of it?”

His gaze shot down to her, dilating to a deep red. “Why haven’t you organized a search party?”

“It was one killing Eris. Probably just a Newborn. We never go after first offenders.”

“So you’re not leaving?”

“No, I’m not, but if it makes you feel better, I’ll grab Jeanette and Blake and patrol tonight.” Selene stared at her brother,  watching the red in his eyes darken to a near-black shade of red. A shiver went down her spine.

“Fine. I want a full report at dawn.”

“Very well,” Selene gave him a slight bow. “I’ll fetch Jeanette and Blake.” Eris gave her a scathing look that forced her eyes to the ground as Eris walked past her. Once past her, Selene looked up, following him down the gall with her eyes. Something wasn’t right.

Selene finished her apple, tossed the core to the ground, and tucked her book under her arm before running off to find Jeanette and Blake. Sniffing the air, she followed their scents to the library. Blake, as always, was situated on a chair near the fireplace reading while Jeanette sat in a hollowed-out hole in the wall that let Jeanette stare out at the sky through a high-pitched window. Blake turned and looked at her. Jeanette’s eyebrows arched.

“Yeah?” asked Jeanette.

“We need to go on patrol tonight.”

“Why?” asked Blake, setting his own book down.

Selene shrugged, tossing her old, tattered book onto a nearby chair. “Eris is worked up about that Vampyre attack. He wants us on patrol.”

“The whole squad or just us?” asked Jeanette coldly.

“Just us. I suspect that it’s just a Newborn. There haven’t been any reports in the other cities, and the authorities have not sought us out.”

“Hopefully,” repeated Blake. “When do we leave?”

“Dusk.”

“Maybe them, but certainly not you,” came a chilly voice. Selene rolled her eyes and looked at Ettore and his dramatic entrance of coalescing shadows. Arrogantly, he flashed his white teeth in a big grin. Despite herself, she hugged him, glad to see him. Even Blake and Jeanette appeared happy to see him.

“What was all that gibberish you muttered, Ettore,”  questioned Jeanette, jumping down from her perch to step next to Selene’s side.

“She might have dinner plans.”

“What dinner plans?” asked Selene. “I have no—”

“I bring a message from your dear Jason darling.”

“Who’s Jason,” asked Blake. Jeanette punched Ettore as Selene covered her face, more embarrassed than anything. Ettore smiled and feigned surprise.

“Oh! Did I speak out of turn? So sorry.”

“No, you’re not,” muttered Selene.

“Who is Jason?” asked Blake again, his voice growing deeper, more severe and stern. Selene and Jeanette exchanged looks of concern.

“You explain to him while I try to make sense of this madman here.”

“I’m hardly mad,” he laughed while Jeanette pulled Blake to the other side of the room.

“Speak.”

“Jason’s friends have become deeply curious about Anita. They, particularly Miranda, want to meet you for  dinner tonight.”

“Is he insane? Does he not know the danger he is in?”

“I said that! Apparently, he says he can take care of himself. Very humble about that, too. I like him.” He winked at her, leaning against the wall. Selene tried to suppress her smile.

“It’s too risky.”

“Hardly,” chimed a voice. Selene looked over Ettore’s shoulder at Jeanette’s warm smile and bright eyes. Even Blake looked happy.

“We’ll go on patrol and watch for Eris,” said Blake.

“I love going behind his back,” commented Jeanette, eyes wide with mischief.

“You see! You have the perfect cover. Besides, I’ll have Vega watch Eris from the shadows.” Selene smiled at her friends. Guilt smothered her soul, however. She was supposed to be Eris’s protector. Yet here she was, going behind his back. Looking out the window at the horizon, she remembered the days when she and Eris would tell each other everything.

***

Selene blew the Fairy Dust onto her skin and put on the gown Jeanette had stolen for her, a simple, short, deep blue dress that went all the way to her collarbone. Jeanette really did have good taste, especially in this century. Wrapping her hair up loosely, she exited the darkness of the forest. In the moonlight, Jeanette and Blake stared at her in awe.

“Oh my—” stammered Jeanette.

“You look beautiful,” finished off Blake.

“Doesn’t she,” mocked Ettore playfully. Selene looked at him, dressed to match in the most expensive suit he could steal. Blake and Jeanette had bound Fairy Dust to his skin. She had agreed to go on the condition that she go with him, posing as her brother. He lowered his sunglasses and sized her up.

“Well, don’t you look human,” she muttered in a low breath, stepping up to his side.

“I could say the same for you. Now, let’s go. We have a dinner to attend.” He shrank back into the shadows, and Selene slipped in after him, giving Jeanette and Blake one last look.

***

Ettore deposited himself and Selene in an alleyway near the restaurant. Selene looked back at the wall where the shadowy portal swirled and vanished. Selene scowled at him as she stepped on something wet and squishy. So much for her new kitten heels.

“Couldn’t you have at least picked a clean alleyway?”

“Picky today, aren’t we my dear,” he laughed while her frown deepened, causing him to laugh more. “My dear, there is no such thing as a clean alley. Well, only on trash day.” He laughed while she huffed, exiting the alleyway, arms crossed. Patting herself down and fixing herself up, she looked in both directions.

“Well, don’t just stand there. I don’t want to be late.” She walked off, and he caught up easily.

“My, my, aren’t we anxious.”

“Nervous, actually. I can’t believe I actually agreed to this. This is insane.”

“But so very fun!” he said, gripping her shoulder. Selene could not suppress her smile and stopped in front of the restaurant.

“You’ve got me there.” Ettore smiled at her and opened the door in an unlikely chivalrous manner.

“Let the fun begin.” Selene rolled her eyes and waved a finger over her eyes to conceal any shade of red. Ettore left his sunglasses on. This was going to be interesting, she mused.

Selene took a tentative step and entered a gold band over her left wrist while three silver bracelets banged together on her right. She drew stares from all over the room with her grace and beauty. Living within the Palace had given her etiquette and poise. The concierge stumbled over his words upon her approach. Selene smiled, amused and embarrassed.

“We’re here to meet a Jason Elfinos?”

“Oh yes, this way, follow me.” He grabbed a pair of menus and directed them to follow him. He led them down a row of tables. People continued to stare at Selene annoyingly. She resisted the urge to show off her fangs. Soon enough (thankfully enough, in her opinion), she approached Jason’s table. She blushed when she saw the relieved look on his face. He stood up and hugged her quickly. She was taken aback and shot Ettore a deadly glance when he snickered. Someone coughed, causing the two to separate quickly. A girl with soft brown hair and brown eyes approached her with a warm smile.

“Hello, I’m Cecilia. We’ve heard a lot about you.”

“Have you now?” she said, shaking Cecilia’s hand. Cecilia nodded and laughed.

“Well, mostly about your job, and I must say, you look a little young. You’re very beautiful, though.”

“Nice! Isn’t she a nice one,” snickered Ettore as he sat next to a broad-shouldered guy with gray eyes and jet-black hair. Selene glared at her “brother”.

“This is my brother Ettore.”

“I am also a Vampyre liaison, in a matter of speaking.”

“He’s also an obnoxious ass.” Selene took her seat between Jason and Ettore. She noticed Miranda staring at Ettore, frightened, her eyes wide and bulging. Selene’s eyes flared.

“Is there something wrong?” she asked more heatedly than intended.

“H—his aura, it’s pitch black!” Selene swore under her breath. She was a Touched Born with a gift all too familiar to her. Quickly, Selene traced her fingers over Ettore’s leg, crossing rune after rune until Miranda’s expression changed into one of confusion.

“Miranda, are you okay?” asked Cecilia, gently touching her shoulder. Miranda muttered under her breath, shaking her head. Jason looked at Selene, worried. She brushed it away with a smile.

“I’m Nicholas,” said the handsome brute, extending his hand to Selene.

“It’s a pleasure to meet all of you.”

“Hmph,” said Miranda, placing a napkin on her lap. “While we wait for the waiter, tell us about your job.”

“I work for the Reborns and High Witch Councils to talk with Vampyres. I usually help in the murder investigations that are caused by rogue Vampyres. I’m here mainly to confirm that the death of the Vampyre responsible for those three deaths was properly executed by the Hunters.”

“What are the Hunters?” asked Cecilia, taking a sip of water. “My brother works with them from time to time, but he’s never explained to me exactly what they do or their purpose.”

“Hunters are a small party of very powerful Vampyres. Here in Telos, the Hunters are a party of six led by the Coven Masters sister.”

“What’s her name?” asked Nicholas with a spark in his gray eyes.

“Her name is Selene Sintas,” continued Ettore. “And she is truly an efficient Hunter. Even puts the King’s Garrison to shame.” He snickered while Selene simply smiled.

“Excuse me?” said Miranda in a demanding tone. Selene eyed her angrily.

“He said her name is Selene Sintas, why?” Selene studied her, trying to see if Katherine was there in her in more than just appearance.

“Selene Sintas should be dead by the laws of her kind.”

“Why is that?” asked Ettore.

“Because she’s a murderer!”

Selene clenched her fists under the table, her nails digging into her hard porcelain skin. That rage, that fury, it was too familiar. “Selene Sintas is not a murderer.”

“Oh no? How many lives has that dead Witch taken?”

Trying hard not to lose her composure, Selene breathed in and out as humanly as possible. “She was exonerated for those deaths by both the Reborn Council and the Vampyre Court.”

“I don’t believe that.”

“Kyra and Larkin, Witches in the Reborn Council, suppressed the barriers of the Capital City of Seraphim, which resulted in the deaths of countless Reborns and Witches alike by Shadowling hands. Katherine—”

Cut in Miranda, eyeing her with unabashed fury. “My ancestor.”

Selene met the gaze evenly. “Your ancestor,” she began, slowly, steadily, “murdered her husband in his sleep. Her sister abused her children, and her brother and nephew were perverse men who mistreated women, held them captive, and tortured them to death. Their lives meant nothing to no one.”

“How dare you,” she seethed. “That is my blood you speak of!”

“Yes, which begs the question of your ‘goodness’?” Selene sipped her water and snapped for the waiter, who abandoned his table to serve her.

“Yes, madam?”

“I believe we’re ready to order.” She knew this dinner was a bad idea.